All of the On Running Shoes I've ever Owned
I have owned loads of On shoes over the past 2 years as an ambassador and I honestly don't know if I will ever buy a different brand for any of my sneaker needs again. I know what you're thinking, "duh you're an ambassador you get them for free."
You're not wrong! I get a lot of shoes for free, but I also purchase a lot of their shoes because I'm simply obsessed! They're proving to be insanely durable, stylish with super cool designs/colors, and all, but two pairs, that I've owned are just the right amount of cushion and stability.
My first pair of On shoes were actually white hiking boots that I bought back in the fall of 2019. I needed a pair of white hiking boots because for my bachelorette party my girls and I went on a camping trip in Big Bend. As the bride to be, I obviously needed to be in all white head to toe the entire time. I scoured the internet and only found two pairs of white hiking boots. The On boots and a pair of Hoka's. I picked the On boots solely because they were cuter than the Hoka's. As a running coach I will be the first one to tell you, never do this. Don't buy athletic shoes just because they're cute. But if I was going to spend that much money on a pair of hiking boots that I didn't really need, then by god, they were going to be the cutest ones I could find. Sorry not sorry Hoka.
South Rim Trail, Big Bend National Park
When they came in the mail I was convinced that On had sent me the wrong pair of shoes because when I picked the box up off my porch it was so light I thought, "There is no way my boots are in this box." Those boots launched my obsession with On shoes and are the reason I eventually went on to apply for their ambassadorship.
I really love On shoes for running, hiking, training clients, and leading classes, taking walks, and traveling. I thought I would list all of the pairs I've ever owned with a brief description of what I do and/or don't like about each pair. For reference I wear a size 7.5 running/hiking shoe and the lovely employees at the Fleet Feet in Downtown Austin have told me that, according to my 3D foot scan, I have very neutral feet. I don't over pronate. I have a normal height in my arch and my feet are not considered wide, which was news to me!
Click on the drop down to get a review of all the shoes I've personally worn and tried out.
Cloud X Shift: cross trainers
As a trainer I am constantly on the go/on my feet the majority of the day. I blow through shoes because of how many miles I walk everyday simply training clients. I bought these because I needed a pair of shoes that wouldn't cause my plantar to flare up, that I could wear from 5:00a to 8:00p without needing to change for quick workouts, and shoes that would last more than a couple of months.
I usually have to buy new "coaching shoes" every 2-3 months because of how quickly they fall apart. I've tried literally in the hundreds of shoes over the years as a trainer and I am shocked that these have lasted me as long as they have. I've had these shoes for nearly 8 months now and they look like this.
I lift in these, I go for short runs in these, do agility/bootcamp style classes in these and I train clients in these. I wear them 5-6 days a week and they hardly look worn. I've been wanting a new pair just because I'm getting bored putting on the same shoes everyday for this long. It's not something I'm used to! I love these shoes and I would recommend them to anyone who is looking for comfortable all day shoes that they can also workout in.
Cloud X Shift: product description
Cloudstratus: distance running
I have owned two models of the Cloudstratus and I can honestly say that they have been my favorite distance running shoes ever. I've owned more distance shoes over the years than I can count from brands like Nike, New Balance, Brooks and Adidas. They've all been fine and I've have no complaints... well except for my Nike Pegasus those were way too narrow for my foot, but other than that I've thought all my other shoes worked fine.
However, these have been my favorite distance shoes so far for a number of reasons. One, they're hella comfortable and I haven't experienced any shoe related foot pains since buying them. Two, they have the perfect amount of cushion and support. They're not overly squishy, like my Hokas were, and there's plenty of room in the toe box for my feet to expand. Last but not least, they're so well made! I bought this pair a month before the Austin half back in February, I've run countless miles in them since and they're holding together really well.
You'll notice thats a trend with On. The Swiss engineering that they're always bragging about is top notch! I want to try the new Cloudmonsters for my next half but to be honest I'm reluctant to switch it up because these are so perfect for my feet.
Cloudstratus: product description
Cloudswift: mid-distance running
These sucked for my feet and I was totally bummed that they didn't work for me! The toe box was way too tight on the sides, top and bottom for my foot and they gave me such horrible pain on the tops of my feet that I seriously considered dropping out of the Austin Half this year. Luckily, I bought my Cloudstratus 4 weeks prior to the race and they saved the day! If you haven't read my 2 part recap of the Austin Half from this year you'll have to check it out. I talk about overcoming this anxiety inducing moment, how I started crying mid race and so much more. CLICK HERE to read the full story.
With these shoes, I did what I tell everyone to never do. I bought them because they were pretty. Y'all I am a sucker for white running shoes! They're just so sexy, and I'm pretty positive that they make me run faster.
I've seen lots of runners wear these and maybe they're just not true to size, but they just did not work for me feet.
Cloudswift: product description
Cloudflash: sprinting
On their website, On lists these as a racing shoe for up to a 10k. The farthest I've run in these is a 5k and I didn't hate it, but I didn't really love it either. If you ask me they're a sprinter shoe and should be worn for the mile down. I LOVE sprinting in these because they honestly feel like a comfier version of spikes.
These are my prized possession kind of shoes. I honestly treat them like spikes. I carry them in a shoe bag and never wear them unless I'm on the track. I will even wear my slides to the track so that I don't have to walk across the pavement in these.
I love wearing these when I'm doing speed work. They have a carbon fiber speed board in the soles that really helps me not only maintain my form but also helps to propel; similar to a spike. If these had been around when I was in college or high school I would have worn them for practice; without a doubt. In fact, one of the high school athletes that I train wears them for long jump practice and she loves them too!
Cloudflash: product description
Cloudrock: hiking boots
I love these boots so much that I literally got married in them! These are the boots that I was mentioning above. I have never owned a better pair of hiking boots. I'm on my second pair now, but the previous pair lasted me nearly three years!
My old boots have taken me on innumerable trips through the Rockies, multiple visits to the Chisos mountains in Big Bend National Park, to the top of Guadalupe Peak, through ankle deep snow in the Grand Tetons, saved me from breaking my ankle in the Shawangunk Mountains in up state New York, through hip-deep raging rivers and rainy mountain sides on Eagle Rock Loop in Arkansas, across 20 miles of lava fields in Volcanoes National Park, and to the top of Savage Basin in the mountains overlooking Telluride, Colorado where I married my husband.
Guadalupe Peak, Guadalupe Mountains National Park
Not to mention, the countless trips through the green belt and trails surround Austin. These boots are incredible and have held up well. I can't wait to see where my next pair take me.
Puna Coast Trail, Volcanoes National Park
If you're looking for some hiking boots that will keep your ankles safe, your feet warm and feel like an everyday walking shoe then you need look no further.
Cloudrock: product description
Cloudventure: trail running
I was not a fan of these for a number of reasons. I bought them because I wanted a pair of trail shoes that I could also sub my hiking boots out for. These are water proof and VERY sturdy. Maybe too sturdy for my liking. I actually tried these on in the store and I was convinced to buy a size 8 instead of my usual 7.5. The 7.5 that I tried on was too narrow and the salesman put me in a size 8 instead.
They felt okay in the store but when I wore them for the one trail run I ran in them I felt like I was wearing clown shoes. They were just way too big! The space where the tongue of the shoe is sewn into the shoe was very rigid and dug into my toes instead of laying on the top of my foott. I felt this in the 7.5's also, but it wasn't as prominent.
However, I ended up giving them to a friend who wears a size 8. She said that they fit like a glove and thoroughly enjoys them!
Cloudventure: product description
Cloudultra: trail running
If I'm being honest, I haven't found a trail running shoe by On that I absolutely love yet. However, these ones do just fine! These are made for long distance trail running and to take you far over varying terrain.
They're sturdy and have fantastic grip on the ground, plus I'm a big fan of the way they look. They really are a great trail shoe. I've worn them on my weekly trail runs for almost a year now and I have no complaints. The farthest I've gone in them was when I ran the length of the Greenbelt with a friend. We went a total of 8 miles. My feet felt fine the next day.
But I'm just not in love with them for some reason. I think it may be because for years I ran on trails in my regular road shoes - you can do that in Texas because it's relatively flat and the there aren't big rocks to climb over - and I'm not used to the rigidity of trail shoes, but who knows. All I know is that when you LOVE something you feel it and I just don't feel it with these.
Cloudultra: product description