Key specs:
Weight: 280g
Heel drop: 7 mm
Support: Neutral
Two minute review
The On Cloudvista is a road-to-trail shoe, suitable for all-terrain use as well as a simple road running shoe. Plus, it has that classy On look, meaning it’s one you can wear when you’re not exploring your local trails.
The polyester upper offers a strong fit, especially for runners with narrower feet, and there’s some guard in place to protect against some trail residue. You’ll definitely find more protective trail shoe options if you spend more time off-road than on it.
While On’s Cloudtec cushioning technology typically delivers a pretty firm ride, the Cloudvista manages to offer something that sits somewhere between firm and soft, and the Missiongrip outsole provides the underfoot traction to work well on harder trails and stay agile on roads. .
There aren’t many road-to-trail shoes out there that look and feel like the Cloudvista, but if you’re sold on the look of On and want something that doesn’t feel as sturdy as most of its shoes, the Cloudvista for the price will fit good.
Price and release date
The On Cloudvista was launched in March 2022 and costs $139.99/£130/$AUS229.95.
Design
On knows how to make a stylish running shoe and the Cloudvista is no exception. But what went through his mind when it decided to make a trail-ready shoe that only comes in white colorways, we’re not quite sure: One step in even a shallow bit of mud, and that shoe is no more. brightly coloured. It will certainly be difficult to keep your new running shoes clean.
A puzzling color choice aside, it’s a shoe that fits quite narrow in the toe box, which was fine on our feet. Although On suggests getting a half size up, we found our UK size 8 fit well. If you’re into long runs in it, you’d certainly appreciate a little more room in the toe area, but we’re not convinced it’s a shoe you’ll want to wear for a very long time anyway.
In terms of weight, you’re looking at 280g for the men’s shoe and 235g for the women’s Cloudvista. This doesn’t sound particularly light, but we found that they didn’t feel like a heavy shoe to run in. The polyester upper isn’t huge on protective elements for those off-road runs, with some modest toe protection and little padding around the heel collar. A translucent TPU fender is present to repel dirt and mud and worked great in light muddy conditions.
There is a very thin, perforated tongue that does stay in place, while the thin laces at the top can be a bit tricky to tie. The insole is quite thin, but at least adds some structure further back at the midfoot and heel.
On the outsole, On uses a similar Missiongrip outsole to the Cloudultra shoe, where the lugs are kept relatively small to ensure they are suitable for road and trail time. Stay on the hard terrain and that outsole will hold up. In wet, muddy conditions it gets a little sloppy with that grip.
Performance
It’s fair to say that running in On’s shoes in general can be an acquired taste. Either you like the signature Cloudtec cushioning technology or you just can’t keep up with the firm ride that On’s technology offers. So we were surprised to find that the Cloudvista actually runs quite well and doesn’t feel quite as sturdy as many other On shoes we’ve tested.
That ride is delivered by On’s Helion superfoam and Cloudtec midsole with a polymer-based Speedboard plate between the midsole and upper. While the Cloudtec compresses to soften your landing, the Speedboard is there to provide a strong push-off. You get a pretty middle-of-the-road 7mm heel-to-toe drop, which is in line with most On’s shoes in terms of drops.
Our experience with that combination of foam, Cloudtec and Speedboard is that there are elements here that remind us of running in the Cloudultra. It doesn’t run as briskly as the ‘ultra’ though, and On manages to strike a pretty good balance between a soft and firm feel, surprisingly making it quite a nimble shoe to run in.
It’s not something we would say to race, but you do have room to pick up the pace in it. We’d say it’s best suited for low-to-medium pace runs, and the Missiongrip outsole holds up much better on harder surfaces. Think long, straight canal paths and light park trails instead of twisty, hilly terrain. The ride is consistent and feels well protected too, provided you stick to the terrain where it excels best.
The level of protection in the upper and not so roomy toe box doesn’t feel like the ideal mix to last in this shoe, and we’d say stick to the short to medium ranges. Recommends and you get the best experience from them.
Overall, though, it’s a comfortable shoe, definitely better suited to narrow feet, and doesn’t run as firm as many other On shoes. You could certainly find a road-to-trail shoe that offers a little more protection and less rigidity during the ride, but if you like the idea of an On shoe that holds up well for some trail and road time and you can Continuing runtime, the Cloudvista certainly fits that profile.
Buy it if…
You want a shoe to wear between runs?
On makes stylish running shoes and the Cloudvista is an eye-catcher. Keep it out of the mud and you’ll have something to wear when you’re not running.
You want a road-to-trail shoe that works best on shorter runs
The Cloudvista doesn’t feel like one to get into long, but we say it will serve better for runs from 30 minutes to an hour.
Don’t buy it if…
You like running in wet, muddy conditions
The outsole and stud style aren’t the best for trudging through deep mud. If that’s your trail terrain, there are better options.
If you want a trail shoe to race in
While they offer a surprisingly agile ride, the Cloudvista feels like a shoe that works better at easy to moderate speeds, as opposed to when a medal or PB is on the line.
First assessment May 2022
