ON Cloudflash Review
Why On Beats its Competition with the Cloudflash
The On Running Cloudflash is a lightweight racer. Weighing at 220g (7.7oz) with a 5mm heel-to-toe drop, Cloudflash is the fastest On shoe ever.
The cushioned and responsive yet lightweight package ensures that your PBs will be broken in a flash.
It retails at whopping $180.00 on running warehouse.
One can guarantee the superiority of a product when it wins an award even before public release.
Additionally, the Cloudflash has made the podium in the both the 2016 Rio Olympic Games and the ITU World Triathlon Series Abu Dhabi 2017.
The Cloudflash is also tremendously popular with Japanese community. The Japanese community is known to be very particular in the selection of their shoes. On Running has thrived in the Japanese market due to the unparalleled construction of their shoes, as observed from various social media platforms.
The Cloudflash is no exception; it was quickly snapped up by many Japanese Consumers upon its release.
The mesh is complimented by the strategically placed skeletal structure overlays that extend to the front of the shoe, making up the structure of the Upper.
I vastly enjoyed the breathability of the Upper, having run a couple of 5km runs barefoot without any hot-spots. The Upper’s resistance to water was also greatly appreciated. The shoe stayed dry despite running into a couple of puddles after a heavy rain.
The Upper is reminiscent of Nike flyknit, the only difference being that the Nano-mesh provides considerably more structure than the latter. This results in minimal lateral movement of one’s feet within the shoe, which is, without a doubt, a plus point for me.
The low-cut of the ankle collar may pose a concern for lateral stability for over-pronators. For neutral runners, this can be overlooked.
The Cloudflash offers an option for ankle-lock lacing by providing additional eyelets for runners who want to feel additional security in their shoes. I used the ankle-lock lacing to further secure my foot to the shoe, due to the slight incompatibility in size of my foot and the shoe (sizing mentioned below).
The Cloudflash features overly long and thin laces, something I dislike about all On Running shoes. The laces looked awkwardly long, despite bring threaded through the additional eyelets.
The laces also seemed to come undone every few kilometers when I tied it with a single knot. Despite my best efforts to tighten the laces with a single-knot, I had to resort to double-knot lacing to ensure that the laces stayed in place.
The thin laces also implied that more pressure would be applied to the top of the foot. However, the excellent construction of the tongue prevented that from happening.
The material of the tongue was gentle in the way that it did not cause any irritation of my foot. I could run barefoot without encountering any issues.
The tongues of several shoes fold up as the miles build during the run. This was not the case for the Cloudflash. The tongue stayed in place throughout runs and conformed nicely to the shape of my foot.
A small lightning bolt at the front of the shoe added to the quick look of the shoe. Furthermore, the sleek midsole design complemented the swift-looking upper.
On Running claims that you would achieve a "cushioned landing, explosive take-off". The cloud elements did a good job in reducing the impact, despite the shoe having no real midsole.
After a sprint triathlon, my legs did not feel as beat up as it would with other racing flats.
Thanks to the speedboard, the ride was snappy yet flexible, a commendable feat achieved by On Running. Usually, a shoe is either stiff and snappy or flexible but lacking 'toe-spring'. With the Cloudflash, you get the best of both worlds.
I was not sure if it provided any additional impact-reduction at fast speeds.
Overall, the ride was an enjoyable one, especially when i ran at below 3:50/km (6:10/mi).
A note to remember is that the Cloudflash has a similar durability to racers of the same class. This means that the estimated lifespan would be averaging 500km (310mi).
Traction posed a problem for me. The rubber patches, despite providing additional grip, can be slippery on wet roads and more so on wet tracks. While performance was not vastly affected when running at aerobic interval intensity, I felt uneasy while doing speed work as I would slip ever so often.
Additionally, the Cloudflash has an equally snappy ride but is far more flexible than the Adios. The only advantage of the Adios is a more cushioned rear-foot. Cloudflash for races of 5-10km, Adios for any distance beyond 10km.
The cushioned and responsive yet lightweight package ensures that your PBs will be broken in a flash.
It retails at whopping $180.00 on running warehouse.
Background
The Cloudflash by On Running is the Product Of The Year of ISPO AWARD 2017 in the performance segment. It is described as a well executed, clean and coherent design with attention to detail, resulting in an extremely credible high-performance product.One can guarantee the superiority of a product when it wins an award even before public release.
Additionally, the Cloudflash has made the podium in the both the 2016 Rio Olympic Games and the ITU World Triathlon Series Abu Dhabi 2017.
The Cloudflash is also tremendously popular with Japanese community. The Japanese community is known to be very particular in the selection of their shoes. On Running has thrived in the Japanese market due to the unparalleled construction of their shoes, as observed from various social media platforms.
The Cloudflash is no exception; it was quickly snapped up by many Japanese Consumers upon its release.
Upper
The Upper plans to “deliver everything with nothing” with an ultra-thin white Nano-mesh supported by a yellow exoskeletal structure. The Nano-mesh ensures maximum breathability and mild water-proofing properties.The mesh is complimented by the strategically placed skeletal structure overlays that extend to the front of the shoe, making up the structure of the Upper.
I vastly enjoyed the breathability of the Upper, having run a couple of 5km runs barefoot without any hot-spots. The Upper’s resistance to water was also greatly appreciated. The shoe stayed dry despite running into a couple of puddles after a heavy rain.
The Upper is reminiscent of Nike flyknit, the only difference being that the Nano-mesh provides considerably more structure than the latter. This results in minimal lateral movement of one’s feet within the shoe, which is, without a doubt, a plus point for me.
Heel Cup/Ankle Collar
Adding on to the stability of the shoe is the performance heel-cup that hugs the heel for a snug, “race-car” like fit. It keeps the feet secured and locked down, but is cut at the ankle to offer fluid movement of the foot similar to track spikes. My feet felt unrestricted and could move in all directions without difficulty.The low-cut of the ankle collar may pose a concern for lateral stability for over-pronators. For neutral runners, this can be overlooked.
The Cloudflash offers an option for ankle-lock lacing by providing additional eyelets for runners who want to feel additional security in their shoes. I used the ankle-lock lacing to further secure my foot to the shoe, due to the slight incompatibility in size of my foot and the shoe (sizing mentioned below).
Lacing
Reinforced eyelets are present on the Cloudflash. Most eyelets are surrounded with the “exoskeletal” overlays while the top two eyelets feature metal grommets. These reinforcements prevent any fraying of the upper, prolonging the durability of the shoe.The Cloudflash features overly long and thin laces, something I dislike about all On Running shoes. The laces looked awkwardly long, despite bring threaded through the additional eyelets.
The laces also seemed to come undone every few kilometers when I tied it with a single knot. Despite my best efforts to tighten the laces with a single-knot, I had to resort to double-knot lacing to ensure that the laces stayed in place.
The thin laces also implied that more pressure would be applied to the top of the foot. However, the excellent construction of the tongue prevented that from happening.
Tongue
The tongue was thin but protective enough to distribute the pressure caused by the thin lacing. My feet did not feel strangled even when lacing the shoes tightly.The material of the tongue was gentle in the way that it did not cause any irritation of my foot. I could run barefoot without encountering any issues.
The tongues of several shoes fold up as the miles build during the run. This was not the case for the Cloudflash. The tongue stayed in place throughout runs and conformed nicely to the shape of my foot.
Sizing
The Cloudflash is narrow but wide enough to accommodate my foot, just enough for toe splay. Wider-footed runners are NOT recommended to size up half-a-size. In fact, the shoes run a half-size small. I purchased my Cloudflash in US 9.5 but there was too much space in front of the toes.My thoughts on the Look of the Cloudflash
I really liked the design of the shoe. On Running managed to make a running shoe that is meant to go fast, to look equally as fast. I really like the narrow and sleek design of the Cloudflash.A small lightning bolt at the front of the shoe added to the quick look of the shoe. Furthermore, the sleek midsole design complemented the swift-looking upper.
Midsole Technology
The 14 Cloud elements below the Cloudflash are shaped to "transform and transfer more impact energy from the runner into fast, forward momentum." For those new to the brand, cloud elements are rubber pods with their midsection cut out to allow dampening of impact upon landing.On Running claims that you would achieve a "cushioned landing, explosive take-off". The cloud elements did a good job in reducing the impact, despite the shoe having no real midsole.
After a sprint triathlon, my legs did not feel as beat up as it would with other racing flats.
Speedboard
The Cloudflash also features a Pebax Speedboard. Pebax is a material known for its flexibility and energy returning properties. This translates to optimum energy transfer from initial impact to toe-off.Thanks to the speedboard, the ride was snappy yet flexible, a commendable feat achieved by On Running. Usually, a shoe is either stiff and snappy or flexible but lacking 'toe-spring'. With the Cloudflash, you get the best of both worlds.
Sockliner
An innovative hybrid sock liner gives extra comfort and cushioning. I wished that the foam in the sock liner was denser; the forefoot was way too sof that it compressed fully just by standing in it.I was not sure if it provided any additional impact-reduction at fast speeds.
Ride
However, the cushioning of the Cloudflash is more forgiving compared to a racer of a similar build.Overall, the ride was an enjoyable one, especially when i ran at below 3:50/km (6:10/mi).
Outsole Durability
CloudTec rubber patches are placed on the front six and back two Cloud pods. This helps with traction and durability of the Cloudflash.A note to remember is that the Cloudflash has a similar durability to racers of the same class. This means that the estimated lifespan would be averaging 500km (310mi).
Traction posed a problem for me. The rubber patches, despite providing additional grip, can be slippery on wet roads and more so on wet tracks. While performance was not vastly affected when running at aerobic interval intensity, I felt uneasy while doing speed work as I would slip ever so often.
Type of Workouts
The Cloudflash excels on the road and track. It is best used for speed work to races of up to 10km.Pros
- ISPO award of 2017
- Lightweight
- Responsive
- Breathable & waterproof upper
- Bright Colours, eye-catching
- Snappy yet flexible
Cons
Despite being impressed with the Cloudflash, every shoe has it's flaws:- Limited colourways
- Picking up small stones in pods
- Pricey for a racer
- Laces kept coming apart, needed to tie a double-knot
- Traction on wet surfaces
Recommended runner’s profile for optimum performance
- Weight of 70kg (154lb) and below
- Average pace of 4:15/km (6:50/mi) or faster
- Efficient running gait
- Comfortable with minimal cushioning
- Neutral gait
Potential areas for Improvement
- Foam on sock liner could be denser so that it doesn’t compress as easily
- More colorways
- Increase traction in the forefoot
- Thicker laces
- More Cushion
Cloudflash vs The Cloud
The Cloud feels better at tempo speeds while the more responsive Cloudflash excels when you pick up the pace. I would unquestionably pick the Cloudflash over The Cloud for racing.Cloudflash vs Adios Boost 3
Both provide a fast and responsive ride. What sets the Cloudflash apart from the Adios Boost 3 is the Cloudflash’s superior quality of the upper. The upper of the Cloudflash feels less abrasive compared to the rougher spacer mesh material of the Adios.Additionally, the Cloudflash has an equally snappy ride but is far more flexible than the Adios. The only advantage of the Adios is a more cushioned rear-foot. Cloudflash for races of 5-10km, Adios for any distance beyond 10km.
Cloudflash vs Mizuno Hitogami 3
The Cloudflash is more comfortable and responsive than the Hitogami 3. If you are on a budget and want a longer-lasting racer, go for the Hitogami. If not, go for the Cloudflash.Summary
Want a new Personal Best? The Cloudflash promises your success in a lightweight and extremely responsive package.[This shoe was sponsored by runrepeat.com for the purposes of a review. All reviews written are unabiased and for the purposes of aiding others in their shoe selection]
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