ON Cloudmonster Hyper 3: On's Best Running Shoe? Tested at 250 Miles.

I needed a trainer for my post-marathon training block, and with my Superblasts worn out, I took a risk and went for On's super trainer: the Cloudmonster 3 Hyper.

I've never been a huge fan of many of On's models. The one I'd put the most mileage in was the Cloudflow 4, which I found quite nice. On the opposite end, I tried the Cloudsurfer 2 and didn't like it. I've worn plenty of their other shoes, but never logged much mileage on them. I'd heard good things about the Cloudmonster 3 Hyper, and while I couldn't find many reviews, the ones I did find were positive. With an upcoming trip to On's homeland, Switzerland, I went for it.

For reference: I'm 145 pounds and a heel striker. Running shoes always feel different based on our anatomy and mechanics, so keep that in mind. I'd also just come off a marathon block, so most of my early mileage on this shoe was unstructured and lower than my typical load. I've since built back to 60–70 mpw on it, with my daily pace mostly around 7:30/mile.

Out of the Box

The shoe is firmer than its biggest competitor, the Superblast 3, which isn't really a bad thing. As much as I love the Superblast 3, it does start to wear on the lower legs, with some instability creeping in past the 200-mile mark. The Cloudmonster 3 Hyper has a similar fit with a roomier toe box (for me). It was true to size, men's 8.

The Ride

The first thing you'll notice is how nice the rocker is. It's not super aggressive, but it offers a gentle push with each step. The shoe just kind of guides you forward in a pleasant way.

And while it felt firm out of the box, it doesn't feel like a brick once you're running. The top layer of foam has softened just enough to land in that perfect zone for me. The regular Cloudmonster always felt sort of "crunchy" underfoot, thanks to the CloudTec pods. I didn't notice that here at all. Everything just works together really well.

I've reached for this shoe nearly every day for the past month. It's not a blow-your-mind foam like the Superblast 3, but it feels great underfoot through the miles, which is exactly what I'm looking for, with enough pep from the geometry to give it some life. I've comfortably taken it out for 15+ mile long runs, and it never bottoms out or feels flat.

Traction

I put this one to the test. On a trip to the Swiss Alps I packed light, and this became my hiking shoe. It held up fine. No complaints. Nothing out of this world, but it worked well.

Comparisons

This shoe feels like the successor to the Superblast 2: the stable, high-mileage cruiser, just not nearly as firm and with better geometry. The Superblast line went in a different direction with its softer, bouncier foam, but there's still a demographic looking for this kind of shoe. I personally didn't like the Superblast 2; I thought it felt too clunky and firm. The Cloudmonster 3 Hyper solves both of those issues for me. Despite there being a lot of shoe here, it never feels clunky, and the rocker gives it life. The stability and protection are excellent, and it's kept me healthy through this build. Maybe it's a snappier Puma Magmax, another shoe that got me through a rebuild block happy and healthy.

Verdict

This shoe lets you run fast while staying protective and stable enough to keep you healthy. It feels like the spiritual successor to the Superblast 2, and it's probably the best daily trainer On has made. The one caveat is the price: $220 is steep for a trainer, truly a shoe for those who want the latest and greatest. That said, with the Run House membership program you can save up to 25% on it and all future orders, and you can even join for free for 10% off.

Overall, a 9.1/10 for me right now. This was the perfect rebuild shoe.