On CloudPulse NEXT Review | Good for What Exactly?

The On Cloudpulse Next is one of On’s newest shoes with training in mind. There’s a lot to like about this stripped-down variation of the Cloudpulse line. It’s lighter and less bulky than the Cloudpulse and Cloudpulse Pro. It has more structure than the Cloud X 4. And it’s wider through the midfoot and forefoot.

With all that it has going for it, what’s not to like?

Everything comes at a cost, and the Cloudpulse Next is no exception. On cut weight by getting rid of much of the outsole rubber tread, exposing a ton of foam in the process, and potentially hurting its long-term durability.

In addition, the midsole of this shoe will have a shorter runway regarding its stability for training. Once you start pushing any amount of weight in the gym, the instability can become a liability depending on your asks.

The Cloudpulse Next feels like a shoe that they tried too hard to make for everyone, and as a result, it’s kind of a master of none. Yes, it can be a great light-duty generalist shoe, but push it too hard in any one direction, and it starts to fall apart. Which makes me ask the question, is it a must-have shoe or just a nice-to-have?

Who Should Buy the On Cloudpulse Next?

• If you’re a fan of On shoes and want something with a bit more structure, the Cloudpulse Next is going to be a great option for you.
• If you have a wider foot with a lower volume forefoot, this is going to fit like a glove.
• If you’re looking for a lightweight shoe that can do a bit of everything in and out of the gym, this could be your go-to daily driver.

Who Shouldn’t Buy the On Cloudpulse Next?

• If you have very flat feet, the arch can feel aggressive. I’d recommend looking for something that’s a bit more geared towards flatter feet.
• If you like to train outdoors, do a lot of turf work, or go heavier with your workouts, the Cloudpulse Next is going to become more of a liability than an asset very quickly.

Sizing & Fit Thoughts

About My Feet: I have a normal arch/instep and my feet come in at an E/EE width. The length of my left and right foot are consistent with one another, and I size as a true US 10 for most companies’ sizing charts. 

Fit Breakdown:

• Narrow (<D) feet: True to size. 
• Medium (D) width: True to size.
• E and EE: True to size.
• 3E+: Pass.
• Flat Feet: Pass

The Cloudpulse Next is going to be true to size for all for widths. I went with my normal size 10 US and had no issues with length or width. These size similarly to Nike, Reebok, and Adidas.

The length runs true and the wider base are nearly perfect for my foot anatomy. The only issue is the upper volume of the forefoot is limited. There’s a TPU layer around the toebox, a nice touch for durability, but it can take a while to break in. For the first little bit, it can dig in to the pinky toe and cause friction.

It’s worth noting that there is no removable insole in these. If you do have thicker feet, I’d suggest wearing thinner socks while you’re breaking them in. If you wear custom orthotics, I’d suggest passing on these altogether. You’ll end up losing what little upper volume is there once you put an orthotic in.

Performance Breakdown

Lifting: 7/10

These were fine for strength work, specifically light to moderate work. If you keep it under 315 lbs with barbell lifts, or not get too excessively heavy on things like leg press and hack squat, you’ll be fine. Any heavier than that and the midsole will start to waiver out and you’ll lose all stability. The holes in the midsole are great for reducing weight but they kill stability under load.

For a gym beginner or generalist, these will be great. The grip is solid for your standard rubber or carpet gym floor. For your lighter weight days, dumbbell and kettlebell accessory work, machines, these are going to get the job done and be comfortable doing it. They can be good travel training shoes when you’re not going crazy and want a comfier daily driver.

Cross-Training: 7/10

The Cloudpulse Next performed decent for cross-training. They’re lightweight and responsive, which is great for box jumps and athletic drills. There’s a ton of movability in the forefoot thanks to the segmented outsole which makes things like sled work a breeze. Where they really excel is classes and HIIT circuits. The structure in the boot and arch (provided you don’t have flat feet) is on point.

If you do need max grip for more advanced plyometric moves or heavy sled work, I’d pass on these. The grip is fine for lighter duty work and classes, but once you start to really push it, it falls apart. I’d also be careful to not go very hard on turf work with these. All that exposed midsole foam underneath is going to get eaten up quick.

Short Runs: 8.2/10

These do an okay job for shorter, 1 – 2 mile runs. The toe spring gives a great amount of forward propulsion, and with how lightweight they are, they almost float. These are perfect for hybrid sessions where you want to mix in some 400 or 800 intervals, or a quick mile warm up or cool down job on a treadmill.

I wouldn’t run in these outside too much though. Too much contact with pavement or a track will eat up the exposed midsole. Even though they do have a bit more structure for running, I’m still not taking these out for a 5K or anything longer. If you want something for longer runs like that, On has much better options available.

Daily Wear: 8/10

I liked these for daily wear, I didn’t love them though. After 3 – 4 hours, I started to notice how little volume there is in the forefoot and the toebox began to feel too snug. Wearing thinner socks helps a bit, especially at first while you’re breaking them in. Again though, the amount of exposed midsole is a big detriment.

When I look at a shoe for daily wear, I want it to be able to hold up to a lot of dog walks, running around a city, and spending time outside. Too much exposure to pavement or wet conditions is going to break down the foam too fast.

Construction & Materials

The Cloudpulse Next weighs 10.30 oz and has a heel-to-toe drop of 8 mm. 

There is an extended outsole lip over the toe box and a synthetic overlay around the edge of the toebox, both for added structure and protection. The overlay sits pretty low on the pinky side and can cause friction early on until it’s broken in.

The upper is a lightweight mesh that runs from the forefoot through the midfoot. The boot is a padded mesh with textile overlays and an external heel tab. There’s also a low TPU layer around the boot for some more added structure.

There are 5 core eyelets with a 6th for lace lock. The tongue is a padded mesh and is gusseted. The tongue can be pretty stiff at first, I’d recommend wearing taller socks until it’s really broken in to help prevent any uncomfortable rubbing.

The midsole is On’s CloudTec midsole, it’s a bit softer and more forgiving than some of On’s other offerings. Underneath, the rubber tread is segmented with sections on the forefoot and heel. The segmented outsole adds a lot to the flexibility and lightweight build, but it exposes a lot of the midsole foam.

Final Thoughts: Would I Buy Again?

I went into these wanting to really love them. They’re a wider and lightweight Cloudpulse with a bit more structure. I ended up thinking they’re just okay and they’re definitely not for everyone.

Where I see these working really well is for the generalist. These are for someone who loves On shoes and wants a lightweight model that can handle a bit of training, some short treadmill runs, HIIT classes, and some light daily wear.

If that’s you, you’re going to love the Cloudpulse Next. If it’s not, the good news is that On has a ton of other models to pick from.