On Cloudultra Pro Review: On Has Entered the Chat
Cloudultra Pro: Quick Facts
Weight:
- M: 275g
- W: 220g
Best For:
- Trail racing
- Long days on the trails
Price:
- $360 AUD
Stack Height & Drop:
- 38.5mm heel / 32.5mm forefoot
- 6mm drop
- 3.5mm lugs
Favourite Features:
- Leno weave upper makes for a great fit
- Great balance between energy return and stability
Release Date:
- July 3rd, 2025
What’s the Cloudultra Pro All About?
When On first entered the trail space, it sparked a lot of curiosity, how would those CloudTec pods work off-road? I remember seeing their shoes pop up here and there at local events and on a few runners’ feet. But for a while, things went quiet. They didn't seem to push their trail range much, updates were minimal, and honestly, they felt a bit like an afterthought.
Meanwhile, On’s road lineup took off. Shoes like the Cloudmonster, Cloudmonster Hyper, and Cloudboom Strike became pretty popular. It was clear their focus was on perfecting the road side of things first before diving deeper into the trail scene.
That’s changed. Over the last year, we’ve seen a shift—new trail vests, more dedicated gear, and now two big releases: the Cloudultra Pro and the Cloudultra 3.
It’s been a long time coming, but kudos to On for taking their time to get it right—focusing on proper research and development instead of rushing something to market just to keep up.
There are a handful of trail super shoes on the market right now, including models like the Asics Metaspeed Fuji Trail and the Puma Deviate Nitro Elite Trail. This is On’s first trail “super shoe” but it doesn’t follow the usual formula. No carbon plate, not overly stiff, and built to be adaptable. So is it still a super shoe? Let’s dive in.
There are three key features in the Cloudultra Pro
1) Dual-Layer Helion Foam Brings the Bounce
The heart of the shoe lies in the midsole. It features a dual-layer Helion HF setup—On’s most advanced foam, also found in the Cloudboom Strike and Cloudmonster Hyper.
You get a softer, more energetic top layer that feels bouncy and forgiving underfoot, with a firmer layer underneath to keep things stable. Sandwiched between is a unique X-shaped Speedboard made from a nylon-glass blend rather than carbon.
That plate adds a touch of propulsion, but also gives the shoe some structure and helps with stability. It’s not overly stiff, which I personally prefer. We’ve had feedback that carbon plates can feel too harsh when navigating technical terrain. This setup gives a smoother, more natural feel, which makes it more versatile and accessible for both elites and mid-pack runners alike.
2) Leno Weave Upper: Breathable, Secure and Comfortable
Fit has always been a tricky one with On, people often need to size up or down. Thankfully, they’ve nailed it here. The Cloudultra Pro feels great right out of the box. It locks down nicely through the mid-foot, with a rounded toe-box that gives your toes room to move which is especially important for long-distance efforts.
The Leno weave upper is lightweight and breathable, you can pretty much see through it but it still feels strong. It should dry quickly and vent well. Durability is a question mark for now, but first impressions are promising.
3) Missiongrip Outsole: Light and Versatile
The outsole uses On’s Missiongrip rubber with 3.5mm lugs. Fairly shallow lugs, but fitting for a race-day shoe. They feel grippy across mixed terrain and should suit most ultra courses. They might struggle in deeper mud or extreme conditions, but that’s not what these are built for.
The lugs are spaced out and there’s a large cutout of exposed foam through the middle. I’m not usually a fan of exposed midsoles as it often means reduced durability over time but we’ll see how it holds up.
Our first Thoughts
On set out to build a trail racing shoe by understanding the physical and mental demands of ultra running. And honestly, I think they’ve done a great job.
I really like that they didn’t just slap a trail outsole on one of their road racing shoes, but instead started from scratch. The Cloudultra Pro focuses on efficiency —not just in terms of energy return, but the full trail experience. Sometimes that means climbing well, moving confidently over technical ground, or simply having a shoe that still fits comfortably after 100 km.
We're now seeing two types of trail “super shoes” emerge—plated and unplated—and this one sits somewhere in between with a flexible nylon plate.
About the author
Seb Lopez - Trail Runner & Photographer
I’m passionate about trail running, hiking, adventure racing, and the outdoors in general. My favourite runs are long days spent with mates, exploring new places.
I also appreciate how different shoes allow me to connect with the terrain in unique ways and how that affects the running experience. When I’m not out on the trails, you’ll probably find me behind the camera as a sports photographer. It’s great to be on the other side and see the sport from a different angle.
