Like many others, the first time I saw ON Running shoes, I had a negative reaction; the weird sole with holes seemed more like a gimmick than a technical innovation, and yes, I thought they were kind of ugly.
I suppose that seeing more and more people wearing the brand over the last few years has made me change my mind, and in a way, it has also piqued my interest to try the shoes that promise to make you feel 'like running on clouds'.
With Christmas approaching and a new marathon block about to start, I seized the opportunity to grab a pair of CloudMonster (I almost got a pair of Hokas as I haven't tried them yet, so you know what will come next in this section).
I’m not going to lie, I love the design. I don’t know if I've been influenced by the brilliant visual content ON creates, but I really like how the shoe looks. I even considered using them as everyday shoes. The combination of white and mint, with the orange accents peppered around the sole, is just flawless.
As I stepped into the shoes for the first time, I felt the airiness and cushioning of the sole, along with the rocking effect that makes you feel like you’re rolling when using them. On my first run, I noticed how the rocking motion provides a massive energy return without being too bouncy.
I’ve used them now for all sorts of running: speedy 5ks, tempo 10ks, and long runs (21-27k), and although they perform well as a workhorse shoe, I don’t think they would be my go-to for short/mid-distance runs. Instead, I think they are great for longer distances or easy-paced runs.
