The On Cloudeclipse looks like a Cloudsurfer on steroids: plenty of foam, a tall midsole and an obvious question — can it still pick up the pace? After my road sessions, I found that the cushioning had not taken away its springy feel. The biggest surprise, though, was the comfort around the heel.
This review reflects my original 2023 test and training impressions, rather than On’s current range. I focus on how the shoe fitted my foot and felt on the run. Any measured weights refer to the specific shoes I tested.
What kind of shoe is the On Cloudeclipse?
For me, the Cloudeclipse proved versatile on the road. I used it for short, faster efforts, long easy runs and mixed sessions. Its appearance suggested a shoe built mainly for cushioned cruising, but I could pick up the pace in it too.
My first thought was a Cloudsurfer with more foam. That captures my initial impression, without suggesting that the two models behave exactly alike.
Weight and sizing: 299 g in my EU 44.5
My EU 44.5 Cloudeclipse weighed 299 g. My Cloudsurfer, in EU 45, weighed 265 g. These were measurements of individual shoes in different sizes, so this is not a comparison of official weights in the same size.
In my earlier tests, the Cloudeclipse was heavier than the Hoka Clifton 7, lighter than the New Balance Fresh Foam 1080 I tested and close to the Cloudmonster. Those observations provide context for my experience; they are not a standardised weight ranking.
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First impressions and fit
At first, the midsole looked almost absurdly large. I wondered whether I would need an adjustment period, as I had with Hoka shoes before. Instead, the Cloudeclipse felt right from my first run.
EU 44.5 fitted me perfectly, while I used EU 45 in the Cloudsurfer. I also had enough room at the front. That describes my own fit; it is not a rule that everyone should order half a size down.
Outsole and Speedboard: smooth transitions, an audible drawback
The curved forefoot reminded me of a rocker. On the run, it gave me a smooth transition from heel to toe. The tread is fairly subtle, but it suited the road surfaces I used.
I also ran in the rain, and grip was fine in my test conditions. I would not take that as a guarantee of grip on every wet surface. If your routes combine pavement and forest paths, my Merrell ProMorph road-to-trail review covers testing on those mixed surfaces.
The Speedboard is visible underneath the shoe. I found the overall ride springy, although a test based on feel cannot isolate the contribution of the plate from the foam and midsole geometry.
The drawback came when I landed on a stone or an uneven patch: contact with the exposed element was audible. Personally, I prefer that part tucked inside the midsole. It was a small detail I noticed in this shoe.
Cushioning: plenty of foam with a springy feel
The tall midsole gave me a clear sense of cushioning. During the test I was trying to land more on my midfoot, occasionally closer to my toes, and it still felt good. Comfort did not seem limited to heel striking.
Compared with my experience in the On Cloudmonster, the cushioning under the forefoot felt more substantial here. What mattered most was that the extra foam did not take away the springy sensation. The Cloudeclipse did not feel like a shoe that could only shuffle along at an easy pace. For another cushioning-focused training shoe, see my Saucony Triumph 22 review, which also covers comfort and faster efforts.
Upper and heel comfort: the standout feature
The upper uses different mesh structures. It felt breathable at the front, while the rear held my foot securely. The heel area was the highlight: it was among the most comfortable I had tested at the time.
I had a cut on my heel during the testing period. In the Cloudeclipse, that area was not irritated further, and my heel still felt secure. This describes one personal experience, rather than advice to run with an injury.
The tongue is attached to the upper and has two strips of soft material. The laces did not press into my instep. An additional lacing attachment towards the front helped with the fit around a narrower foot.
Faster efforts and its place in my training
I tried the Cloudeclipse in several sessions with harder efforts. On individual efforts, I reached 3:45 min/km, which was close to my maximum one-kilometre pace at the time. That does not mean I held it for a whole session or that the shoe guarantees that performance.
The weight did not particularly get in my way, and the springy feel helped me turn my legs over. In my training, I saw a place for it on easy road runs and mixed sessions, with room to add faster sections. For a separate test of an On racing shoe, read my On Cloudboom Strike review after a half marathon; it covers a different role, its responsive ride and the heel-counter issue.
Browse all my reviews in the running shoe testing library, grouped by roads, trails and other uses.
Verdict: who is the On Cloudeclipse for?
I enjoyed the Cloudeclipse as a comfortable, well-cushioned road shoe that still felt springy when I picked up the pace. Heel comfort, room at the front and smooth transitions were its main strengths in my test.
The limitations I noted were the 299 g weight of my shoe and the sound of the exposed plate contacting stones or uneven ground. Sizing is also worth checking on your own foot. If road comfort comes first and you want to add occasional faster efforts, my experience with the Cloudeclipse was very positive.