On Cloudmonster Hyper running shoes review – worth the hype?

The On Cloudmonster Hyper launched in 2024 as the hyped up, lightened up, version of the Cloudmonster 2. Promising a lightweight feel, with max energy return thanks to the same ‘Helion HF’ high energy midsole foam that you’ll find in the On Cloudboom Echos. The Cloudmonster Hyper is a bit of a super-shoe meets every day running shoe hybrid. The running shoe equivalent of smart-casual fashion, the Cloudmonster Hyper is pepped up enough to offer a bit of extra bounce. But not so aggressive that you can’t use them as your daily training shoe.

After several months of testing, TRI247’s Jenny Lucas-Hill brings you her tried & tested verdict on the Cloudmonster Hyper.

On Cloudmonster Hyper specifications: stack height, drop and everything else you need to know at a glance

Fit and first impressions

I’d never actually tried On running shoes until the Cloudmonster Hypers landed on my desk, so I had no idea what size I’d need. I took a risk and went with my regular street shoe size (UK 5) and they fit perfectly.

The fit and feel of these shoes is ultra-comfortable. The toe box is roomy enough not to squash my freakishly long second toes, but not so wide that I feel like I’m running in clown shoes. The traditional lacing system offers a good heel lock down, which combined with the lightweight and breathable upper feels secure without putting pressure on the top of the foot. The inner is also really nice underfoot – featuring a Goldilocks amount of squish which is comfy without feeling like jelly shoes.

I was excited to see that On had used laces with small silicone dots underneath, presumably to prevent them from untying. I thought this would mean I could get away with only tying a single knot but alas the shoes quite quickly came undone a kilometre or so into my first run. Back to double knots it was.

On Cloudmonster Hyper stack height

These shoes look seriously chunky. Monster by name, monster by nature. And when I posted a snap of them to my Instagram story when I first unboxed them, I had quite a few replies from people asking if the huge stack would break the World Triathlon/IRONMAN 40mm stack height limit.

The design of the Cloudmonster Hyper is deceptive though, I think that rubber outsole makes them look chunkier than they actually are. The stack is a perfectly legal 37.5mm. They’re also surprisingly lightweight despite their hefty appearance, with the women’s shoe coming in at 210g.

What is it like to run in the On Cloudmonster Hyper running shoes?

So would the On Cloudmonster Hyper shoes live up to the hype? Or leave me needing some extra E-numbers to put a pep in my step instead? I’ve had these shoes in my rotation for several months now, and here’s how I’ve found them.

Cushioning and stability

Some running shoes with a big stack height and max cushioning can end up feeling unstable underfoot – a compromise for the forgiving ride. But in practice I’ve found the Cloudmonster Hyper strikes the ideal balance, cushioned enough to feel nice underfoot but with enough grip and stability to feel supportive. I’d been running mainly in the New Balance FuelCell SuperComp shoes before testing out the Ons, which had become just a touch too marshmallow-like. Comparatively, the Cloudmonster Hyper shoes are a good combination of cushioned but supportive.

Grip

These are by no means an all-terrain shoe, so you’ll still want a dedicated trail shoe (or two) in your rotation. But they’ve coped surprisingly well with a range of conditions. Torrential rain on slippery side walks, gravel tracks and some hard-packed muddy sections of trail. The On Cloudmonster Hyper’s have coped with it all.

Energy return

I think if you’re putting on the Cloudmonster Hyper expecting it to feel like a super-shoe, you’re going to be disappointed. It hasn’t got a carbon plate, and personally I wouldn’t be using this as a race shoe. Think of it as a supped-up training shoe for those sessions where you want a bit of extra spring in your step. In that frame of mind, these are really nice tempo shoes with enough of a propulsive feel to give you a bit of bounce and a hint of that ‘fast feeling’, without being overly aggressive.

I’ve used these for intervals and tempo sessions, as well as some steady state runs and they’re comfortable enough to do it all.

Comfort and breathability

While these shoes haven’t got the most breathable upper going, they’ve been comfortable enough during hot weather runs which suggests a good enough level of breathability. On the comfort front, I’ve found these shoes to have a nice ride. Not too harsh but still snappy. Initially I was concerned the 6mm drop wouldn’t work for me, and I did get some tightness through my calves and soleus while I was getting used to these compared to the 8mm and 10mm shoes I had been running in. But once I’d got used to them, I found this eased off. I’ll still rotate between the different shoes to avoid any risk of overuse injury as I’ve had an ankle stress fracture in the past.

Verdict – are the On Cloudmonster Hyper running shoes worth the hype?

The On Cloudmonster Hyper isn’t a race shoe. If you come to it expecting that super shoe feeling, you’re going to be a little bit disappointed. But if you step into these expecting a really comfortable, nicely energetic tempo shoe – you’ll be pleasantly surprised. They’re cushioned enough to feel really nice underfoot, but that max cushioning is balanced with enough stiffness to feel stable – without being too harsh of a ride.

The fit is true to size, the energy return is good, with enough of a propulsive feeling for faster training runs. But with that over £200 price tag, many would probably be wanting a bit more performance for the investment.

All in all, these running shoes are probably more ‘mildly excitable’ than all out ‘Hyper’. If you’re looking for a race day super shoe, you’d probably be better off going for a carbon-plated option. But as a do it all shoe that offers some extra bounce on long runs and a boost of energy and propulsion for tempo work, it’s hard to find much not to like about the On Cloudmonster Hyper.

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