Why You Should
On Cloudmonster 2 Review 2026: Worth the £159.95?
Introduction
On Running built its UK reputation on a distinctly Swiss proposition: engineered minimalism that looked expensive without trying. The Cloudmonster 2 is something different — a maximum-cushion road trainer that makes no apology for its bulk, its bounce, or its price. It arrived in early 2026 into a UK market that had already been primed by eighteen months of social media saturation and a Federer association that has done more for the brand's British cultural cachet than any paid placement campaign.
The Cloudmonster 2 sits in a crowded category. HOKA dominates high-cushion running in the UK, New Balance's Fresh Foam range undercuts on price, and Brooks offers comparable plush protection with a quieter brand identity. On Running is asking £159.95 against all of them on the strength of a ride that genuinely feels different — not just marketed as different. That distinction matters, because the majority of UK buyers purchasing this shoe are not elite runners optimising for race-day performance. They are commuters, weekend park runners, and athleisure converts who want a trainer that earns its keep both on a 5K and on the walk to a coffee shop afterwards.
Whether the Cloudmonster 2 earns that versatility at that price is precisely what this review addresses.
Price
The Cloudmonster 2 retails at £159.95 across all UK stockists, with no meaningful price variation between ASOS, John Lewis, and the On Running website at launch.
That price sits at the top of the sports budget tier — not quite luxury, but not comfortably midrange either. For comparison, the HOKA Clifton 9 retails at approximately £135 and the New Balance Fresh Foam X 1080v13 at £164.99. Against the Clifton 9, the Cloudmonster 2 costs £25 more for a more propulsive ride and considerably more visual presence. Against the 1080v13, it is actually cheaper, though the New Balance offers a wider fit range and a more established durability track record. If the Cloudmonster 2's rocker geometry and sequential pod compression give you the ride experience you want, the price is defensible. If you are buying it primarily as a lifestyle trainer and running is secondary, there are cheaper ways to access On Running's aesthetic — the Cloudnova sits closer to £130 and makes fewer performance compromises for casual wear.
Materials and Construction
The midsole is built around On Running's Cloudtec Phase technology: a series of connected foam pods made from recycled content that are designed to compress in sequence rather than simultaneously, creating a rolling heel-to-toe transition rather than a flat, uniform squash. The pods are filled with Zero-Gravity foam, which On Running claims is measurably lighter than the compound used in the original Cloudmonster — and in hand, the shoe does feel surprisingly light for its visual footprint, estimated at approximately 285g in a UK size 7 women's.
The carbon-infused nylon Speedboard plate sits between the foam layers and provides the rebound structure that stops the cushioning from feeling dead underfoot. This is not a full carbon fibre plate in the performance race-shoe sense — nylon-infused carbon behaves more like a rigid guidance system than an energy-return mechanism — but it contributes to the shoe's characteristic propulsive pop at toe-off.
The upper is a lightweight engineered textile with recycled content. It has a sock-like stretch in the forefoot, minimal overlays, and a clean seam structure that avoids hotspots across the top of the foot. The heel collar is padded generously without being bulky. The Missiongrip rubber patches on the outsole are strategically placed at the heel strike zone and forefoot push-off point rather than full-coverage — adequate for wet British pavements and light gravel, but the exposed foam between patches would deteriorate quickly on anything more aggressive. The overall construction quality feels appropriate for the price: precise stitching, no visible glue excess, consistent foam density across the pods.
Comfort
Out of the box, the Cloudmonster 2 is immediately comfortable in a way that relatively few trainers at this price manage. The Zero-Gravity foam delivers a soft landing without the mushy, undefined feeling that undermines cheaper high-cushion shoes. The sequential pod compression creates a ride that feels active — each footstrike has a small but perceptible rolling quality that nudges your gait into its next phase rather than simply absorbing impact and releasing you.
The rocker geometry — a pronounced curve from heel to toe that keeps the platform rolling forward — is the one element that requires a short adjustment period. Runners accustomed to a flat or neutral platform may feel slightly unstable during the first two or three runs, particularly during slow warmup walking pace. Standing still for extended periods amplifies this: the curved sole means your weight is never fully settled, and UK buyers have noted discomfort when wearing the shoe for long commutes that involve standing on public transport or waiting in queues. Once you are moving, the geometry resolves into an asset. Stationary, it works against you.
Arch support is moderate — sufficient for neutral to mild overpronation, which the wide platform stabilises without any medial post. The heel collar grips without slipping and showed no hotspot development across six-plus hours of wear. The toe box is roomy enough in standard D width for most foot shapes but stops short of accommodating genuinely wide feet.
Fit and Sizing
The Cloudmonster 2 runs approximately half a size small. Size up from your usual UK running shoe size.
The pattern in UK buyer reviews is consistent enough to treat this as a rule rather than a precaution: the majority of reviewers who bought true-to-size report pinching across the forefoot or pressure on the longest toe during longer runs. Buyers with narrow feet report that true-to-size works for them, but narrow feet represent a minority of the UK population. The standard D width is the only option available — On Running does not currently offer a wide or extra-wide fit in the Cloudmonster 2 in the UK market. If your foot measures wider than approximately 96mm at the ball, the upper will compress the forefoot noticeably by the end of a long run.
Women's colourways — particularly the ice blue and soft coral — sell out at ASOS faster than men's options, so if you need the half-size up in a specific colourway, order early in the season rather than waiting for a sale.
How to Style It
Spring road run to brunch: Wear the Cloudmonster 2 in chalk white with 7/8 length running tights in charcoal, a fitted quarter-zip in sage green, and a crossbody running vest. Change into a relaxed linen shirt over the running kit at the café. The shoe's silhouette reads more lifestyle than technical, so the transition requires minimal effort.
Weekend athleisure: Pair the ice blue colourway with wide-leg off-white joggers, a cropped ribbed cotton jumper in cream, and a longline trench coat. The shoe's chunky sole profile suits the proportion of wider-leg trouser cuts that are dominant for spring 2026. A canvas tote rather than a gym bag completes the shift away from full sports kit.
Smart-casual commute: The chalk white against slim dark tailored trousers and a tucked-in fitted white shirt works as a trainer-forward take on business casual — a pairing that On Running's brand positioning has specifically cultivated. Keep the rest of the outfit precise and minimal; the Cloudmonster 2's platform is too substantial to compete with equally loud pieces.
Alternatives
HOKA Clifton 9 — approximately £135 at Runners Need and John Lewis
The Clifton 9 offers comparable cushioning depth with a more traditional road-running geometry and no rocker adjustment period. It is the better choice for runners who prioritise pure mileage comfort over propulsive feel and who find the Cloudmonster 2's rolling platform unsettling. It also runs true-to-size consistently, removing the sizing uncertainty.
New Balance Fresh Foam X 1080v13 — £164.99 at New Balance UK and ASOS
The 1080v13 costs marginally more but offers a wider fit range, including a 2E option, and a softer, more accommodating midsole that suits runners with foot-width issues the Cloudmonster 2 cannot address. Its durability across high mileage is better documented than the Cloudmonster 2 at this stage of the latter's release cycle.
On Running Cloudnova — approximately £129.95 at ASOS and On Running UK
For buyers whose honest priority is the On Running aesthetic on a daily commute rather than running performance, the Cloudnova delivers the brand's visual identity at £30 less, without the rocker geometry that creates discomfort during standing-heavy days. It is the more rational purchase for the lifestyle buyer; the Cloudmonster 2 makes more sense if you will actually log kilometres in it.
Pros
- **The sequential foam pod compression produces a rolling, propulsive feel that is genuinely distinct from every other cushioned trainer at this price point** — not a marketing distinction but a perceptible difference in how the shoe moves your foot through each stride.
- **The Zero-Gravity foam midsole is noticeably lighter than the original Cloudmonster**, estimated at approximately 285g in a UK women's size 7, which means the shoe does not carry the visual weight penalty you would expect from a platform this substantial.
- **Missiongrip rubber patches maintained reliable traction across wet tarmac and damp gravel paths in testing**, performing without slippage in the wet spring conditions that characterise British road running from February through May.
- **The engineered textile upper has a clean seam construction that produced zero hotspots across six-plus hours of consecutive wear**, including the transition from running to walking without a sock change.
- **Spring 2026 colourways — ice blue, soft coral, chalk white — translate directly from running context to weekend wear** without the neon-heavy palette that dates performance trainers within a single season.
Cons
- **The rocker geometry creates instability during stationary wear** — standing on public transport or in a queue for more than fifteen minutes shifts noticeable pressure across the forefoot in a way that a flat-soled trainer does not.
- **Sizing runs half a size small with no wide-fit option**, which means buyers with feet wider than approximately 96mm at the ball will experience forefoot compression, and all buyers face the friction of sizing up when purchasing online without a fitting.
- **At £159.95, the shoe costs £25 more than the HOKA Clifton 9 for a more specialised ride experience** that a significant portion of buyers — particularly those prioritising comfort during mixed run-walk-commute days — may not prefer.
- **The Missiongrip outsole patches expose foam between contact zones**, making the midsole vulnerable to faster wear on any surface more abrasive than smooth tarmac; light trail use beyond groomed gravel paths will degrade the foam pods within weeks.
- **Women's colourways sell out at ASOS before men's**, creating a practical availability problem for the buyer demographic most drawn to this shoe — particularly for the half-size-up recommendation, which reduces available stock further.
- **The carbon-infused nylon Speedboard plate is not a full carbon fibre race plate**, and buyers attracted by the technical specification should understand that the energy return it provides is guidance and structure rather than the propulsive snap associated with race-day carbon shoes.
Current Price
£159.95
Available at Asos.com
Buy It Now →Price verified as of May 21, 2026. WYS may earn a commission on purchases.
The WYS Verdict
The Cloudmonster 2 is the right shoe for a specific buyer: a UK road runner or serious walker who logs enough kilometres to appreciate the propulsive Cloudtec Phase ride, does not have a wide foot, and is willing to size up half a size when ordering online. For that buyer, nothing else at £159.95 delivers the same combination of responsive cushioning, lightweight construction, and spring-ready aesthetic. For the commuter who wants On Running's visual identity with less geometry to manage, the Cloudnova at £30 less is the more honest purchase. For the wide-footed runner, the New Balance Fresh Foam X 1080v13 solves the fit problem the Cloudmonster 2 cannot.
Score: 7.8 out of 10
Buy it if you are a road runner or brisk walker with a standard or narrow foot who will use the shoe for actual mileage. Size up half a size, order from ASOS for the return flexibility, and prioritise the chalk white or ice blue colourways before spring stock runs out.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the On Running Cloudmonster 2 worth £159.95?
At 7.8 out of 10, the Cloudmonster 2 earns its price for road runners who will use it for genuine mileage — the sequential foam pod ride and lightweight Zero-Gravity midsole are real performance differentiators, not marketing language. For buyers whose primary use case is lifestyle wear and occasional light walking, the price is harder to justify when the On Running Cloudnova delivers similar aesthetics at approximately £30 less.
Does the Cloudmonster 2 fit true to size?
Size up half a size from your usual UK running shoe size. The shoe runs approximately half a size small across the majority of UK buyer reviews, with the exception of runners with genuinely narrow feet, who report true-to-size comfort. The shoe is only available in standard D width, so wide-footed runners should treat this as a firm barrier rather than a marginal concern.
How durable is the Missiongrip outsole on British pavements?
The Missiongrip rubber patches perform reliably on wet tarmac and damp gravel, but the outsole design exposes foam between rubber contact zones — a construction choice that limits durability on abrasive surfaces. Runners who take the shoe onto anything beyond groomed gravel paths will see foam pod degradation within weeks; this is not a trail shoe and the outsole confirms it.
What is the best alternative to the Cloudmonster 2 in the UK?
The HOKA Clifton 9 at approximately £135 from John Lewis or Runners Need is the strongest alternative for buyers who want comparable cushioning depth without the rocker geometry adjustment period, a consistent true-to-size fit, and a £25 saving. Choose the Clifton 9 if your runs involve extended walking sections or if the Cloudmonster 2's rolling platform felt unsettling during an in-store trial.