On Cloudvista Performance Review

On Running Shoes are almost ubiquitous in the United States. I can’t count how many times I’ve seen them on a medical practitioner’s feet at a doctor’s office or PT clinic. And have you been to a theme park lately? Scores of moms and Dads rock them as they read articles on smartphones while waiting in line with several talkative children. On is basically a yuppie movement at this point. And so, On is off to shield new ground. Next stop, the great outdoors. The On Cloudvista takes On’s signature styling from the roads to the trails.

Pros

Outsole

When the On Cloudvista arrived, I liked the size and spacing of the lugs. The rubber used, called Missiongrip, is impressive. It gripped various trails well and performed admirably on slippery mud that’s often the bane of other trail shoes.

The Cloudvista was also flexible enough to handle bigger rocks and roots that made footing uneven without messing up my stride. The only problem with the outsole is the occasional rock getting stuck in the channel down the middle. That happens in some form or fashion with almost all trail shoes so I don’t see it as a big issue. Overall, I was impressed with the performance of Missiongrip and will definitely take notice when it pops up on other On shoes.

Upper

The mostly polyester upper almost looks like ripstop nylon with a different pattern. However, it feels much better than ripstop on foot. There’s no weird flexing and it hugs the foot nicely. On knows how to make a comfortable upper and this one is no exception. It’s built so well that I hardly even noticed the TPU overlays protecting the toe and heel until they deflected rocks, roots, or mud.

I could complain about the synthetic suede tongue (in my mind it cheapens the premium look On achieves) but at this point I’ve just come to expect it on all my On sneakers. One thing about the tongue and laces I’ll compliment is the lace garage. I love a nice lace garage on my trail running shoes to keep those laces from getting caught on stray branches. It’s a small but welcome touch that doesn’t necessarily add to the comfort but nails the convenience.

Devilishly Good Looks

The On Cloudvista is one of the best-looking trail shoes on the market. It’s just so well balanced. It could easily be worn casually as part of your after-outdoor activity, on the way to dinner, hiker chic fit. It fits well in upscale outdoorsy towns like Telluride, Park City, or Vail. It’s the only shoe that can go road to trail to dinner without missing a beat.

Cons

Cushion

Different On shoe, same story. The Cloudtec midsole is just a little too firm for my liking. I felt too many of the rocks and roots poking my foot. And that’s disappointing because I know modern trail shoes can do better (see the Best Running Shoes for Beginners).

Rock Plate

Part of the reason I could feel the rocks and roots so pointedly (pun intended), is that the On Cloudvista doesn’t have a real rock plate. It just relies on the typical TPU On Speedboard that sits above the cushioning. The Speedboard is meant to flex, load energy, and provide pop upon toe-off. It’s not meant to shield your poor feet from sharp rocks. With its Cloudtec midsole, I’m not sure how On would implement a real rock plate, but I hope they figure it out on the next iteration of the Cloudvista.

Narrow Fit

Not only does the On Cloudvista fit about a half size small (go up a half size from your normal shoe size when buying it), it runs narrow. I can’t recommend my wide-footed friends grab this good-looking shoe. This is odd because On shoes are usually pretty accommodating and not something I expected going into testing.

On Cloudvista Summary

The On Cloudvista is a fantastic-looking, comfortable, versatile shoe with a super grippy outsole and firm cushioning. While wide footers should avoid the narrow fit, the Cloudvista has some good use cases. You can run in it, hike in it, vacation in it, and more. It’s one of those do-everything sneakers easily packed for a European vacation that features a bunch of city streets and mountain peaks. And as a bonus, your feet will look really good the whole way.

The On Cloudvista is available in men’s and women’s at On Running and in men’s and women’s at Zappos.