ON Cloudvista Introduction
The On Cloudvista is a good trail shoe that performs well on trails that are hard-packed dirt, lakeside loops, and meandering well-groomed paths. It will lack when tested out on more rocky and technical territory.
It’s a perfect road-to-trail shoe, suitable for most terrain and easily worn as a road running shoe. Its modern look makes it’s also a great choice to wear around.
It falls into that moderately priced category. It will cost you $149.99. Do I think that’s a justifiable price? Yes, because of the many different ways you can use the shoe. Plus, On has a superior quality that is hard to match.
Another shoe that is an all-terrain road-to-trail shoe would be the Altra Outroad. It’s my top pick for that category.
When talking about sizing it does run a tad narrow and snug. I would suggest sizing up a half-size to a full-size. I like my trail shoes bigger so I can use thicker socks If I were to buy another pair of them I would buy the next size up.
They are very light compared to other trail shoes, coming in at 235g/ 8.2 oz and there is a 9mm heel-to-toe drop.
On uses their CloudTec®, Helion™ super foam, and Missiongrip™ when taking a look at what technology is packed into these shoes.
ON Cloudvista Impressions
When you look at the Cloudvista you will notice that they stay true to the signature On brand look. They have a stylish silhouette and their unique cloud-pocketed midsole also known as CloudTec.
Looking at first glance they resemble the Cloudventure, which is marketed towards everyday trail running shoes. If you’re looking for an On brand shoe that can handle a little more mileage and trail you can check out the Cloudventure Peak.
Let’s dive deep into all the features that this shoe has to offer.
The area that is most known is the CloudTec technology that you can see on every midsole of On shoes. The Cloudvista does an exceptional job of allowing the midsole to flex on its own and connect you to the ground. As stated by On, Helion Superfoam combines rigid, stable sections of the midsole with more flexible foam elements to provide both impact cushioning and energy return.
One of the biggest areas a trail shoe can shine is its outsole. On developed their own outsole called Missiongrip. It’s multidirectional lugs that are supposed to cling to all surfaces. While they did ok on some more technical surfaces, they are a shoe that does well on packed dirt paths and that’s where I use them.
Last area that On markets is their TPU mudguards. This is said to give the shoe durability and helps to hold up when faced with tough trails.
Lacing them up for the first time I was fully aware of how firm they are. On is known for that, but the Cloudvista had firmness from the midsole to the upper. They hugged my feet all over but were almost a little too constricted. I had to wear them for many runs/ walks to get them broken into a point to enjoy them. But, just looking at them they are really cool.
My first run was a short road-to-trail run. It was 3 miles. I had zero problems when running on the pavement, transitioning to a more rocky terrain is where I was hesitant. I suffer from ankle problems and have a fear of rolling one of my ankles.
With the Cloudvistas, the midsole runs a tad narrow and too high for me. I prefer a shoe that has a wider midsole, especially one that will flair out around the heel. It gives me more peace of mind and stability.
This shoe runs more like a road shoe than a trail shoe for me. I feel confident in my stability when using them on the road or packed flat trails.
ON Cloudvista Protection
The Cloudvista is much lighter in weight when you put them on than what it shows on paper. The lightweight breathable upper combined with the Helion super foam and the CloudTec midsole make the Cloudvista exceptionally light but on the same note, on has included enough trail features to create a shoe that is decently stable and protective out on the trails.
Like I mentioned, just not as stable as I would like but I think overall it’s a good shoe.
On days the upper is made of “70% recycled polyester and as well as a TPU mudguard for added protection.” The mudguards are properly placed for some mild protection. I did take them through a creek and the multi-layers of the upper felt like they just contained the water. Not a fan.
The midsole compared to the Cloudultra has a softer feel to them. The reason for this could be the purple insole that you see when you’re about to put your shoes on.
When you remove this insole and flip it over you will notice that it is built up from the midfoot to the heel. This allows for a nice flex in the shoe.
ON Cloudvista Durability
Durability wise so far they have held up for 50-plus miles with little wear to them on the outsole. I have worn them a great deal on blacktop and the lugs do show a small amount of wear. I think if I would have kept them on trails or just dirt paths they would look brand new still.
Can it handle tough mountain terrain? The short answer is yes they can. But I have other trail shoes I would rather wear for those types of trails so I would not pick these if given the choice.
I would not want to wear these for anything over 10k. They do a great job performing their job up to moderate distances but for those longer runs, I need more cushioning and support.
ON Cloudvista Responsiveness & speed
Out on the more technical trails, these do feel lightweight and nimble. It is easy to find your foot placement over rocks and roots. But with the pods on the bottom of the shoes I just don’t feel fully confident going my fastest speed over the rugged paths. In the back of my mind, I was constantly thinking I was going to roll my ankles.
ON Cloudvista Comfort and fit
The comfort and fit of the shoe is overall mediocre.
From the midsole to the upper it’s not plush in any way. At first, it’s a very stiff shoe that gradually warms up the more you wear it. It is a form-fitting shoe, those with wider feet would want to steer clear of this shoe. Even though it’s form-fitting it still doesn’t give me the lockdown over the midfoot I like.
The laces are very thin, but I’m a huge fan of Salomon’s trail lacing system so maybe that’s kinda On’s idea behind the skinny laces. Once you pull the laces and tie them you will notice there isn’t any padding at all in the tongue.
It’s made up of a microfiber material, so when you have your laces done and pulled tight you feel pressure on the top of your foot. This is fine for short distances but when you push past those, that’s when I want a little expansion in the shoe to let my feel swell.
ON Cloudvista Conclusions
On’s trail shoe, the Cloudvista is geared towards the entry-level runner who is starting to see the value in having a road-to-trail shoe in their rotation.
It’s a great-looking shoe that by just looking at them you can see how much thought is put into creating them. I would suggest wearing them for everyday trail shoes that would be used for gravel paths, dirt roads, or mild trails.