New Balance Fresh Foam More v4 vs On Cloudmonster: Two Max Cushion Shoes Compared

Introduction

Max cushion running shoes have gone from novelty to staple, and two of the most talked-about options right now are the New Balance Fresh Foam More v4 and the On Cloudmonster. Both are built for plush, comfortable miles, and both have a lot to offer runners who just want an enjoyable, easy-going ride. We put both shoes through the same kind of testing: easy road miles, pavements, light off-road paths and a mixture of paces, plus a head-to-head run with one shoe on each foot. This guide breaks down where each shoe excels, where it falls short, and which runners should pick which one.

At a Glance: Weights, Prices and Drop

The numbers set the stage. The Fresh Foam More v4 costs £140 or $149.99 and weighs 298 grams (10.5 oz) for men in a size 8, with a 4mm drop. The Cloudmonster costs £150 or $169.99, weighs 275 grams (9 oz) in the same size, and has a 6mm drop.

The More v4 is therefore the heavier of the two, and it is also the bigger shoe overall. Side by side, the Cloudmonster, which looks enormous next to most trainers, actually feels comparatively compact. If you are deciding between the two, the More v4 is the bigger, chunkier option, while the Cloudmonster is a touch lighter and slightly easier to pick the pace up in.

New Balance Fresh Foam More v4: Soft, Wide and Stable

The More v4 is a max cushion shoe designed for plush, comfortable miles, and it carries a number of updates over the More v3. The biggest change is the addition of even more Fresh Foam X midsole foam, which makes the shoe higher and wider than its predecessor, a design move aimed at improving stability as well as softness. The outsole has new cushion zones along the length of the shoe plus flex zones for a more natural feel, and the rocker profile remains for a smooth transition through the stride. A modified engineered mesh upper is built to feel plush while still breathing well, a generous layer of rubber protects the foam and adds grip, and a reflective logo helps with visibility after dark.

On the run, the More v4 is noticeably softer underfoot than the Cloudmonster, with softness in the midsole and the insole, and a wider platform with more foam spilling out to the edges. It also offers a firmer bit of structure in the ride so it still feels responsive rather than dead. If stability matters to you, the wide base runs the full length of the shoe through forefoot, midfoot and heel, and it edges out the Cloudmonster in that department.

The main trade-offs: it is heavier, it feels a bit more constrictive on the foot with a snugger, hugging upper and less room in the toe box, and it does not roll through the stride quite as naturally as some rivals. It is best suited to slow miles, recovery runs and longer training sessions, though it is more versatile than most max cushion shoes.

On Cloudmonster: A Firmer, Bouncier Ride

The Cloudmonster is On’s take on max cushion, pairing a thick Helion super foam midsole with a full-length Speedboard and the brand’s CloudTec design to produce rebound and minimise impact on easy days. The mesh upper offers a stretchy fit with reinforced sections for support, there is ample cushioning around the ankle collar with a lean tongue design, and an eyelet lacing system helps lock the foot down.

In testing, the Cloudmonster runs firmer than the More v4 and relies heavily on its rocker geometry to move you through the stride efficiently. It is roomier too, with more space in the toe box and a slightly snugger fit around the heel. The extra weight saving over the New Balance shows up on foot, and it rolls through the stride a bit more naturally, which makes it the slightly more versatile pick if you want the option to clip the pace up.

One thing worth knowing: Helion foam has traditionally been on the firm side and, in this tester’s view, lacks the performance benefits of true super foams. But loaded in large quantities here, it behaves almost like a different foam, becoming bouncier and considerably more comfortable than in many of On’s other shoes. Even so, the midsole is not especially soft or especially responsive, so it does enough to feel comfortable without excelling in any single area. Deals are common, with the shoe seen advertised at around £100, which makes it an appealing value pick.

Hoka Mach 5: The Alternative Worth Considering

Here is the surprising takeaway from testing: the More v4, with its split heel and rocker geometry, ends up feeling a lot like a Hoka shoe, reminiscent of a Hoka Kawana. But when measured against the Hoka Mach 5, the advice is simple: put both of these down and get the Mach 5.

The Mach 5 copes better with long, slow runs, is more versatile overall, and handles faster running far better than either of the two max cushion options here. If your running includes a mix of easy miles and quicker sessions, and you want one shoe that covers more ground, the Mach 5 arguably delivers more value than either the More v4 or the Cloudmonster.

Which One Should You Buy?

Both shoes are genuinely good at the same core job: easy, casual everyday miles at a relaxed pace. The differences come down to ride feel and fit. The More v4 is softer, squishier and more stable thanks to its wide base, with a snug, cradling upper. The Cloudmonster is firmer, lighter, roomier in the toe box and rolls through the stride more efficiently, which gives it a bit more versatility for picking up the pace.

On price, the More v4 sits at £140 and the Cloudmonster at £150, though deals have brought the Cloudmonster down to around £100. If price is a factor, the older Cloudmonster is worth hunting down on discount.

Conclusion

The Fresh Foam More v4 comes out on top for outright cushioning quality: it is softer, a bit more responsive, more comfortable, and its wide, stable base ticks nearly every box you could want from a max cushion shoe for easy days and marathon training miles. The Cloudmonster remains a very good, balanced option and arguably the best cushioned shoe On has made, and at discounted prices it is a sensible buy for easy miles. And if versatility is your priority, the Hoka Mach 5 is the one to put on your shortlist instead.