On Cloud Eclipse After 100 Miles: A Soft, Predictable Daily Trainer Worth a Close Look

Introduction

Some shoes earn their place in a rotation immediately, and some take a hundred miles to prove they belong there. The On Cloud Eclipse falls into the first camp. It uses a new kind of CloudTec Phase cloud while de-emphasizing the speedboard that has long defined how On shoes feel underfoot, and the result is a soft, squishy, predictable ride that has stayed enjoyable throughout a full 100 miles of testing.

This long-term look covers how the shoe has been used, how the midsole, outsole, and upper have held up, and how the buying recommendations have shifted now that more comparable shoes are on the market.

How It Rides: CloudTec Phase With Less Speedboard

The Cloud Eclipse has been used as a recovery run shoe and an easy-day shoe, and that is exactly where it shines. The CloudTec Phase midsole compresses noticeably every time the foot hits the ground, then bounces back as the foot rolls through the gait cycle and pushes off into the next stride. It is a genuinely pampering ride.

What makes this shoe interesting is the experiment it represents. The foam formula itself is not changing, so the difference comes down to the shape of the channels cut through the midsole and the new role of the speedboard. Traditionally, the speedboard is a hard plastic plate sitting between foot and foam, and it has often felt harsh and controlling. In the Cloud Eclipse, it has been reduced to something like a small torsion bar at the bottom center of the shoe, right underneath the arch. Removing that assertive plate and reshaping the clouds delivers a soft experience that has stayed predictable and enjoyable across the whole test period.

Early impressions suggested the shoe could handle easy running and even moderate paces. In practice, it earns its spot as the tall, bigger, softer option for tired days, when the goal is to feel comfortable rather than fast.

Durability at 100 Miles

The obvious concern with cutting holes into foam is accelerated wear. So far, that concern has not materialized. The foam still responds well. There is a little softening, and it no longer feels brand new out of the box, but that is entirely expected at the 100-mile mark, and the shoe is changing in the way a well-built trainer should.

Visually, there is some creasing in the midsole, but noticeably less than anticipated. While creasing is an imperfect indicator, it lines up with what the ride suggests: the shoe is holding up well.

The outsole rubber is doing its job too. The fine bubbled pattern etched into the rubber is beginning to wear down in higher-wear areas, and the cross marks are starting to fade in the highest-wear zones, which are the outside of the heel and the forefoot. At 100 miles, that is about what you would expect, and nothing is concerning. The upper is pristine. It looks great, still fits great, and the knit materials, especially the knit tongue, feel well chosen.

The One Fit Watch-Out

There is only one real negative to flag for a shoe of this caliber. For runners who sometimes get blisters along the lace line, particularly at the top of the foot, there is a potential friction point here. The stitching of the tongue, the two accent panels with stitching, and the way the lace is secured through a loop all converge in the same spot on a higher-volume foot. It has not produced a blister or even a hot spot, but it is something that gets felt during runs.

If that area is sensitive for you, a thicker sock is a sensible precaution. Beyond that, there is nothing else to warn about.

Alternatives and Pairing Recommendations

At $180, the Cloud Eclipse is a lot to pay for an everyday shoe, and On shoes rarely go on sale until late in the product life cycle, so that is likely the price you will pay. Two shoes remain the closest comparisons for what the Cloud Eclipse is trying to deliver: the Nike Invincible 3 and the Asics Superblast.

Two more options are worth adding now. The New Balance SC Trainer v2 targets the same runners and use cases in a similar way, pairing soft foam with a rigid element for a bit more roll and pep. It has been out for a while, but it is still found at the full retail of $180, the same as the Cloud Eclipse. The On Cloudmonster 2, released since the Cloud Eclipse first appeared, uses the older On cloud style with a speedboard, though even there the speedboard is being softened and a two-layer foam system adds liveliness. If the Cloud Eclipse feels too squishy and you want something more stable, the Cloudmonster 2 is the pick, also at $180.

For pairing recommendations, the Prime X2 Strong and Endorphin Elite still work well. Two newer options round out the rotation nicely: the Hoka Mach 6, a lighter and peppier trainer with responsive, bouncy foam for the days you want to pick up the pace, and the Hoka Cielo X1, a bigger-shoe racer with a large footprint and a fast feel that pairs naturally with heavy Cloud Eclipse training.

Conclusion

After 100 miles, the On Cloud Eclipse has proven that On is onto something with CloudTec Phase and a reduced speedboard. The ride stays squishy and predictable, the midsole, outsole, and upper hold up as expected, and the only real caveat is a possible friction point at the top of the foot for higher-volume feet. If you want a soft recovery and easy-day trainer and are comfortable paying full retail, it is an easy shoe to recommend.