On Cloud Soma First Thoughts: On's First Hole-Free Midsole Is a Big Change

Introduction

The On Cloud Soma is uncharted territory for On, and that is not marketing fluff. It is the brand’s first shoe with no holes in the midsole at all. Anyone familiar with On knows that CloudTec has always been defined by those little holes in different configurations and materials, tuned to get a specific feel out of each shoe. The Soma does away with that entirely.

What replaces it is a whole lot more foam than On has ever used in this style of shoe. Because of how CloudTec has historically been built, it simply did not allow for much foam, and foam is where much of the running shoe world’s progress has come from in recent years. With the Soma, On is finally leaning into that direction.

A First for On: No Holes in the Midsole

On still says there is some CloudTec technology at work here, but it is clearly different. In practice, the cloud pods are essentially a traditional midsole with deep flex grooves. That approach has appeared a few times before in other shoes, such as the PureConnect and the Merrell Adapt series, and each iteration has delivered a distinct experience.

The Helion HF foam inside is the same foam On has used in the Cloud Ultra Pro and the Cloud Ultra 3, making the Soma the third shoe in that lineage. It has felt different in each version, and here it reads as a medium density: not much energy return or bounce, but a light and airy quality that suits the shoe’s intent.

Ride Feel: Light, Airy, and Moderately Stacked

This is meant to be a natural running shoe, and the ride reflects that. Nothing takes over your stride or dictates how your foot strikes the ground, which makes it feel refreshingly simple to run in. There is a little more protection here than in many other natural running shoes, so it sits somewhere in between rather than going full minimalist.

On smooth terrain, whether road or light trail, the flex grooves mostly fade into the background and are easy to forget about. The shoe’s moderately stacked platform is part of the appeal: you are not right on the ground, but you are not floating far above it either.

Fit, Upper, and Trail Manners

Once the terrain turns technical, things change. On rocky, rooty sections where you need to dance around obstacles, you do feel the flex grooves, and rocks can lodge in them as they flex underfoot. Much of the feedback on rough ground actually comes through the upper rather than the midsole.

That upper is a light engineered mesh that feels airy but is not especially stretchy or soft. Unlike many natural running shoes that use a pliable knit, this one runs firmer. There is also a lot of volume, partly because there is no footbed at all: no insole, just the strobe layer and then straight onto the foam. The idea is that you feel the flex and connect with the trail directly.

Who This Shoe Is For

The Cloud Soma is best understood as an in-between shoe: part traditional runner, part natural runner. Expect to feel it in muscles you do not always use when running in a more conventional trainer, which is typical of the natural running category. It also works as an all-day casual shoe for breaking in, which makes it more versatile than its trail-focused feel suggests.

Things to Consider Before Buying

Think about where you will actually run it. On smoother terrain it disappears on your foot in the best way. On technical ground, the deep flex grooves and the firm, roomy upper become noticeable, and debris can find its way into the grooves. If your routes are mostly technical trail, that trade-off deserves real consideration.

Buying Advice

The Soma profiles as a daily trainer for every other day use: a shoe you grab for a short run and then wear for the rest of the day, something in the semi-casual runner category. That dual role is genuinely useful, and it is a sensible pick if you want a natural-feeling ride with a bit more cushioning than a pure minimalist shoe.

Conclusion

The On Cloud Soma marks a real shift for the brand: no CloudTec holes, far more foam, and a Helion HF midsole tuned for a light, airy, medium-density feel. It will not replace a max-cushion trainer or a dedicated technical trail shoe, but as an in-between daily option that doubles as casual wear, it makes a lot of sense.