On Cloudmonster Hyper vs Hoka Skyward X: Big-Stack Super Trainers Head to Head

Introduction

When it comes to big-stack daily trainers, few shoes go bigger than the On Cloudmonster Hyper and the Hoka Skyward X. Both are super trainers that deploy super shoe tech in massive midsoles: a super foam insert carried in a larger foam cradle, built to deliver maximum comfort and efficiency for your daily miles, even at the easier end of your everyday pace.

Both also carry eye-watering price tags. So do they work, and which one is best? After well over 40 miles in each, spanning easy, recovery and faster efforts, here is the head-to-head.

Specs: Stack, Weight and Price

Neither shoe is messing around when it comes to stack height. The Cloudmonster Hyper comes in at 37mm in the heel and 31mm in the forefoot for a 6mm drop. The Skyward X packs a whopping 48mm in the heel and 43mm in the forefoot for a 5mm drop.

The On is surprisingly light for its bulk at 9.1oz (258g) in a men’s UK 8, while the Skyward X lands at 11oz (313g), up there with the heftiest running shoes you will find. On price there is only five dollars between them in the US: the Cloudmonster Hyper sits at $220 (£210) and the Skyward X at $225 (£185), though the gap widens in the UK.

Both shoes use two types of foam, with a super foam insert carried in a more standard foam cradle. The Cloudmonster Hyper has a wedge of high-energy PEBA in an EVA CloudTec cradle with 2.5mm more foam than the standard Cloudmonster, and notably it skips any plate entirely, not even the Speedboard On uses in its other shoes. The Skyward X also packs a PEBA wedge in a supercritical EVA frame, but adds a bold carbon plate, a combination designed to deliver cushion, spring and efficiency, with the frame adding stability.

Fit and Sizing

Both shoes worked very well in testers’ normal running shoe sizes, and the consensus is to go true to size. The characters differ slightly though. The Skyward X has more material in its upper, so it sits a bit more snugly around the foot, with a big padded tongue and a heel collar that comes in narrower around the Achilles. The Cloudmonster Hyper uses a thinner, more breathable upper with a more rounded heel cup, a flat wrapping tongue with enough padding to take lace pinch out, and rubberized laces that lock tight and do not come loose.

In practice, both offer roomy, fairly wide toe boxes with good clearance across the top of the toes. The Skyward X has a thumbs-width of space at the end and flexible uppers that keep the toe knuckle area snug but not restricted. On the Cloudmonster Hyper, the heel hold is reasonably secure though not the most locked-in, with a flexible heel and not much of a counter, and the occasional hint of heel slip. Neither fit was problematic.

Ride Feel: Two Very Different Characters

Put one shoe on each foot and the difference is marked. Despite their similar purpose, these are chalk and cheese underfoot.

The Cloudmonster Hyper is the firmer, more precise, more controlled and more stable of the two. There is less cushioning than the Hoka, but far less wobble. It is protective and controlled, good for eating up miles, and there is some liveliness when you land further forward and engage the PEBA insert, though a lot of that is muted by the heavier, harder CloudTec foam at the base, especially at the back of the shoe for heel strikers. Picking up the pace is an effort, and it misses the Speedboard that gives On’s other shoes their faster character. It was used for a sub-9-hour Comrades Marathon, and it protects legs reasonably well, feeling smoother the longer the run goes on.

The Skyward X is the more memorable shoe. It runs a lot lighter than its spec sheet suggests, with a nice rocker, plenty of bounce and a springy, fun feel that makes genuine use of its fancy foams and carbon plate. It is stable for such a big shoe, protective, and it handles easy, recovery and long runs comfortably, plus it is more versatile at faster paces. The caveat: some testers found the huge soft midsole bed occasionally unstable, sinky and hard to control unless landing on the sweet spot, and opinions on this shoe vary more than most. For runners who want super-soft and lively at the same time, it delivers something genuinely different.

Durability and Outsole Grip

Grip has been pretty good in both. The Skyward X has more rubber coverage and a thicker, more durable compound, and it has shown no terrible signs of wear despite logging more miles, including long runs. The Cloudmonster Hyper follows On’s regular format with reinforcements on the key impact areas of its cloud elements, plus small studs to improve grip, though those studs can show early wear. Both remain flexible and agile shoes on the road.

Which Should You Buy?

If you want maximum cushioning to the extreme, a plush ride that makes the road disappear completely, the Skyward X delivers that and may win you over the way it won over testers who loved its bounce and long-run comfort. If you prefer a ride that is more controlled, more stable and firmer while still eating up road impact almost as well, the Cloudmonster Hyper offers that more naturally, along with slightly better outsole durability.

It is worth saying that more versatile and exciting shoes exist for less money or equivalent money, such as a super trainer like the Superblast or a plated shoe like the Endorphin Speed, and both of these are really shoes for churning out mileage and recovery runs. Runners who like snappy, connected, responsive shoes with good ground contact should look elsewhere, for example at the Hoka Mach X 2 or the Saucony Endorphin Speed. But picking between these two, the Skyward X is the more exciting, bouncier and more protective shoe, while the Cloudmonster Hyper is the steadier, more traditional-feeling option at a premium price.

Conclusion

Both shoes push the limits of max-cushion daily trainers, but they are built very differently. The On Cloudmonster Hyper suits runners who want a firmer, more controlled, protective ride and lots of foam between them and the floor. The Hoka Skyward X brings more to the table for its high price: bounce, a fun but stable ride and more versatility across paces, making it the pick of the two for most daily training.