On Cloudsurfer 2 vs Cloud Eclipse: Two Cushioned Daily Trainers Compared

Introduction

On’s cushioned daily trainer lineup has grown fast, and two models sit right at the heart of it: the Cloudsurfer 2 and the Cloud Eclipse. The Cloud Eclipse arrived in 2023 as a kind of halfway house between the Cloudsurfer and the Cloudmonster. The Cloudsurfer 2 followed in early 2025 with a new, softer midsole. Both use On’s Helion foam and CloudTec Phase design, where the cloud elements collapse in sequence like dominoes and release as you roll through each step.

We put in the miles in both to work out which one deserves a spot in your rotation.

Quick Specs at a Glance

The Cloudsurfer 2 comes in at 32mm in the heel and 23mm in the forefoot for a 9mm drop, weighing 9.1 oz (258g) in a US men’s 9.5. The Cloud Eclipse runs a higher midsole volume at 37mm heel and 31mm forefoot for a 6mm drop, tipping the scales at a slightly heavier 10.5 oz (297g) in the same size.

On price, the Cloudsurfer 2 lands at £150 or $160, while the Cloud Eclipse sits at £170 or $180, give or take a cent.

The major difference between the two is in the midsole. Both use Helion foam, On’s super foam, but the Eclipse carries a bigger wedge of it. The Eclipse also has a speedboard plate sitting under the midsole to add some stiffness to the foam elements, while the Cloudsurfer 2 leaves that out entirely to soften the ride.

Fit and Upper

Both shoes fit similarly and are fairly snug at the toe box, so going true to size is the safe call. Testers with narrower feet found a really nice fit in both. One tester found the Cloudsurfer 2 a little roomier and more flexible overall, while the Eclipse needed a bit more effort to lock down without heel slip.

Up top, the Eclipse has a dual-layered mesh upper, while the Cloudsurfer 2 uses a classic engineered mesh. Both are thick, soft and premium feeling, with nicely padded heel collars, though the Cloudsurfer 2 takes the plushness up a notch.

The Cloudsurfer 2’s tongue is much more heavily padded, wrapping and gusseting down into the forefoot, whereas the Eclipse sticks with a thinner, more breathable tongue. If you run in a hot climate, that difference may matter to you.

Ride and Run Test

Both shoes have pronounced rockers, and that is the feature that makes them feel smooth and natural to run in. Testers used both mostly as general daily trainers for easy and steady running with some strides mixed in, and both earned a place as favorite On daily trainers for exactly that reason.

The Cloudsurfer 2 is clearly the softer shoe. It feels a bit lower and cushier, with a comfier step-in feel and more plushness despite its lower stack. The Eclipse, with its bigger stack, arguably should be softer, but the speedboard gives it a snappier, slightly firmer and louder ride. That extra stiffness makes it the slightly more versatile shoe for some testers, holding its shape better over longer runs, up to around 90 minutes on feet.

Neither shoe is really a fast-run specialist. Both shine best at cruising paces, somewhere just slower than marathon effort. The Cloudsurfer 2’s lack of a speedboard means smoother transitions, but it gives up a bit of snap for faster running. On durability, both performed similarly, with only minor heel wear after testing. Underfoot, both have generous rubber coverage arranged in pads on the impact zones, and the trenches that used to grab stones have largely been cleaned up, though the Eclipse can still occasionally catch one.

Verdict: Which One Should You Buy?

If you want one shoe to do everything, the Cloud Eclipse is the first place to look. It has a bit more range, good comfort, and a snappier ride at times, and its extra midsole volume helps it hold up better over long runs when marathon training.

The Cloudsurfer 2, though, is the softer, comfier pick for day-to-day cruising miles, and it comes in cheaper at £150 or $160 versus £170 or $180 for the Eclipse. For testers who use these shoes mainly for easy and steady runs in rotation with faster shoes, the value case favors the Cloudsurfer 2.

Both are genuinely good shoes, and the call is tight. It really comes down to whether you prioritize long-run range or everyday softness and price.

Conclusion

The Cloud Eclipse offers more versatility thanks to its speedboard and bigger stack, making it the better single-shoe choice. The Cloudsurfer 2 counters with a softer ride, plusher fit and a lower price, making it the better value for daily cruising. Either way, both stand out among On’s daily trainers for their smooth rocker-driven ride.