On Cloudsurfer 3 Review: A Plush Daily Trainer, Plus the Alternatives Worth Comparing

Introduction

The first Cloudsurfer from On divided opinion. Plenty of runners found it too mushy, even though it also had fans who thought the ride was just right. The Cloudsurfer 2 went the other way: firmer, peppier, but less comfortable. The new On Cloudsurfer 3 is the model trying to split that difference, and this guide covers what it is like to run in, who it fits best, and how it compares to two of the strongest plush-cushion trainers on the market, the Brooks Glycerin 23 and the ASICS Nimbus 28.

On Cloudsurfer 3: Specs and Construction

On paper, the Cloudsurfer 3 is a 38 mm stack height shoe with an unusual 8.6 mm drop, leaving 29.4 mm of foam under the forefoot. The two headline components are a new Sereal foam, an upgrade from the Helion foam used across On’s range, and an updated CloudTec Phase midsole. The Sereal foam has not been fully detailed by the brand, but visually it resembles the supercritical foams seen elsewhere in the market.

CloudTec Phase uses computer modeling to determine the shape, placement, and angle of the tube geometry across the shoe, tuned to what the foot and body need at different points of the foot strike. A rubber outsole with strategic cutouts protects the foam while adding flex points and grip, and a central channel through the midsole helps the shoe roll through the stride.

The upper gets a major update too. A new warp-knit material is very soft and comfortable on the foot, though not especially stretchy in the toe box. The tongue carries restrained padding, which is welcome, while the heel collar is generously padded with memory foam. The fit is well tailored rather than snug, and regular running shoe sizing worked well.

One clear trade-off: weight. A US men’s size 9 comes in at 10.6 oz / 302 g, a substantial jump over last year’s model, and that extra mass shapes much of how the shoe performs.

How It Feels on the Road

The Cloudsurfer 3 does what it set out to do: it is not too soft and not too firm. The compression is controlled and predictable on every foot strike, and the squish returns without feeling unstable, addressing one of the main complaints about the original Cloudsurfer.

The compromise is rebound. Energy goes into the shoe, but it does not fully come back out, so pushing the pace feels unrewarding. That, combined with the added weight, makes this a shoe for easy days rather than speed work. For daily training at comfortable paces, and especially for recovery runs on fatigued legs, it works very well.

Where the shoe genuinely excels is step-in comfort. It is one of the most comfortable shoes to simply put on, and the plushness, compression, and decompression of the new CloudTec Phase paired with Sereal foam feel at their best while walking or standing. As casual wear or a walking shoe, it is likely to be very popular, and it could suit people who walk for exercise depending on how they walk.

Brooks Glycerin 23

The Brooks Glycerin 23 is nominally a max-cushion shoe, yet it lands at a similar stack height and only 0.1 oz / 2 g heavier than the Cloudsurfer 3. Its foam construction also looks a lot like the Sereal foam in the On, but where On uses cloud geometry to control the ride, Brooks uses dual densities of foam: softer in areas where you want cushioning, firmer where you want more pep.

The heel cup is packed with puffy memory foam, and Brooks continues to be excellent at dialing in fit, offering the same tailored-but-not-snug feel that On achieves. Between the two, walking feels better in the Cloudsurfer 3, while running feels better in the Glycerin 23, and runners who want a slightly more stable experience on foot may prefer the Brooks.

At $175, the Glycerin 23 costs $15 more than the Cloudsurfer 3, and in that direct comparison the On comes out ahead overall.

ASICS Nimbus 28

The ASICS Nimbus 28 chases the same goals as the Cloudsurfer 3: plush comfort and impact absorption. It pairs FF Blast Plus foam, one of the strongest iterations of that platform, with a small amount of ASICS GEL hidden in the heel. The GEL is not there to add bounce; it is designed purely to soak up impact when the foot lands.

Details also stand out: a heavily padded heel cup and a knit tongue that is particularly well executed. For very easy running and walking, the Cloudsurfer 3 is the preferred pick, but at everyday daily-training paces the Nimbus 28 is the better choice of the two.

The Nimbus 28 retails for $170, $10 above the Cloudsurfer 3.

Also Worth Knowing: On Cloudsurfer 2

If saving money matters more than the latest update, the Cloudsurfer 2 is still available at a substantially discounted $110 through the On website. These are two substantially different shoes, though. The Cloudsurfer 2 is firmer and considerably more peppy, which makes it a bit more versatile for faster work, but it is less comfortable both running and as casual wear. For classic On fans who prefer a firmer ride, it is a genuinely good bargain.

Buying Advice

The Cloudsurfer 3 retails at $160 and launches on September 24, initially at run specialty retailers. Viewed as a daily trainer, that price feels a little expensive. Viewed as a max-cushion shoe, it is actually competitive, which is unusual to say about an On shoe.

A simple way to choose:

• On Cloudsurfer 3: best for easy days, recovery runs, walking, and all-day comfort, if you do not mind the weight and lost rebound.
• Brooks Glycerin 23: better for running in this head-to-head, and better if you want a slightly more stable ride, at a higher price.
• ASICS Nimbus 28: better at daily-training paces, with excellent plush comfort, at $170.
• On Cloudsurfer 2: the budget option at $110 if you want a firmer, peppier classic On feel.

Conclusion

The On Cloudsurfer 3 is a comfy running shoe that straddles the line between daily trainer and max cushion. It delivers a controlled squish that stays stable, at the cost of some of the pep of previous versions. As a comfort-first trainer and casual wear option, it is a clear improvement over last year’s model, and the comparisons with the Glycerin 23 and Nimbus 28 show it holds its own in a crowded plush-trainer market.