Four Running Shoes, Four Verdicts: On Cloudmonster Hyper, Puma Fast RB, Nike Journey Run, Adidas Adizero Pro Evo 1

Introduction

Some release cycles are stacked, and this is one of them. Four shoes, four very different ideas about what a modern running shoe should be: an On max-cushion trainer finally given the superfoam treatment, a laceless Puma concept that looks like it arrived from the future, a quiet new Nike daily option, and the most expensive race shoe on the market getting yet another limited drop. Here is how each one shakes out.

On Cloudmonster Hyper: Best On Yet, But Pricey

On did not change much with the Cloudmonster 2, keeping the speedboard and CloudTec cushioning arrangement largely intact. The Cloudmonster Hyper is the logical next step: Helion HF super foam has been placed into the forefoot area rather than relying purely on the CloudTec pods, which should make the ride noticeably softer and more resilient up front.

There are genuine highlights here. The silicon beaded laces are a great addition, and the midsole might be quite exceptional this time around. It is still probably the best On shoe we have tried. But the same upper problems from the original Cloudmonster remain: a very thin tongue that is too short, lace loops doing all the lockdown work, and no way to use a runner’s knot without pressure digging into the top of the foot. At £209 in the UK, that is a colossal price for a shoe with unresolved fit issues. A nay this time.

Puma Fast RB: A Rule Breaker With Real Questions

The Puma Fast RB apparently stands for Rule Breaker, and the design makes that clear. There is a mass of Nitro Elite foam in the heel, plus a split plate setup in the forefoot: two Nitro Elite pods just behind the ball of the foot, not unlike the Alphafly layout. A power plate is present as on the Fast-R Nitro Elite 2, with a further plate between the forefoot foam and the pods.

Sit the shoe down and it balances on its midfoot, heel not even touching the ground. Surprisingly, on foot it is not as extreme as it looks and feels reasonably stable. But with no laces to tie, lockdown is a genuine question mark, and that pushes it toward concept territory rather than practical training. The outsole rubber and Durol pull tabs carry over from the Fast-R Nitro Elite 2, with power tape doing most of the structural work. No price has been announced yet, though a release this year seems likely. It is a fun, innovative design, but for many runners it may be a step too far.

Nike Journey Run: A Daily Trainer Nobody Asked For

The Nike Journey Run appeared on Nike’s website without any fanfare. It features foam branded as Comfy Ride, with no word on what the material actually is. There is no listed weight and no stack height, and the profile looks a lot like a Vomero 16 without the additional foam and tech.

The details are unremarkable: very thick laces that look borrowed from a skateboarding model, an outsole with basic waffle-like lugs, some extra tongue padding, nothing out of the ordinary. At £90, the real problem is context. Spend another £20 and you get the Pegasus, a much better and far more proven shoe. Nike’s daily lineup has been middling for a while now, and this shoe does not change that. A nay.

Adidas Adizero Pro Evo 1: Another Batch, Another Price Hike

The Adizero Pro Evo 1 was widely written off as a token release to satisfy competition rules, available only to elite runners. Instead, another batch is coming to the UK on April 25th, now priced at £450. That is up from the previous £400-odd, which is a remarkable increase for an unchanged model.

The published specs are muddled too: one section lists an 11mm drop with a 39mm heel and 28mm forefoot, while other information suggests a 39mm heel and 33mm forefoot for a 6mm drop, which sounds more plausible. The claimed weight is 138g for a UK 8, though larger sizes will climb well past that. It is an extraordinary number, but at £450 you could pick up two pairs of a very capable carbon race shoe instead. For most runners, better and much cheaper models exist that you will get more out of. A hard nay.

Overall Buying Advice

If you want max cushion from On and can live with the thin tongue, the Cloudmonster Hyper is the best-riding On shoe yet, but only if the £209 price and upper quirks do not put you off. Skip the Journey Run and buy a Pegasus. The Fast RB is worth watching if you are curious where Puma is heading, though the laceless design limits everyday appeal. And unless you are chasing a collector’s item, the Pro Evo 1’s price makes no practical sense.

Conclusion

Only one of these four earns a clear recommendation, and even that comes with reservations. The Cloudmonster Hyper is a genuine step forward underfoot, but £209 is a lot for a shoe with known upper issues. The Fast RB is fascinating but flawed, the Journey Run is redundant in Nike’s own lineup, and the Adizero Pro Evo 1 is priced for hype rather than runners. In this group, patience and a better-fitting wallet will serve most runners well.