On Cloudpulse Pro Review: Just Put Your Favorite Gym Shoes On Notice

As you’d expect from On—especially in a shoe with “Pro” in its name—the materials are top notch. Everything about the Cloudpulse Pro feels premium, down to the meticulous stitching and bonding. I do wish that the hardy, hexagon-clad material on the inner side of the upper wrapped further down the midfoot, but that probably won’t matter unless you’re doing rope climbs (which could potentially inflict some wear and tear on the exposed midsole).

Cloudy, As Forecasted

As with most On shoes, the Cloudpulse Pro’s step-in is downright delightful. The cushioned collar is perfectly plush. And while too much cushioning can be a bad thing when it comes to strength training, in the case of the Cloudpulse Pro it’s paired with a sturdy heel counter that feels secure from the jump. The shoe also features a semi-concealed webbing system in the upper, connecting the laces to the midsole, which maximizes the sensation of lockdown in the midfoot. All in all, I found the mere experience of lacing up in the Cloudpulse Pros to be a confidence-inspiring ritual that ensured my workout always started off on the right foot.

An Elevated Performance

To test the Cloudpulse Pro’s performance, I put the shoes through a mixed gauntlet of classic strength training and fast-paced HIIT workouts. Overall, it reminded me of the Metcon 7 (in my opinion, the peak of Nike’s training shoe repertoire—although, admittedly, I haven’t yet had a chance to try the new 10s). Specifically, I love the stability of the forefoot, which really comes into play when moving through space with exercises like walking lunges and skater jumps.

Grading the Cloudpulse Pro against the original Cloudpulse, one of the most notable improvements to performance comes from the Pro’s redesigned rubber outsole, which I found to give me more bite while performing sled pushes and pulls on turf. (Turns out, this is the same Missiongrip technology that On uses in its hiking and trail-running shoes.) Also, the upper—particularly the toe box—is way more durable here, thanks to a much-needed upgrade from the mesh used in the original Cloudpulse to an abrasion-resistant, ripstop-like fabric.