On Cloudultra 3 Multi Tester Review: 2 Comparisons

Kurt: The Cloudultra 3 has a modern look: easy colours with enjoyable, eye-catching accents. In fact, it options On’s very distinct id midsole sample. To my opinion, On managed to create a non-nonsense shoe.

Kurt: Essential for a operating shoe, and much more for a path operating shoe, is the match. The shoe wants to present you consolation, stability, confidence, assist and breathability (for longer runs or moist sneakers) That is what the Cloudultra 3 gave me after I examined it on technical and tough terrain, the Alps.

The higher is produced from quick-drying, Swiss-engineered, Leno weave mesh. Designed for breathability, sturdiness and a safe midfoot match even after sweat and lengthy efforts.

Kurt: The toe field offers first rate area for the forefoot in order that it may well increase throughout a protracted path run with out inflicting stress factors.

Kurt: The toe bumper is bolstered with an overlay, making it very sturdy on tough terrain the place you’ll in all probability frequently hit rocks with the tip of your shoe.

Kurt: The Cloudultra 3 has a totally gusseted tongue produced from a sock-like neoprene materials. This semi-elastic mesh encloses your foot in a pleasing method ensuring you could have a cosy match and lockdown within the midfoot. The tongue seamlessly integrates with the higher. It offers simply sufficient cushioning and together with the lacing system it offers a delicate and cozy really feel.

Kurt: On added a further stretch strap on the center of the tongue. Is is mounted on each edges. Actually I don’t see using it.

The heel space of the shoe is nicely padded, not an excessive amount of, not too little.

For me, the heel cap may very well be barely larger in order that the edges of the heel collar is also barely larger. I discover that this shoe lacks lateral assist within the ankle space. A better and bolstered heel collar would assist with this.

Midsole & Platform

Courtney: The Speedboard and Helion HF supercritical foam  high layer, Helion EVA backside layer work collectively to supply a cushioned but secure and environment friendly stride. 

In comparison with different  On sneakers I’ve just lately examined on the roads (Cloudsurfer and Cloudflow 5), the Extremely is extra cushioned and the twin layers of Helion HF and EVA work nicely on softer path surfaces. It’s definitely not an excessively delicate really feel, nevertheless it’s sufficient to maintain you operating for lengthy durations. The perforated sock liner is breathable and cozy including to the cushioned really feel underfoot. 

I discovered I used to be capable of take the Cloudultra 3 from highway to path simply. I used to be capable of race within the Extremely just lately in a brief hilly leg of a relay. The Extremely was surprisingly fast, however I did really feel unstable over bigger gravel and ended up rolling my ankle when hugging the aspect of the path. I feel this goes again to the decrease reduce across the ankle and lack of a safe and cushty match on the heel. 

Kurt: On’s midsoles, together with the one within the Cloudultra 3 – are immediately recognizable because of their signature CloudTec know-how. They don’t use a conventional steady slab of froth, like most different manufacturers. As a substitute, On designs its midsoles with particular person “cloud” pods: hole, oval-shaped cushioning parts organized throughout the size of the only. The person pods compress on touchdown to soak up affect after which shortly rebound to ship a handy guide a rough push-off. This creates On’s trademark “delicate on touchdown, agency on take-off” sensation. The Cloudultra 3 does additionally profit from this know-how. It delivers a extra responsive, a extra dynamic and extra energetic trip. 

Kurt: You see the rock plate within the forefront of the foot (picture above)

The Cloudultra 3 makes use of On’s Helion foam, a light-weight, temperature-resistant materials designed to steadiness plush consolation and responsiveness. It’s softer than earlier On foams however nonetheless retains construction, which is very necessary for lengthy path runs the place stability issues.

As well as, On has embedded a full-length rock plate aka Speedboard®, inside its midsole. This protecting plate helps guard towards sharp rocks and roots, providing an added layer of confidence and security on technical terrain. It’s manufactured from thermoplastic and in addition serves as an energy-return ingredient for all-terrain efficiency.

To conclude: The Cloudultra’s midsole combines cloud pods, Helion foam, and a Speedboard plate to present you a cushioned and responsive trip.

Kurt: Platform: Heel 95mm, Midfoot 75mm, forefoot 120mm.

Outsole

Courtney: The outsole of the Cloudultra is manufactured from thickly positioned Missiongrip rubber that comes up over the bevel to supply optimum protection and traction. 

The lugs are broadly spaced; ahead dealing with down the middle of the forefoot and diagonal arrows dealing with outwards. This strategic placement is engineered utilizing Finite Factor Evaluation or FEA. 

Kurt: The outsole is manufactured from On’s Missiongrip Rubber with V-shape lugs. The Missiongrip rubber has a ‘sticky’ property, which signifies that it sticks to the floor you stroll on.

In the course of the outsole, there’s a piece that isn’t lined with Missiongrip rubber. On seemingly designed it this technique to permit for a bit extra torsional flexibility, serving to the shoe adapt higher when operating over uneven terrain.

The Cloudultra 3 delivers spectacular traction throughout quite a lot of surfaces. On technical and dry terrain, the grip feels safe and assured, whereas even on moist rocks the outsole maintains dependable maintain, inspiring belief when the situations get difficult.

Journey, Conclusions and Suggestions

Courtney: The Cloudultra 3 impressed me with its comfy, protecting trip. For a runner who hits the paths as complement to my coaching (with the occasional path race), the Extremely helped me run with confidence.

The power return on the Cloudultra is sufficient to preserve you transferring, however I wouldn’t go as far as to say it is the lightest, quickest path shoe at 9.52 oz in my girls’s dimension 9. 

This being stated, I discovered the lockdown and luxury of the shoe to be glorious, particularly over diverse terrain. Rolling my ankle throughout the race was proof that the Cloudultra’s heel stability is an space that wants enchancment. 

The Extremely is an efficient choice for hikers and walkers. It isn’t simply a horny $190 operating shoe. You get a really sturdy shoe, and though I don’t have any extremely race ambitions but, I’d really feel assured taking out for lengthy path runs sooner or later. 

Courtney’s Total Rating: 8.85/10

Journey (30%): 8.5

Match (30%): 9.5

Worth (10%): 8.5

Type (5%) 10

Traction (15%):  8

Rock Safety (10%): 9

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Kurt: The Cloudultra 3 weighs 316g (US10 / EU44), which isn’t precisely light-weight, nevertheless it doesn’t really feel sluggish both. Whereas the stack peak isn’t notably excessive, I by no means felt it was missing. Quite the opposite, the shoe delivers a balanced, managed trip with a robust connected-to-the-ground sensation, whereas nonetheless providing ample cushioning to comfortably deal with ultra-distance efforts.

What actually stands out is the flexibility. The Cloudultra 3 handles quite a lot of eventualities with ease — from slower path coaching periods to longer ultra-distance races.

At €200 / $190, it sits on the upper finish of the worth spectrum in comparison with its rivals. Nevertheless, given its versatility and stable construct, I discover the worth nicely justified. The shoe feels sturdy and constructed to deal with critical mileage with out breaking down shortly. They don’t name it Swiss engineering for nothing 🙂

When it comes to terrain, the Cloudultra 3 is a real multi-purpose path shoe. I haven’t examined it in muddy situations but, however given the comparatively low-profile lugs, I believe it’s not the place the shoe will shine most. On rocky, technical, and dry trails, nevertheless, it performs confidently.

One factor to notice is the narrower midfoot platform (75mm), which could make it much less ideally suited for runners with wider ft.

I examined the Cloudultra 3 throughout shorter, sooner periods but in addition relied on it throughout longer, high-elevation days — together with a 30K run with 2000m of climbing within the Alps. In all eventualities, it proved to be a dependable, versatile accomplice on the paths.

Kurt’s Total Rating: 8.83/10

Journey (30%): 9

Match (30%): 8 (-1 for lack of ankle assist)

Worth (10%): 9

Type (5%) 9.5

Traction (15%):  9

Rock Safety (10%): 10

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2 Comparisons

Inov8 TrailFly Max (RTR Evaluate)

Kurt:The Inov8 TrailFly Max incorporates a high-stack FlySpeed™ Professional foam infused with nitrogen for a bouncy, energized trip. Paired with a Boomerang™ insole, it offers long-run consolation. 

The TrailFly Max is available in with a narrower profile (Heel 85 mm, Midfoot 60 mm, Forefoot 110 mm) in comparison with the Cloudultra 3 and shaves off a little bit of weight at 306 g. It doesn’t characteristic a rock plate, and it feels barely much less responsive underfoot. The place it actually shines, nevertheless, is in traction — the aggressive 4 mm lugs ship excellent grip, making it a wonderful alternative for muddy and technical terrain.

Just like the Cloudultra 3, ankle assist is minimal, the TrailFly Max truly options a good softer heel compartment. With the identical 6 mm drop and a barely larger stack (Heel 35 mm / Forefoot 29 mm), it runs firmer.

Hoka Mafate Velocity 4 (RTR Evaluate)

Kurt: In essence, the Mafate Velocity 4 is a nimble, responsive path racer generously layered with cushioning — a shoe that blends pace, consolation, and technical functionality in a single bundle.

It actually shines on rugged terrain, the place traction is essential, but in addition handles steep, quick descents with confidence and management.

Since then, Hoka has break up the Mafate line into two branches: the plush Mafate 5 and the plated larger stack Mafate X. For me, the Mafate Velocity 4 has all the time been the right all-rounder — a shoe that performs simply as nicely on brief, quick path races because it does on longer, slower ultras the place consolation and cushioning turn out to be essential.

In comparison with the On Cloudultra 3, the Mafate Velocity 4 feels a bit extra dynamic, regardless of having comparable specs when it comes to weight, drop, and stack peak. The place it actually stands out is grip, because of the Vibram® Megagrip outsole — one of the vital dependable compounds on each dry and moist rock. That stated, I do really feel it’s barely much less breathable than the Cloudultra, which may very well be one thing to contemplate in hotter situations.

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Courtney Kelly, age 37 is a school lacrosse participant turned avid runner. She lives in Manchester, MA along with her husband and two daughters ages 4 and eight. Courtney signed up for her first 1/2 marathon the morning of the race in 2022, successful second place in a time of 1:26. She determined to take operating a bit extra significantly, becoming a member of Depraved Operating Membership and attempting some coaching plans. She ran her first marathon this fall in 3:04:27. As well as, she holds a half marathon PR of 1:25, a 5 mile PR 30:17, and a 5k PR of 18:20. She appears to be like ahead to getting some extra energy and pace beneath her belt this subsequent season, earlier than taking a crack on the marathon once more. She is 5’4”, 110 lbs.Off the roads, Courtney is a painter and loving mom to her women.

Kurt Biesemans: Belgian (Path)runner in his early 50’s. Professionally the founding father of Copilr, a startup studio.

His early sports activities background was in Triathlon: 3 x full Ironman distance, 10 or so half distance, numerous 1/4 and 1/8 distance. Attributable to accidents, I centered extra on biking. He bought again into (critical) operating in 2017.

Kurt runs round 60K per week and averages 10 hours of sports activities per week, together with biking, swimming, and energy coaching. His playground is 70 % highway and 30% path with the path usually muddy because of our moist local weather.

Operating outcomes so far: 5K: 22min, 10K: 45min 15k: 1:10 Half Marathon: 1h40min, Marathon: 3:41. I ran the Tour du Mont Blanc this spring  in 4,5 days.

He additionally enjoys mountaineering. In 2024 he hiked Path du Mont Blanc in 9 days together with his spouse and a couple of daughters (14 and 16). His weight is 77 kg and measures 1m86cm. Typical shoe dimension is EUR44; UK 9,5; US 10.

Observe Kurt on Instagram Critiques – Private and Strava

Samples have been supplied at no cost for assessment functions. No compensation was supplied by manufacturers for writing this text. RoadTrail Run does have affiliate partnerships and should earn fee on merchandise bought through purchasing hyperlinks on this article. These partnerships don’t affect our editorial content material. The opinions herein are completely the authors’.