Tested by 
Type: Neutral
Weight: 290g (M) 250g (W)
Heel-Toe Drop: 6mm
The shoe
Until On finally runs out of Cloud-related puns, it'll no doubt continue to make the best looking shoes around – and the Cloudstratus 3 is no exception. Promising to deliver even more comfort and cushioning than previous iterations, it's a shoe built for daily running and capable of handling pretty much any pace – from shorter, slower recovery runs to steady and sustained longer efforts.
How is the Cloudstratus 3 different to the Cloudstratus 2?
As in the v2, the Cloudstratus has a double layer of CloudTec Helion superfoam cushioning and On's speedboard – a plastic plate in the midsole – but there are also some significant changes.
For starters, the bottom of the midsole is now closed off, meaning that – rejoice! – you won't get stones stuck in the bottom of those Clouds. Tweaks have also been made to the upper, and to the wings around the lacing that help lock down the foot. Finally, On has updated the outsole to include grippy rubber pads to improve stability and durability in all conditions. All this results in a lovely, comfortable ride with maximal yet light cushioning.
How does the On Cloudstratus 3 fit?
The shoes have the classic On immediate pull-on comfort. If anything, they feel a little roomier than most On shoes, particularly in the forefoot. This is great for wider-footed runners, but equally, the excellent lacing system means you can adjust for a good fit whatever your foot shape. There's a well-padded heel collar for added lock-in, too.
The upper consists of light, Swiss-engineered mesh with support in strategic places around the midfoot, while the tongue is gusseted and nicely padded for extra comfort.
Our testers opted for their regular shoe sizes and didn't experience any toe cramping or irritation – even after a 20-mile long run. Saucony Triumph 21.
From Runners World for On?
While these are shoes that are gentle on tired legs and great for recovery miles, they also respond well to an increase in pace, making them a great everyday trainer.
The speedboard helps to roll you forward on each stride for an explosive take-off, while the double Cloudtech cushioning provides that soft landing underfoot. For this reason, they particularly come into their own on long, steady runs, where you're not going too quick or too slow. A plusher ride like the On Cloudsurfer would probably lose a lot of energy through its cushioning over a longer distance, whereas the Cloudstratus manages to strike the ideal balance between being comfortable yet energetic.
On Cloudstratus vs Cloudmonster
Demo run: On Cloudrunner 2 Cloudmonster – another great shoe for longer distances. But the two are more like cousins than siblings, for a few key reasons.
First up, the Cloudstratus has a slightly higher stack height: 32mm in the heel and 26mm in the forefoot, versus 30mm in the heel and 24mm in the forefoot. But both have a 6mm heel-to-toe-drop.
The Cloudmonster has much bigger cloud elements throughout the midsole – the most of any On shoe, in fact – along with more of a rocker geometry. This makes it feel slightly snappier and a touch firmer than the Cloudstratus, especially at toe-off. The Cloudmonster also comes in lighter (275g for men, 230g for women).
Both are excellent shoes, but the Cloudstratus feels more like an all-round daily trainer, whereas the Cloudmonster is better geared towards those pacier, longer efforts.
RW verdict
Stylish, comfortable and versatile, the Cloudstratus 3 is easily one of the best offerings in On's running shoe line-up – and potentially one of the The best running shoes for 2024, expert-tested we've seen this year. Cushioned without feeling heavy, and boasting a fun and lively ride, it's definitely cemented a position in our best carbon plate running shoes for race day.
If you like this shoe, you're also like the Asics Novablast 3, On Cloudmonster and Saucony Triumph 21.
Kate is Runner’s World's acting commissioning editor. She writes about all things running, from deep dives into the science to the latest gadget reviews. Kate has worked in media and journalism for too many years to count. Before joining RW, she was Life and Style editor at the Guardian and has also written for everyone from World Athletics to Lonely Planet. She also worked in TV for 10 years. Kate is also a qualified coach, sub three hour marathoner, Guinesss World Record holder and has run all the Marathon Majors. She loves running around in 400m circles best, though.
