On’s Best Daily Trainers Are Now More Hoka-Like Than Ever

The Swiss running brand has long competed with its California-based counterpart. Could this sneaker even the playing field?

On Running Cloudsurfer Max heels closeup

By Sean Tirman

Published July 17, 2025

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In the world of running shoes, California’s Hoka is the current hot ticket. Everyone else, even the brand’s closest competitors, is just trying to keep up. But if there’s one brand that’s close, it’s probably Switzerland-based On Running.

Now, On appears to be trying to close the gap with a bold new take on the brand’s best daily trainer (which just recently got transformed into a trail runner). And wouldn’t you know it? The On Cloudsurfer Max, the successor to the Cloudeclipse, looks like the brand’s best Hoka impression yet.

This shoe doubles down on the brand’s signature CloudTec Phase cushioning tech.

On

Save your sole

Hoka has gone all-in on its cushioning, to the point where many of its popular shoes, like the Bondi 9, look practically like platform sneakers. Meanwhile, On has largely stood its ground … until now.

As you can plainly see, this take on the Cloudsurfer rides much higher than any other On sneaker. That’s because this one doubles down on the sole, literally — it has twice the CloudTec Phase cushioning of other On shoes.

On Running Cloudsurfer Max 3/4 shot pair — Along with the beefy new soles, these shoes also have a reimagined upper.

That outsole upgrade isn’t just a stylistic bite, either. According to the brand, this maximized cushioning (made of Helion superfoam) means more comfort and smoothness, helping to make your runs more “effortless” than ever before.

Of course, that doesn’t really mean that running will be easier, per se. But it does mean you’ll experience less fatigue overall, especially for those longer training stretches. That way, you can stay out longer, maximizing your gains.

On Running Cloudsurfer Max backs — You can see that the thick outsoles add a bit of height, now occupying the full bottom third of the shoes’ silhouette.

Bottoms up

That chunky new sole is only part of the story, however. The shoe’s upper and midsole have also been taken back to the drawing board, and the brand has gone to great lengths to improve both.

To start, the upper sports a new, reengineered mesh. This pairs with a novel eyestay construction and tongue. Together, they increase the shoe’s breathability, comfort and even cut down a bit on their overall weight.

On Running Cloudsurfer Max top — Like the new sole, the uppers have been completely reengineered.

The shock-absorbing midsole also features a new carved-out design that, together with the flat-knit collar, adds a bit of style. Plus, the shoe gets a quartet of handsome colorways.

However, one question remains: Can On maintain its reputation for long-lasting shoes while adding the comfort and cushioning more typically offered by its chief competitor, Hoka? Only time will tell.