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On Just Turned Its Best Daily Trainer into Trail-Ready Workhorse

Smooth and stable, the Cloudsurfer 2 takes a run on the wild side with a revised outsole and extra durability on the upper.

On Cloudsurfer Trail 2On

By Jack Seemer

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On is quickly becoming one of the most popular sports brands on the planet. But, admittedly, my fondness for its shoes didn’t come swiftly.

Let’s just say my first few experiences with those odd, carved-out midsoles all fell short of the “running on clouds” feeling promised by On’s fancy Instagram ads.

Then I tried the Cloudsurfer, a shoe that made me realize I don’t actually want that … or, at least not all the time.

On running shoe
Now in its second generation, the Cloudsurfer is a stability-focused trainer that shines in the smoothness of its transition underfoot.
Photo by Jack Seemer for Gear Patrol

While seemingly every brand is currently racing to out-Hoka the real Hoka, the Cloudsurfer zigs where others zag. Strangely enough, it feels sort of old-school underfoot — especially in the second generation released earlier this year.

Firm and responsive, with a modest stack height, the shoe reminds me a time before super shoes and platform-sized midsoles, back when running was simple and sometimes hard.

On running shoe
The stack height of the Cloudsurfer 2 pales in comparison to shoes from other brands. Is that such a bad thing?
Photo by Jack Seemer for Gear Patrol

The Cloudsurfer 2 is fast, it’s smooth and, most of all, it’s fun — a combination that easily earned it a spot in my roundup of the best daily trainers of 2025.

All to say, I’m pretty darn stoked to see it receive the rough-and-rugged treatment in the form of the Cloudsurfer Trail 2.

On Cloudsurfer Trail 2
Rough and rugged, the Cloudsurfer Trail 2 arrives ready for dirt.
On

Smooth and stable

Like the road version, the trail variant boasts utilizes On’s Helion foam for the midsole, which clocks in at 34.5mm on the Cloudsurfer Trail 2. At that height, expect an emphasis on stability over comfort, a welcome tradeoff on uneven surfaces.

On Cloudsurfer Trail 2
The Cloudsurfer Trail 2 shares the same Helion foam as the road variant.
On

The shoe also takes after the brand’s premiere trail runner, the new Cloudultra Pro optimized around the infamous UTMB course, with an updated Missiongrip outsole designed using Finite Element Analysis (FEA) — an advanced computer-based technique common in F1 to understand how an object will behave in the real world.

On Cloudsurfer Trail 2
As with the Cloudultra Pro, On’s top-of-the-line trail runner optimized for UTMB, the outsole here was designed using Finite Element Analysis (FEA).
On

For good measure, the Cloudsurfer Trail 2 also comes in a water-resistant version. But the standard variant looks plenty capable as-is, with an abrasion-resistant upper and reinforced toe cap for branches and sharp edges out on the trail.

On Cloudsurfer Trail 2
TPU on the toe cap adds protection against rocks and branches without weighing the shoe down.
On

Truth be told, I wouldn’t take On’s word on the level of cushioning, which it describes as “plush” on the shoe’s product page. Then again, it’s not like I necessarily want to.

Availability and pricing

The Cloudsurfer Trail 2 is available now on On’s official website. It starts at $170, with the water-resistant version carrying an additional $20 premium.

About the Author:

Jack Seemer is the executive editor at Gear Patrol, with over a decade of experience in product journalism. He currently reports on a wide range of topics, including footwear, watches, EDC, cookware and more.

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