On Cloudsurfer 2 vs Cloudsurfer 3
Updated October 13, 2026. Specs are men's US 9.
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THE SHORT ANSWER
Whichever your size still exists in. The Cloudsurfer 2 is discontinued at retail, so remaining pairs sell against a thinning size run, while the Cloudsurfer 3 has a full one.
- On Cloudsurfer 2Sizes running outMen's at AmazonWomen's
- On Cloudsurfer 3Stock unverifiedMen's at AmazonWomen's
Availability last checked Oct 13, 2026. Prices and stock change without notice.
Every spec, side by side
| Spec | Cloudsurfer 2 | Cloudsurfer 3 |
|---|---|---|
| FIT AND WEIGHT | ||
| Weight | 9.2 oz | 10.1 oz |
| The official figures are not perfectly like for like because On quotes the 3 at a men's US 8.5. A same-size review measured a larger 1.4 oz increase, confirming that this is a substantially heavier shoe. | ||
| Widths | D | D |
| Upper | Breathable engineered mesh with TPU eyelet reinforcements and an ungusseted tongue | Evolved warp-knit engineered mesh with a padded collar and tongue |
| CUSHIONING GEOMETRY | ||
| Heel stack | 32 mm | 45 mm |
| The listed figures rise 13 mm at the heel and 14 mm at the forefoot. Part of that paper jump may reflect the newer total-stack measurement convention, but the shoe is visibly and materially taller. | ||
| Forefoot stack | 23 mm | 37 mm |
| Drop | 9 mm | 8 mm |
| MATERIALS | ||
| Midsole | Firmer Helion superfoam in an evolved CloudTec Phase geometry | Surreal superfoam in re-engineered CloudTec Phase geometry |
| On says its new foam is 15.5 percent softer, 15 percent lighter and 23.3 percent more responsive than Helion in simulation. Reviewers agree that it is softer and bouncier than the 2, though not everyone finds it as soft as the marketing suggests. | ||
| VALUE | ||
| List price at launch | $160 | $160 |
| OTHER CHANGES | ||
| Drop | 9 mm | 8 mm |
| Upper and fit | Engineered mesh with a thin, ungusseted tongue | Warp-knit mesh with a padded collar and tongue |
| The fit becomes plusher and more accommodating. Narrow feet may have to work harder for lockdown, while some reviewers felt pressure from the structured heel counter around the Achilles. | ||
| Outsole | Expanded rubber coverage | Three-millimeter rubber slabs in high-wear zones |
| Reviewers found the new coverage durable and the wet grip improved over the 2. | ||
Weighing whether to switch at all, rather than which of these two to buy? What replaced the On Cloudsurfer 2 covers the verdict on the update, what loyalists made of it, and the closest alternatives from other brands.
Buy the Cloudsurfer 2
Sizes running outDiscontinued at retail. Amazon carries what remains, so treat an in-stock size as a closing window, and expect prices to swing.
Availability last checked Oct 13, 2026.
Buy the Cloudsurfer 3
Stock unverifiedAvailability last checked Oct 13, 2026.
Questions runners ask
- Which is lighter, the On Cloudsurfer 2 or the Cloudsurfer 3?
- The On Cloudsurfer 2, by 0.9 oz in a men's US 9 (9.2 oz vs 10.1 oz).
- Do the On Cloudsurfer 2 and Cloudsurfer 3 come in the same widths?
- Yes. Both run in D for men's sizes, so a width that fit in the Cloudsurfer 2 carries over to the Cloudsurfer 3.
- How do the stack heights compare?
- 32 mm heel and 23 mm forefoot on the On Cloudsurfer 2, against 45 mm and 37 mm on the Cloudsurfer 3. That is 13 mm more under the heel and 14 mm more under the forefoot. See the stack height note in the table above: the published figures changed convention mid-lineage.
- Is the Cloudsurfer 3 still the newest Cloudsurfer?
- Yes. The Cloudsurfer 3 is the current On Cloudsurfer, listing at $160 at launch.