What replaced the On Cloudmonster 1?
Updated August 5, 2026. Specs are men's US 9.
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THE SHORT ANSWER
The Cloudmonster 2 replaced it on February 22, 2024 at $180. It gained 0.7 oz, quotes 5 mm more stack at both ends, splits the Helion midsole into two densities, and lowers the Speedboard so foam sits between the plate and your foot. That last change is the one testers point at for the lost bounce. On also told buyers to size down from the original. Road Trail Run's two reviewers scored the 2 at 6.85 and 6 out of 10 after both had praised the shoe it replaced.
- On Cloudmonster 1Sizes running outMen's at AmazonWomen's
- On Cloudmonster 2Sizes running outMen's at AmazonWomen's
Availability last checked Aug 5, 2026. Prices and stock change without notice.
At a glance
- The Cloudmonster 2 is 0.7 oz heavier
- 5 mm more heel stack
- Drop is unchanged at 6 mm
- New midsole foam
- List price up $10
Every spec side by side, with the reason behind each change: Cloudmonster 1 vs 2.
Stay on your shoe, or switch?
Changed characterThe update that took the fun out. The 2 is heavier, firmer and more planted than the original, and it rolls where the first one bounced. Road Trail Run scored it 6.85 and 6 out of 10 from two testers, one of whom pointed buyers at On's own Cloudeclipse instead. Believe in the Run landed on a shoe that is not bad and not great. Doctors of Running dissented with a B plus and an A minus and called it one of their favorite rides of the year. Reddit came out at 58 percent positive. What it gains is stability and a wider forefoot. What it gives up is the reason people bought the first one.
Stick with the Cloudmonster 1 if
- You bought the original for the bounce, which is the specific thing the 2 gives up
- You want the lighter shoe, since the 2 adds 0.7 oz
- You do not want to re-learn your size, because On told buyers to size down for the 2
Move to the Cloudmonster 2 if
- You are a heavier runner, or the original felt tippy; the 2 widens the forefoot and stiffens the heel counter
- You want the more planted ride and do not need the shoe to feel quick
- You want the better-wearing shoe, since owners report the 2 holding up past 400 miles
Where the On Cloudmonster is now
Two updates on, the Cloudmonster 3 (2026) is what sits on shelves today. Against the shoe you own rather than the one that directly replaced it:
- The Cloudmonster 3 is 0.7 oz heavier
- 5 mm more heel stack
- Drop is unchanged at 6 mm
- New midsole foam
- List price up $20
What loyalists said about the update
Owners split roughly along body weight. The complaints are consistent: the bounce flattens somewhere around six miles, the rocker is aggressive enough that some report arch irritation, and nobody argues it is fast. The praise comes mostly from heavier runners and wide-footers, and it is specific, with pairs at 200 and 400 miles and the foam still intact. Durability is the one thing about this shoe nobody disputes. Reddit sits at 58 percent positive across 33 reviews. The alternative that keeps coming up in those threads is the Asics Superblast, which reviewers also ranked ahead of it.
Still want the original?
Buy remaining Cloudmonster 1 stock
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 Aug 5, 2026.
Ready to move on?
Beyond the Cloudmonster 2, these come closest to what the Cloudmonster 1 did.
- 9 oz
- 6 mm drop
- 40 mm heel
- $170 list
The closest match on paper in this group, and the only one that shares the Cloudmonster's 6 mm drop. The 1080 v15 is about 1.4 oz lighter on 5 mm more heel stack, and its Infinion foam is the bouncier of the two. It also sells in a full width range where the Cloudmonster has one 2E and nothing else.
Against your On Cloudmonster 1: 0.7 oz lighter, 10 mm more heel stack, the same drop.
- 10.6 oz
- 8 mm drop
- 38 mm heel
- $175 list
Both are firm, composed shoes wearing max-cushion silhouettes, which makes them closer in feel than in spec. The Glycerin 23 carries 3 mm more heel stack on an 8 mm drop against the Cloudmonster 6, weighs about the same, and lists $15 less. Brooks also sells it in widths.
Against your On Cloudmonster 1: 0.9 oz heavier, 8 mm more heel stack, 2 mm more drop, $5 more at list.
- 10.5 oz
- 5 mm drop
- 43 mm heel
- $170 list
The max-cushion shoe the Cloudmonster gets shopped against, though the spec sheet explains why the two feel less alike than the silhouettes suggest: 43 mm of heel stack against the Cloudmonster 35, at almost the same 10.5 oz. The Bondi is the softer, more insulated ride; the Cloudmonster is firmer and rolls harder off the front.
Against your On Cloudmonster 1: 0.8 oz heavier, 13 mm more heel stack, 1 mm less drop.
Questions runners ask
- Is the On Cloudmonster 1 still available?
- For now. Amazon still lists the On Cloudmonster 1, but the size run is thinning and prices swing with remaining stock. If your size is there, this is the late window, not the early one.
- Is the Cloudmonster 2 a downgrade from the On Cloudmonster 1?
- Not a downgrade, but a different shoe. The Cloudmonster 2 scores well with new buyers while changing the ride that On Cloudmonster 1 loyalists bought it for. Read the spec changes before assuming it will feel familiar.
- How much heavier is the Cloudmonster 2?
- 0.7 oz heavier in a men's US 9: 10.4 oz against the On Cloudmonster 1's 9.7 oz.
- Is the On Cloudmonster still made?
- Yes. The current version is the On Cloudmonster 3, released in 2026, 2 versions on from the On Cloudmonster 1.
- What is the closest current alternative to the On Cloudmonster 1?
- The New Balance 1080 v15. The closest match on paper in this group, and the only one that shares the Cloudmonster's 6 mm drop. The 1080 v15 is about 1.4 oz lighter on 5 mm more heel stack, and its Infinion foam is the bouncier of the two. It also sells in a full width range where the Cloudmonster has one 2E and nothing else.