The Cloudmonster 3 might be the quintessential On running shoe, showcasing the brand’s distinctive pod design and delivering what I consider to be a classic On ride, which is a little firmer than you get from most sneakers these days.
Building on the success of the original Cloudmonster, On has expanded the line-up to include the Cloudmonster Hyper super-shoe over the past two years, and right now there are actually three Cloudmonster models to consider — the Cloudmonster 3, Cloudmonster 3 Hyper, and Cloudmonster 3 Hyper LS.
The Cloudmonster 3 is the classic On daily trainer, while the Hyper models are super-trainers designed to be lighter and more versatile, at a higher price.
I’ve run a lot of miles in all three shoes, and for me, the Cloudmonster gets better and better as you rise through the ranks, but there are pros and cons to each model, which I’ll expand upon in my On Cloudmonster 3 vs On Cloudmonster 3 Hyper comparison.
The standard model of the Cloudmonster 3 comes in the widest variety of colors and uses three layers of On's signature CloudTec cushioning in the midsole. It's a comfortable daily trainer for easy runs and great for general use, too.
The Cloudmonster 3 Hyper uses a dual-density midsole with a layer of Helion HF foam on top of CloudTec pods. This creates a softer, springier ride than you get from the standard Cloudmonster, though at a higher price.
The LightSpray model of the Cloudmonster 3 Hyper is the lightest, bounciest, and most versatile shoe in the lineup. It's a fantastic super-trainer, but it costs a lot more than the other Cloudmonsters, and the fit might not work for everyone.
On Cloudmonster 3 vs On Cloudmonster 3 Hyper: Price and availability
The On Cloudmonster 3 is the cheapest version of the shoe and costs $190/£180. The price rises to $220/£210 for the On Cloudmonster 3 Hyper, while the On Cloudmonster 3 Hyper LS is $280/£270.
On Cloudmonster 3 vs On Cloudmonster 3 Hyper: Design and fit
The Cloudmonster 3 is available in 18 colors and there’s a wide option of the shoe. There are five colors of the Cloudmonster 3 Hyper and four of the Cloudmonster 3 Hyper LS.
All three shoes fit me well in my normal running shoe size, but the Cloudmonster 3 Hyper LS uses On’s Lightspray upper technology, which means you can’t adjust the fit. If you have high arches or a wide foot, it might not work as well for you as the standard uppers on the Cloudmonster 3 and 3 Hyper.
All three shoes have a 6mm drop, but the stack height rises with the price. The Cloudmonster 3 is 35mm at the heel and 29mm at the forefoot; the Cloudmonster 3 Hyper is 39.5mm at the heel and 33.5 at the forefoot; and the Cloudmonster 3 Hyper LS is 45mm at the heel and 39mm at the forefoot.
Conversely, the weight drops. In my US men’s size 9.5 the Cloudmonster 3 weighs 10.7oz; the Cloudmonster 3 Hyper is 9.5oz; the Cloudmonster 3 Hyper LS is just 7.6oz.
Upper
The Cloudmonster 3 and Cloudmonster 3 Hyper both have conventional, comfortable uppers that hold the foot well and proved breathable enough for me during testing.
Things get spicier with the one-piece LightSpray upper on the LS model, which makes the shoe a lot lighter, but also means you can’t adjust the fit.
I know several runners who struggle with this upper, but I love the fit and feel of LightSpray myself, which I find holds the foot well and is comfortable for long distances.
Midsole
The midsole of the Cloudmonster 3 features a triple layer of On’s CloudTec pods made with Helion foam.
It’s CloudTec all the way up in the shoe, whereas with the Hyper models, CloudTec is used as a frame on the bottom of the midsole, with On’s Helion HF foam used for the top layer.
This springy, PEBA-based foam is what makes the Hyper models super-trainers, creating a more versatile ride and a lighter design overall.
Outsole
All three shoes have podded outsoles with all of the pods around the heel and forefoot covered by a thick layer of rubber. Durability shouldn’t be a concern with any of the shoes, and they all gripped well for me during testing.
On Cloudmonster 3 vs On Cloudmonster 3 Hyper: Running performance
I’ve run over 30 miles in each of the Cloudmonster shoes, and nearly 50 in the Cloudmonster 3 Hyper LS, which for me is the pick of the bunch, if you don’t mind its high price and fixed fit.
The standard Cloudmonster 3 is the firmest of the trio, with the full CloudTec midsole doing a good job of absorbing the impact of running, but not providing much energy return.
I found it worked best for easy runs, where the rockered shape of the shoe helped me to roll through my footstrike, but it lacked the punchy feel I like for faster efforts.
The Cloudmonster 3 Hyper is a step-up on this front thanks to the Helion HF foam in the midsole. It’s a softer, more comfortable shoe, and worked well for long, easy and steady runs in my testing.
It’s still not ideal for faster workouts, though, which is where the Cloudmonster 3 Hyper LS clearly excels compared to the other models.
The LS model is lighter and springier, and I loved doing tempo runs in it in particular. It also has the biggest range of the three shoes for me — it’s great for very easy runs, but you can push to your fastest speeds in interval sessions too, I found.
All three shoes handle easy runs well, then the ride gets softer, springier and more versatile as you move from the Cloudmonster 3 to the 3 Hyper and to the 3 Hyper LS.
On Cloudmonster 3 vs On Cloudmonster 3 Hyper: Verdict
The On Cloudmonster 3 is a solid, good-looking shoe that will handle your easy runs and works well for lifestyle use, and it comes in the widest variety of colors at the lowest price of the trio.
I think it’s worth stepping up to a Hyper model for running, though. The Cloudmonster 3 Hyper is a better daily trainer that can pick up steady runs and is brilliant for long efforts in particular; it also looks great for general use in my opinion — I wear it all the time for this, months after I finished testing it.
The Cloudmonster 3 Hyper LS is the best running shoe of the three and one of the most versatile and impressive super-trainers available from any brand.
It’s prohibitively expensive, however, and the fit won’t work for everyone. The On Cloudmonster 3 Hyper hits the sweet spot of the line-up overall, but if you can try on the LS model and like the fit, it might be worth paying the extra to get such a great all-rounder running shoe.
