On Running Cloudboom Echo vs Cloudboom Comparison Shoe Review
Josh reviews the On Running Cloudboom Echo, a softer and more responsive evolution of the On Cloudboom to conquer your race day mileage with lightweight speed.
Hard-wearing rubber in key zones reinforces On Running's signature CloudTech against wearing out early. No matter the conditions on race day, the competition-ready outsole provides wet and dry traction and keeps you connected to the road for a confidence-inspiring ride.
The carbon-infused Speedboard shape has been re-engineered to be more aggressive to work in balance with Helion superfoam, being On's softest foam. This winning formula fuses a snappy response with cushioned protection on footstrike.
Cloud pods compress on both the horizontal and vertical plane to provide rebound and shock absorption, encouraging a smooth transition through to the toe-off phase.
With an ultra-breathable engineered mesh upper and a more accomodating yet secure fit for race day, this is a fast racing shoe to meet the demands of elite runners.
Check out the review with full transcript below.
Hey guys, Josh here from Sportitude Running and it's shoe review time. I hold in my hand the new and improved On Running Cloudboom Echo. This is On Running's premium road racing shoe with a carbon-infused Speedboard plate, so it's designed for anywhere from 5K road runs right up to marathon distances.
It’s incredibly lightweight and features some great additions in the midsole which we'll get into in today's review. Without further ado let's get stuck in.
With all my shoe reviews we breakdown the outsole, midsole and the upper. I have an On Cloudboom from last season to compare the changes from that to the On Cloudboom Echo and we’ll also talk about the runner that might enjoy this shoe.
Runner Profile
Before we dive into the engineering let's call out the fact it is a racing shoe. It's lighter so elements of the engineering of this shoe have been shaved down purely and simply for weight reduction to create a really light, responsive feel under the foot.
There's not a lot of support in this shoe. It is a running shoe that you're going to be purchasing purely and simply for your road racing. It’s maybe a shoe you might consider throwing into your shoe rotation for some tempo/interval speed sessions as well.
Just keep that in mind, it's not a shoe that you're going to be bashing out miles and miles on a weekly basis because it is not built for that at all.
Outsole
Let's dive into the engineering of this shoe and we'll start from the ground and work our way up. I'm going to talk about the sole of the original On Cloudboom and the On Cloudboom Echo.
From the rear of the On Cloudboom Echo when we're looking down at the heel, On Running have protected their CloudTech technology by strategically placing the rubber underneath the lateral side and ever so slightly on that early medial side of the heel of the outsole.
The same thing goes with last year's version of the On Cloudboom. The rubber has been strategically placed to protect the Cloud pods from wearing down too quickly.
As you come through to the forefoot that's where most of the change has occurred. Like we know with On Running shoes, they're renowned for their Cloud pods. You can see with the outsole from the original Cloudboom the pods or the rubber have been cut out individually to encase the pod in itself as you go through the forefoot.
The major reason with the change is because we have a completely different midsole which we will get to in two ticks but we're almost calling this forefoot out like a horseshoe. Protecting the lateral and medial wall of the outsole, this rubber that they have used is no different than last year with regards to the thickness and the actual traction offered.
However, it is just building in the wall around that forefoot which needs to happen because there's quite a change with how they position the Speedboard and the foam they have used.
I want to call out the fact that this rubber outsole has been really good on the road in testing. We found from dry conditions to wet conditions, it's given us great grip and a couple of little technical turns as well. You feel really connected and grounded, and that's what you want on race day.
Midsole
Jumping into the midsole now and for me this is where all the magic happens with the On Cloudboom Echo. Calling out the stack height first and foremost, we have a 35mm heel and a 27mm forefoot for an 8mm heel-to-toe drop.
In last year's Cloudboom being a slightly lower profile we have 30mm in the heel and 21mm in the forefoot for a drop of 9mm.
All the change is due to the fact we have a lot more shoe underneath the foot in the On Cloudboom Echo. On Running have tried to complement what they have done with last year's shoe and roll that Speedboard technology through to the Cloudboom Echo which they have done successfully using the same combination of nylon and carbon to execute that.
Essentially 15% of the board is carbon plate and that's all to do with the forefoot. When we hold the two shoes up next to each other you can see the dip of the Cloudboom Echo through to that forefoot is a lot more aggressive than what we have in the original Cloudboom, although the Cloudboom does curl up quite a bit through the forefoot.
The main reason On Running have done that and are more aggressive with that dip in the Speedboard is because the foam which sits on top of the Speedboard is a very soft Helion foam. It's the softest foam they have engineered to date, and they specifically made it for this shoe.
Not to jump around too much but the foam isn't as soft as your Nike ZoomX or your New Balance FuelCell RC Elite v2 with the FuelCell technology. I'd probably say for me personally it has that PWRRUN PB Saucony Endorphin feel underneath the foot, so it certainly has some protection, but it has that element of propulsion as well.
It wouldn't be an On shoe if we didn't have the Cloud technology so underneath the Speedboard which is called out with that green foam we have the larger Cloud pods. That is also a Helion foam but it's a slightly denser Helion foam so it's going to provide more rebound on your first entry point.
The Cloud pods work on a horizontal plane as well. They compress on that first impact being the vertical shock that goes through the body but they also work in parallel with the ground to aid in that transition through to midfoot and then off to your toe-off.
Just to dial back to that dip in the Speedboard and the amount of soft foam we have through the forefoot, it's a good engineering design because you get a bit of a dip through your metatarsal heads so you’ll be able to activate your first metatarsal, being your big toe.
Your big toe is obviously designed as a bit of a lever so it bends and can engage then aid with that propulsion. You get that really significant feel through the forefoot when you are running in the On Cloudboom Echo. You get that dip and that drop with a really snappy feel through to the forefoot.
Just touching on the fact that the board is a combination of nylon and carbon, through the forefoot it is really rigid so obviously that's where the carbon-infused technology is located.
As you come back through the midfoot there's a little bit of play on offer, so you'll find the torsional stability in this shoe to be a bit more flexible and then obviously the same thing goes as you come back towards the heel.
For me how this plate works and again to liken it to some other competitors, I'd say it has that Asics Magic Speed feel with its three-quarter carbon plate.
There's a little bit of give through the midfoot but you certainly get that nice, snappy feel through the forefoot which is exactly what this shoe is all about.
Upper
Let's get talking all things upper and before I do let's call out one thing with the On Cloudboom from last year - it was too narrow.
The new On Cloudboom Echo is true to size and true to width, and it is a very nice feel on top of the foot. We have a race day shoe in mind so there's not going to be a whole lot of support going on with regards to the upper.
It's all about weight reduction, breathability, fit and function and with regards to what On Running have done with this shoe they have nailed it to perfection. It’s very light with really good breathability.
The one thing I like about this shoe is there's an element of heel support as well. I wouldn't say it's the strongest heel counter, but they’ve given some considerable thought to a little bit of support around the base of the heel. It’s a really lightweight shoe so there's not a lot of foam at the back.
I didn't have to change too much with regards to my lacing system. With my On Cloudboom Echo I have utlised that last hole. I haven't had to do a heel lock lace which I don't think for me personally will be necessary with this shoe. By just going back to that last eyelet I get almost the perfect grab round at the back of the heel.
The Wrap Up
That's essentially my take on the On Cloudboom Echo. One thing I'd like to call out is the Cloudboom Echo is a 220 gram race day shoe, so it’s nice and light. Last year's original On Cloudboom was 225 grams.
Looking at the two shoes it’s fascinating that you can offer more underneath the foot and reduce the weight. They've done an amazing job at the On Running headquarters to execute a lighter and more voluminous, responsive and softer shoe underneath the foot.
If you have any questions with regards to the On Cloudboom Echo, please contact our Sportitude shoe experts. If you have tried one let us know your thoughts and if you had the On Cloudboom from last year, if you loved it hated it or weren't sure let us know.
Please subscribe to the Sportitude YouTube channel if you haven't already done so to stay notified and we'll keep knocking out these shoe reviews for you the running community in Australia, New Zealand and all around the world.
Until next time stay safe, be kind to one another and happy running. We will see you on the road, take care.
FEATURES
On Cloudboom Echo
- Support: Neutral
- Upper: Mesh
- Midsole: On CloudTec, On Helion
- Offset / Drop: 8mm
- Heel Height: 35mm
- Forefoot Height: 27mm
Men
- Weight: 220g / 7.76oz
- Width: D (standard)
Women
- Weight: 190g / 6.7oz
- Width: B (standard)
On Cloudboom