The On Cloudboom Max is a stability-oriented max cushioned shoe designed for long runs and four hour marathons. Priced at $230, it competes with shoes like the Puma MagMax ($180) and Hoka Rocket X3 ($250). On paper, this shoe was not impressive, coming in at 296 grams in a Men’s size 9. That is just as heavy as many max cushion daily trainers, such as the Puma MagMax and the ASICS Gel-Nimbus 27. While the top layer of foam is advertised as On’s Helion HF, their PEBA race foam, it also includes a plastic plate and a bottom layer of a very firm TPEE. This combination delivers a surprisingly firm ride experience that is nothing like the fun, bouncy ride of the Cloudboom Strike. It also has a very wide platform and a geometry and rocker that rewards heel striking and requires putting a lot of power down into the shoe to get it going. It reminded us a lot of the ride of the Superblast 2, but heavier and more expensive. It is firm, heavy and cumbersome with a bottom-heavy feel. We can’t recommend that anyone get this shoe at the $230 price point. There are better shoes out there for heavier runners looking for a stable, comfort-oriented marathon race shoes.

Category

Race Day

Release Date

August 2025

Plated?

Yes

Type of Plate

Glass fiber

Foam

Helion HF PEBAX / Helion HF TPEE

Foam Compound

PEBA, TPEE

Ride

Firm, Stable, Cushioned

Heel Stack (mm)

40.0

Forefoot Stack (mm)

32.0

Drop (mm)

8

Weight (mens size 9)

10.4

Support

Mild Stability

Fit

True to size