Rundefeated

After years of running and years of buying more shoes than my closet ever asked for, I can finally say it: I’ve tried all the famous running shoe brands. From Nike’s rocket-like Zoom series, to Adidas with its fiberglass plates, to the cloud-like Hoka Bondi, even down to Diadora’s Italian touch. My journey was long, sweaty, sometimes painful (looking at you, muscle cramps in Sydney Marathon), but finally I reached the endgame. My last boss fight in this shoe Pokémon saga: On Cloud Pulse Next.

On shoes always caught my attention because of those little holes in the midsole. They look like someone designed a running shoe after staring too long at a Swiss cheese. People said they’re “clouds.” I said, “they look like air-conditioning vents.” Either way, curiosity got me, and now I finally have the Cloud Pulse Next on my feet.

The first impression? Light, firm, and somehow polite. Unlike a Hoka that shouts “I’m soft!” or a Saucony Kinvara that whispers “I’m fast,” the Cloud Pulse Next just quietly says, “I’m Swiss, I’m engineered, now please run.” And honestly, that’s refreshing. It doesn’t try too hard; it just lets the design do the talking.

Running with the Cloud Pulse Next is… interesting. The cushioning feels different, almost like stepping on a trampoline but with rules. There’s bounce, but it’s controlled. There’s firmness, but not brick-hard. It’s like the shoe knows when to party and when to keep things civil. I ran a few kilometers and suddenly understood why so many people are curious about this brand.

Compared to my other shoes, On Cloud Pulse Next sits in a unique position. It’s not as soft as Hoka, not as aggressive as Nike supershoes, not as old-school stable as Asics Kayano. It’s simply… On. A shoe that doesn’t copy anyone else, but still manages to work. That’s rare in the running shoe world where everyone borrows ideas from everyone.

Of course, it’s not perfect. The cushioning isn’t for everyone, especially if you’re expecting marshmallow softness. And yes, small rocks do sometimes get stuck in those hollow pods (thanks, Indonesia, for having unpredictable roads). But flaws aside, I admire the courage of a brand that dares to be weird and still deliver performance.

So here I am, standing victorious after years of trying shoes from almost every famous brand. On Cloud Pulse Next was my last box to tick, and it didn’t disappoint. Altra, Topo, and Newton might be hiding far away from Indonesia like secret DLC content, but for now, I’m happy. My running shoe journey feels complete, and I did it one cloud at a time.

On Cloud Pulse Next: not the softest, not the fastest, but uniquely On. A polite trampoline for your feet.