There are times when you feel comfortable and attached to one or more pairs of shoes, but at the same time you realize that you want something more. Then it happens that you try a new model and realize that your wishes have been granted: the Cloudmonster Hyper are the shoes that can give you exactly what you were looking for, both in terms of cushioning and performance.
At first glance, they may appear to be just a new version of the Cloudmonster, but a closer look reveals significant aesthetic changes that also bring major technical innovations.
Double foam
The midsole has two different colors to identify the two foams it is made of: the combination of the two different densities of Helion™ HF foam, the same used in the Cloudboom Echo 3, results in an improved rebound feel. The presence of Helion™ HF foam in the forefoot area returns energy with every step. It almost feels like running in a carbon plate shoe: the foam mix mimics a speedboard-like stiffness state that can maximize and optimize forward momentum. But the Cloudmonster Hyper not only propels you forward, it also provides maximum comfort and cushioning.
A Passepartout
I have found them to be simply amazing. I’ve used them and reused them, even several days in a row for workouts that vary in pace and course, and the Cloudmonster Hyper responds to any type of stimulus to support and help you in any type of training. Whether you’re running at a steady pace or at varying speeds, the response of the shoe will be just what you need, keeping you comfortable and protected during recovery runs and giving you the sprint you’re looking for when you need to run at a faster pace. The response of the Helion™ HF is also outstanding when you face uphill stretches during training: your strides shorten, your cadence increases and the “spring” effect eases your stride, allowing you to maintain a steady pace. The forward momentum is there and can be felt at all times.
Fresh legs, fast legs
Your legs never seem tired and seem to recover faster, so you can run day after day without feeling heavy or tired. The Cloudmonster Hyper was designed with this in mind by involving OAC (On Athletic Club) athletes in the development process. The goal was to create a shoe that could alternate with the Cloudbom Echo 3, the Swiss brand’s flagship racing model. This is how the Cloudmonster Hyper was born, as a training shoe for professional athletes, while for an amateur athlete it can also be the shoe to compete with. If the Cloudmonster in its “classic” version can be called an everyday trainer, a model you can run with every day, the Cloudmonster Hyper is a bit more unbalanced towards the performance category. They are the race shoes for those who want to run in a carbon-free model, without a carbon plate, or perhaps for those who want to gradually get closer to that kind of feeling and then maybe move on to the Cloudboom Echo 3.
Other special features
There are other features of these shoes that have helped push them to the top of my personal rankings, such as the lacing system, which is always talked about too little, but is definitely at the center of a running shoe’s big picture. In this case, the laces, which are equipped with a thin silicone insert, stay in place once they are pulled, without the need to constantly adjust and tighten them. Once tied, they only loosen when you want them to. On pays a lot of attention to the lacing system and is always trying to improve it, as demonstrated by the new supershoe model worn by Hellen Obiri, the On athlete who won the last Boston Marathon, which even seems to be lace-free, with a “boot-like” fit system.
As for the upper, I found it to be lightweight and breathable. The technical fabric it is made of does not feel stiff and is able to adapt to the movements of the foot. It is also made of 85% recycled polyester.
The sole has been designed and placed at strategic points to save weight while providing maximum grip on any surface in all conditions. Having ridden on them virtually everywhere, from dry to wet asphalt, gravel, white roads and rain-soaked trails, I can attest that the risk of slipping or losing control will be a distant memory.
For those of you from Milan or who find yourself in the city, the Cloudmonster Hyper is available exclusively at Why Run for the suggested retail price of 229,95 Euros. Alternatively, you can find it at on.com