The On Cloudmonster 3 is a buy for people who want a plate's push and a forward-rolling shape in a daily jog. The deciding points are the nylon-blended plate and a rocker (the upward curve of the sole) stronger than the previous generation. The numbers are 295g, 35mm heel, 6mm drop and JPY 24,200, released Mar 5, 2026.
The Shoe Nerd's top pick
Choose the Cloudmonster 3 by shape, not numbers. The weight, drop and plate material are nearly the same as the previous generation; what moved is that the rows of holes became 3 layers and the upward curve of the sole got stronger. If you want the forward-rolling shape, buy it. If you want lightness, the Cloudsurfer 2, 34g lighter, is quicker.
Key points
- The wide Wide is 300g, 5g heavier than the regular width. The price is the same
- Move up to the plateless Hyper and it is 42g lighter, about JPY 79 to save 1g
- 35g lighter than the Cloudrunner 3 Max at the same JPY 24,200, and it pushes you forward with a plate
Cloudmonster 3 weight and drop? Release date and price
The Cloudmonster 3 is a buy for people who want a plate's push and a rolling shape in a daily jog. The deciding point is not weight but the sole shape: 3-layer holes and a stronger rocker.
| Item | Number |
|---|---|
| Release date | Mar 5, 2026 |
| Price (tax included) | JPY 24,200 |
| Weight | 295g (men's) / 240g (women's) |
| Stack height | Heel 35mm / toe side 29mm |
| Drop | 6mm |
| Width | Regular, and wide (Wide) |
| Plate | Yes (nylon-blended Speedboard) |
Inside are 2 kinds of Helion foam of different density, a 3-layer CloudTec (the rows of holes cut in the sole), and a nylon-blended plate. The upper is a knit whose weave changes by area, and the tongue was rebuilt too.
Image: Rakuten Ichiba
On Cloudmonster (check the generation in the product name)
Lowest price on Rakuten is JPY 22,000 (as of 10/13). Prices change daily. Shoes are best tried on in the evening, when your feet swell, with your usual socks. Fit varies by brand, so check the return and exchange terms on the shop page before you buy.
RecommendedSee it on Rakuten IchibaSee it on Yahoo! Shopping JapanCloudmonster 3 vs 2: what changed from the previous generation
| Item | Cloudmonster 2 | Cloudmonster 3 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Release date | Feb 22, 2024 | Mar 5, 2026 | About 2 years |
| Weight (men's) | 300g | 295g | −5g |
| Weight (women's) | 230g | 240g | +10g |
| Drop | 6mm | 6mm | 0mm |
| Plate material | Nylon blended | Nylon blended | Same |
Men's is about 1.7% lighter (5 ÷ 300) and women's about 4.3% heavier (10 ÷ 230). It is not a generation change that sells on lightness.
What changed is the shape. The original was a forward-rolling run, the 2 a generation that added cushioning, and the 3 a generation that brought back the original's rocker and response and combined it with thick cushioning. The CloudTec rows of holes became 3 layers, and the sole was rebuilt with a stronger rocker curve to push you forward at push-off. What does not show in the table of numbers is the substance of this generation.
Cloudmonster 3 Wide and Hyper compared
Scroll the table sideways →
| Model | Weight | Heel stack | Plate | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cloudmonster 3 | 295g | 35mm | Yes | JPY 24,200 |
| Cloudmonster 3 Hyper | 253g | 39.5mm | None | JPY 27,500 |
| LightSpray Cloudmonster 3 Hyper | 205g | 45mm | None | JPY 35,200 |
The Wide is the same shoe in wide, 5g heavier (300 − 295), at the same price. The women's Wide is also 245g, 5g more.
The Hyper has a higher-model name but no plate. It swaps the layer nearer the foot to the strongly rebounding Helion HF, is 42g lighter (295 − 253), and the heel is 4.5mm thicker. For a JPY 3,300 difference, that is about JPY 79 to save 1g (3,300 ÷ 42).
- Mainly daily jogs. Want a plate's push → Cloudmonster 3
- Always re-choosing shoes by width → Cloudmonster 3 Wide
- 1 or 2 days a week with a long run or a fast run → Cloudmonster 3 Hyper
Image: Rakuten Ichiba
On Cloudmonster Hyper (check the generation in the product name)
Lowest price on Rakuten is JPY 27,500 (as of 10/13). Prices change daily. Shoes are best tried on in the evening, when your feet swell, with your usual socks. Fit varies by brand, so check the return and exchange terms on the shop page before you buy.
RecommendedSee it on Super Sports XEBIOSee it on Rakuten IchibaSee it on Yahoo! Shopping JapanCompared with other makers' shoes at the same JPY 24,200?
Scroll the table sideways →
| Model | Weight | Drop | Price | Who should pick which |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cloudmonster 3 | 295g | 6mm | JPY 24,200 | Want to be pushed forward by a plate |
| On Cloudrunner 3 Max | 330g | 8mm | JPY 24,200 | Limit wobble and run long |
| Mizuno SKY PRIME | 295g (27.0cm) | 6mm | JPY 24,200 | Catch it with a 47mm-thick heel |
| ASICS NIMBUS MIRAI 2 | 248g | 8mm | JPY 24,200 | Soft in a light-ish thick sole |
The same On's Cloudrunner 3 Max is a shoe that limits wobble with a heel clip and a wide sole, in exchange for being 35g heavier. Pushing Cloudmonster 3, supporting Cloudrunner 3 Max: roles split clearly at the same price.
The Mizuno Sky Prime has the same weight and drop as the Cloudmonster 3, with a heel 12mm thicker (47 − 35). For cushioning through thickness, the Sky Prime; for carrying you forward with shape and a plate, the Cloudmonster 3.
What I like
The role is clear. The one On's announcement calls a "daily trainer" is this 1 of the 3 Cloudmonsters. Recovery jogs to longer jogs are its turf.
A daily shoe with a plate. On deliberately removes the plate in both the Cloudsurfer 2 and the Hyper, so a plated daily shoe is a minority. The nylon-blended plate stores force and bounces it back.
Two widths make it easy to fit your foot. Even wide adds only 5g, so you can choose it as nearly the same shoe. Price per gram is about JPY 82 (24,200 ÷ 295), so you do not pay for lightness as you would with the Hyper's about JPY 109.
Things to watch
Replacing a Cloudmonster 2 has a small reason on the numbers. The men's weight difference is about 1.7%, and the drop and plate material are the same. It comes down to whether you pay for the difference in shape.
It is not a light shoe. 295g is on the heavy side of On's daily shoes, and the Cloudsurfer 2 is 261g, 34g lighter. It is a different shoe from the similarly named Cloudmonster 1 (8mm drop, mainly for town use), so if you buy it to run, check the "3" in the product name.
Who is it for?
- Good fit: 1 pair for daily jogs. Someone who likes the forward-rolling shape and a plate's push.
- Good fit: Someone whose foot fit the original Cloudmonster's shape. The 3 is the generation that brought that roll back.
- Good fit: Someone looking for a wide shoe in On. There is a Wide at the same price.
If lightness is the priority, there is also the choice of the Cloudsurfer 2, 34g lighter. A table lining up On's daily shoes with other lines is in the article on choosing On running shoes by sole shape.
Price and where to buy
| Model | Official price | Rakuten price range |
|---|---|---|
| Cloudmonster 3 | JPY 24,200 | JPY 22,000–24,200 |
| Cloudmonster 3 Wide | JPY 24,200 | JPY 24,200 |
| Cloudmonster 2 (previous generation) | JPY 24,200 (collaboration color) | JPY 34,000 |
| Cloudmonster 3 Hyper | JPY 27,500 | JPY 27,500 |
If the previous generation remains cheap, I think choosing the 2 is fine depending on the gap. Only people who want to pay for the 3-layer holes and stronger rocker need choose the 3. Buying from the official store lets you return it within 30 days if unused, so people unsure about width have the option to redo by comparing the regular width and Wide on the official site.
Image: Rakuten Ichiba
On Cloudmonster (check the generation in the product name)
Lowest price on Rakuten is JPY 22,000 (as of 10/13). Prices change daily. Shoes are best tried on in the evening, when your feet swell, with your usual socks. Fit varies by brand, so check the return and exchange terms on the shop page before you buy.
RecommendedSee it on Rakuten IchibaSee it on Yahoo! Shopping Japan
Image: Rakuten Ichiba
On Cloudmonster 2 (previous generation)
Lowest price on Rakuten is JPY 34,000 (as of 10/14). Prices change daily. Shoes are best tried on in the evening, when your feet swell, with your usual socks. Fit varies by brand, so check the return and exchange terms on the shop page before you buy.
RecommendedSee it on Rakuten IchibaFAQ
How does the Cloudmonster 3 fit?
You can choose the size as marked. The Japan official field says "Regular. True to size.", with men's 25.0 to 31.5cm and women's 22.0 to 28.0cm in 0.5cm steps. For people concerned about width, there is a Wide at the same price.
How do the Cloudmonster 3 and 2 differ?
The weight is nearly the same and what changed is the sole shape. Men's goes from 300g to 295g, 5g less, with the same 6mm drop and plate material. The rows of holes became 3 layers and the rocker curve got stronger.
Does the Cloudmonster 3 have a carbon plate?
No. The plate material is nylon blended. Plates blended with carbon fiber go into the race-oriented Cloudboom line. The 1 pair for 10km and the half is written up in the Cloudboom Volt review.
Gear in this article
Ads and images: Rakuten Ichiba
Sources
- On announcement (Feb 25, 2026): Cloudmonster 3, Cloudmonster 3 Hyper, LightSpray Cloudmonster 3 Hyper
- On tech sheet: Cloudmonster 2 (SS24)
- On official Japan site: Cloudmonster 3 (men's)
- On Japan official: Cloudmonster 3 (women's)
- On Japan official: Cloudmonster 3 Wide (men's)
- On Japan official: Cloudmonster 3 Wide (women's)
- On Japan official: Cloudmonster 3 Hyper
- On Japan official: LightSpray Cloudmonster 3 Hyper
- On Japan official: Cloudmonster 2 DISTANCE
- On Japan official: Cloudmonster (original)
- On official Japan site: Cloudrunner 3 Max (men's)
