First Look at the On Cloudboom Echo 3

Closer Look
While the launch colourway of white with mint green looks fabulous, to me, the first thing you notice is the side of the midsole. It looks a bit more like a normal race day shoe and less like a “classic” On design.

On have put in a high stack of foam, and a carbon plate, all of which has become normal for this market, the place they differ, is with their CloudTec. Minimised, placed in the centre of the midsole instead of at the outsole, and only found in the heel and forefoot, they might just be the key to this shoe’s success. 

The problem On have had, is that their midsole “clouds” have always been designed to create a soft feeling, and when introduced to speed shoes sometimes that stiffer, snappier feeling that racers desire has been missing.

The new design addresses this issue, by providing both supreme cushioning, and energy return just where you need it most, while letting the new foam and plate do the rest.

Talking of the new foam! A brand new Helion HyperFoam is introduced, featuring significantly higher rebound, a much lighter build, and a softer feel, Helion HF cushions, and bounces you through your stride.

A full carbon Speedboard is sandwiched between layers of foam, with a spoon shaping, it propels you forward, getting you down the road as efficiently as possible.

Away from the midsole, the microfiber upper is designed not just for maximum breathability, but for minimum water absorption too, keeping the weight down even on wet and rainy races.

A silicone design on the instep grips your sock to cut down on movement and friction, while silicone dots on the laces helps them stay true even through a full marathon, the outsole features thin rubber pads in targeted areas to keep the weight down at the heel, but a large area of rubber in the forefoot gives excellent traction for full powered toe offs. 

Conclusion
The first thing you notice when you get your hands on a pair is the style, the over-sized On branding, the crisp white and green launch colourway, and those internal Cloudtec pods, it’s a pity this is a stripped back racer, because I fancy wearing them socially personally. 

The feel on your feet is remarkable. The new Helion HF is so soft and springy that after bouncing around in them for a while, when I stopped, I felt like I was still moving for a moment, as though I had just stepped off a ship onto land for the first time in days. 

That sensation soon firms up when you start jogging. As someone that runs in plush, long-distance cruisers most of the time, the way they firmed up as soon as I started running took me by surprise, but as I stepped up the pace, that firm take-off feel had me pushing harder and harder.  

When I got them, I had exhausted myself on a run the day before, but I was excited to get out and try them, so I intended a small jog with a few sprints to see what they felt like. A full run, with several gold medal Strava segments later, I got back exhausted but smiling from ear to ear. 

Having won races around the world on the feet of athletes like Hellen Obiri, the On Cloudboom Echo 3 has proven speed, and now it your turn to take advantage on the streets.