On Cloudrock Waterproof Walking Boot | Review - Outdoors Magic

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On Cloudrock Waterproof Walking Boot | Review

Famous for their running shoes, On have delivered with this speedy, lightweight, walking boot

Why We Chose The On Cloudrock Waterproof Walking Boot: Lightweight, very comfortable and good for long distances

Founded in the Swiss Alps in 2010, the On team quickly set about revolutionising the art of running. Their idea? To design a running shoe which could combine soft landings with explosive take-offs. In the last decade, it’s no exaggeration to say they’ve mastered their “running on clouds” concept, serving up quality trainer after quality trainer for trail and road runners alike.

The Cloudrock Waterproof, which we’ve included in this year’s Outdoor 100, is On taking everything that’s made their running shoes so popular and implementing it into a lightweight, speed-hiking, walking boot for the first time. This is hiking footwear reimagined.

Who Is The On Cloudrock Waterproof Boot For?

Apologies in advance for using a car analogy, but the On Cloudrock Waterproof is a bit like an all-terrain Land Rover jeep with a weightless F1 engine under the hood. If you’re looking to up your daily mileage on the hikes, you’ll love that this walking boot is imbued with the fast-moving energy of a running shoe.

“The On Cloudrock Waterproof is a bit like an all-terrain Land Rover jeep with a weightless F1 engine under the hood”

We’d argue this is the ideal boot for anyone taking part in a timed, multi-day, hiking challenge, like the Welsh 3000s, or just a simple long-distance yomp. Its effective waterproofing also means the boot is great for outdoor enthusiasts who like to be about and about, come rain or shine.

Comfortable and grippy underfoot. Photo: Mike Brindley

Materials

The Cloudrock features On’s proprietary waterproof membrane which is guarded by a nylon upper with a light PU lamination in certain parts of the upper to add structure and protection. The rubber mudguard is more than tough enough to handle the hits, but it’s also light and flexible to elevate the boot’s overall speediness.

Features

Needless to say, a walking boot that’s all about optimising movement and energy will have failed in its main aims if the grip isn’t up to scratch. All the speed in the world will count for nothing if the user doesn’t feel secure underfoot. The Missiongrip rubber here adds traction, and the clever lugs really bite down into soft trails – meaning you can properly put the pedal down and make powerful, confident, strides on them day-long marches in the hills. One downside we’ve found is that the lugs do tend to get a bit clogged up with mud and stones at times.

“Working in partnership with the Cloudtec outsole, the Speedboard engages every step of your journey”

Something On call a ‘Speedboard’ lines the sole to provide stability, propulsion and protection from sharp stuff underfoot. It’s basically a liquid-injected plate of thermoplastic polymer that sits between the CloudTec midsole and the upper.

With each step, the Cloudtec elements compress to soften the landing each time your foot strikes the ground and while this is happening, the Speedboard flexes – loading itself with energy from the impact. As On puts it on their website, it works “like an archer drawing a bow” – with the energy, when it’s released, helping to fire you forward more “explosively.”

The 'Zero-Gravity' CloudTec ensures cushioned landings. Photo: Mike Brindley
Founded in 2010, On are famous for their running shoes. Photo: Mike Brindley
The Cloudrock is amongst the lighter hiking boots you'll find on the market. Photo: Mike Brindley

This feature has been one of the biggest selling points of On’s running shoes in recent years. With all the benefits it brings, its use in hiking footwear clearly makes a lot of sense.

The ‘Zero-Gravity’ CloudTec ensures cushioned landings, makes the CloudRock a more comfortable user-experience, and reduces the risk of impact injuries.

By now, you’ll be fully aware that this boot is all about the need for speed. Demonstrating the extent to which they’ve thought of everything, On’s fast and furious mindset has even been applied to the laces. The Swiss-engineered FlexLock system means laces can be tied in a traditional way or, if you’re really in a hurry, with just a single pull.

The 360° mudguard shields the wearer. Photo: Mike Brindley

Conclusion

The Cloudrock Waterproof Walking Boot has an RRP of £180. The products it’s probably most similar to in this year’s Outdoor 100 is the Hoka One One Stinson Mid GTX or The North Face’s Activist FutureLight Mid, which has an RRP of £130.

The £50 saving and revolutionary FutureLight technology you get with The North Face boot might make the choice seem like a no brainer. However, the chance to wear On’s CloudTec technology for long hikes in the hills will be a tantalising prospect for many – and understandably so. At just 380g, speedy hiking boots don’t come much more lightweight than the Cloudrock.

On Cloudrock Waterproof Walking Boot

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