On shoes are everywhere. Stepping onto a New York City subway, if you look down, they are pretty much on every other foot. It’s unsurprising, considering they are On’s flagship lifestyle sneaker—and sneaker culture is very much here to stay. But beyond its unique (and honestly, chic) aesthetic, I was curious to see if this walking shoe could also hold up to the busy life that New Yorkers lead. Specifically, are the On Cloud 6 lifestyle sneakers a casual walking shoe made for short walks, or can they handle the vigorous long-distance commutes, sweaty subway summers, and hours of pounding the pavement that a city girl like myself does on the daily?
To help put it to the test, I asked several editors of different ages and fitness levels to see how they performed for a full month. Here’s how it went.
| Sizes | 5-11 |
| Widths | Medium, Wide |
| Weight | 7.6 oz |
| Heel-to-toe Drop | 8 mm |
How we tested
I wore this pair of On Cloud 6 walking shoes for four weeks to determine how they would hold up in terms of fit, comfort, and performance. They pounded the pavement for countless city miles as I wore them on commutes, ran errands, and walked long distances on hot summer days. Three other editors also tested them out during this time, including two women over the age of 50, one of whom deals with bunions and clocked a full 25,000-step day in them to really push them to the limit.
The fit and design
The On Cloud 6 has a very specific look. They are instantly recognizable due to their CloudTec outsole, which has a specific honeycomb structure that’s unmistakable. That said, I think they are so much more than their looks. The design is also fully functional. My pair required zero break-in time out of the box—a majorly important walking shoe test—and felt incredibly spacious in the toe box but otherwise had a fairly slim fit. I typically wear a size 9.5 in athletic shoes and found them extremely true-fitting. One of our testers felt they ran too narrow and would have preferred a wide size, which luckily are available. However, other testers called them “spacious” and “super comfy.” The engineered mesh upper isn’t stretchy like some other lifestyle shoes and help provide a more structured fit while still remaining extremely lightweight and sleek.
Beyond its ultra-lightweight fit (clocking in at 7.6 oz, it’s the lightest sneaker I’ve tested all summer!), the speed lace system makes them beyond easy to slip on and off. They come with separate laces that you can also use to tie up, but I felt that I didn’t need them and the fit was fine as is. Of the speed lacing system, Senior Editor Gina Way said, “I thought they might be loosey-goosey and not snug enough, but they fit perfectly. Full disclosure, the elastic band laces are supposed to be adjustable, but I could not figure out how to do that.” Regardless, the system never felt anything other than secure and cut out time and energy to bend over and deal with laces, which I found to be a huge plus.
Cushioning and feel
The On Cloud 6 is incredibly comfortable. Unsurprising, given their name, which denotes a literally “on cloud” feel! Way called the plush, cushy (but still somehow structured) feel “pretty amazing,” saying that they immediately impressed her straight out of the box. “I got super lost trying to find a beauty event in Brooklyn and walked for miles (thanks for nothing, Google Maps!),” she said. “I must have clocked in almost 25,000 steps—and the Cloud 6s were totally comfortable. Pretty amazing for the first time wearing them with zero break-in time!”
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I had a similar experience. I already knew the CloudTec sole would give it a compressive, cushioned feeling while walking, but I found many shoes to be too cushioned and therefore unstable. The firmer midsole, made from zero-gravity foam, felt way more supportive than most max-cushion walking shoes, but lightweight and responsive. If you prefer a plush, sinking-in cushion, this pair might feel too firm for you, as I recently concluded in my Hoka vs. On comparison review, but for anyone who needs a good combination of comfort and arch support, I think the level of cushion was ideal and actually ended up being more comfortable over long hours.
Performance and stability
I have tried so many ultra-cushioned sneakers this year that, unfortunately, I dealt with the return of an extremely painful bout of plantar fasciitis. Cushioned shoes are amazing for standing for long hours and travel days, but I have found that on walking and commuting days, my arch requires a bit of firmer support. The On Cloud 6 was ideally suited for my needs in this regard. The firmer midsole foam combined with its wider platform and Speedboard plate gave it way more stability than your average lifestyle shoe while still maintaining the comfortable feel of a cushioned shoe.
Way also noted that they felt as supportive as her orthopedic insoles but without any of the uncomfortable heft or clunky aesthetic. “Muted beige walking shoes sound so geriatric, and I am a youthful over-50!” she said. “But these shoes looked cool enough to pair with a slouchy-chic pair of baggy jeans, as well as being comfy enough to walk all day in.”
Another tester was also impressed by how good the traction of the outsole was and how that added to the shoe’s stability, and I found that to be extremely true. I wore the On Cloud 6 during several rainy day excursions and they mastered slippery subway platforms with ease, gripping all surfaces with maximum traction and security.
The bottom line
Every other person on the subway in New York seems to be wearing On Clouds, and now I understand why. Not only do they look cool (which is a huge win), but I could walk all day in this pair—and did. I think they would be particularly well-suited to long travel days, everyday walking, and commuting. If you need maximum softness, they might not be your best bet, but if you want a trusty daily shoe with a stable, comfotable feel, the On Cloud 6 is a must-buy.
Shop the On Cloud 6 Now
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