On Cloudvista 3 vs On Cloudsurfer Trail 2

Built for mixed terrain that also suits city paths, the Cloudvista 3 is designed to move easily between road and light trail. On says this version has been re-engineered for more cushioning, more comfort and a faster feel than before.

In the trail range it is the lower-stacked road-to-trail option, sitting beneath the more cushioned Cloudsurfer Trail 2 and well below the long-distance Cloudultra 3. Cushioning comes from On's CloudTec system, with a rock plate in the midsole for protection underfoot, and a Missiongrip rubber outsole is intended to give traction on mixed ground. It has a 5 mm drop, lower than most of On's trail shoes. A waterproof version, the Cloudvista 3 WP, is sold alongside the standard shoe, making it one of On's waterproof running shoes for wet-weather mixed routes as well as a road-to-trail option.

Specs and features from sportsshoes.com and our own spec data. A factual overview, not a review.

Built for daily runs from the door to the trail, the Cloudsurfer Trail 2 applies the Cloudsurfer concept to smooth trails and fire roads. It is the off-road counterpart to the road-going Cloudsurfer 3, and a higher-stacked alternative to the lower-profile Cloudvista 3 in On's trail range.

The midsole uses Helion foam with On's CloudTec Phase design for a smooth heel-to-toe transition, and the Missiongrip rubber outsole gets updated lug geometry for grip on smooth to moderate terrain. A flexible, abrasion-resistant engineered mesh upper and a lockdown lacing system complete the build, and the retailer describes the design as inherently stable. The drop is 8 mm. A waterproof version is also sold, and the shoe belongs among road-to-trail running shoes rather than technical mountain models.

Specs and features from runningwarehouse.com, sportsshoes.com and our own spec data. A factual overview, not a review.