The On Cloud 6 Is a Comfy, Commute-Friendly Sneaker—But Has One Feature You Might Hate

One of the reasons On has been steadily chipping away at the market share of legacy brands like Nike is because the Swiss brand’s shoes blur the line between fashion and function so effortlessly. A perfect example: the Cloud 6. On’s signature shoe is billed as a lifestyle model, but it can easily move from the street to the gym. The latest version is a comfy upgrade, with an improved shape and structure to provide more supportive cushioning and a new sockline and wider opening that makes slipping them on and off easier than ever. 

On Cloud 6

$150

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Colors: 7 | Sizes: US 5-12 | Weight: 216 g | Heel-to-toe drop: 8 mm

Pros:

• Zero-Gravity CloudTec® for soft cushioned feel
• Really lightweight, natural feel
• Super easy step-in

Cons: 

• Outsole picks up rocks
• Sizing skews a bit narrow
• Lacing isn’t secure enough for more high-intensity workouts

First impressions of the On Cloud 6

When I first opened the Cloud 6 shoe box, I thought I had been sent a more minimalist running shoe. It’s got the obvious features you’d expect from an On shoe: a clean-cut, Swiss-engineered aesthetic and those open-cell CloudTec pods along the sole. Then I saw the speed-lacing system and remembered these were more of a comfortable commuter shoe that can also pull its weight during a low-impact gym session. 

The streamlined silhouette was honestly a nice departure from the chunky dad shoe vibe every brand is leaning into these days. Even with On’s he Cloud 6 leans more towards the firmer, low-profile end of the design spectrum, which makes it perfect for the gym-to-brunch crowd. 

My honest review

What I love

There’s something so effortless about a slip-on shoe—practically and, in this case, stylistically. The lack of traditional laces makes sliding the Cloud 6 on and off super easy, which I appreciated when I wore them to strength training workouts at my gym (I like to go barefoot when I’m lifting heavy, but otherwise I keep my shoes on). And, sure, you could make any sneaker a slip-on if you’re lazy enough, but I kept these by my door to step into any time I needed to run out to do errands, and they’re truly hands-free, with no need twist your foot around to unbend the back of the shoe from under your heel. I never needed to adjust the tightness of the elastic for a secure fit, but it would be very simple to adjust the knots on either end. (And if you’re a true laceless hater, On thoughtfully includes a set of traditional laces in the box.)

I was also impressed by how natural these shoes felt. They’re nice and light (7.6 ounces is pretty minimal in the sneaker world!), with a mesh upper that allows for plenty of airflow—exactly what you want when walking around in warmer temps. And even though these use On’s Zero-Gravity CloudTec foam for supportive cushioning, they have a real barefoot feel; my guess is that’s thanks to the way the CloudTec pods flex with my foot as I walk. I’m generally not a fan of On’s cushioning when I run (you could never mistake it for plush, no matter the marketing language they use), but that firmer support feels really nice at the gym or on a walk. 

What I don’t love

This has been my complaint with every shoe that uses On’s signature CloudTec cushioning system: Be prepared to pick up small stones and debris in both the pods and the cut-out on the outsole. That’s not a huge dealbreaker for walking, but it’s a silly design flaw I could do without. 

And I do have to call out the elastic quick-lace system—it can be a love-it-or-leave-it feature. I didn’t mind it, but keep in mind that tightening the elastic for more snugness might be annoying (and using the traditional laces changes the aesthetic), and you may find your feet shift a bit during more active wear (I ended up skipping sprints entirely during a workout class while wearing these). My feet are standard width, so I didn’t have any problems with fit. But these shoes do skew slightly narrow, so they might not feel as comfortable on those with wider feet 

On Cloud 6: Final thoughts

The Cloud 6 is a sleek, lightweight sneaker that can easily keep up with your everyday routine. It’s the kind of shoe I’d travel with: It takes up minimal space, it can go the distance, and I could even hit the hotel gym for some strength training in it (and the slip-on nature is great for getting through TSA if you still haven’t treated yourself to PreCheck). But it’s not without quirks: the firm support isn’t for those who like a little more cush, and the speed laces can be hit-or-miss. While it’s great for an on-the-go lifestyle, just keep in mind what kind of comfort you’re signing up for.