We independently evaluate the whole lot we suggest. While you purchase via our hyperlinks, we might earn a fee.
Evaluating On Cloud vs Brooks trainers is one other nice operating shoe match up. Each have a few of the similar conventional shoe options and but, Cloud operating is breaking the old fashioned mildew.
Over time, I’ve been in a position to take a look at out fashions from each manufacturers to present you some private perception together with primary shoe particulars.
We’ve obtained particulars on building, match, really feel, cloth and extra. However in the end it’s actually the texture in your foot that’s going to make the choice.
You’ll see I’ve examined lots of these footwear and like each manufacturers, however have some bias based mostly on what feels good to me! So I undoubtedly went searching for different opinions to spherical it out.
Brooks Vs On Cloud Key Variations
On Cloud and Brooks provide lots of related options and fashions for all types of runners. There are alternatives for reasonable to max cushion and overpronation.
I might say neither model is tremendous excessive on the record of footwear that ultramarathon runners love, not like the Hoka.
Brooks has been round eternally and is a protracted standing favourite of operating shops and distance runners alike.
In the meantime, On took maintain within the triathlon market first after which shortly moved mainstream operating.
I break down the variations in additional element beneath, however right here’s a fast overview:
Brooks Operating Sneakers
- Conventional operating shoe with 6mm-12mm heel drop (a LOT of fashions at 12mm)
- Solely designs trainers, with an enormous number of fashions
- Science-driven to accommodate somewhat than appropriate gait
- Has extra enjoyable vacation styled footwear than another model (Christmas, 4th of July, Thanksgiving, St Pat’s)
- Rising deal with efficiency attire
On Operating Sneakers
- Extra slim slot in older kinds, some newer kinds have a wider forefoot
- Recognizable sole with the pods
- Claims their CloudTec sole reduces muscle fatigue and lowers HR
- Give attention to bettering pace off floor and decreasing influence
- Largely trainers, however now has unimaginable jackets, pants, and so forth as properly
For those who’re searching for only a detailed look a On, checkout this full On Cloud Evaluate >>
I’ve worn each manufacturers and can add some private ideas, together with hyperlinks to detailed evaluations. Right here you’ve obtained two of my properly worn fashions!
ON Operating vs Brooks Function Comparability
Whereas ON is newer to the operating market, Brooks has a protracted historical past that always makes it laborious for a lot of runners to modify to the newer model.
Each provide choices to assist with consolation, assist, stability, and cushion. The place they differ most are within the really feel of the shoe whereas operating.
The next breaks down every shoe based mostly on the parts consumers want to contemplate when buying a operating shoe.
It’s gonna get a little bit TECHY…so you possibly can simply skip on all the way down to the particular mannequin comparability if you need, however personally if I’m shelling out $150 for footwear, I kinda wish to know why.
Sturdiness
The lifespan of footwear from each corporations is pretty comparable.
- On recommends swapping out for brand new footwear each 310 to 465 miles, a bit extra particular than most manufacturers.
- Brooks footwear have a life expectancy starting from 300 to 500 miles, or three to 6 months, relying in your month-to-month mileage.
Figuring out when to exchange trainers, in fact, all relies on your gait, weight, and whether or not you run totally on path or highway.
Shoe Match
On footwear are a little bit laborious for me to explain as a result of I feel they’ve modified over the previous few years and are completely different with every mannequin that I’ve examined.
Whereas the size runs true to dimension, I might say some are a slim match and a few have a little bit extra room within the toebox.
I might not think about any of them a large shoe.
Brooks footwear have a wider toe field than different conventional fashions, which makes them a fantastic selection for runners with broad ft or bunions. The model recommends that consumers go up a half dimension from their on a regular basis shoe.
Brooks does a fantastic job with on-line match, the Brooks shoe match finder will provide you with an thought of what to search for in a operating shoe if you do go to your native retailer.
Cushioning
On makes use of CloudTec expertise which is fully what makes their shoe appear and feel completely different. They’ve little open pockets on the underside of the shoe that compress with every step to soak up influence and of their phrases really feel like a cloud.
I might say they’re cushioned, however not plush.
Brooks makes use of two varieties of cushioning of their designs, which permits for all kinds of cushion from plush to extra minimal.
- DNA LOFT – Comfortable cushioning, that adapts to a runner’s profile, stride, and pace
- BioMoGo DNA – additionally adapts to runner’s profile, stride, and pace, offering a extra balanced expertise with a little bit of spring.
Stability
On goes in opposition to the grain of most stability footwear and works along with your foots movement somewhat than attempting to cease it. I recognize this because it’s one of many many causes I steer people away from most stability footwear.
As an alternative, they modified the form and placement of a few of the items underneath the arch of the foot which permits all your muscle tissue to proceed firing, however slows that inward roll.
Quite than “repair” the best way somebody runs, Brooks expertise helps to stabilize your stride based mostly on the way you naturally run. So in essence, each manufacturers have the identical tackle stability. Simply completely different expertise.
Whether or not that’s a little bit bit extra assist within the arch or via the midline of the foot it helps hips, knees, and joints to maneuver naturally, providing assist when wanted. Impartial runners might solely require them to kick in when their stride is off.
Overview of heel to toe drop and kind of cushion in most shoe manufacturers.
Affordability
The costs between the 2 manufacturers are pretty comparable. On costs vary between $130 to $170, and Brooks begin at a at $100 to $160.
The most well-liked fashions for On are round $150 and similar for Brooks, additionally round $150.
Specialty objects with extra options (like carbon plates) will improve value.
You’ll discover that each model affords a variety and that is certainly resulting from a distinction in expertise and the place they promote the shoe. They know that the large field retailer can promote the shoe with much less in it, whereas the native operating retailer must be greatest for devoted runners.
Brooks Vs On Cloud Fashions
Now that you recognize extra about every model, let’s take a look at their high fashions in every of the primary classes. There’s no winner declared right here as a result of all are nice footwear, it’s nearly which one is greatest on your foot.
With every of those, they’re the highest fashions so numbers are continually altering as they make a little bit improve, however On doesn’t preserve including numbers to the shoe title like most manufacturers doe.
Stability Operating Shoe
👉On Cloudflyer
With regards to stability, On is attempting to not pressure the foot in to any sort of inflexible place. This implies it’s a extra pure really feel that almost all stability trainers.
It additionally has simply that slight rocker impact, to assist transfer you from heel to toe.
Thought of an opulent shoe, however as famous, their plush footwear will not be in the identical ballpark as Hoka plush…it’s nonetheless a firmer journey with the main focus being on that spring off the bottom. I’ll say that is altering with different fashions that you simply’ll see me notice beneath, so simply know this a firmer journey as a result of outsole.
👉Brooks Adrenaline GTS
The model’s hottest highway operating shoe (GTS stands for go-to-shoe) simply turned 23 and is available in a swath of colours. This supportive shoe is greatest for a medium to excessive arch, and is a part of the cushion line.
This was one of many very FIRST footwear that I purchased at a operating retailer! I believed it was so extremely cool my title was on the shoe…ha!!! However sure they have been tremendous duper vibrant white (as you’ll see beneath).
- Weight: 10.2 oz Males’s, 9 oz Girls’s
- Heel Drop: 12 mm
- Accessible in plenty of colours
- Accessible in broad, further broad, and slim
- Accessible on BrooksRunning.com, Zappos and retail shops for $140
Impartial Operating Shoe
👉On Cloudsurfer
I’ve run in just a few of the sooner fashions of this shoe, however as their hottest shoe it’s one of many few that continues to get a quantity to notice that it’s new and improved!
We’re at the moment as much as mannequin 8. Although it’s merely listed as the brand new Cloudsurfer. That is completely far and away my favourite model of most On Trainers!
Are you able to run a marathon on this shoe? Completely, although it’s not our first advice. However this isn’t a quick shoe for top depth pace work or hitting a sub-3:30 marathon.
The Cloudsurfer 2 is cushioned and versatile sufficient that I’d extremely suggest for runners who incorporate strolling into their routines.
👉Brooks Ghost V 16
The Ghost affords clean transitions and mushy cushioning for highway operating and is greatest for these searching for impartial assist. Runners’ World has awarded this shoe a number of Editor’s Selection Awards.
I personally was so intrigued by these awards that I snagged myself a pair final yr and they’re nearing the top of their life, however have served me very, very properly. Which is why I then upgraded to the most recent mannequin to see what is perhaps completely different.
The heel-to-toe drop is quite a bit greater than I have a tendency to love, but it surely’s a really commonplace conventional operating shoe really feel. So in the event you’re searching for that on a regular basis run shoe, which might present a reasonable quantity of cushion to go the gap, it’s a win.
- Weight: 10.1 oz Males’s, 9.1 oz Girls’s
- Heel drop: 12 mm
- Accessible in 15 colours
- Accessible in broad, further broad, and slim
- Accessible on BrooksRunning.com, Amazon, Zappos and retail shops for $140
- Learn my full Brooks Ghost evaluate right here >>
Cushioned Operating Shoe
👉Cloudmonster
This was one of many first On footwear that instantly obtained me hooked. I’ve now been operating in it for over a yr and proceed to love that this shoe isn’t tremendous squishy mushy, however isn’t laborious like earlier On Trainers.
I at all times attempt to examine it to the HOKA Bondi, which feels such as you put your foot in a cloud and this isn’t that sort of mushy, it’s additionally not the Vaporfly bouncy sort of mushy. For On the cushion is extra concerning the absorbing of influence, somewhat than what you would possibly consider as conventional cushion. That’s not a nasty factor, simply completely different expectations.This totally felt just like the most cushioned On operating shoe I’ve examined (till the Max Cloudeclipse). Not too mushy, only a good cushion. Making it a great every day simple run coach.
👉Brooks Glycerin 22
The Glycerin stays considered one of Brooks most liked trainers. I instructed you I ran a marathon in it! It‘s a fantastic all–round operating shoe, offering nice cushioning for a wide range of operating distances.
Brooks barely modified issues and use their DNA tuned foam underfoot. This EVA foam is probably the most sturdy and permits for lots of softness. With their DNA tuned expertise they’ll change the softness in several areas of the shoe based mostly on utilization sort. On this case, a go to every day coach.
Regardless of all of the cushion, the shoe stays pretty gentle at 9 oz and has a 10mm heel drop, encouraging pace and consolation.
The higher is made from a engineered double jacquard knit that retains your ft cool and comfy. The midsole affords nice shock absorption, and the rubber sole offers dependable traction on a selection of surfaces.
Carbon Fiber Plate Sneakers
Are they cool new expertise, sure.
Do they final so long as your different footwear, nope.
So if you wish to take a look at these out use them for pace work after which race day!
👉Brooks Hyperion Elite
The Brooks Hyperion Elite is a light-weight, high-performance operating shoe designed for pace and effectivity. It’s doesn’t have a full stable plate like we see in different Tremendous Sneakers and the reasoning behind that’s each to maintain the shoe lighter and solely present stability to the cushioning not dampen it.
SpeedVault Race+ plate has been “wonderful tuned” in order that the plate is definitely completely different based mostly on the dimensions of the shoe and thus assembly the wants of that runner. The bigger the shoe, the stiffer the plate in essence.
Now they’re utilizing what they name DNA Gold 100% Tremendous Crucial PEBA foam, as an alternative of Tremendous Crucial EVA. This helped to drop a whole oz of weight from the shoe, however extra importantly modified the texture underfoot.
👉On Clouldboom Echo 3 evaluate
This was one of many earliest carbon fiber footwear I examined and it’s very completely different from the Vaporfly. As an alternative of excessive cushion, that is extra like the sensation you would possibly get in your every day coach.
The shortage of cushion isn’t a nasty factor, simply completely different. That being stated, with every iteration of the Echo, they’re including extra cushion to maintain up with different manufacturers, simply not that tremendous bouncy feeling. For a lot of runners, I feel it is a good factor and would possibly strike that stability of pace and cushion, with out the fear about Achilles accidents which are popping up.
I used to be actually impressed with the updates within the Echo 3 from the unique Cloudboom. BIG win for me shouldn’t be having the pods that lure rocks on the underside! This shoe additionally matches higher than the unique. That being stated, the HOKA Rocket remains to be going to be a bit wider match.
Watch my detailed video on how Carbon Fiber Sneakers work.
Path Operating Sneakers
On is a little bit newer to the path operating shoe recreation, however in the event you already take pleasure in their highway footwear you then’ll discover they’ve carried out a great job on the Extremely. Brooks in the meantime really has a reasonably big selection of footwear right here.
👉Brooks Caldera 8
It’s been just a few years since I’ve run on this specific mannequin, however I actually loved it on the time. I’ve simply been testing lots of different footwear!
While you first take a look at these footwear, your eyes are in all probability instantly drawn to the quantity of froth. However don’t fear, this doesn’t translate to the Caldera 8 being a brilliant squishy journey. The cushion is there to assist defend your ft from rugged trails. However the trade-off is that it’s lacking a few of that responsiveness that can assist you decide up the tempo.
The DNA Loft v3 foam introduced the cushion however was nonetheless agency and bouncy sufficient to really feel related to the path. With all of the cushion the Caldera 8 was nonetheless stabilizing, versatile, and responsive sufficient to deal with probably the most poorly chosen line via roots and rocks.
It is a excellent match for path and extremely runners searching for a little bit further cushion whereas spending plenty of time on the paths.
- Weight: 14.4 oz Males’s, 9.3 oz Girls’s
- Heel drop: 6 mm
👉On Cloudultra 2
Welcome to their path shoe with the very best quantity of cushioning. The flip launch on the shoe laces, additionally makes it simple to regulate the tigthness of the footwear. Which as we all know is commonly wanted throughout ultras when ft swell.
The On Cloudultra is considered one of On Operating’s latest path trainers and a very good addition to the ultramarathon and endurance path operating market.
Partially as a result of they shifted the pod arrange, so you’ll catch much less rocks than with the highway footwear!! They add lugs for extra grip and took the pods manner, manner down.

On has glad the request of 1000’s of path runners with this shoe, due to its means to deal with tough terrain successfully and stay comfy over lengthy distances on trails and highways with its Helion midsole foam.
These are glorious path operating footwear for all distances as much as and together with the marathon.
- Weight: 10.4 oz Males’s,9.3 oz Girls’s
- Heel drop: 6mm
- Accessible in 4 colours
- Not out there in broad
- Accessible from On Operating for $179
Extra About On Cloud Operating
On began in 2010 in Switzerland, when but once more one other runner thought “I may do that higher.”
This time it was three retired skilled athletes, who determined there wanted to be a shoe that had extra firmness to create that bounce off the bottom, together with cushion.
They went from their first prototype in January 2010, to having it bought in tales by June 2010! How insane is that timeline?!
By 2014 and 2015 skilled athletes have been carrying the footwear and successful races, creating much more buzz about these distinctive trying footwear.
Extra About Brooks
Imagine it or not, Brooks began out in 1914 making ballet slippers and bathing footwear. Since then, they’ve made the whole lot from baseball and soccer cleats to curler skates.
It wasn’t till Frank Shorter gained the marathon on the 1972 Munich Olympics that Brooks thought of limiting its focus. The primary operating shoe debuted in 1974 and their hottest operating shoe, the Adrenaline GTS first hit the market in 1999.
In 2001, Brooks determined to focus solely on operating.
They launched the Transcend in 2013, a shoe that used new biomechanics expertise to create a GuideRails expertise, permitting runners to run naturally with out attempting to appropriate their gait.
The Seattle-based firm can be well-known for its dedication to sustainability and giving again. Brooks donates time, gear, and cash to corporations that align with their values round variety, fairness, and inclusion and workers obtain paid annual volunteer time.
Easy methods to Select On or Brooks Operating Sneakers?
Now that we’ve gone via the completely different fashions, you have got a greater feeling for what units every aside. I can’t suggest sufficient that you simply purchase understanding you possibly can take them out for just a few runs and return.
Significantly, return insurance policies are fairly wonderful.
And bear in mind: Your gait and ft will seemingly change over time and you could want to alter footwear.
That is additionally why I like to recommend rotating via a number of pairs of footwear without delay.
Understand that shoe design can change, even with the identical mannequin, so at all times assess how the shoe matches each time you change a pair.
For extra assist deciding on the appropriate shoe for you, don’t fear, I’ve obtained you:
Different methods to attach with Amanda
Instagram Each day Enjoyable: RunToTheFinish
Fb Neighborhood Chatter: RunToTheFinish
Signal As much as Obtain a Weekly Publication with Prime Operating Ideas and Laughs