Post Archive Faction (PAF) x On Cloudmonster 2 Review
I've spoken enough about it, time to share my genuine thoughts on it.
So, for the past few weeks, I’ve spoken about how I’ve thoroughly enjoyed PAF, and I’ve shared my honest thoughts on On Running so please go back and read those. I’m not going to give the run down on either brand or the collab because I’ve already done that. But I am super excited to share with you my thoughts on one of my favourite shoes from this year. Firstly, the shoe came in two colourways; Moondust/chalk & Black/magnet. Truly Majestic.
Notable features:
Before I get into the full-fledged review, I think it’s important to discuss the differences between the general release and the collaboration.
The upper is the real change between the two is upper modifications. Just from looking at the two you can see considerable difference. The PAF version taking the minimalist approach with removing most branding (from both parties) besides the small On logo on the toe box, but adding extra panelling and even reshaping the lacing.
Take a look at some of the behind the scene pics with the restructuring of the upper. Truly an artist’s work.
Review:
Ok, onto the real review.
The Pros:
The Cloudmonster 2 features On’s patented Helion foam which is a mixture of Pebax foam that allows for a more cushioned and supported ride.
From personal experience, I have loved the soles of Cloudmonsters. I happily ran in a pair in the past. After coming back from a long-term injury, it felt amazing to run in these. In terms of enjoyment, these are great. Soft underfoot, while the Helion foam does allow for a nice cheeky bounce with some extra push off your stride.
Obviously, running shoes are personal for all people, but I thoroughly enjoyed these and the sole leaves enough room for your arch, which means it’s a pretty universal shoe for most runners (I say most because there are some pretty fked up feet out there).
I thoroughly enjoy the looks of the updated upper. It gives a lovely futuristic aesthetic to an already futuristic shoe. That’s the beauty of the shoe. the two counterparts complement one another very nicely. I love the look of these so much that I often wear them with my everyday fits.
The Cons:
Owning these is a bit like a double-edged sword. On the one hand, ‘Great, I get to rock these joints all day, every day.” on the other hand, my experience with the Helion sole is that they do not last as long as most conventional running shoes — imo, the Pebax sole is comfortable, but it’s resilience is not as lasting as your average EVA foam (If you’re unsure of what I’m referring to, have a look at my nerdy post about running shoes). My previous pair of Cloudmonsters only lasted me around the 250km mark — I’ve had people tell me their pairs started aging out around the 150km mark! In other words, they look great, but I waste the lifespan when I wear them for things outside of running.
fyi, the best way to tell if a pair of shoes are ‘done’ is generally by feel. Are they causing you arch pain or toe joint pain? Or you can see by looking at them — Has the outsole completely worn away, or they been ripped apart? if the answer is ‘yes’ to any of those, I suggest you look into a new pair.
So this is the terrible first-world problem that I have to overcome. Do I use these for running, or for everyday wear? In a perfect world I would have two pairs for this exact problem; however, that’s not the case. The unfortunate reality is that I will most likely be doing both and then once the life has left them, I’ll be wearing them strictly for everyday fits.
Another downside is that this specific shoe isn’t very accessible. On release day, they moved pretty quickly, and then after that, they were gone. I kinda sat on these for a day or two and then finally decided to pull the trigger (but it was literally the last pair of the AU On Running website), so I was very lucky.
Final Verdict:
I thoroughly enjoy this shoe. Visually and aesthetically, they’re 10/10. For performance, they’re 10/10.
Longevity… not so much. I would like it if On could recreate the Helion sole with longer-lasting properties to allow the shoe to last 400km+, but there is honestly no guarantee.
My recommendation: If you don’t have access to the Post Archive Faction x On Running Cloundmonster 2, then I still urge you to give the general release a go. I also don’t recommend paying resell on these. They’re expensive enough and it’s just mad cringe paying resell for shoes these days (do NOT look at my grailed profile). They’re a fun shoe and they’re relatively easy to find for cheap. My biggest fault with the model is that they were often done in ugly colourways, but I think the design team heard my criticisms (totally) and have amended this problem.