Published: March 2026 · 7 min read

There are shoes you run in.

Then there are shoes you look forward to running in.

The On Cloudmonster 3 Hyper LS is the second kind. I've been running in On's lineup for a while now, and when this landed I wanted to give it a proper, honest review.

The kind that actually helps you decide whether AU$360 is worth it, not just the manufacturer's press release dressed up as an opinion.

So here it is. Everything I know about the Cloudmonster 3 Hyper LS the tech, the ride, the fit, who it's for, who it's not for, and where to grab a pair in Perth.

Before we get into how it runs, let's get the naming sorted, because On's shoe naming is genuinely confusing.

There are three versions of the Cloudmonster 3 in 2026:

The LS in the name stands for LightSpray and it's the most interesting part of this shoe. More on that below.

The headline feature of the Cloudmonster 3 Hyper LS is the LightSpray upper, and it genuinely lives up to the hype.

Instead of the traditional approach of cutting, stitching and gluing 20 to 30 separate pieces of fabric together to form an upper, On uses a robotic arm to spray a single continuous filament directly onto the midsole in under three minutes. No seams. No overlays. No laces. No traditional heel counter. The result is a one-piece upper that weighs just 33 grams and fits like a second skin.

It looks like something from a sci-fi film. It feels like nothing else on your foot.

The fit is seamless, there's genuinely no distraction from the upper when you're running. No hot spots, no rubbing, no pressure points from lace bite. Your foot just sits in it and gets on with running.

This is where the Hyper versions separate themselves from the base Cloudmonster 3.

The Cloudmonster 3 Hyper LS runs a 45mm heel stack of full-length Helion HF superfoam, a significant upgrade from the standard version's 39.5mm. Helion HF is On's highest-performance foam compound, delivering noticeably more energy return and bounce than standard Helion.

Beneath the foam layer sit On's signature CloudTec hollow pods, which compress on impact and then snap back to give you that characteristic On-brand propulsion feel. The result is a ride that manages to feel both cushioned, responsive and protective without being mushy, bouncy without being unstable.

Despite the enormous stack, the shoe stays controlled underfoot. The CloudTec encasing keeps the foot centred with high full-length sidewalls that stop you rolling around on top of all that foam.

Here's the number that genuinely surprises people: 190 grams.

For a shoe with a 45mm heel stack, 190g is remarkable engineering. The weight savings come almost entirely from the LightSpray upper. That 33-gram upper versus a traditional mesh upper saves you roughly 85 grams. That changes the character of the shoe entirely. It's the reason you can run workouts and uptempo efforts in the LS version where you'd hesitate to in the standard Hyper.

The Cloudmonster 3 Hyper LS was built for long runs, and it absolutely delivers on that promise. The combination of massive cushioning and low weight means your legs genuinely feel better the day after a big session than you'd expect. Not magically fresh, just less beaten up. And over a training block, that compounds into something real.

The rocker geometry does a lot of heavy lifting here. If you're a heel striker, you'll feel how the rear geometry catches your landing and pushes you straight through the transition, you land, it rolls, and you're nudged forward without having to force anything. For easy and aerobic running where you're not trying to run fast, just trying to run a lot, the Cloudmonster 3 Hyper LS is one of the best tools available right now.

For a max-cushion shoe, this thing can move. The light weight and energy return from the Helion HF foam mean it doesn't feel like a plush slog when you pick the pace up mid-long-run. Several reviewers have used it for structured tempo runs and even track work, which tells you something about how versatile the platform is.

That said, this isn't a replacement for a proper race shoe or a dedicated speed shoe. It won't feel like running in carbon plate flats. Think of it more as a shoe that doesn't punish you for accidentally running faster, rather than one designed to make you fast.

One of the legitimate concerns with any 45mm stack shoe is lateral stability, all that foam creates the potential for instability and ankle rolls, especially on uneven surfaces.

The Cloudmonster 3 Hyper LS handles this better than most. The CloudTec pod encasing creates high sidewalls that keep your foot centred, and the overall ride stays controlled even when fatigue sets in late in a long run. Multiple testers across different running styles have noted how stable it feels for a neutral shoe with this much underfoot.

Don't take it on trails though. The outsole is built for road and track, technical terrain is not this shoe's habitat.

The Cloudmonster 3 Hyper LS fits true to size with a medium-width toe box that gives enough room for natural toe splay without feeling sloppy.

A few things to know before you buy:

The Cloudmonster 3 Hyper LS is ideal for:

It's probably not for you if:

The wider running community has been genuinely positive about this one. The consistent themes across reviews are the ride quality, the impressive weight-to-stack ratio, and the uniqueness of the LightSpray experience. The most common criticism is the price point, AU$360 is steep and requires genuine justification from a runner's budget perspective.

The base Cloudmonster 3 (without the Hyper and LS upgrades) has received more mixed reviews some finding it firmer and less exciting than expected. The consensus is clear though: if you're going to go Cloudmonster 3, the Hyper LS is the version worth having.

The On Cloudmonster 3 Hyper LS is a genuinely impressive piece of running footwear. The LightSpray upper is unlike anything else available in a daily trainer right now, the ride is protective and responsive without being mushy or unstable, and the weight for a 45mm stack shoe is remarkable engineering.

Is it worth AU$360?

For the right runner, yes. If you're logging serious miles, training for a marathon or half, or simply want the best super trainer On has ever made, the investment pays off in fresher legs, better recovery, and a shoe you'll genuinely look forward to running in.

If budget is the priority, the standard Cloudmonster 3 Hyper at AU$280 delivers much of the same midsole magic with a more traditional upper. But the LS is the one worth dreaming about.

Rating: 8/10

The crew at SBR in Rockingham currently have the Cloudmonster 3 Hyper LS in stock and I'd strongly recommend going in for a proper fitting rather than ordering blind online.

The team there will watch you run, assess your gait, and make sure this shoe is actually the right fit for how your foot moves. At AU$360, that expert advice is worth every minute.

Not sure if this is the right shoe for you at all? Read my full guide 3 Steps to Picking the Right Running Shoe before you commit to anything.

Have you run in the Cloudmonster 3 Hyper LS? Drop your thoughts in the comments, would love to hear how it's working for other Perth runners.

Keep running, Alistair Chegwidden @Chegitout · therunmaker.com