Most reviewers will tell you the On Cloudvista 2 is a trail shoe. The honest answer is that it is a road-to-trail hybrid pretending to be a trail shoe, and Indian runners are buying it for the wrong reasons. At ₹13,999, with a 29/22mm stack, Helion superfoam, a Speedboard plate, and 270g, the Cloudvista 2 is interesting. But the framing is wrong, and that matters because mismatched expectations lead to disappointed runners.
The Cloudvista 2 is not a serious trail shoe
Run the Cloudvista 2 on the rocky descents above Munnar, on the technical singletrack of the Sahyadris, or on the loose-scree sections of any serious Himalayan trail event, and you will find out fast. The CloudTec outsole grips loose dirt fine. It is mediocre on wet rock. It is dangerous on steep mud. The Speedboard plate gives the shoe a stiff, propulsive feel that works on smooth surfaces but fights you on technical terrain where compliance matters.
What the Cloudvista 2 is, actually
It is a road-to-trail hybrid built for the runner who does 70% pavement and 30% fire-road or smooth-trail. That is a legitimate use case. There are runners in Mumbai, Bengaluru, Delhi who run mostly tarmac but venture onto Aarey Forest paths, Cubbon Park dirt sections, or the soft trails of Lodhi Garden once or twice a week. The Cloudvista 2 is built for them. It is a perfectly good hybrid. It is just not a true trail shoe.
What the Speedboard plate actually does
On is one of the few trail brands willing to put a plate in a trail shoe. The Speedboard is a thermoplastic stiffening element that adds propulsion. On road, it makes the shoe feel snappy. On smooth trails, it works. On technical descents, it removes the foot's ability to wrap around uneven ground, which is the opposite of what you want when picking your way down a rocky section.
The Helion foam is the better story
The Helion superfoam is a TPE-PEBA blend that is more responsive than the standard CMEVA used in cheaper trail shoes. It holds up reasonably well in Indian heat. It is the genuine upgrade in this shoe versus the original Cloudvista. If On built the Cloudvista 2 with Helion foam and no Speedboard, it would be a more honest trail shoe. With the plate, it is something else.
Where the Cloudvista 2 belongs in your rotation
For the right runner, the Cloudvista 2 is genuinely useful.
You should buy the Cloudvista 2 if
You run mostly road but want a single shoe that can handle occasional smooth trail or fire-road sessions without falling apart. You live in a metro and your "trail" running is more park-and-fire-road than serious technical work. You like the On brand aesthetic and want a hybrid that looks at home in a coffee shop after the run. You weigh under 75kg and run at moderate paces. You want a plate-aided propulsive feel in a non-racing shoe.
You should not buy the Cloudvista 2 if
You run serious trail terrain in the Western Ghats, the Aravallis with embedded rock, or any Himalayan ultra event. You need a rock plate (this is a Speedboard, not a rock plate; different things). You want maximum grip on wet rock or steep mud. You are heavy and need maximum protection. In all those cases, buy a proper trail shoe like the Saucony Peregrine 14 or browse the On trail lineup for the Cloudultra instead.
The ₹13,999 question
At ₹13,999, the Cloudvista 2 sits in an awkward price band. It is more expensive than dedicated trail shoes like the Saucony Peregrine 14 (₹13,499) which is a more honest trail tool. It is similarly priced to the Brooks Cascadia 17 (₲12,999). The Cloudvista 2 commands the price largely on brand and aesthetics rather than pure trail capability. That is not wrong, but you should know what you are buying.
The Indian runner's hybrid problem
Many Indian metropolitan runners genuinely have hybrid use cases. The reality of Indian urban environments is that what passes for "trail" near most cities is a smooth fire road or a packed-dirt park path. If that describes your routes, the Cloudvista 2 is a sensible choice. The road feel is good, the foam is responsive, and the occasional dirt outing will not damage the shoe.
Sizing, fit, and the On approach
On's lasts skew narrow compared with Brooks, Saucony, or Topo Athletic. The Cloudvista 2 is slightly wider than On's road lineup but still on the narrower side. Indian runners with wide feet should try before buying. Length-wise the shoe runs true to size. The lacing system is straightforward; no proprietary tricks. The tongue is gusseted, which prevents debris entry on dirt sections.
The verdict
Most reviewers will tell you the Cloudvista 2 is a do-it-all trail shoe. The honest answer is that it is a road-to-trail hybrid that is excellent for the right user and frustrating for everyone else. Be honest about what your "trail" running actually is. If it is fire roads and park paths, this is your shoe. If it is real technical terrain, get a real trail shoe. Compare options with the shoe comparison tool. Browse the broader running shoes category for context. Use the STRIDD plan generator to match your training to the surfaces you actually run, and look at the 2026 super-shoe comparison if you are confused about why plated shoes appear across so many categories now.