I Walked 75K in One Day Wearing the On Cloudmonster 3
- Our editor walked 75K (almost 47 miles!) wearing the On Cloudmonster 3.
- The shoe has supportive CloudTec pods that provide cushioning and propulsion.
- She included her list of gear, including compression socks, a packable jacket, and more.
It is a truth universally acknowledged that if one decides to walk 75K—nearly 47 miles—one must wear the right footwear: comfy, cushioned, with plenty of toe room for foot swelling. And it is a truth personally acknowledged that the right footwear is the On Cloudmonster 3.
It all started as a conversation at the Czech Tourist Club some 60 years ago, about a destination a person could reach on foot in one day. At some point, someone in the room said, “It’s time for lunch, go to hell with that.” But in Czech (my native language), when we want to send people to hell, we tell them to go to Prčice, a town 75K south of Prague in the Czech Republic. And so it was settled! Since 1966, the Club has been organizing a one-day march in mid-May that ends in this Czech hell—and together with 23,682 people, I decided to walk it on May 16 of this year.
Pros
- Firm underfoot but plenty of cushion for comfort
- Even footing on uneven surfaces
- Rocker profile
Cons
- Heel collar could be a bit softer
| Best for | Walking/running on road, gravel, grass |
| Weight | 8.5 oz (W), 10.4 oz (M) |
| Drop | 6 mm |
| Stack Height | 35 mm |
Related: “On Cloudmonster 3 Running Shoe Review”
Determining the Right Shoe for Walking 75K
With a start as early as 4:30 a.m. and the march ending at 8 p.m., I’d have some 15 hours to cover the distance. That would mean averaging 5K/3.13 miles per hour. Coming off training for Philadelphia’s 10-Mile Broad Street Run two weeks before the march, I wasn’t worried about being able to walk the miles as much as choosing the right shoes for it. Walking in a running shoe was a no-brainer—if anything were to soften the impact of all the steps I’d have to take, it’s going to be a shoe with the technology that absorbs shock, stabilizes my stride, and reduces the effort needed to propel my body forward.
The route is a mix of road, gravel, and trail. I figured road shoes would perform better on trail than trail shoes would on road, because a road shoe, made for hard surfaces, is generally more responsive and better at absorbing impact than a trail shoe built for softer paths and can be less comfortable due to all the protective rubber lugs. From there on, I knew I wanted the shoe to have a really wide toebox for my wide feet, supportive cushioning, and ideally a good rocker to propel me forward and save me some energy, all the while feeling very stable.
Going through the many shoes I tested for Runner’s World over the years, I chose three favorites that I would try out on my morning walks for coffee: Nike Vomero Plus, Brooks Glycerin 23, and Hoka Gaviota 6. I am a big fan of all three of these pairs that are the right combination of soft and firm, while also wide enough for my feet. The Vomero has a nice plush feel without dragging; the Glycerin is springy and comfortable; the Gaviota is as stable as a shoe can feel, extending past my foot on both sides.
Any of these would have been great—but then, about three weeks before the march, I received the On Cloudmonster 3. And I’ve not wanted to run—or walk—in any other shoe since.
Why I Chose the On Cloudmonster 3
I’ve been a fan of On for some time now, and the third iteration of the Cloudmonster truly feels like the shoe is only getting better. The signature CloudTec sole absorbs the impact of my steps like it’s a tiny trampoline that pushes me off right away and rocks me forward, doing half the work of running (or walking) for me. The toebox is wide and slightly stretchy, accommodating my foot as it swells over time.
I’ve done a few great runs and coffee walks in them leading up to the march, and couldn’t come up with a single thing I didn’t like about them. And so it was decided: the Cloudmonster and I—and my siblings, who agreed to join for various distances of the march—would walk to hell together.
How the On Cloudmonster 3 Performed
The Cloudmonster was made for all-day wearing and caused me no issues over the 103,178 steps I took during the march, according to Strava. I am in love with the CloudTec pods and how they compress and push me off with each step. The spacious toebox accommodated my feet through all the stages of the march. My foot felt secure, my heel supported, my toes comfortable. At one point, I stepped into a puddle I couldn’t walk around, which made me worry about blisters, but the shoe just let the water out, and I continued on without feeling any extra friction.
Sure, toward the end, my legs started feeling shaky, my feet were vibrating every time I sat down, and my glutes were on fire, but none of it felt bad enough to concern me. The shoes allowed me to enjoy walking through meadows, fields, hills, orchards, along rivers and streams, and through small villages, taking in the beautiful landscape of my home country—and spending uninterrupted time with my siblings. I finished an hour before the cutoff time.
My biggest worry? I hope I’ll be able to wash off all the mud and restore the bright white color of the shoes because I plan on wearing them until they fall apart :).
At the finish, we received a little plastic boot as a reward, this year in brown. The color of the boot is different every year—never revealed in advance—and obviously, I now need them all. And who knows, the shoe I’ll wear next year could be the Cloudmonster 4.
Shop On Cloudmonster 3 at on.com
Other Gear I Chose for the March
Just as important as the shoes were the right socks. After a long time contemplating, I decided to start the march in compression socks, while also packing a few pairs to change into as needed. In the end, I walked the whole 75K in the Ondo socks, and my feet couldn’t have been happier.
When it came to a sports bra, it had to be one that feels secure but at the same time not too restrictive when I breathe—pretty much one I’d forget I’m wearing for the 15-plus hours I’d have it on. The Shadowlite bra has been my latest favorite. No chafing, no movement on my body, adjustable shoulder straps—and I truly did forget I had it on.
I wanted to wear leggings I knew would stay in place no matter what, with a bunch of pockets so I could keep my phone, gels, and anything else I needed as handy as possible. The FlipBelt leggings are made of a material that keeps me warm, which worked well in the cooler weather that day. But I also packed FlipBelt Women’s Air Running Short in case I got hot, which stays in place just the same, no matter how much I fill all its various pockets with stuff.
This jacket was the perfect layer that was small enough to pack comfortably when I took it off, but still thick enough to keep me warm while it rained and when the wind picked up. I did end up covering myself with a rain poncho when the drizzle turned into a downpour to keep my backpack dry, but the jacket still got plenty wet, and I stayed warm underneath.
One thing to note is that the jacket only has one chest pocket, but it didn’t bother me since I had a bunch of pockets on my leggings, plus the hip belt would have made accessing them annoying anyway.
Pavlína Černá, an RRCA-certified run coach and cycling enthusiast, has been with Runner’s World, Bicycling, and Popular Mechanics since August 2021. When she doesn’t edit, she writes; when she doesn’t write, she reads or translates. In whatever time she has left, you can find her outside running, riding, or roller-skating to the beat of one of the many audiobooks on her TBL list.
Amanda Furrer, Editor, Running Reviews, studied journalism at NYU and writing at Emerson College. She has reviewed gear and covered other topics in the running space for almost 10 years. Since 2013, she has consecutively run the Boston Marathon. She also has a master’s degree in gastronomy from Boston University and was formerly a professional baker for two years before hanging up her apron.