It was one of those coastal mornings where the sky teetered between golden sunrise and overcast drizzle. I arrived at Karwar Beach, Karnataka’s hidden gem, with my new pair of On Cloud X 4 shoes packed neatly in my duffel. Having reviewed dozens of training shoes over the years, I was especially curious about this fourth iteration from the Swiss performance brand On. The brand’s reputation for innovative cloud cushioning and minimalist aesthetics intrigued me, but could these shoes handle real-world, unpredictable terrains like sand, wet boardwalks, and beachside roads?
Karwar Beach, with its sprawling golden sands, rocky outcroppings, and a meandering promenade, would be the perfect testing grounds. The plan? Put the On Cloud X 4 through a day’s worth of running, rope jumping, casual walking, and light resistance training, all within the diverse textures Karwar had to offer.
Technical Specification
All technical details are taken directly from On Cloud’s official website for reliability and accuracy.
| Feature | Measurement / Description |
|---|---|
| Weight | 268g (9.5 oz) |
| Drop | 8.9 mm |
| Heel Stack | 30.4 mm |
| Forefoot Stack | 21.5 mm |
| Midsole Softness | 25.6 HA |
| Outsole Hardness | 80.0 HC |
| Breathability Score | 5/5 |
| Torsional Rigidity | 1/5 |
| Flexibility (Force to Bend 30°) | 14.8N |
| Toebox Width | 73.0 mm |
| Heel Counter Stiffness | 3/5 |
| Price | ₹16,490 |
The Sand Test: Cushioning vs Stability
I laced up the Cloud X 4 and jogged straight onto the beach. The first few steps on dry sand were surprisingly springy. The CloudTec pods compressed and rebounded with every footstrike, giving me a buoyant ride that felt more like a road run than a beach jog. The Helion foam, while not overly plush, provided a balanced cushioning that absorbed initial impact well.
However, as I moved closer to the wet, compacted sand near the tideline, the flaws began to surface. The lack of lateral stability was immediately obvious. Any change in direction, be it a sidestep or a pivot, caused noticeable foot roll. The shoe’s torsional rigidity (rated 1/5 in the lab) didn’t help. It felt like my foot had too much freedom, which in unstable conditions like wet sand, became a liability.
The Boardwalk Run: Comfort and Breathability
From the beach, I transitioned onto the Karwar promenade, a concrete boardwalk that snakes along the shore, dotted with food stalls and benches. Here, the Cloud X 4 really shined. The lightweight build (9.5 oz) and high breathability made it ideal for a humid coastal climate.
Even after 30 minutes of steady-state running, my feet remained cool. The upper, made with 90% recycled polyester, is incredibly airy. In fact, it scored a perfect 5 in lab-based breathability tests. The absence of a heel tab was a minor annoyance, making the shoe a bit tricky to put on when damp, but once on, it hugged my foot comfortably.
The semi-gusseted tongue and midfoot cage did a commendable job of keeping the foot locked in place during forward motion. I had no heel slippage, no hotspots, and no need to adjust the laces mid-run.
Rope Jumping on the Jetty: Springy but Slippery
Karwar’s long fishing jetty, made of uneven stone slabs, served as the next testing ground. I pulled out my jump rope and began a HIIT-style session. The Cloud X 4’s cushioning was immediately noticeable. Every jump felt like landing on a mini trampoline. The energy return numbers, 58% in the heel and 59.4% in the forefoot, felt accurate. My calves were thankful.
But again, the traction, or lack thereof, let the shoe down. The outsole, segmented with shallow CloudTec pods, didn’t grip the stone surface well. A friction score of 0.25 (vs. an average of 0.34) means you’re more likely to slip if you’re training on anything other than dry, grippy gym floors.
Beachside Strength Training: Wobble City
I carried a pair of 15kg dumbbells to a shaded area near the beach and attempted a few Bulgarian split squats, followed by static lunges and overhead presses. That’s when the Cloud X 4’s instability became too obvious to ignore.
The soft midsole, flexible construction, and lack of a firm heel counter made any loaded movement feel sketchy. I had to reduce my range of motion and slow down each rep to maintain balance. The shoe doesn’t offer the flat, stable base that weight training demands. If you’re serious about lifting, especially compound movements, this isn’t your shoe.
Casual Walks Around Karwar: The Shoe Finds Its Niche
Later in the day, I walked around the Karwar town center, visited the INS Chapal warship museum, and strolled back along the beach at sunset. Here, the Cloud X 4 redeemed itself. It’s a supremely comfortable walking shoe. The cushioning, insole padding (5mm), and breathable upper made all-day wear a pleasure.
The shoe’s design is also sleek enough to pair with casual attire. It doesn’t scream “gym shoe,” which makes it versatile for lifestyle wear. For activities like travel, sightseeing, or commuting, the Cloud X 4 is a top contender.
Durability Concerns: Not Built for the Long Haul
After just one day of testing, I noticed fraying around the toebox and minor scuffs on the outsole. The lab tests echo this observation. The toebox scored a 2/5 and the heel padding a dismal 1/5 in durability tests. The outsole, which showed 1.6mm of wear in controlled Dremel tests, doesn’t inspire long-term confidence either.
If you’re planning to use this shoe daily for dynamic workouts, expect it to wear out quicker than competitors like the Nike Metcon or Reebok Nano series.
A Cloud with Silver Linings, and Some Rain
The On Cloud X 4 is a shoe caught between two worlds. It excels as a lifestyle and light workout shoe, offering unmatched breathability, comfort, and a clean aesthetic. But when it comes to serious training, especially anything involving weights or lateral movement, it falls short.
Karwar Beach provided the ideal testing lab: sand, sea, stone, and street. And in this real-world environment, the Cloud X 4 proved to be more of a walker’s dream than a trainer’s weapon.
If your weekly routine includes a mix of walking, short runs, and low-impact workouts, the Cloud X 4 will serve you well. But if strength training or HIIT is your primary focus, look elsewhere.
Final Thoughts
The Cloud X 4 may not be the ultimate gym shoe, but it shines in its niche. For those who want a do-it-all lightweight trainer that excels in comfort and aesthetics, and don’t mind its weaknesses in stability and durability, it’s worth considering, especially if you catch it on sale.
But at full price (₹16,490), the value proposition is questionable when compared to more versatile and robust options on the market.
In the end, much like Karwar itself, peaceful, scenic, slightly unpredictable, the Cloud X 4 is a shoe that thrives in moderation, not intensity.
