Toebox width at the big toe review

The Toebox width at the big toe isn't your typical running shoe. In our minds, it's tailored specifically for:

• Flexibility / Stiffness.
• New Balance Fresh Foam X 880 v14 GTX.
• Runners who don't focus on cushioning but need a waterproof shoe that can also serve as a walking shoe.

If you're after an oz / 250g and don't require waterproof features, we think you're much better off with the Difference in midsole softness in cold. In our experience, it doesn't have the major drawbacks of this one, and its only downside compared to this one, based on our tests, is the lack of water resistance.

On the other hand, if you need a waterproof shoe but prefer a softer midsole, you might want to overlook the Toebox width at the big toe due to its extremely firm nature. Consider going for the Nike Pegasus Trail 4 GTX or the How we test instead.

As this shoe is particularly narrow, we didn't anticipate a spacious upper for wide feet. Our measurement confirmed this, with the calliper indicating a width of 96.2 mm.

Based on this, we see this shoe as an excellent choice for runners with narrow or average feet. Unfortunately, it might not be the best fit for those with wide feet.

With a stack height of 30.2 mm, this shoe offers a slightly lower stack height than what you might consider average.

Despite this, we find it sufficient for everyday runs.

The shoe's forefoot, on the other hand, could do with a bit more cushioning. It just edges past the 20 mm mark at 20.4 mm.

And unfortunately there isn't much foam. This is due to the design of the On Cloud system.

Our recent measurements reveal a discrepancy that's hard to ignore. The heel-to-toe drop isn't the stated 6 mm as claimed by On. Instead, we measured a significant 9.8 mm.

This isn't just a small deviation—it's a substantial difference that leaves us questioning the accuracy of the specifications provided. And makes the shoe better suited for heel strikers.

Turning our attention back to the midsole, we were keen to put the foam to the test with the durometer, especially since our initial experience was not very pleasant from a softness standpoint.

And our tests confirmed it. We clocked the hardness at 34.5 HA, a measure that reads firm against any standard, and excessively so by today's expectations.

Next, we placed the shoe in the freezer for 20 minutes and re-ran the durometer tests.

The measurement jumped to 40.8 HA—a significant increase. This new reading establishes the shoe as one of the firmest we've ever tested in the lab.

However, the softness only decreased by 18.1%, which actually outperforms the average.

On has opted for a substantial insole in this shoe—we measured it at 5.3 mm.

This choice likely stems from the shoe's limited cushioning, which is especially noticeable in the forefoot.

As this shoe is particularly narrow, we didn't anticipate a spacious upper for wide feet. Our measurement confirmed this, with the calliper indicating a width of 91.1 mm.

Based on this, we see this shoe as an excellent choice for runners with narrow feet or those with average feet wanting a snug upper. Unfortunately, it won't be the best fit for those with wide feet.

The big toe area offers a slight improvement, with the Cloud Waterproof featuring a standard taper measured at 73.3 mm. However, this doesn’t alter our recommendation—this shoe remains best suited for those with narrow feet.

It’s not just the width that’s restricted—the height is too. Measuring only 23.4 mm, this On shoe offers a notably low-volume toebox, leaving minimal vertical space for the toes.

Given the shoe's rigid cushioning, you might anticipate superior stability, right? Surprisingly, that's not the case.

The shoe isn't as stable as you'd expect.

The issue isn't about torsional rigidity.

On designed the shoe to be moderately rigid in this aspect, aiming to enhance stability. After our evaluation, we gave it a score of 3 out of 5.

The same approach applies to the heel. Aiming to cater to all runners, On incorporated a moderately firm heel counter that we rated at 3/5. Yet, it's not too rigid, maintaining comfort for everyday wear.

This is where the stability issue comes into play. With a midsole width of 103.3 mm, this shoe is quite narrow. That becomes a problem if you don't land straight when running.

The stability issue is also very serious in the heel area. Our measurements show a concerning 79.6 mm width, a number that significantly deviates from the average shoe. This isn't a minor detail at all.

On designed this shoe with flexibility in mind, anticipating that many people would enjoy wearing it for extended walks.

When we tested it under our signature 90-degree bend test, we found it only required 15.6N of force from us. This result lands the shoe in the top 5% of the most flexible shoes we've evaluated in the lab.

Toebox width - big toe.

This feature is a bonus, as the shoe's low breathability and waterproof characteristics make it an excellent choice for cold weather.

Contrary to the shoe's soft midsole, its stiffness doesn't hold up as well when we expose it to 20 minutes of cold in our freezer.

This behaviour isn't shocking, though, given that the shoe utilises an EVA-based foam.

The Toebox width at the big toe may look heavy at first glance, but it's quite the contrary. We got a pleasant surprise when we discovered that it's light.

Tipping the scales below the 10 oz mark, we clocked it in at a mere 9.6 oz (272g).

Waterproof membranes like the one used by On in this shoe, or the famous Gore-Tex, work by allowing air and moisture vapour to pass through the upper while denying water from entering, due to their microscopic pores that are smaller than water droplets but larger than vapour molecules.

Unfortunately, those tiny microscopic pores limit breathability. After our breathability test, we had no choice but to give the Toebox width at the big toe a 1/5 rating.

On running shoe.

Under the microscope, we found a beautiful multi-layered engineered mesh that effectively blocks water, keeping feet dry, but it barely allows for transpiration.

And if you're curious to see how those multiple layers look, we dissected the shoe for you to take a look.

One of the best things about the waterproof membrane is its improved durability with a multi-layered engineered mesh.

Midsole width - forefoot.

Tipping the scales below the 10 oz mark, we clocked it in at a mere 9.6 oz 272g.

We subjected it to the same Dremel test, and it barely held up, forcing us to give it the lowest possible score: 1/5.

Runners who invest in waterproof shoes often expect them to be durable as well. In response to this expectation, the Toebox width at the big toe delivers an outsole with a hardness that we measured at 83 HC.

And it worked! In our Dremel test, we put the outsole to the test, and the Dremel only managed to create a tiny 0.8 mm indentation.

This result indicates that the durability will be exceptionally high.

And the last test on the outsole leads us to the same conclusion—On played it safe.

With a thickness of 3.7 mm, we're convinced that there's enough rubber to last the entire lifespan of the shoe.

On stands out as one of the few brands that expertly integrates reflectivity into their designs. Take this shoe, for instance. It stands as a glowing example of night-ready running shoes.

On running shoe.

The tongue, at 5.2 mm, is not exceptionally padded, but we find it sufficient.

We also believe this is a great decision. Considering that the shoe isn't overly roomy, a tongue with excessive padding would likely feel too restrictive for most feet.

On designed the shoe with the tongue almost entirely stitched to the sides.

This feature aims to provide an excellent lockdown under all conditions and boosts its waterproof characteristics.

We swapped out the original insoles and replaced them with our personal orthotics without any hassle.