Cloudmonster 2

On Cloudmonster 2.. hands down..

It's interesting that you mention a sock and lace combo. I've been struggling with heel slip on almost every one of the shoes I try on. The runners knot doesn't work for me because my instep is high and it digs into my ankle. I'm honestly thinking of getting some sort of grip to fit into the back of the heel of the shoe. Most of the OC shoes are bad for wide feet, but the Cloudmonster 2 specifically has a lot of room. I've tried on pretty much all the popular shoes recommended here and they haven't worked, so it's funny that I ended up with the brand that people despise in this sub. Edit - The Cloudmonster 2 didn't work for me unfortunately. The rocker was too aggressive and it was irritating my arches. They fit perfectly, but my high arches didn't like the rocker.

The Cloudmonster 2 didn't work for me unfortunately. The rocker was too aggressive and it was irritating my arches. They fit perfectly, but my high arches didn't like the rocker. I agree with you that it's too rigid. I'm back to my Ride 16 and happy with it. I think with my high arches, I prefer a shoe without a rocker that's flexible.

On cloudmonster 2! have done approx. 400km in these so far and the durability seems immaculate - this shoe is comfort > speed and it cruises :)!

Third shoe in rotation: double down on what works… or try something new? Alright all you cool cats and kittens, I’m at that familiar fork in the road and could use some collective wisdom. Current rotation: On Cloudmonster 2 – my workhorse. Long runs, general mileage, even raced my half in them. Just shy of 200 miles and still treating me well. Comfortable, stable, predictable in a good way. ASICS Novablast 5 – newer to the party (≈60 miles). Took a little dialing in on the left shoe so my toe would behave, but once that settled… dang. I feel noticeably faster in these. The bounce is real. Not a true tempo shoe, I know, but they want to move. Here’s the dilemma: I want a third shoe in the rotation. Originally, I was hunting for a tempo/speed-focused option, but fit became the limiting factor fast. I tried a lot of shoes - the Boston 13, Evo SL, NB Rebel (current + last), Cloudboom, etc. - and almost all of them had some kind of toe box issue that I couldn’t ignore. For context, I’m also working through some mild left-ankle stability stuff, so sketchy fits are a hard no. Ironically, the shoes that fit best are the ones I already own. So now I’m torn between: Option A: Buy another pair of something I already know works (Cloudmonster 2 or Novablast 5) and call it smart, boring consistency Option B: Try something different that complements the rotation better— - even if it’s not a traditional “tempo” shoe on paper I loved my old Cloudstratus 3s too (RIP), but they’re more daily trainer than speed. I’ve heard Topo mentioned a lot, especially for toe box comfort, but they’re harder to find in-store, which makes me hesitant. Curious how others approach this: Do you double down when a shoe clearly works for your foot? Or do you force a little experimentation to round out the rotation? If you’ve been in a similar spot (fit-sensitive, mild stability needs), what direction did you go? Not chasing marginal gains for the sake of it - just trying to be intentional before buying shoe #3. Appreciate any thoughts.

Big fan, brother (or sister). They've had great fit and the miles just come. But they aren't fast, that's for sure. Loving the Novablasts, but eyeing the Megablast if they fit.

I've ran about 150 miles in them. Retired them. Okay for shorter runs. Once I hit 6+ I notice the sole seems to lose its bounce. They become pretty heavy. Switched to Mizuno Neo Vista for most of my runs. Norda 001 for trails.