On Cloudmonster 2 Pleasures x The Loop vs On Cloudmonster 3:
Which to Choose

The clearest split is ride character. The Cloudmonster 2 is the springier shoe — its Helion foam and Speedboard combine for genuine bounce that firms up and rewards you as you accelerate, which is why it's happiest as an uptempo trainer and scores higher for pace and responsiveness (4/6 each). The Cloudmonster 3 takes the same ingredients but tunes them firm and mechanical: cushioning climbs to 5/6 but responsiveness drops to 3/6, so you get composed, protective mileage rather than energy return, and it starts to feel dead if you push the pace. Geometry reinforces this. The CM2 sits on a lower 34.5mm/29mm stack with a low 4mm drop that keeps you mid-to-forefoot but can feel a touch tippy and perched at jogging speeds; the CM3 rides a taller 39mm/32mm stack with a 7mm drop and a wider, more planted platform, pushing its stability to 5/6 (stable-neutral) versus the CM2's more neutral, slightly precarious 3/6. Weight is essentially a wash — the CM2 lands around 295g and the CM3 around 301g in men's US 9, both firmly in daily-trainer rather than lightweight territory. On range, the CM2 tops out at the half marathon and is best in the roughly 4:45–5:15 min/km zone when it comes alive, while the CM3 extends its usefulness up to the full marathon, with its sweet spot on relaxed long runs around 5:30–6:30 min/km. Neither is a racer and neither offers medial pronation support, but the CM3's broader base is the more forgiving, steadying ride.