On Cloudsurfer Next Z5 vs Salomon DRX Defy:
Which to Choose

Start with the numbers that actually differ. The Cloudsurfer Next Z5 sits on a 30mm heel / 24mm forefoot stack with a 6mm drop and weighs about 290g; the DRX Defy runs a taller 34mm heel / 26mm forefoot stack with an 8mm drop yet weighs only about 239g. So the Salomon is the lighter shoe by roughly 50 grams despite carrying a few more millimeters of foam underfoot — a genuinely efficient build — while the On's lower drop encourages a flatter, more midfoot-oriented roll. The bigger split is the foam and geometry. On's Helion superfoam is moderately soft with a gentle spring, and its hollow CloudTec Phase pods collapse in sequence for an exceptionally smooth, staged heel-to-toe transition; the trade-off is a slightly airy, less connected ground feel, and those open pods can pick up small stones on the road. Salomon's energyFOAM is a TPU-based compound that reads medium-firm and resilient — it rebounds rather than sinks, firms up pleasantly when you lift the pace, but can feel a touch too responsive on very easy recovery legs. Both are honest conversational-pace trainers that top out around 4:30–5:00 min/km for tempo work before the plateless foam runs out of snap, so neither is a racer. On fit and durability, the On's engineered mesh with standard lacing gives a secure, road-focused hold, while the Salomon's upper runs noticeably roomier (lockdown worth dialing in) and its Contagrip outsole adds grip and hard-wearing traction that extends happily onto gravel and mixed surfaces.