ON Cloudsufer 2 : from a Mach 56 and Novablast 5 owner's perspective

I (M33) am training in the city during the week for two 50km trail races this spring/summer.

My shoe rotation consists of:

  • A comfortable everyday shoe, previously the Mach 5 (920km, which I loved) and now a pair of Novablast 5 (190km), which is growing on me more and more.
  • A light, low-to-the-ground, and dynamic race shoe for intensity and interval running: the Kiprun KD800 Light, recently replaced by the KD 900 LIGHT.

I had the opportunity to try the new CS 2 during a running event held by my training group. It was a 9km run at 5:00 to 5:15 min/km.

We tried the CS1 last year in the same setup and found it way too mushy. The ride of the CS2, however, couldn’t be more different!

It’s definitely firmer on impact, but it doesn’t give much energy back. It feels like an expensive damper setup with cheap springs: it absorbs pavement irregularities all at once, making your feet feel level at all times—but that’s about it. You’re shielded from the road, but you don’t get any feedback or road feel. It’s quite a weird sensation, honestly.

In the end, the ride is a bit uninspiring. The Novablast 5, by comparison, has a more springy feel, giving back some energy on each stride, with more road feel.

The CS2 is still a well-padded shoe like the previous version, and it feels light. I’d say the fit is similar to my Mach 5 (non-wide), true to size with enough space in the toe box. The lacing is great, and lockdown is easy.

But overall, this shoe is puzzling to me:

  • We all agreed it lacks comfort and cushioning to be a true recovery or long-run shoe. I think it could get tiring at an easier pace beyond 1h15/1h30 of running.
  • It’s not responsive enough for intervals, and I wouldn’t choose it for a half-marathon race (I’m an average 1h38–1h42 runner), whereas the Mach 5 was an ideal shoe for that distance and my level.

In conclusion, I think it’s an ideal walking/travel shoe—since you need support but not too much cushioning—but not a great running shoe. I definitely prefer the Mach 5 and the Novablast.