QC Hiking Shoes: Does On Make Hiking Boots, and Are They Any Good?
Yes, On makes waterproof hiking shoes — the Cloudwander and the Cloudrock. Here is what they are, and the one reason many hikers should buy something else.
By Azaz Khan · Published August 14, 2026
Quick answer
Yes. QC is On, and On makes waterproof hiking footwear: the Cloudwander is the low shoe and the Cloudrock is the higher-cut boot. Both use On's own waterproof membrane rather than Gore-Tex, with a Missiongrip rubber outsole. The main reason to buy something else is width, because On offers essentially one fitting.
Key takeaways
- On does make hiking shoes. The Cloudwander is the low cut, the Cloudrock is the boot.
- Both are waterproof, but with On's own membrane, not Gore-Tex.
- The outsole is Missiongrip rubber, less aggressively lugged than a dedicated hiking boot.
- On sells essentially one width, which is the main reason to look at KEEN or Merrell instead.
- For a loaded pack on rough ground, a traditional boot still gives more support.
Last reviewed
Quick comparison
| Product | Best for | membrane | outsole | midsole | toe box | best use | Price | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| On Cloudwander Waterproof On | light, fast hiking on maintained trails | Waterproof (On proprietary, not Gore-Tex) | Missiongrip rubber | CloudTec | Widened, per the listing | Day hiking and trail walking | — | Check price |
| KEEN Targhee 2 Mid Waterproof KEEN | wide feet and long descents | KEEN.DRY (proprietary) | — | — | Wide — KEEN signature | Day hiking, wide feet | — | Check price |
| Merrell Moab 3 Mid Waterproof Merrell | the safest default fit | M Select DRY (proprietary) | — | — | — | Day hiking | — | Check price |
Yes, On makes hiking shoes
If you searched for QC hiking shoes, you are looking for On — the logo is a capital O against a capital N, misread as QC. We cover that in full on the QC shoes explainer.
The short answer to the question underneath the search: On does make hiking footwear, and it is genuine hiking footwear rather than a road shoe with a trail name.
Two models matter:
| Model | Cut | Waterproof |
|---|---|---|
| Cloudwander | Low shoe | Yes, On’s own membrane |
| Cloudrock | Higher cut, low and mid versions | Yes, On’s own membrane |
Both use a Missiongrip rubber outsole and CloudTec cushioning. The Cloudwander sits closer to a trail-running shoe; the Cloudrock closer to a boot.
What the membrane actually is
This is the detail worth pausing on, because “waterproof” is doing a lot of work in the marketing.
On uses its own waterproof membrane, not Gore-Tex.
That is the same distinction we draw across our hiking coverage. Gore-Tex is licensed and tested to a standard. Proprietary membranes — On’s, KEEN.DRY, Merrell’s M Select DRY, Columbia’s Omni-Tech — are cheaper to produce and generally shorter-lived under sustained wet use.
For showers and damp grass, any of them is fine. For genuinely wet hiking several times a month, Gore-Tex lasts longer. None of the boots we cover, including the On, uses it.
The reason many hikers should buy something else
Width.
On sells essentially one fitting. KEEN and Merrell sell genuine 2E and 4E.
That matters more on a hiking shoe than on a road shoe, and for a specific reason: on descents your foot slides forward and your toes meet the front of the shoe repeatedly. A boot that is slightly too narrow is what bruises toenails on a long downhill. It is the single most common hiking foot complaint and it is a fit problem, not a cushioning one.
The Cloudwander listing does mention a widened toe box, which is unusual for On and genuinely helps. It is still not a stated fitting.
If you are not sure which fitting you need, our shoe width guide takes five minutes with a sheet of paper. Do it before ordering.
On, KEEN or Merrell?
| If you… | Buy |
|---|---|
| Hike maintained trails, standard width | On Cloudwander |
| Have wide feet, or bruise toenails on descents | KEEN Targhee |
| Want the safest default fit | Merrell Moab 3 |
| Carry a loaded pack on rough ground | KEEN or Merrell, for the structure |
| Hike in sustained wet | Look for Gore-Tex — none of these have it |
We compare the three traditional boots in detail, including membranes and weight, in men’s waterproof hiking boots. The women’s-last versions are in women’s waterproof hiking boots.
Can you hike in ordinary On Cloud shoes?
A question people ask, and the honest answer is mostly no.
The Cloud 5 and Cloudnova have no waterproof membrane and no lugged outsole. On dry, maintained paths they are fine. On anything wet or rocky they are the wrong tool, and the open CloudTec pods fill with gravel within minutes on a trail.
If you already own a pair and want to know what they are actually for, that is covered in QC running shoes and QC sneakers for everyday wear.
What you give up versus a real boot
The Cloudwander is light and feels like a running shoe. That is the appeal, and it is a real one.
What you trade for it:
- Less lug depth. Missiongrip is less aggressively lugged than a dedicated hiking outsole, so it grips less on soft mud and loose scree.
- Less structure. Under a loaded pack, a stiffer midsole and a firmer heel counter do real work that a light shoe cannot.
- No width options. Covered above, and it is the one that catches most people out.
For day hikes on maintained trails, none of these matter much. For a multi-day route with weight on your back, they all do.
The picks in detail
#1 · Best for light, fast hiking on maintained trails
On Cloudwander Waterproof
On
What we liked
- + A genuine hiking shoe, not a road shoe with a trail name
- + Waterproof, with a Missiongrip rubber outsole
- + Listing states a widened toe box, unusual for On
What we didn't
- − On's own membrane, not Gore-Tex — shorter-lived under sustained wet
- − Essentially one width, unlike KEEN and Merrell
- − Less lug depth than a dedicated hiking boot
#2 · Best for wide feet and long descents
KEEN Targhee 2 Mid Waterproof
KEEN
What we liked
- + The widest toe box of any boot we cover, by a clear margin
- + Sold in genuine wide fittings
- + Long-standing model with a real track record
What we didn't
- − Bulky and heavier than the On
- − KEEN.DRY is proprietary, not Gore-Tex
#3 · Best for the safest default fit
Merrell Moab 3 Mid Waterproof
Merrell
What we liked
- + Fits more feet straight out of the box than anything here
- + Widely available in 2E and 4E
What we didn't
- − M Select DRY is Merrell's own membrane, not Gore-Tex
- − Heavier than the On
Our verdict
If your feet are a standard width and you hike maintained trails, the Cloudwander is a genuinely good light hiking shoe and it feels closer to a running shoe than a boot, which many people prefer. If your feet are wide, carry a pack, or hike rough ground, buy the KEEN or the Merrell instead — they offer real width fittings and more structure. And be clear about the membrane: On's is its own, not Gore-Tex, which is fine for showers and weaker for sustained wet.
Frequently asked questions
Does On make hiking shoes?
Yes. The Cloudwander Waterproof is the low-cut hiking shoe and the Cloudrock Waterproof is the higher-cut boot. Both are genuine hiking products rather than road shoes with a trail name, and both use a waterproof membrane and a Missiongrip rubber outsole.
Are QC hiking shoes waterproof?
The Cloudwander and Cloudrock are, using On's own waterproof membrane. Note that this is not Gore-Tex. Proprietary membranes are cheaper to make and generally shorter-lived under sustained wet use, which matters if you hike in genuinely wet conditions rather than occasional showers.
Are On hiking shoes good for wide feet?
Generally no. The Cloudwander listing does mention a widened toe box, but On sells essentially one width across its range, while KEEN and Merrell offer genuine 2E and 4E fittings. On a descent, a boot that is too narrow is what bruises toes, so width matters more here than on a road shoe.
QC hiking shoes or KEEN and Merrell?
On if you want a light, road-shoe feel on maintained trails and your feet are a standard width. KEEN or Merrell if your feet are wide, you carry a pack, or you hike rough ground — they offer real width fittings and more structure, at the cost of weight.
Is the Cloudrock a boot or a shoe?
The Cloudrock is the higher-cut option in On's hiking range and comes in low and mid versions. The mid gives ankle coverage closer to a traditional boot. The Cloudwander is the low-cut shoe.
Can you hike in normal On Cloud shoes?
On easy, dry, maintained paths, yes. On anything wet or rocky, no. The Cloud 5 and Cloudnova have neither a waterproof membrane nor a lugged outsole, and the open CloudTec pods fill with gravel quickly on trails.
Related reviews
Best Men's Waterproof Hiking Boots — Columbia vs Merrell vs KEEN
All three say waterproof. What that word actually means differs a lot, and it's not the thing most buyers should be comparing.
Women's Waterproof Hiking Boots — Columbia vs Merrell vs KEEN
A women's boot should be built on a women's last, not shrunk down from a men's. Not all of them are.
BC Shoes: Which Ones to Buy (and What They Actually Are)
If you searched BC shoes and meant the athletic ones with the pod soles, that is On. Here are the three models worth buying and which one suits you.