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  1. Shoes
  2. On Cloudultra 3 vs The North Face Altamesa 500

On Cloudultra 3 vs The North Face Altamesa 500

On Cloudultra 3

On Cloudultra 3

€140
The North Face Altamesa 500

The North Face Altamesa 500

€140

Quick verdict

On Cloudultra 3

€140

The better pick if you want:

  • A lighter option (50 g less)

The North Face Altamesa 500

€140

The better pick if you want:

  • A higher overall score (82 vs 74)
  • More cushioning (36 vs 32 mm heel stack)
SpecsReview10Alternatives5

Spec profile

Each axis ranks against the 174 products in Shoes on the site: the further out, the more it stands out in that spec (lighter, cheaper…).

Center: lowest in the category · Edge: highest

On Cloudultra 3· leads in 1

Lightness

The North Face Altamesa 500· leads in 2

CushioningGrip

Tied

Affordability
  • Cushioning

    32 mm
    36 mmTop 35%
  • Lightness

    235 gTop 7%
    285 gTop 46%
  • Grip

    3 mm
    4 mmTop 50%
  • Drophigher isn't better or worse

    6 mm
    6 mm
  • Affordability

    $140Top 26%
    $140Top 26%

Technical Specifications

Compare features between On Cloudultra 3 vs The North Face Altamesa 500

Best value in this comparison
Feature
On Cloudultra 3€140The North Face Altamesa 500€140

Essentials

€140
€140
July 2025
2024
235 g
285 g

Overview

Trail Running Shoe
Trail Running Shoe
Technical and ultra-distance trails
Gravel paths and mountain trails
Technical trail and ultra-distance trail running
Trail running and mountain training

Cushioning

6 mm
6 mm
32 mm
36 mm
26.5 mm
30 mm
Dual Helion™ HF hyper foam for high energy return and cushioning
DREAM foam for lightweight cushioning and rebound

Grip & protection

Missiongrip™ with redesigned lug geometry for traction
SURFACE CTRL™ rubber with 4 mm grippy lugs
Ready to buy?

On the terrain

How On Cloudultra 3 vs The North Face Altamesa 500 should behave on each kind of ground, estimated from lug depth, stack height, weight and outsole rubber. Pick a ground to see what decides it.

Pick a groundAverage
On Cloudultra 350
The North Face Altamesa 50054

FlatPacked, runnable trail

Cushioning and low weight make the kilometres easier; very deep lugs squirm on hard ground.

On Cloudultra 381
  • Cushioning25/40
  • Lightness31/35
  • Smooth roll25/25
The North Face Altamesa 50076
  • Cushioning33/40
  • Lightness18/35
  • Smooth roll25/25

A model built from the specs to compare shoes, not a lab measurement.

On Cloudultra 3

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The North Face Altamesa 500

Have you used the The North Face Altamesa 500 before?

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Video Reviews

Watch real-world YouTube reviews from content creators and the Trail Running community.

See all 10 video reviews

On Cloudultra 3

The North Face Altamesa 500

Visual Comparison

See the differences between On Cloudultra 3 and The North Face Altamesa 500 in a side-by-side slider comparison.

On Cloudultra 3
The North Face Altamesa 500

Comparison Questions

Answers based on product data and key differences.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Which offers better value: On Cloudultra 3 vs The North Face Altamesa 500?

For value comparison: The On Cloudultra 3 ($140) provides premium features compared to the The North Face Altamesa 500 ($140). Consider your budget and the specific features that matter most for your trail running setup.

Which is newer, the On Cloudultra 3 or the The North Face Altamesa 500?

The On Cloudultra 3 is newer: it came out in July 2025, and the The North Face Altamesa 500 in 2024.

Looking for alternatives to On Cloudultra 3?

Closest in price, with what each one does better.

See all alternatives
1Adidas Terrex Agravic 3
Adidas Terrex Agravic 3

Adidas

$140Score 87+13

Better than On Cloudultra 3 at:

  • A higher overall score (87 vs 74)
Compare with On Cloudultra 3
2Asics Fuji Lite 6
Asics Fuji Lite 6

Asics

$140Score 85+11

Better than On Cloudultra 3 at:

  • A higher overall score (85 vs 74)
  • More cushioning (34 vs 32 mm heel stack)
  • A lower drop (4 vs 6 mm)
Compare with On Cloudultra 3
3Asics Fuji Lite 7
Asics Fuji Lite 7

Asics

$140Score 83+9

Better than On Cloudultra 3 at:

  • A higher overall score (83 vs 74)
  • A lower drop (4 vs 6 mm)
  • Deeper lugs for grip (4 vs 3 mm)
Compare with On Cloudultra 3

Popular Comparisons

Compare On Cloudultra 3 or The North Face Altamesa 500 with other top trail running shoes from brands such as On, The North Face and more.

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