On Cloudboom Strike 2: the carbon-plated racer that could finally put the Swiss brand on the map

On: dominant everywhere… just not in carbon-plated super-shoes (yet)

That’s been the On paradox for a few years now. The Swiss brand has exploded commercially, powered by models like the Cloudmonster and Cloudsurfer, now staples in the daily trainer category and massively present in the lifestyle sneaker world. On that turf, it’s hard to find a real rival. The positioning is unique, and the brand is literally everywhere in the US, especially among fashion-forward crowds. But in the more purist, performance-obsessed corner of carbon-plated racing shoes, On still felt a bit tentative. The Cloudboom Echo line laid the groundwork, then the first Cloudboom Strike brought more pop, but neither truly displaced the market’s benchmarks.

The Cloudboom Strike 2 clearly changes the equation. And it’s not just marketing talk: the Swiss brand has learned a lot from its previous iterations, and this new shoe is already putting up promising results. It’s been well tested (and proven) on the roads this year, even before the official launch.

CloudTec Sphere: a new geometry for more bounce and cushioning

The big update in this second generation is the arrival of CloudTec Sphere, an evolution of On’s foam system. In practical terms, the Cloud geometry has been redesigned with cushioning channels built specifically to improve comfort and running efficiency over the marathon distance. Visually, it’s a bit wild. Two foam elements interlock and leave a visible void in the midsole. But the payoff is real: more rebound and better impact absorption.

This new geometry is paired with a reworked Helion HF foam, 15% lighter than the previous generation (and, according to On, 20% softer). You also get a curved carbon Speedboard plate, sandwiched between two foam layers of different densities, designed to smooth the transition and keep you rolling with each stride.

© On

The results already achieved by athletes racing in the LightSpray Cloudboom Strike 2 reinforce On’s position at the forefront of innovation in high-level road running. For the Cloudboom Strike 2, our goal wasn’t only to maximize speed, but also to help athletes sustain it as they approach the decisive stages of a marathon. By pairing our LightSpray upper with the new CloudTec Sphere technology, we created a unique advantage that delivers a fresh-legs sensation and helps athletes preserve their performance level through the final kilometers of the race.

Two versions, two mindsets

On isn’t launching one shoe, but two: the standard Cloudboom Strike 2, and the LightSpray Cloudboom Strike 2, its top-end, lace-free version. The difference is mainly in the weight, up in the upper.

The LightSpray version uses that signature upper technology sprayed by a robotic arm, a unique and ultra-innovative process that replaces a traditional manufacturing workflow of nearly 200 steps with a single automated operation in just a few minutes. The result: a seamless upper, no glue, no laces, basically a second skin. And above all, a much lighter build. And we all know weight is a huge performance factor in the marathon super-shoe game. This LS Cloudboom Strike 2 is simply the most dialed carbon-plated racer On has made to date.

© On

© On

© On

© on

© on

© on

© on

© on

Already proven by the best athletes in the world

And it’s not just on paper that the Cloudboom Strike 2 impresses. A study conducted with the University of Cape Town reports a 1.6% gain in running economy versus the market’s leading references. A number that still needs broader validation, but it’s clearly pointing in the right direction.

More importantly, the shoe has already been a real-world test on the roads this season, on the feet of several well-known On athletes. Kenya’s Hellen Obiri dropped her personal best by 1 minute 48 in London, running 2:15:53. Italy’s Yeman Crippa won in Paris with a blazing 2:05:18. Joe Klecker absolutely smashed his PB by 4 minutes 41 in Boston (2:05:56). Three performances, three different marathons, one common thread: the shoe delivered at the highest international level.

© On

A bigger strategic shift at On

On doesn’t do things by accident, and this launch didn’t come out of nowhere. It’s part of a broader strategic repositioning announced in late June, during the brand’s first On Running Summit in Paris. The Swiss company unveiled a new brand identity called “Run On Clouds,” designed to shift the product narrative back toward running feel rather than pure data and metrics. Four big families now structure On’s running range: Soft, Support, Energy, and Speed. You guessed it: the Cloudboom Strike 2 is the poster child for that last category.

Behind the messaging, the takeaway is pretty clear: after years owning the daily trainer and lifestyle lanes, On is doubling down on the idea that running and performance are still at its core, and it wants to go head-to-head in the market’s toughest segment, elite racing shoes.

© On

What you should actually take away from this

With the Cloudboom Strike 2, On may have finally checked the box it was missing: a carbon-plated racing shoe that can run with the very best. At €250 for the standard version and €320 for the LightSpray, the Swiss brand clearly isn’t trying to be the “affordable” option and that makes perfect sense. It’s sticking to its DNA with an unapologetically premium position that fits its image. Now the big question is how the shoe will be received beyond lab numbers and sponsored athletes. But one thing is certain: On has built a seriously promising super-shoe, and it no longer wants to be seen as just the stylish running brand. It wants to be the fastest, too. More clouds on marathon podiums feels like a very real possibility.

✔ The On Cloudboom Strike 2 and the On LightSpray Cloudboom Strike 2 will be available from July 30 on on.com and at select specialty retailers