On Running Cloudboom Strike running shoes

The On Cloudboom Strike Running Shoe is the latest and most advanced race shoe from the On brand, designed for (also) marathon distance. I could go on with what is probably a familiar phrase by now – that On’s engineers have placed a curved carbon plate in a soft, resilient, dynamic midsole foam, paired with a thin outsole and a lightweight upper – and I wouldn’t lie, but I wouldn’t want to spoil the gist of this development. What makes the On Cloudboom Strike special is that the carbon plate is the top layer of the midsole and the upper is designed to match. There is also a removable insole made of 5-10mm Helion Hyperfoam that sits directly on top of the carbon plate. This insole, which is made of the same material as the shoe’s midsole, is called the Bounceboard. What has been achieved with this unusual solution? Is this solution legal in elite competitions where midsole thickness is limited to 40mm? Read on to find out.

On Cloudboom Strike upper

The On Cloudboom Strike Running Shoe Upper is a typical performance-optimized upper, free of anything unnecessary that might add weight. The upper is made of a thin, single layer mesh material. On the side of the upper, as a continuation of the lacing holes, there is also an internal cage-like layer that helps support the foot better. The same cage layer is also found on the front of the upper to add structure to the single layer mesh material. The tongue of the shoe is one piece with the upper, but is reinforced with 1-1 stitching in each direction. The tongue is made of a very thin, stretchy, flexible material with minimal padding. The heel collar is not stiff and has only two small pads on each side, but it locks the foot comfortable and secure. The upper is a bit narrower than other On running shoes, but it is wide compared to other similar marathon distance running shoes. This is good news for runners with wide feet, but it is not common; you have to tighten the laces to get a good fit, which causes the tongue of the shoe to wrinkle. It’s a little bigger than its size and a little wider, so consider buying half a size smaller than your foot size. Although we usually classify the insole as part of the upper, the Cloudboom Strike’s insole is more of a midsole.

Coming soon is the Cloudboom Strike LS, which will have a completely new process for the upper, which will be lighter and better fitting. The new technology, called LightSpray, uses a robot to spray the upper onto a gantry.

On Cloudboom Strike midsole

The On Running Cloudboom Strike Running Shoe Midsole is made of Helion Hyperfoam, a peba-based foam that is soft, dynamic and very lightweight. Helion Hyperfoam has very good energy return, compresses quickly and rebounds. The midsole is 39.5mm thick at the heel and 35.5mm thick at the forefoot with a 4mm drop. The 35.5mm height of the forefoot is higher than the forefoot of the midsole of most running shoes, which provides a more dynamic kick.

The comfort and dynamics of the midsole are further enhanced by Cloudtech technology, which is simply the cross-directional holes or cavities in the midsole that can compress quickly. The holes in the Cloudboom Strike running shoe are much smaller than before. Probably with such a high midsole, there is no need for large diameter holes, but the more logical explanation is that they can use more / higher foam, which is more efficient than Cloudtech technology.

On top of the midsole is a carbon plate that is curved to throw the runner not only up, but also forward. The carbon plate is called a Speedboard, just like the other non-carbon plates found in On Running running shoes, because the shape is the same, only the material is different.

By definition, the midfoot ends here, but that’s a matter of opinion. As mentioned above, the On Cloudboom Strike running shoe has a removable insole, a foam that is at least 5-10mm thick, made of the same Helion Hyperfoam as the midsole. So, just like in most racing shoes, the carbon plate extends into the midsole foam, only here you can remove the layer above it.

What’s the point? For one thing, the shoe would be pretty uncomfortable without it. But why is it removable? Maybe it will become a thinner replacable insole? If the shoe is uncomfortable (unusable) without it, why is it not in the same midsole?

Because then the midsole would be higher than the standard 40mm. I think it’s the truth. I can’t put it any more politely than that, it’s a bit of a cheat. I don’t have a problem with it, I’m happy with it, but let’s clear it, the midfoot of the On Cloudboom Strike running shoe is not 39.5mm at the heel, it’s 45-50mm. Considering that Hellen Obiri won the 2023 Boston Marathon in a prototype of this shoe, the shoe probably meets the official race rules that limit the midfoot height to 40mm.

The midfoot provides a unique running feel. Although it has a low drop, the structure of the sole encourages landing on the metatarsals rather than the forefoot, which is good news because only ~10% of runners land on the forefoot. Despite the carbon plate, the midsole is not as stiff as other carbon plate race shoes, it feels softer and more comfortable to run in. It’s not stiff at slow speeds, but as you pick up speed you can definitely feel it supporting fast running.

It doesn’t feel fast in transitions, even though it has a curved rocker geometry, the low 4mm drop means it doesn’t push forward as much. If you’re specifically looking to run a fast marathon distance where every second counts, this might not be the best choice, but if you’re looking for a versatile running shoe for racing, the On Cloudboom Strike is definitely one to consider. If you prefer stiffer, harder running shoes, you might not like this shoe as much, but if you prefer softer running shoes, you’ll enjoy running in the On Cloudboom Strike.

Despite the high and rather soft midsole, the stability of the shoe is good compared to other race running shoes, partly due to the wide midsole and partly due to the longitudinal segmentation in the midsole, which supports the shoe in both directions.

On Cloudboom Strike outsole

The outsole of the On Cloudboom Strike Running Shoe is segmented, and like all parts of the shoe, the outsole uses the layout common to racing running shoes. The outsole is thin, not deep in tread. The grip is good, which is essential for fast running. The outsole of the previous version, the Cloudboom Echo 3 running shoe, was not very durable (which is not unusual for fast race running shoes), but we hope that the Cloudboom Strike outsole will be more durable.

Summary

The On Cloudboom Strike Running Shoe is On’s latest top race running shoe that can be used for marathons. The upper is lightweight, optimized for performance with minimal cushioning. The midsole is made of Helion Hyperfoam, which is lightweight, dynamic and soft. On top of the midsole is a carbon plate with a removable thick insole, also made of Helion Hyperfoam, which further increases softness, comfort and dynamics. Overall, the outsole construction is very versatile in terms of pace, as it is not tight at slower speeds, and you can quickly get up to speed and maintain a fast pace in it. For a soft running shoe, the On Cloudboom Strike is stable. If you prefer softer running shoes for racing and are looking for more versatility, the On Running Cloudboom Strike may be a good choice.