The origin story for On’s LightSpray know-how appears tailored for Hollywood (cue the Damon and Affleck script). It began on Halloween a number of years in the past, when Johannes Voelchert, the senior lead of innovation know-how design for Swiss model On, watched his child use a scorching glue gun to make a fancy dress. Marveling at how rapidly the liquid turned stable, Voelchert puzzled if the same precept might be used within the building of trainers.
5 years of tinkering later, On Working has launched its LightSpray know-how, which makes use of a robotic that sprays 1.5 km of filament onto a sole to create the higher for the Cloudboom Strike racing shoe.
Initially, the shoe was out there just for elite runners to check out prototypes. However after a number of high-profile finishes — together with Helen Obiri’s 2024 Boston Marathon win — proof of idea appeared fairly obvious. Although On launched the Cloudboom Strike final yr, that is the primary mannequin that truly consists of the specifically made higher that Obiri used within the marathon.
That “LightSpray higher,” which is fused onto a carbon-fiber and foam speedboard by a robotic, weighs simply 30 g. With On aiming to ramp up manufacturing and introduce LightSpray know-how into different fashions, I examined out the Cloudboom Strike LS to search out out if the $330 operating shoe was definitely worth the hype.
Briefly: On’s pioneering LightSpray know-how could make a light-weight and streamlined operating shoe higher in simply 3 minutes, whereas lowering 75% of CO2 emissions in comparison with a typical operating shoe higher. In my testing, I discovered the Cloudboom Strike LS a bit troublesome to slide on, and it doesn’t provide a lot versatility exterior of highway operating. But it surely’s nonetheless quick, propulsive, and amazingly light-weight, making the Cloudboom Strike LS my go-to selection for summer time runs on pavement.
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Tremendous light-weight at 183 grams -
A quick and propulsive experience -
Extra sustainable technique of higher manufacturing
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A bit of bit laborious to get on for these with bigger ft -
Not probably the most versatile operating shoe -
Costly even for “tremendous sneakers”
On Cloudboom Strike LS Evaluation
The Battle Is Actual
Through the 2025 Boston Marathon, the On Labs pop-up close to the top of the race course was a preferred vacation spot, with traces stretching down the block to witness one among two LightSpray robots at the moment making uppers within the U.S. Guests may view the tech, attempt on a Cloudboom Strike LS, and hop on a treadmill to run for a couple of minutes within the tremendous shoe.
Once I visited, I acquired to see lots of people making an attempt to squeeze the shoe on. To assemble a one-piece higher that’s light-weight and sturdy, the stretch issue is essentially restricted. Since there aren’t any laces to safe every thing, the higher itself must be strong sufficient to forestall the foot from sliding round.
So, like a ski boot, there’s a sure diploma of battle to get the foot previous the smaller ankle opening, particularly for these with bigger ft. I watched one keen tester shaking and red-faced with effort, making an attempt to get the shoe on.
The primary time I attempted on the Cloudboom Strike LS, I used to be anticipating a battle. And sure, there was a minor battle, but it surely wasn’t as unhealthy as I assumed it will be.
It takes a little bit of exertion to get your foot in there, however as soon as it’s in, the higher offers a safe body with out being tight or restrictive. It felt safe, although I wouldn’t wish to change route rapidly or tackle trails with it, given the higher’s lack of lateral helps. For the exercise of highway operating, although, I’ve by no means skilled a lighter shoe. And with no pinch factors or seams, the higher is chafe-free.
Cloudboom Strike vs. Cloudboom Strike LS
Final yr, On launched the primary iteration of its prototypal “tremendous shoe”: the Cloudboom Strike. That shoe supplied the identical design utilized by Obiri within the Boston Marathon — however with out the LightSpray higher.
Regardless, that $280 operating shoe acquired a optimistic overview from GJ Contributor Craig Randall. He stated the cutting-edge kicks meant that “On will lastly rub elbows with tremendous shoe stalwarts like Nike, adidas, and Puma.”
That’s arguably much more true with the discharge of the identical shoe, however upgraded with the LightSpray tech. The primary distinction between these sneakers is all about streamlining the higher. The higher of the Cloudboom Strike, like a conventional sneaker, consists of a number of supplies.
Sneaker uppers usually use 20-30 particular person items of fabric, and these supplies require completely different manufacturing means. The burden — and subsequently the environmental impression — rapidly provides up.
The Cloudboom Strike weighs 219 g, whereas the Cloudboom Strike LS clocks in at 183 g. Although this type of weight distinction may not be noticeable on foot, it will probably have a big effect over longer distances.
A Thrilling Experience
The Cloudboom Strike LS is a propulsive shoe. As I ran alongside one among my favourite native loops, I wasn’t pushing it. But I felt imbued with Pepe Le Pew-like bounciness, effortlessly passing different runners. Certain, it wasn’t a race, however two layers of hyper-foam cushioning with a carbon fiber speedboard in between made for springy strides.
I appreciated that it was comfortable with out feeling overly squishy, and I used to be shocked, on checking my metrics after the run, at how a lot time I’d spent in coronary heart fee zones 4 and 5. The run didn’t really feel as strenuous because it was.
On one other night, I went out for a run after a protracted day of instructing, teaching, and bike commuting and was frightened in regards to the common fatigue I’d really feel. My muscle mass have been drained, however the lightness of the shoe made my stride really feel much less effortful than I assumed it will.
Regardless of not logging a ton of miles on that outing, it was good to run in one thing with such beneficiant vitality return. The higher additionally supplied extra breathability than I anticipated from the one-piece building.
Pablo Erat, On’s director of footwear rising know-how, stated there’s an accessibility to the shoe. It capabilities effectively for each weekend warriors and elite athletes, he argued.
“A Ferrari is very specialised,” Erat advised me once we sat down at On Labs earlier than the Boston Marathon. “But a Porsche could be loved by a daily driver. This shoe continues to be amazingly quick, even for runners who will not be top-level runners.”
Like a Porsche, the Cloudboom Strike LS is dear, with a $330 price ticket. However in case you are trying to splurge on an elite operating shoe, this one is not like something you’ve worn earlier than.
The Way forward for LightSpray
The Cloudboom Strike LS is a check case for a way an higher knitted collectively by a robotic in 3 minutes would work. Now that the shoe is available on the market, the implications behind future makes use of of the LightSpray know-how are compelling. One robotic could make 1,500 sneakers a month.
The usage of one materials within the higher — in contrast with a typical higher that may be composed of over 11 completely different supplies — additionally considerably reduces CO2 emissions.
On is at the moment ramping up robotic manufacturing, and new LightSpray drops are scheduled for July and September. The plan is to have a full portfolio of LightSpray with extra fashions dropping subsequent yr as effectively.
Availability and Conclusion
The Cloudboom Strike LS has been laborious to maintain in inventory. It’s listed as “For Members” on the On web site and says “Coming Quickly,” regardless of having been out there solely in restricted releases.
If you will get your palms on a pair, you’ll need to shell out $330. However many different “tremendous sneakers,” like Nike’s Alphafly ($295) and Puma’s Quick-R Nitro ($300), aren’t precisely bargains by comparability. The excessive worth level can also be extra palatable when you think about the sustainable mode of manufacturing.
On the finish of the day, nevertheless, we choose our runners on how they carry out at tempo. And with the Cloudboom Strike LS the tempo is fairly quick, and the experience is especially nice. My pair of Cloudboom Strike LS has held up effectively via the spring and early summer time. I haven’t seen any stretching to the higher or separation the place it connects with the only.
The Cloudboom Strike LS isn’t probably the most versatile shoe: it’s not waterproof and doesn’t carry out effectively off the tarmac. However for summer time outings on pavement, there’s little question it’s the shoe I’ll be reaching for.
