The On Cloudboom Strike is designed with race day in mind, promising a lightweight and agile experience for runners looking to push the pace. It's the Swiss brand's take on the super shoe, with On's signature Helion HF super foam and a carbon fiber plate. The semi-transparent upper offers breathability and keeps the weight down. These features are geared toward runners targeting their next PR in anything from 5Ks to marathon distances.
Our Verdict
The On Cloudboom Strike is a great choice for marathon racing thanks to its lightweight design, which boosts agility and enhances overall performance. Its impressive cushioning ensures you stay comfortable over long distances, helping to reduce fatigue and keep you feeling fresh. However, it's not the most bouncy or stable race-day option.
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Great cushioning for a race shoe.
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Premium materials keep weight down.
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Carbon plated.
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Not the most stable super shoe.
In 5K/10K racing, the On Cloudboom Strike's lightweight construction and carbon plate make it a good option for shorter distances. The energy return aids in maintaining speed and efficiency. That said, the forefoot foam could be firmer for more aggressive toe-offs.
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Great cushioning for a race shoe.
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Premium materials keep weight down.
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Carbon plated.
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Soft foam at the forefoot.
The On Cloudboom Strike offers good responsiveness in both the forefoot and heel. This means you'll experience a dynamic and energetic ride, making your stride feel smoother and more efficient.
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Good bounciness.
The cushioning of the On Cloudboom Strike is particularly impressive, making it highly suitable for long distances. The underfoot protection helps to reduce fatigue, helping you stay fresh throughout your run. The shoe is especially well-cushioned in the forefoot, a standout feature among super shoes.
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Great cushioning for a race shoe.
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Amazing forefoot protection.
The On Cloudboom Strike's lateral stability is adequate, generally providing balanced running. However, it sits high off the ground and isn't particularly firm, compromising balance in some cases. Also, it's not the most stable option in its category.
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Carbon plated.
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Soft foam at the forefoot.
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Not the most stable super shoe.
- 8.0 Marathon Racing
- 7.6 5K/10K Racing
Performance Usages
- 7.7 Energy Return
- 8.2 Cushioning
- 6.5 Lateral Stability
Changelog
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Updated Apr 09, 2025:
We added a comparison with the adidas Adizero Adios Pro 4 in the Compared To Other Running Shoes section and the Heel Energy Return box.
- Updated Apr 02, 2025: Converted to Test Bench 0.8.
- Updated Apr 02, 2025: Review published.
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Differences Between Sizes And Variants
We tested the On Cloudboom Strike in men's US size 9; you can see the label. The color shown here is White | Black, and the shoe is also available in White | Flame and Limelight | Wolf colorways. Wide versions aren't available for this model. There's also an LS edition, exclusively for On members, featuring the brand's LightSpray™ sprayed-on upper for reduced weight and an additional CloudTec element underfoot, with a slightly different placement compared to the standard version. Given these design differences, our results only apply to the non-LS version.
Compared To Other Running Shoes
The On Cloudboom Strike is a super shoe that prioritizes cushioning more than most race-day options, aiming to preserve leg freshness in the later miles of a marathon. This design choice means it sacrifices some energy return and firmness, making it feel slightly less aggressive than competitors like the Nike Alphafly 3 or adidas Adizero Adios Pro 4. A key distinguishing feature is its thick insole, known as the Bounceboard, which enhances underfoot protection, adding to its overall comfort.
Within On's lineup, this shoe sits above the On Cloudboom Echo 3, another super shoe that's more geared toward shorter distances and is closer to the ground. The On Cloudboom Zone features premium foam but lacks a plate, making it a different type of performance option better suited for interval workouts and uptempo efforts rather than full race-day performance.
For more options, check out our recommendations for the best running shoes to find the perfect pair.
The Nike Alphafly 3 and the On Cloudboom Strike are two high-performance racing shoes designed for serious runners, both tailored for marathon distances, but they excel in different ways. The Nike has better energy return and lateral stability. Its design prioritizes efficiency, making it a top choice for runners seeking an aggressive race-focused shoe. In contrast, the On focuses on a more cushioned ride, particularly in the forefoot area. It provides a softer landing experience, benefiting runners looking to reduce impact stress during races. While it may not offer the same explosive toe-off as the Nike, it delivers a well-balanced ride that's particularly effective for maintaining comfort and performance over the full marathon distance.
The On Cloudboom Strike and New Balance FuelCell SuperComp Elite v4 offer similar overall cushioning but deliver different ride experiences. The New Balance is more bouncy and stable, providing a soft yet propulsive feel with better support, making it a solid choice for those prioritizing a secure ride. In contrast, the On is lighter, which enhances efficiency in race conditions, helping runners maintain speed with less effort. While both are designed for racing, the New Balance leans toward energy return and stability, whereas the On prioritizes lightweight performance and a cushioned, leg-saving feel.
The On Cloudboom Strike and the adidas Adizero Adios Pro 3 are similar in weight but differ in performance. The adidas is more energetic, delivering a higher level of energy return and a more propulsive feel, making it particularly well-suited for shorter-distance racing. In contrast, the On is more stable and more cushioned, providing better underfoot protection and making it a stronger option for marathon racing, where preserving leg freshness is a priority.
The On Cloudboom Strike and Saucony Endorphin Pro 4 are both high-performance racing shoes but excel in different ways. The Saucony is more stable, provides better energy return, and has a stiffer forefoot foam, making it a stronger option for shorter-distance racing where a snappy, responsive ride is key. On the other hand, the On Running is more cushioned and lighter, making it a good choice for runners prioritizing comfort over longer distances while still maintaining race-day efficiency.
Test Results
The shoe is notably light, enhancing agility and speed, making it ideal for competitive racing. Its lightweight design is beneficial for both long-distance and shorter races.
The shoe features a unique insole design, incorporating a thick, removable layer of Helion HF foam, known as the 'bounceboard,' which sits directly atop the carbon plate. This design provides additional cushioning, especially in the forefoot area.
This thicker foam insole, which increases the forefoot stack height, also explains the shoe's relatively low drop.
The heel energy return is good, ensuring efficient energy transfer with each stride, which is crucial for maintaining pace and reducing energy expenditure. While it's very dynamic for a running shoe overall, the performance feels slightly underwhelming compared to other race-day alternatives like the adidas Adizero Adios Pro 4.
Similar to the heel, the forefoot energy return is consistent, contributing to quite a lively running experience and enhancing overall performance. Just don't expect the same level of bounce you'd find in other super shoes, like the Nike Alphafly 3.
The heel cushioning is good, providing comfort and reducing impact during long runs. This helps minimize fatigue over extended distances, ensuring a smoother running experience.
The forefoot cushioning is amazing, effectively absorbing high-impact forces. This feature is especially valuable at faster paces—the shoe's intended use—where greater stress is applied. Compared to other super shoes, the On Cloudboom Strike excels in this area, mainly due to its thick insole that provides additional padding at the forefoot.
The heel is moderately firm, offering some stability and support, which is essential for maintaining proper form.
The forefoot is relatively soft for a race day shoe, lacking the optimal firmness typically desired for short-distance racing. This softness can make quick transitions less efficient and reduce propulsion during faster-paced efforts. As a result, it may feel less dynamic and slightly sluggish compared to firmer options better suited to short, high-intensity races.
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Update: We added a comparison with the adidas Adizero Adios Pro 4 in the Compared To Other Running Shoes section and the Heel Energy Return box.