On Unveils Next-Gen Cloudboom Marathon Racing Shoes Featuring CloudTec Sphere™ Technology
The Swiss label evolves its elite long-distance franchise with robot-sprayed LightSpray™ uppers and a ultra-lightweight 158g silhouette.
Summary
Swiss sportswear brand On has officially announced the second generation of its elite racing lineup: the Cloudboom Strike 2 and the LightSpray Cloudboom Strike 2
The updated silhouette debuts CloudTec Sphere™, a newly engineered cushioning system optimized for long-distance endurance and speed
Backed by a University of Cape Town study, the flagship LightSpray variant delivers a 1.6% increase in running economy over industry benchmarks
On has officially unveiled the second generation of its marathon-winning long-distance footwear franchise, introducing the Cloudboom Strike 2 and the automated LightSpray Cloudboom Strike 2. Engineered at the intersection of athlete intuition and sports science, the updated racing lineup is structurally tuned to maximize running efficiency, offering an engineered “fresh-leg advantage” intended to sustain elite speed through the closing stages of a 26.2-mile course.
The core structural upgrade across the second-generation Cloudboom range is the debut of CloudTec Sphere™. This major evolution of On’s proprietary foam layout introduces precision-engineered geometry and cushioning channels built to optimize impact absorption and maximize energy rebound. The system is paired with a redesigned Helion™ HF (hyper foam) Midsole, which cuts weight by 15% compared to the first-generation foam. Sandwiched between these dual-density Helion HF layers is a curved carbon Speedboard®, re-engineered to be lighter and stiffer than previous iterations to provide immediate forward propulsion with every stride.
The apex model of the launch incorporates On’s revolutionary LightSpray™ Upper technology. Rather than relying on traditional manufacturing methods—which can involve up to 200 separate steps across multiple facilities—LightSpray condenses construction into a singular, automated step utilizing a localized robotic arm that sprays 1.5 kilometers of specialized filament in mere minutes. The result is a seamless, glueless, and laceless one-piece upper that conforms like a second skin. According to a life-cycle assessment by environmental firm Vaayu, this zero-waste production model reduces the upper’s carbon footprint by up to 65%. To back this environmental edge with sheer speed, a recent study by the University of Cape Town verified that the LightSpray variant creates a 1.6% boost in running economy compared to leading industry benchmarks.
The footwear has already established an impressive pedigree on the world stage, helping elite On team athletes achieve massive personal records ahead of the commercial release. Notable track achievements include Hellen Obiri shaving 1 minute and 48 seconds off her time in London, Yeman Crippa securing a tactical victory in Paris with a 48-second improvement, and Joe Klecker shattering his personal best by 4 minutes and 41 seconds in Boston. To keep pace with rising demand for automated sportswear, On has successfully scaled its infrastructure, supporting its initial 2025 Zurich automated hub with a massive second robotic production facility near Busan, South Korea, which opened in April 2026.
The Cloudboom Strike 2 and the LightSpray Cloudboom Strike 2 will officially launch globally on July 30, 2026. Both silhouettes will be available for purchase directly via on.com and through select premium run specialty retail partners worldwide.
