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on Cloudboom Strike LSthe company’s first iteration of these quirky, splashy shoes, quickly became my favorite pair of runners. These have become my favorite shoes, I have logged many miles in them, and even ran a half marathon. (I didn’t break any records, but thanks for asking.)
I’ve been using the new version since it came out in February. The Cloudmonster sole feels great when running, although it is noticeably less squishy than the Cloudboom versions. The benefits of a sprayed toe box can be noticed immediately. It makes the shoe much lighter (190g) than other ON shoes. Plus, the bioplastic membrane that adjusts to maintain a snug, comfortable fit around your feet means you don’t have to worry about your laces coming undone while you’re running.
The stretchy sides can be an odd fit at first. Regular shoes usually have a little room in the toe box for your toes to move around a little. The LightSpray wrap molds to your feet, so grip from your toes is inevitable. This takes a little getting used to. (You’ll definitely want to wear socks.) While you’re running, that grip stays put, which means the shoebox doesn’t rub against your feet as you run. After a short while, it started to feel like a natural extension of my foot.
The Cloudmonster insoles are less bouncy than some of On’s other insoles, but they still put a noticeable spring in your step. These also feature improved grip on the bottom, so you can handle wet pavement or the occasional splash of dirt or sand.
There may be some stability issues. I hit the pavement wrongly once and could feel more give in how far my foot moved compared to a more traditional, sturdy shoe box. I didn’t roll my ankle or anything like that, but I made a mental note to be more careful running these things.
You can buy them now, but supply is still somewhat limited, and not all sizes are available. On Running said it has ramped up manufacturing efforts in South Korea for LightSpray products specifically, and hopes to sell them without supply issues later this year.
But they will still cost you. The shoe is priced at $280, a drop from the previous price of $330. It may also decrease in the future as production increases, so it is better to wait.
If, like me, you find yourself stopping to adjust the tongue or re-tie some laces more often than you’d like, these quirky, lively shoes might be a good choice.