Brand Spotlight: An Insider's Look at How ON Running Was Born

ON Running shoes have exploded onto the scene since the Swiss brand launched its first shoe in 2010. What ON lacks in history it more than makes up for in its unique technology—CloudTec.

CloudTec is a collection of "Cloud Elements" that work independently to provide customized cushioning and stability.

Having spent seven years at ON, I remember hearing about this breakthrough technology during orientation at the HQ office in Zurich. Olivier Bernhard — co-founder of ON, and a former professional triathlete who won Ironman Switzerland five times, the famed Zofingen Powerman duathlon eight times, and was crowned world duathlon champion three times — wanted to develop a shoe with enough flexibility to let the foot move through its preferred movement path, while still providing enough cushion to support the runner. One of the sensations Olivier loved was running on a sidewalk covered in sand: the cushioning protected against the downward force of each stride, but the sand sliding against the pavement let his shoe slip slightly, absorbing the forward movement too. A group of friends—passionate, experimental, and a little unconventional—set out to bring that sensation to life. One of the wild ideas was gluing cut-up pieces of a garden hose to the bottom of a running shoe. The results were astounding—this garden hose approach, now known as the Cloud Elements, allowed the elements to absorb both vertical and horizontal forces, and the first ON shoe was born.

Looking at the early models of the Cloudsurfer, you can see the inspiration drawn from that first prototype.

The ideal running shoe should be soft in the heel to absorb shock and firm in the forefoot to boost a runner's thrust at toe-off. Most running shoes use only one type of foam—forcing runners to compromise between cushioning and propulsion. With ON CloudTec, you get both. The Cloud Elements are purposely larger in the heel for optimal shock absorption and smaller in the forefoot to provide a powerful toe-off.

Most midsoles are engineered to absorb shock vertically, which is effective for exercises like jogging in place. But real running is forward motion—where your shoe must handle up to 4× your body weight in horizontal impact. ON's CloudTec is the first technology to absorb both vertical and horizontal forces, ensuring a smoother, more efficient stride.

How does one run faster or longer? By running more efficiently, of course. Efficiency in running comes from transitioning quickly from heel to toe. The original technology ON used for the better part of 10 years incorporated a Speed-Board™—a composite plate placed between the foot and the CloudTec sole. This Speed-Board transfers energy from heel strike through the entire gait cycle, ensuring an explosive take-off. In the last few years, due to changes in manufacturing and the introduction of FEA (Finite Element Analysis), ON has developed an evolution of CloudTec called CloudTec Phase. The Cloud Elements become a structural cushioning system featuring computer-optimized clouds that compress sequentially, like dominoes.

Both technologies still remain in use. For those that want a more responsive ride, go with the original CloudTec found in shoes like the Cloudmonster 3 (Men's) / Women's. For a softer ride, stick with the new CloudTec Phase, found in shoes like the Cloudsurfer 2 (Men's) / Women's.

Remember those childhood days when a new pair of shoes seemed to make you run faster? With ON Running shoes, that feeling is engineered into every step.