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ON Footwear

History of On Footwear

On is a Swiss footwear brand that specializes in running shoes. The brand is only ten years old but it has already established itself as one of the premier running shoes on the market alongside brands such as Saucony, Asics and New Balance. The company was founded by 3 friends: former professional athlete Olivier Bernhard and his friends David Allemann and Caspar Coppetti.

Oliver Bernhard had been a three-time world duathlon champion and multiple Ironman winner and was determined to design a running shoe that would give him the perfect running experience. In doing so, he crossed paths with a Swiss engineer who shared the ambition and had an idea on how to design a completely new kind of running shoe. It was a match made in heaven and the set out to create the perfect symbiosis between science and functionality.  

The main idea was to create a shoe that offered the user a “cushioned landing, firm take-off” and several prototypes where developed. It was at this point that Caspar Coppetti and David Allemann came aboard and the company was formally established the in Zürich in January 2010.  

In February of the same year, the prototypes they had developed won the ISPO Brand New Award, one of the most important prizes for innovation in sport. Test runners compared running in ON shoes to “running on clouds”. Just a couple months later the first On hit the shelves.

Table of Contents

ON Running Shoes

On Cloudmonster 2

On Cloudmonster 2 Performance Review

The On Cloudmonster 2 is the first Cloudmonster I’ve had the pleasure of testing. Last year’s original version got mixed reviews. And the reviews were all over the place. I heard it was “too squishy”, “too unstable”, “still too firm” but also “the best On shoe yet” and “finally a true max cushion shoe from On”.
On Cloudeclipse

On Cloudeclipse Performance Review

Before we talk about the On Cloudeclipse, On Running’s new ultra-thick daily running shoe, let’s talk about why On is currently one of the most sought-after shoe brands.
On Cloudflow 4

On Cloudflow 4 Performance Review

Even though the On Cloudflow 4 is now more casual-focused versus a high-end running shoe, I had to review it for nostalgia’s sake. I ran my first 10k in the original On Cloudflow in early 2018. It will always have a special place in my heart for serving me well in my return to running after many years of neglecting road running in favor of lots of basketball.
On Cloud X 3

On Cloud X 3 Performance Review

It’s a very good time for On, as not only have their shoes seemingly become ubiquitous across America but the recent revenue reports show that indeed we aren’t imagining their cultural ascendency. While the Swiss superstar company has developed a reputation for its running shoes, they’ve also been generating buzz with the latest iteration of its training shoe, the On Cloud X 3. We reviewed the original On Cloud X in 2020 in the midst of a pandemic. That test didn’t involve a lot of gym time (for obvious reasons),
On Cloudboom Echo 3

On Cloudboom Echo 3 Performance Review

There’s a moment in Casino Royale when Vesper tells Bond “There are dinner jackets and there are dinner jackets – this is the latter” and, like everything about that film, it’s a wonderful moment. That also applies to running shoes – and, like that James Bond couture, the On Cloudboom Echo 3 is the latter.
On Cloudsurfer

On Cloudsurfer Performance Review: Goodbye Speedboard

The On Cloudsurfer has been around for about seven years, but the 2023 version changes everything. Gone are On’s Speedboard plate and typical cloud geometry. Instead, the midsole features CloudTec Phase, a digitally constructed midsole geometry based on scanning thousands of runners.
On Cloudgo

On Cloudgo Performance Review

The On Cloudgo provides more evidence of On Running’s ability to churn out great-looking runners. They even sent me the blacked-out version and it still looks hella good. I’ve been following On closely for 6-7 years and I can count on one hand the number of ugly shoes they’ve released. That’s impressive.
On Cloudvista

On Cloudvista Performance Review

On Running Shoes are almost ubiquitous in the United States. I can’t count how many times I’ve seen them on a medical practitioner’s feet at a doctor’s office or PT clinic. And have you been to a theme park lately? Scores of moms and Dads rock them as they read articles on smartphones while waiting in line with several talkative children. On is basically a yuppie movement at this point. And so, On is off to conquer new ground. Next stop, the great outdoors. The On Cloudvista takes On’s signature

On Cloudswift Performance Review

The On Cloudswift was refreshed and improved in 2021. On Running tweaked the upper, the support wing, and the midsole’s Cloud placements. Does it all add up to a good running shoe? Let’s find out. You can also see this shoe on our Best Running Shoes for Flat Feet list.