On Cloudboom Strike Review (2024): Their Bounciest Super Shoe Yet

On Cloudboom Strike Review
By David, Salas, Nathan Brown and Andrea Myers

Due to some recent success from some of their major athletes, such as Helen Obiri, On Running has had a lot more eyes looking at their super shoes. On decided to continue pushing innovation towards a more unique super shoe offering in the Cloudboom Strike by creating what they call a bounce board in the sock liner. This creates a softer and more plush loading experience through toe off on the carbon plate. Was it a hit for the team? Find out below.   

On Cloudboom Strike

Price: $279.95 at Running Warehouse
Weight: 7.6 oz, 215 g (men's size 9), 6.6oz, 187g  (women's size 8)
Stack Height: 39.5mm (heel), 35.5mm (forefoot)
Drop: 4mm
Shoe Purpose: Race Day

Pros: Responsive midsole, more pop than Cloudboom echo 3
Cons: Hard to say which distance it'll suit each runner

RUNNING SHOE SUMMARY

The On Cloudboom Strike is a high stacked, carbon-plated racing shoe. This is the second offering of a shoe of this kind from On, with the first being the Cloudboom Echo series. The Strike employs a lively and responsive midsole foam - per On, a supercritical Helion HF hyper foam - with some unique features, including an insole that mirrors the curvature of the plate. The shoe also features a new  Bounceboard integrated into the forefoot that provides, well, a good amount of bounce. The Strike offers runners who prefer On Running two options for race day and the ability to pick which works best for them.

SIMILAR SHOES: Nike Alphafly 3, Saucony Endorphin Elite
PAST MODEL: New modl

FIT
(To learn how a shoe should fit, check out our full podcast on fit by Matt Klein.)

David: The On Cloudboom Strike fit true to size in my Men's 9.5 with length, but did lean lower on volume. The general fit through the forefoot and midfoot is quite snug, but did break in pretty quickly after my first use. The width throughout the heel is slightly wide, with a slightly narrow midfoot and forefoot. The upper is a translucent mesh that holds its structure very well and really didn't expand much after the initial break in. The heel does not have a traditional counter. It is pretty thin and runs up vertically along the achilles, but without extending along the medial and lateral heel like most counters do.

There is a really shallow piece of the counter, however, that does extend along the medial and lateral heel alongside some gentle reinforcement from overlays. The upper material in the heel is very thin and has some slight padding on the inside of the collar to prevent irritation. I did find the heel to be a little spacious for my liking. The midfoot and forefoot were very dialed in however and I really enjoyed the fit from that standpoint. Because of this, I found the Cloudboom Strike to be very secure, and an extension of my foot when I was running in a more forward position on my forefoot. Unfortunately... that is really only when I am running faster than my half marathon, and maybe even 10k pace. When I was not forward on my feet, I found my heel did move around. This was especially evident on camber roads, downhills, and sweeping turns. I really enjoy the foam and platform of the shoe, but for the fit reason, I can't choose it as my half marathon or marathon racing shoe.  

David's Typical Size: Men's US Size 9.5
Shoes that have fit David well: Nike Vomero 17, Saucony Ride 16, Puma Velocity Nitro 3
Shoes that have fit snug: HOKA Arahi 7
Shoes that have fit large: Salomon Aero Glide

Nathan: The fit of this shoe is certainly made for race day, particularly in the forefoot. Overall there is a lower volume, but the upper does stretch enough and mold around the foot where it doesn't feel restrictive. There is not a lot of inherent structure of the upper, but rather feels like it wraps around the foot, and breaks in a bit after the initial run, but not to a point where it gets loose.

Given this, it is best for those who like a snug feel through the mid and forefoot and don't need a lot of stretch or accommodation from the upper. There is some reinforcement through the heel and midfoot, nothing overly rigid. I had no issues with heel slippage. The race I did in this shoe was a 10K that was part road, part CC course, and with the hills and turns on the course, the upper was not an issue and held my foot secure (more on other parts of stability later).

Typical Size: Men's US Size 9
Shoes that have fit Nathan well: Topo Phantom 3, Saucony Endorphin Speed 4, ASICS Novablast 4
Shoes that have fit snug: HOKA Mach 6, Puma Deviate 3, New Balance Rebel v3
Shoes that have fit large: Saucony Triumph 22, Brooks Launch 9 (length)

Andrea: The On Cloudboom Strike fits true to size in my usual women's 9.5. While it does not fit as long as the Cloudboom Echo 3, I had enough space at the front of the shoe that I did not experience any toenail irritation. The mesh upper has a stiff feel at first and getting the shoe on and off takes a little more effort than most race shoes, although this certainly wasn't a dealbreaker for me. Once on foot, the Cloudboom Strike fit snug and secure. I experienced a little bit of heel irritation on my first run, but once the upper broke in, this was no longer an issue. There is sufficient width in the toebox that I did not experience any irritation at my 1st or 5th MTPs. The non-gusseted tongue is held in place by a lace loop. I did not have any issue with the tongue moving, but it does tend to crease under the laces, so I had to be careful with how I tied the shoe so the tongue did not irritate the dorsum of my foot. The heel counter is highly flexible, with only a small centrally placed rigid piece that give the rearfoot some structure. There are two small internal pads on the medial and lateral side of the heel that did not give me any issues. The heel irritation I experienced was from the upper part of the medial heel, but I found that once the mesh in the forefoot stretched, I no longer had any superior heel translation.

Overall, I found the fit to be just right - if the length was any shorter or toe box width any narrower, I would not have been as comfortable. I prefer the upper material of the Cloudboom Echo 3 to this shoe because of the stiffness of the mesh material in the Cloudboom Strike, but the performance of the shoe makes up for the stiff mesh.

Andrea's Typical Size: Women's US Size 9.5
Shoes that have fit Andrea well: New Balance Beacon v3, Brooks Hyperion Max, Topo Cyclone 2, Nike Vaporfly 3, Altra Via Olympus 2
Shoes that have fit snug: Saucony Kinvara 14 (length and toe box width), Altra FWD Experience (length and width), Hoka Cielo Road (toe box width), Saucony Endorphin Speed and Pro 1-3 (length)
Shoes that have fit large: Adidas Boston 12 (length), Adidas Adios 8 (length)

Doctors of Running Checklist

Is This a Good Shoe for Walking: No
Is This a Good Shoe for Standing: No
Is the Forefoot Flexible: No
How Flexible is the Shoe: Not Flexible
Is This a Good Heel Bevel: Yes
Recommended for Haglunds: Yes
Recommended for Sockless: No
Durability Expectation: Average

PERFORMANCE

David:  The On Cloudboom Strike was a very interesting shoe. On the surface it might look like a gimmick but the change in sock liner does change the experience of the shoe drastically. The Cloudboom Strike uses what On is calling a "Bounceboard" that is embedded in the sock liner. This sock liner sits directly above the carbon plate. The Bounceboard is focused on the forefoot and provides a thick slab of foam to give you a sofer and more responsive integration with the carbon plate in the forefoot. This also makes the shoe a little front heavy, making the forefoot a heavy part of the shoe experience. 

The Helion HF foam is the softest foam from On so far, but does bounce back with a good amount of responsiveness. The heel has a decent bevel to it and does a good job of getting you onto the midfoot. The platform itself is very neutral and may be a tad narrow for some. Because of that, the shoe can feel a tad unstable, especially with the heel fit. The thing that saves it is the anterior heavy sock liner discussed earlier. You transition onto the forefoot quite quickly, where you do get a genuine bounce. The plate in the Cloudboom Strike feels a little less stiff to me than other super shoes on the market, but still plenty of stiffness for racing. This is a shoe that responds to what you put into it. In a lot of ways, it reminds me some of the early Alphafly models, but with a more narrow platform and slightly softer foam. Those who like to lean into that forefoot will have a lot of fun with this shoe. Even at half marathon and marathon paces I loved the feeling of the foam, but because of some of the heel fit issues I mentioned above, I can't use it for those efforts at this time. If the heel fit works for you though, this is definitely one of the top super shoes of the year. Enough so to where I almost looked the other way for a recent race, but picked a better fitting shoe in the heel for my half marathon.  

Nathan: The main distinguishing feature of this shoe from a design point is the insole which has a thinner amount of material and a thick amount in the forefoot, making a spoon-like shape that mirrors the shape of the plate. Performance-wise, I could not feel any distinguishable differences, but it does mean that other insoles will not be an option for runners who typically swap out insoles. What makes this shoe fun is the bounce and propulsion of the midsole. The more you put into it, the more it seems to give back. Comparatively, I think the foam feels most similar to the Metaspeed Edge Paris in terms of softness/firmness, with a bit more bounce coming in the Cloudboom Strike. The rocker is not very extreme and I didn't feel like the rocker was the thing making the shoe feel fast. Compared to the Cloudboom Echo 3, the rocker feels later stage and is less propulsive, but a nice gradual roll. However, as just mentioned, the overall feel is propulsive because of the foam properties, and the foam makes this shoe feel more propulsive than the Echo 3. So, if you are someone who likes racing shoes that give a lot of pop from the foam, this is a shoe to check out. I enjoyed this shoe for my 10K effort (6:45 min/mile) but wouldn't want it for anything slower (half marathon to marathon) than that (personally) due to the stability elements I will discuss next.

Andrea: My favorite super shoe for half marathon down has been the Nike Alphafly v1, and I am on a constant quest to find a suitable replacement for it. The On Cloudboom Echo 3 came close, but doesn't have the same forefoot bounce as the Air Pods of the Alphafly. I am very happy to report that the On Cloudboom Strike is a much better Alphafly 1 replacement and I can't wait to test it in a race. The thick Helion HF sockliner, which sits directly on top of the exposed carbon Speedboard, provides a propulsive bounce in the forefoot that comes close to the feel of the Alphafly 1. I have tested the shoe for intervals at half marathon pace (6:25/mi) all the way down to mile pace (5:20/mi) and the shoe performed exceptionally during each workout. This is a super shoe that makes a given pace feel significantly easier than it does in regular shoes, mostly due its propulsive feeling at push off. This is definitely a shoe that will shift stress to the hip joint, hip flexors, hamstrings, and glutes, so runners with a history of issues around the hip should use this shoe with caution. 

The shoe feels like its stated 4mm drop and the geometry feels particularly suited for midfoot striking because of how the base widens just behind the 5th metatarsal. This provided me a relatively stable place to land, and the forefoot rocker, plate, and bouncy midsole immediately propel me into pushoff. The rearfoot is definitely on the narrower side, although not as narrow as the Vaporfly 3, so rearfoot strikers may find the shoe less stable at initial contact. I would use this shoe for races anywhere from 5k to half marathon and can't wait to test it out in some future races. Like the Alphafly 1, I think the ride is a little too propulsive for the marathon distance, but others may find it to be an ideal marathon shoe.

I have 25 miles on my pair and there is minimal visible wear on the rubber outsole or the small section of exposed midsole. One of my workouts was on a wet track and I did not have any issues with traction. I think the durability of the shoe will come down to the durability of the midsole material, so I will report back next year.

 

STABILITY
(Learn more about stability in our full guide)

David:  The On Cloudboom Strike is certainly a neutral shoe. The soft Helion HF and slightly narrow platform throughout makes for a very neutral experience. The upper lockdown through the forefoot and midfoot do a great job of providing foot security for those that land there. However, the opposite rings true for those that land a little further back. There is some very gentle sole flare throughout the forefoot, but not enough to really justify it as stable. The outsole traction is pretty good for a super shoe though, I did not find any issues with slipping during normal usage. 

Nathan: The On Cloudboom Strike is not built for stability. The heel and midfoot ground contact is narrow, similar to other racing models like the Vaporfly 3, but also has a discontinuous outsole, which decreases the full ground contact of this shoe. I felt, particularly when slower, a bit of a wobble through the heel to midfoot when I was transitioning forward. If you don't have any issues with stability needs in the rearfoot and midfoot, the forefoot is nice and wide and a stable platform for push off.

Andrea: The On Cloudboom Strike is a neutral shoe that will require runners to have sufficient hip mobility and strength due to the highly propulsive ride. The narrow rearfoot may be an issue for some heel strikers, particularly if you have issues with the narrow heel of the Vaporfly 3. The wider midfoot base and balance sole flaring actually provides slightly increased stability at initial contact for midfoot strikers, but I would definitely not say this shoe is stable by any means. 

Thoughts as a DPT: Do Orthotics and Super Shoes Mix? 
By Matthew Klein

The On Cloudboom Strike is particularly unique as a super shoe given that a large amount of the PEBA cushioning is embedded in the insole. While an extreme example of this, this is a good reminder that companies design their shoes with the stock insoles/sockliners in mind. Adding an orthotic or external insole can change the performance of a shoe, often in ways most companies may not test. There are a few exceptions as some companies do debut shoes designed specifically to take orthotics. However, super shoes are not one of those.

Orthotics most commonly add additional stiffness in ways that may create stability, facilitate certain motions or attempt to restrict others. Super shoes feature extremely soft and resilient midsoles with extremely stiff plates (typically carbon fiber). Orthotics tend to take up more room/volume inside a shoe than typical insoles. Super shoes typically have lower volume fits to create more security with less/lighter materials. Orthotics require additional room and the removal of the stock insole. Many super shoes have glued in or non-removable insoles/sockliners. For these reasons, depending on the super shoe, adding an orthotic may not be possible. 

However, in the case that the super shoe features a removable insole/sockliner, adding an orthotic is certainly an option. Those who decide to do this need to know it may change the function of the shoe and/or make the shoe far stiffer than it normally is. We know more stiffness is not necessarily better as different people respond best to unique levels of stiffness or flexibility (Mcleod et al., 2020). In the case of the Cloudboom Strike, it will definitely change the level of cushioning as removing the insole removes a significant amount of the responsive midsole. Additionally, the plate sits right under that insole, so the shoe may feel more stiff than usual. For that reason, the Cloudboom Strike may not be the best super shoe to utilize an orthotic with. However, there are a few less aggressive super shoes (SC Elite v4) and ones with removable insoles (Cloudboom Echo 3, Ceilo X1) that may be able to take them better than others. There are always other options as many super trainers have the volume and removable insoles required to take an orthotic. There are also some ways you can modify the insoles to provide more stability but that is a post for another time. So, in short, most super shoes may not be able to take orthotics. There are a few that can and people should still test them with the orthotic prior to racing or using them significantly in that manner as that addition may significantly change the shoe in a way that may not be positive. 

References:

McLeod, A. R., Bruening, D., Johnson, A. W., Ward, J., & Hunter, I. (2020). Improving running economy through altered shoe bending stiffness across speeds. Footwear Science, 12(2), 79-89.

RECOMMENDATIONS

David: This was almost my racing shoe of the year. For me the miss is the heel fit. I don't mind the decrease in heel counter and having a more flexible heel, but I do think it would benefit from narrowing the fit in that region some. The forefoot and midfoot lockdown so well, and it feels inconsistent to have the heel fit loose the way it does. 

Nathan: I'd love to see some minor adjustments to the upper, namely a slight opening up of the forefoot. The other thing is creating a full ground contact through the midfoot. I think this would add just a touch more stability without ridding the shoe of its streamlined and propulsive nature.

Andrea: I have really enjoyed running in the Cloudboom Strike and I'm excited to race in it. I think the upper material could be improved by making it less stiff and more similar to the upper of the Cloudboom Echo 3, which fits securely but with a little more give. The tongue could also be improved by reducing the amount of material so that it doesn't fold over when tying the laces. 

WHO IS THIS SHOE FOR?

David: The On Cloudboom Strike is a super shoe that two demographics will love. The first will be those that really like to load the forefoot when they push off during the gait cycle. The shoe will make you feel quite boundy when you load the forefoot hard and fast. The other population that will really like the forefoot are those that are sensitive to firmer plates at toe off. The bounce board does soften that experience quite a bit in the forefoot without sacrificing the bending stiffness. Those with neutral mechanics that are looking to have a forefoot heavy experience are going to have quite a bit of fun in the Cloudboom Strike. 

Nathan: The Cloudboom Strike is is for people wanting a racing shoe that operates on a gradual rocker and very high level of bounce. It's also for those who don't have any specific stability needs and do not utilize inserts with their shoes. If you're a fan of the Metaspeed Edge or Vaporfly 3 and want just a bit more bounce, this one can be worth a look.

Andrea: The On Cloudboom Strike is a the closest replacement I have found to my beloved Alphafly 1. If you loved that shoe and are a midfoot striker, you will probably love the Cloudboom Strike. The shoe is best for the 5k to half marathon distance, but some runners may use it for a road mile or up to the marathon. At $280, it is priced competitively with the Nike Alphafly 3, and in my opinion, performs better than the Alphafly 3.

GRADES

David
Fit: B (The forefoot and midfoot lockdown incredibly well and broke in well, but the heel is just loose enough for my heel to slide around some on camber roads and turns... or when I am really tired and start having some lateral movements.)
Performance: A- (An incredibly lively ride with a good amount of bounce through the forefoot. Heel fit may create some foot translation that takes away from smooth transitions into that lively forefoot.)
Stability: B (Not great, not horrible. A very neutral shoe. Good traction and great forefoot and midfoot lockdown. Heel can come off a tad unstable.)
Value: A- (More time is needed but outsole is holding really well for me and foam is still living)
Personal: A- (This was almost my racing shoe of the year if it wasn't for the heel thing.)
Overall Design: A- 

Nathan
Fit: B+ (A bit snug in the forefoot)
Performance: A (Very bouncy, very fast)
Stability: B- (Narrow platform, lacks full ground contact, wobbly)
Value: B- (Comes in more expensive than other top tier racers, but not sure if it packs 30 more dollars worth)
Personal: B+ (Loved it for the 10K, wouldn't want it for further for myself)
Overall Design: B+ 

Andrea
Fit: A- (upper material a little too stiff, unusually difficulty to get the shoe on and off)
Performance: A (My new Alphafly 1 replacement thanks to its extremely propulsive ride)
Stability: [neutral] B- (Narrow rearfoot platform and bouncy midsole make this shoe quite neutral)
Value: A- (Similarly priced to the Alphafly 3, but more expensive than most super shoes)
Personal: A (It has the bouncy, propulsive ride I've been missing from the Alphafly 1)
Overall Design: A-

SHOP | SUPPORT DOR

On Cloudboom Strike

Price: $279.95 at Running Warehouse

Shop Men | Shop Women

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Editor's Note: As always, the views presented on this website belong to myself or the selected few who contribute to these posts. This website should not and does not serve as a replacement for seeking medical care. If you are currently injured or concerned about an injury, please see your local running physical therapist. If you are in the Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, Danbury and Stevens Point areas, we am currently taking clients for running evaluations.

***Disclaimer: These shoes were provided free of charge in exchange for a review.  We thank the people at On Running for sending us pairs.  This in no way affected the honesty of this review. We systematically put each type of shoe through certain runs prior to review. For trainers and performance trainers, we take them on daily runs, workouts, recovery runs and a long run prior to review (often accumulating anywhere from 20-50 miles in the process). For racing flats we ensure that we have completed intervals, a tempo or steady state run as well as a warm-up and cool down in each pair prior to review. This systematic process is to ensure that we have experience with each shoe in a large variety of conditions to provide expansive and thorough reviews for the public and for companies. Our views are based on our extensive history in the footwear industry and years testing and developing footwear. If you are a footwear rep looking for footwear reviews or consultations on development, we are currently looking to partner with companies to assist, discuss and promote footwear models. Partnership will not affect the honesty of our reviews.

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