On reveals new spray-on super shoe technology on the Cloudboom Strike LS

Ali Ball
·2-min read
on cloudboom strike ls
On reveals new ‘LightSpray’ super shoe technologyAli Ball

After months of secrecy, Swiss sportswear brand On has unveiled its revolutionary new LightSpray technology: an ultralight, one-piece upper that’s sprayed onto the shoe by a robotic arm.

Yep, 2023 might have been the year of the midsole, but in 2024, the upper is having a moment. LightSpray is made in a fast, one-step manufacturing process, automated by a robotic arm at the On Labs in Zurich. It’s ultra-thin, adaptable to the foot, seamless and lace-free. And according to On, each shoe is fully assembled in just three minutes.

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But those aren’t the only benefits. On claims the technology reduces an upper’s carbon emissions by 75% compared to its other racing shoes.

‘LightSpray marks a significant milestone for On, not only in creating high-performance products but also the potential it has to move us towards a more sustainable, circular future,’ says Marc Maurer, co-CEO of On. This is thanks to the upper’s construction from a single recyclable material and the assembly process that eliminates the need for glue.

on cloudboom strike ls
Ali Ball

The Cloudboom Strike LS (LightSpray) is the brand’s first high-performance running shoe to feature the technology. Weighing in at just 170g – including a 30g upper – Hellen Obiri wore a development version to win the 2024 Boston Marathon in April. And now, we've been one of the first to get our hands on a pair.

The shoe’s midsole features two layers of Helion HF Hyper foam, a Pebax formula made with over 40% bio-based raw materials, and a Speedboard – On’s version of a carbon plate – sandwiched between the foam to aid propulsion. There’s a 4mm heel-to-toe drop.

on cloudboom strike ls
Ali Ball

The glueless bonding of LightSpray also allows for a minimal construction of the CloudBoom Strike LS, with no sockliner and no strobel – a term used when the upper of the shoe is stitched directly to the insole – in direct contact with the midsole. All of this equates to minimal energy loss, On says.

The Cloudboom Strike LS will be available in autumn/winter 2024 for £330/$330. Full review coming soon to Runner's World.

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