8.8Staff pick
Nike
Alphafly 4
$280ZoomX LT foam, a wider Flyplate and quieter Air pods, about 10 grams lighter than before.
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Race Day · On
Cloudboom Strike
A laceless LightSpray upper, bonded without glue to a carbon-plated midsole.
7.8 Solid
Runsletter Score out of 10. Good at its job, with clear limits.
Buy it if
- Seamless, sock-like upper with no pressure points
- Bouncy, smooth ride for an On
- Very light upper for a marathon racer
Skip it if
- Joint-priciest racer on the shelf
- Laceless upper can't be adjusted
- Fit is hard to judge without trying on
$330
List price; often discounted in seasonal sales
Check price at retailers ↗When does it go on sale?We may earn a commission
- Weight
- 170 g
- Stack
- 40 mm
- Drop
- 4 mm
The verdict
The Cloudboom Strike's party trick is the upper: a single filament robot-sprayed into one seamless, laceless LightSpray layer, then bonded to the sole without glue. Underneath, two layers of On's Helion HF foam sandwich a carbon Speedboard, and the ride is bouncy and smooth for a brand once known for firm shoes.
It suits marathon and half marathon racers who want a cushioned, rolling ride and a sock-like fit. With no laces, the fit depends entirely on how well the shape matches your foot.
It is softer and more cushioned than the Metaspeed Sky Tokyo or Takumi Sen 10, and a step behind the Alphafly 4 for bounce. The fit is unusual: snug and seamless, so it rewards a try-on, and runners between sizes should be careful.
“The most futuristic-looking racer here, with a ride that lives up to it.”
Specs
| Weight | 170 g |
|---|---|
| Stack height | 40 mm |
| Drop | 4 mm |
| Cushion | 4 / 5 |
| Plate | carbon |
| Support | Neutral |
| Surface | road |
| Best for | race, long |
| Midsole | Two layers of Helion HF foam |
| Plate detail | Carbon Speedboard between the foam layers |
| Upper | Laceless one-piece LightSpray upper, bonded to the sole without glue |
| Outsole | Minimal rubber traction pattern |
| Fit | Snug and seamless; try on before buying |
| Widths | Standard only |
We may earn a commission if you buy through our links. Scores are sample editorial data.
How it stacks up
Compare side by side →| Product | Score | Price |
|---|---|---|
| On Cloudboom Strike · this one | 7.8 Solid | $330 |
| Nike Alphafly 4 | 8.8 Elite | $280 |
| Nike Alphafly 3 | 8.6 Elite | $285 |
| Adidas Adizero Adios Pro 4 | 8.4 Strong | $250 |
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