There’s a really old saying that goes something like “if it ain’t broke don’t fix it”. It basically states that if you have something that works just fine, don’t try to fix it, and thus, end up breaking it. It’s pretty plain and simple.
On Running isn’t exactly listening to that advice.
When On Running Released the Cloudboom Strike in 2025 they had a near-unanimous hit. Not everybody who tried it out thought it was a success, but a giant proportion of reviewers and everyday runners who took the time to drop a review gave it positive remarks.
And after 3 versions of the Cloudboom Echo (we reviewed them all) never made quite enough noise, the Cloudboom Strike proved to be a turning point for the Swiss company.
The Cloudboom Strike 2 is On’s attempt to upgrade – not quite fix – their hit marathon supershoe. Set to drop on July 30, 2026, On will release a one-two supershoe punch; a standard version of the Cloudboom Strike 2, and the Lightspray Cloudboom Strike 2, with very significant upgrades.
Let’s take a look at what’s in store for this highly anticipated upgrade!
On Cloudboom Strike 2 Specs
- Heel to toe drop: 5mm
- Weight: 6.73 oz
- Stack: 39.5mm
- Price: $250
- Available July 30
Our team is testing now to give you more feedback from a 3 hour marathoner!
Right off the bat you can tell something is amiss; the small cutouts in the old Cloudtec midsole are gone. The big Helion OF midsole appears to now have three smaller midsoles, one covering the heel and midfoot, one covering the forefoot, and one just under the toes.
In reality this is the new midsole geometry, dubbed Cloudtec Sphere. The decoupled midsole is designed to dampen impact with the ground and maximize rebound through your stride, thus leading to a more powerful and efficient stride.
The Helion OF has been updated to be 15% lighter, with two layers of differing densities holding in place a lighter and stiffer curved carbon Speedboard for maximum propulsion, with some stability, at toe off.
Overall, the Cloudboom Strike 2 will be 10 grams lighter than its predecessor, with about 1 more millimeter of foam under the forefoot, as it will be moving from a 4 millimeter drop shoe to 5.
The engineered mesh upper looks to remain, with more structure around the heel collar and padding around the achilles tendon.
And if you’re thinking your next supershoe weighing just under 7 ounces is not light enough for you, On has you covered. The Lightspray Cloudboom Strike 2 is a lighter option with a big upper upgrade. Everything from the midsold down remains the same.
Built with an entirely robot-built one piece upper, Lightspray reduces the weight of the Cloudboom strike down from 6.73 ounces to 5.57 ounces. The one-step manufacturing process also reduces the carbon footprint by 65% and produces less waste.
On Cloudboom Strike vs Cloudboom Strike 2 Vs Lightspray
All right, let’s make it an easy side by side comparison of what’s changed. We had a LOT of great things to say about the first Cloudboom Strike and we’re quite ready to love the new model as well.
- Changing to a 5mm heel to toe drop
- Weight is dropping a smidge as well
- Updating the midsole foam to Helion HF
- Updating to a new geometry with a curved plate for more aggressive forward roll
- Price is actually lower on the Cloudboom Strike 2 (original $280)
The Lightspray became a nearly impossible shoe to get, with used models selling for over $1000 on ebay. So we’re interested to see if they make more this time around or keep the mystique going.
Admittedly…Coach Amanda has it and really loves it. She’s a sucker for a great bounce and a snug fit.
Who is the In Cloudboom Strike For?
Let’s break it down by some common categories
- Wide feet: If the last stays the same it can work, the first version proved average midfoot and toebox measurements
- Heavier runners: This might not be well-suited for heavier runners, especially those with stability needs
- Long runs: Yes, it is designed for the marathon distance
- Front of the pack: Yes, it’s designed for elite speed
Both versions of the Cloudboom Strike 2 will be released on July 30. The Lightspray version will retail for $310 while the standard version will be priced at $250.
What to read next?
- Best Low Drop Running Shoes
- Best Running Shoes for Forefoot Strikers
- Best Carbon Plate Running Shoes
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