On Running Is Finally Ramping Up Production of Its ‘Hyper-Foam’ Spray-On Shoes
Swiss shoe company On, one of the fastest growing shoe brands, has done very well, becoming a $3 billion company thanks to the giant inflated soles of its very garish shoes. Today, the company announced three new launches and the opening of a new production facility in South Korea that will make many more – at least that’s the goal.
Specifically, the company is focused on producing its newest and strangest shoe: a giant-sole laceless running shoe with a one-piece “hyper-foam” plastic toe cap sprayed by robot arms. The plastics are 40% biofoam and the shoe is made up of just eight pieces; Its minimalist approach is claimed to help reduce the shoe’s carbon footprint.
The LightSpray Cloudmonster 3 Hyper is an evolution of the first On shoe to use its spray technique on the toe, the Cloudboom Strike LS. Aside from adding the LightSpray branding to the item, the main difference is the move to the Cloudmonster model, which, in the tradition of On shoes, tends to provide cushier soles. This new version contains 20% more foam, for all runners who like a squishy bounce. They will be available in limited release on the company’s website and in retail stores across North America starting March 5, with global expansion on April 16.
The new LightSpray shoes weigh 205 grams each (less than half a pound), making them a bit heavier than the 170-gram Cloudboom Strikes. They’re also cheaper at $280 compared to the Cloudboom’s higher price of $330.
Although WIRED liked the first iteration of the LightSpray shoe, no one else except a few select marathoners had a chance to use it. Production runs were very limited and the shoes were prohibitively expensive. Today, On has strengthened its production in South Korea, allowing it to increase its overall production of LightSpray shoes 30-fold by 2026.
“On’s strategy for extending LightSpray technology from running to running shoes is to make it accessible to a broader audience beyond elite athletes,” an On representative told WIRED via email.
Whether slip-on shoes without laces will find their way into the footwear market is not yet a winning idea. While brands like Nike offer slip-ons, the laceless fastening tends to be reserved for unique shoes like the Back to the Future IIAdapt BB inspired self-lacing shoes. Some serious runners prefer the pursuit of a more natural run offered by thin-soled shoes like barefoot shoes, but We always double down on its double-sized cushions. People seem to like them, as two other Cloudmonster shoes are also announced. One is the lace-up Cloudmonster 3, and the other is a classic old Cloudmonster 3 Hyper with laces and a non-LightSprayed toe box. (Ugh, shoelaces. How outdated.)
It says it has an additional strategic objective to increase its global production of LightSpray shoes, “over the coming years”.
