Many carbon racers ask something of you: hit the pace, find the sweet spot, and land where the plate wants you to land. That’s how you’ll truly unlock the magic of your shoe. Well, in a best-case scenario, that’s easy enough. But any runner knows that at some point, your legs will tire, your form will fail, and your efficiency will inevitably suffer.
Sticking to their core value of creating shoes and gear that move you, On kept this exact scenario in mind when designing the new Cloudboom Strike 2. They rebuilt the underfoot geometry with the goal of making the whole shoe work from heel to toe, not just the part you hit when everything is going well. For anyone deep in a marathon block who knows exactly what kilometre 32 feels like, this is a big deal.
We got our hands (feet?!) on a pair early and had one of our Shoe Experts put them to the test. Here is our overview, tech specs, and everything you need to know about igniting your spirit through movement — with a really fantastic pair of shoes to help propel you forward, of course.
What's New in the Cloudboom Strike 2?
The silhouette carries over, but nearly everything under it has changed. Here’s what’s new:
CloudTec Sphere™ is the headline. On has introduced an innovative segmented midsole. Two channels split the platform into three sections: one under the heel and midfoot, one under the forefoot, and one under the toes. This allows the foam to compress and rebound where you actually land, rather than only in the spot the designers assumed you would.
Updated Helion™ HF foam. On's PEBA-based superfoam has been reformulated and is roughly 15% lighter than the previous generation. It is also run as a dual-density setup, which is where the stability people keep noticing comes from. You get compression and pop without instability.
A new curved carbon Speedboard®. Lighter and stiffer than before, with a rocker profile that rolls you through the transition instead of snapping you out of it. As the foam compresses and rebounds, the plate is what keeps the whole thing pointed in the right direction.
Enhancements to the upper. A breathable open-weave upper provides structure through the heel collar and more padding around the Achilles. Forefoot lockdown is improved while the toe box stays roomy. This was an improvement a lot of runners were waiting on, and the new Cloudboom iteration delivers.
And a second option. The LightSpray version uses On's robot-sprayed one-piece upper that drops the weight significantly and adds a “built for you” feeling, while maintaining an identical setup from the midsole down. Everything in this review applies to both versions; it comes down to the level of personalized fit you’re interested in exploring.
Must-Know Tech Specs
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Best for: Half marathon and marathon racing, threshold and tempo work
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Weight: ~191g / 6.7 oz (men's US 9)
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Drop: 5mm, up from 4mm on the original
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Midsole: Dual-density Helion™ HF hyper foam, ~15% lighter than previous generation
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Plate: Curved carbon Speedboard®, lighter and stiffer than v1
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Geometry: CloudTec Sphere™ segmented midsole with impact and rebound channels
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Upper: Engineered mesh with reinforced heel collar and Achilles padding
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Fit: True to size, roomier through the toe box than most racers
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Also Available: LightSpray Cloudboom Strike 2, laceless one-piece sprayed upper
BlackToe Running Tester Report
Tested by Cam, Ottawa • 60-70 km/week • midfoot striker, neutral
The Cloudboom Strike 2 is comfortable right out of the box. It compresses and pops you right back up, and it feels best at half- to marathon distance paces, where you lock in and forget the shoe is even there. It's a rare shoe that works for those chasing a PR and those chasing comfort.
Buy If:
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You want stability without sacrificing the bounce
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You want a comfortable carbon-plated racer
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Your main focus is the half/marathon distance (though it's versatile for different types of races)
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The weight of the shoe matters to you
Skip If:
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You don't want a carbon plate
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You don't like a shoe that compresses a lot underfoot
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You prefer more ground-contact feel from your race shoes
The Full Cloudboom Strike 2 Review
It was love at first step with the On Cloudboom Strike 2. The previous version didn't quite fit my foot the way I hoped, but this one does. An updated heel collar with a little more padding and better lockdown through the forefoot, while still giving your toes enough room to breathe. The moment I got this shoe on, I took it out for a 15k interval workout and had zero hot spots, zero rubbing.
I ran everything from 5-10k pace reps to 20k long runs in it, all part of marathon block training for the Muskoka Marathon this October. It shines brightest on the longer efforts, where I could lock in on pace and stay steady kilometre after kilometre. Late into a long run, once my form started to break down, the shoe didn't punish me for it. It worked with me, not against me. It even felt good through warm-up and cooldown pace, rare for a shoe built this fast. That comes down to the new CloudTec Sphere and hollowed-out foam configuration; the foam compresses wherever you land, catching you and popping you right back into your next step. Most carbon racers have a sweet spot you need to hit. On made the whole shoe the sweet spot.
Honestly, this may end up being my race shoe of choice come my Marathon this October. It's just that good. This is a shoe I can recommend with confidence to a whole handful of runners looking for a carbon racer that strikes the perfect mix of speed and comfort.
Who Is The Cloudboom Strike 2 Shoe Best Suited For?
If your fall race is a half or a full (or you’re targeting these distances in the future), this belongs on your shortlist. The Cloudboom Strike 2 sits in a useful spot in the super shoe field: soft while remaining stable, adaptable to different paces and strides, and forgiving enough that it can comfortably carry you through form breakdowns late in your race. It can provide confidence during speedy training runs, and even take you through shorter tune-up races during your build and in the off-season.
What you are truly getting with the Cloudboom Strike 2 is the thing every runner wants on race day, but is rarely written on a spec sheet: the confidence that the shoe on your foot is not going to be the reason the day goes wrong. You put in the work, you made it through your training block, and this is a shoe that respects it.
Where Can You Buy the On Cloudboom Strike 2 in Toronto, Ottawa, and Online?
At your favourite local run specialty store, of course! The On Cloudboom Strike 2 launches July 30, 2026 at BlackToe Running, in-store and online.
You can find it at any of our three Toronto locations, King West, Midtown, and The Well, or at our Richmond Road shop in Ottawa. Our staff are runners who race in these shoes, not just sell them, and we will happily talk you through how the Strike 2 compares to everything else on our shoe tables, helping you walk (run!) away feeling good about your decision. And if you are building toward a fall marathon, come see us early. Race shoes should be put through a workout plus a few easy kilometres before their big debut, plus sizing on launch shoes moves fast. We always recommend shopping early to find your perfect fit ahead of the crowd.
Available July 30 in-store and online. Have questions about whether this is the right race shoe for you? Stop in or reach out anytime!