On Running

About

Summing Up On Running On Running was founded in Zurich, Switzerland in 2010 by former Swiss Ironman champion Olivier Bernhard alongside entrepreneurs David Allemann and Caspar Coppetti. Their founding brief was as precise as it was ambitious: engineer a shoe that delivers a genuinely cushioned landing followed by an explosive, propulsive take-off, without sacrificing weight or responsiveness. The solution was CloudTec , a patented system of hollow, compressible pods arranged in rows across the outsole. Each pod deforms independently on impact, dispersing ground-reaction forces, then locks with adjacent pods at toe-off to return stored energy forward. Within two years of launch, On prototypes were winning ISPO awards for innovation and appearing on the feet of Olympic-level triathletes. By 2024, the brand reported CHF 2.32 billion in annual net sales, a year-on-year increase of 29.4%, confirming its transition from Swiss running specialist to a globally relevant performance and lifestyle brand. For the Urban Industry customer, On represents a technically rigorous choice that sits equally at home on the road, the trail, and the street. How Does On Running Stack Up CloudTec Pod Geometry: On's signature hollow outsole pods are moulded from Zero-Gravity EVA foam (as seen in the Cloud 6) or the more performance-focused Helion superfoam , an EVA-Olefin blend. Each pod compresses multi-directionally on heel-strike, then interlocks at toe-off to deliver a forward-propulsive snap. The result is a measurable reduction in vertical oscillation compared to traditional flat-sole EVA midsoles. CloudTec Phase Technology (Cloud Surfer): Rather than independently compressing pods, CloudTec Phase uses angled Helion foam elements that collapse sequentially from heel to toe, in a domino-like motion. This geometry removes the need for a separate Speedboard plate , reducing total midsole component count and overall weight, while producing an exceptionally smooth, rolling heel-to-toe transi