On Cloudboom Strike 2 Review191 g, 19 g lighter than the original, and $30 cheaper

The On Cloudboom Strike 2 is a race shoe worth buying for anyone chasing a time in the marathon or half marathon. The deciding factor is its 191 g weight, 19 g lighter than the original. It has a new grooved sole (CloudTec Sphere), a curved plate with carbon fiber, and a 5 mm drop. Released July 30, 2026, in unisex sizes 22.0–31.5 cm.

Is the Cloudboom Strike 2 worth it? A race shoe that got lighter and cheaper

The Cloudboom Strike 2 is worth buying as a race shoe for anyone chasing a time in the marathon or half. The deciding factor is its 191 g weight: 19 g lighter than the original, and $30 cheaper.

Race shoes usually get lighter with each generation, and pricier along with it. The Strike 2 goes the other way, and this article reads it through the numbers on On's official Japan site and its tech sheets. A table of all six On releases for 2026 is in my article on On's 2026 releases.

Cloudboom Strike 2 weight and drop: the official numbers

On describes this shoe as “co-developed with athletes for the marathon and half marathon.” Support is listed as “neutral” and ride as “propulsion.” Of On's three racers, it is the faster one that names the full marathon.

The build is explained in three parts: the grooved CloudTec Sphere sole, the ultralight Helion HF foam, and the Speedboard plate with carbon fiber. The features section on the official Japan site lists one more: a “removable upper midsole.”

Versus the original Cloudboom Strike: what changed

The original Cloudboom Strike was released on Jul 11, 2024. Here are On's tech sheets side by side.

Weight is down 19 g (210 − 191), about 9.0% (19 ÷ 210). The dollar price is down $30 (280 − 250), about 10.7% (30 ÷ 280). Weight and price both moved about 10% in the same direction.

Let's put 19 g over a marathon. At 1 m per step, each foot lands about 21,100 times (42,195 ÷ 2). 19 g × 21,100 = about 401 kg less total weight lifted per foot than with the original.

So what did On change to cut 19 g? The announcement lists three things.

• Outsole shape: a new design called CloudTec Sphere, with narrow grooves between the forefoot and midfoot so the foam flexes in many directions with your foot
• Foam: the new Helion HF is 15% lighter than the original's
• Plate: a curved Speedboard, lighter and stiffer than before, sandwiched between two layers of Helion HF of different firmness

There is one design detail worth knowing here. On the original, the top half of the midsole dropped into the shoe from outside. This “drop-in” build cuts parts that don't affect performance and frees up room for more responsive foam.

The official Japan site for the Strike 2 also lists a “removable upper midsole.” So the frame stays as it was, while the foam and the sole grooves were swapped out. That is how I read it: the shape barely changed, and only the weight dropped by 19 g.

Versus the LightSpray version, Volt and Max

There are four current On shoes with the Cloudboom name. Here they are with the official Japan numbers.

Scroll the table sideways →

Versus the LightSpray Cloudboom Strike 2

The sole is the same; only the upper differs. The tech sheets describe CloudTec Sphere, the 15% lighter Helion HF and the curved plate word for word the same.

LightSpray is a one-piece upper sprayed on by a robot, with no seams or glue. It has no laces. Details of the build are in my LightSpray Cloudboom Strike 2 article.

It weighs 158 g, 33 g less (191 − 158), about 17% of the Strike 2's weight (33 ÷ 191). Dividing the price gap by the weight gap, each gram saved costs about JPY 267 (8,800 ÷ 33).

The supporting data also belongs to the LightSpray version. On's announcement cites a University of Cape Town study showing 1.6% better running economy than a leading industry shoe. The personal bests set by On athletes in London, Paris and Boston were also in the LightSpray version.

Still, I put the laced version first because of how many ways it lets you fit it to your foot. The Strike 2 has standard laces, so you can adjust the tightness for your instep height and width. The LightSpray version is listed on the official Japan site as “no laces.”

Versus the Cloudboom Volt and Cloudboom Max

The Volt is designed “from 10 km speed sessions up to the half marathon.” It weighs 210 g, 19 g more than the Strike 2. If your races go up to the half, the Volt does the job.

The Max is the shoe whose official features say “for runners aiming for a sub-4:30 marathon.” It is 105 g heavier than the Strike 2 (296 − 191), has a 3 mm higher drop, and its support is listed as “stability.” If you run over 4 hours, read my Cloudboom Max article before choosing the Strike 2 just for its weight.

Versus other brands' race shoes at the same price

Here it is next to two race shoes released this year in the high-JPY 30,000s to JPY 50,000 range. All weigh around 190 g; the differences are in drop and price.

The three shoes differ by at most 4 g (192 − 188), so they are basically even. The Strike 2 has the lowest drop and the lowest price: JPY 14,300 less than the Hyperion Elite 6 (49,500 − 35,200) and JPY 4,400 less than the Alphafly 4 (39,600 − 35,200).

• You are used to higher heels and want a 7–8 mm drop → Hyperion Elite 6 or Alphafly 4
• You want a low drop and the same light weight for less → Strike 2

What I like

First, the 191 g figure. It is the lightest laced On road shoe, reached by cutting about 9% from the original.

Second, all three ways it was made lighter are spelled out: the sole grooves, the 15% lighter foam, and the lighter, stiffer plate. As a buyer, you can trace where the 19 g came from.

Third, the price went down, by about 10.7% in dollars. Few generation updates that rework the internals to save weight also cut the price.

Fourth, the wide range of 21 sizes, from 22.0 cm to 31.5 cm.

Fifth, the design focuses on the late stages. The goal is not just speed but holding up to the end of a marathon. Even the sole grooves are described as “leaving your legs something in reserve when the race heats up.”

Things to watch

The biggest point is that the drop went up 1 mm: 4 mm on the original, 5 mm on the Strike 2. If you chose the original for its heel-to-toe drop, buy knowing the numbers changed under the same name. A table comparing it with other racers is in my article on 11 max-cushion carbon marathon shoes.

Second, there is only one width. Some On models come in a wide version, but not the Strike 2.

Who is it for?

If your races go up to the half, the Volt fits better; if your goal is around 4:30, the Max does. For training, you won't get full use out of lightness that costs about JPY 184 per gram (35,200 ÷ 191).

Price and where to buy

If you are unsure about size, buying from the official Japan site lets you start over (return terms are in the FAQ below).

On Rakuten, the sellers are retailers such as sports shops. Some still list the original Strike. Check that the product name includes “2” before you choose.

Even if the original is still around cheap, it weighs 210 g, the same as a new Volt. If it costs more than the Volt, the Volt makes more sense.

FAQ

When is the Cloudboom Strike 2 released?

It was released on Jul 30, 2026. The official price (Japan) is JPY 35,200 (incl. tax, as listed on Oct 13, 2026).

How does the Cloudboom Strike 2 fit?

It fits true to size. Length is spot on, and the forefoot width works for most feet. But there is little room in front of the toes, so it can feel tight if your feet swell late in a marathon.

With 25.0 cm feet, I would pick 25.0 cm. Sizing is unisex, and from 25.0 cm up both men's and women's sizes are listed (e.g. M26.5 / W27). There is only one width, so if you have wide feet, try them on in the evening with your usual socks.

Can you train in the Cloudboom Strike 2?

Officially it is for race day only, with no mention of training. The use field on the tech sheet says “race day, races up to the marathon.” The On racer that also mentions training is the Volt, which the official Japan site describes as “from 10 km speed sessions.”

How is the Cloudboom Strike 2 different from the original?

It is 19 g lighter and the drop is 1 mm higher. Weight went from 210 g to 191 g, and drop from 4 mm to 5 mm. The outsole shape, the foam and the plate are all new.

Can I return the Cloudboom Strike 2 if the size is wrong?

If you buy from the official Japan site, you can return unworn shoes within 30 days of purchase, with free shipping. Limited colors can be returned but not exchanged.

Gear in this article

Ads and images: Rakuten Ichiba

On Cloudboom VoltOn Cloudboom Strike (check the product name for the generation)

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