Swiss sportswear brand On keeps is one of the top players in the market today: following its CloudTec sole models, On has recently introduced the high-performance Cloudboom Strike LS, manufactured with LightSpray technology, developed at On Labs in Zurich.

The LightSpray system uses an automated robotic arm to spray an ultra-light, single-piece, recyclable shoe upper, which is thermally fused to the sole unit without glue. This entire process takes only three minutes, minimizing textile waste and reducing carbon emissions by 75% compared to On's other racing shoes.

Weighing only 170g or 158g for the women’s version, the Cloudboom Strike LS was tested by four-time world champion Hellen Obiri, starting in April 2024, when she won the Boston Marathon for the second consecutive year and worn again at the New York Marathon, where she placed second. This success is significant for On, especially considering the inspiration behind LightSpray: an electric glue gun that sprays web-like filaments.

Opening image: Cloudboom Strike LS. Courtesy of On.