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On’s Wild Next-Gen Trainer Makes Most Super Shoes Look Antiquated

Most so-called “super trainers” borrow tech from top-of-the-line racers. On’s latest example comes with a feature even super shoes lack.

Close-up of a white sneaker toe with a black logo, yellow midsole, and purple outsole on a blue background.On
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By Jack Seemer

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Most brands use the term “super trainer” to describe everyday runners with super-shoe features.

On’s latest example has technology even top-of-the-line racers can’t match.

The brand calls its all-new LightSpray Cloudmonster 3 Hyper the “ultimate super trainer for long runs and tempo runs.” But perhaps more interesting than what it can do are the materials it’s made of.

Welcome to Moonshots: A series exploring the big ideas that could reshape the future of products. Discover more here.

Pair of white slip-on running shoes with black logos and yellow zigzag soles on a white background.
The LightSpray Cloudmonster 3 Hyper is the first training shoe to feature On’s innovative spray-on upper.
On

Trickle-down upper

Unlike traditional running shoes that rely on stitched mesh, layered reinforcements and glued components, the model adopts On’s wildly innovative spray-on technology that debuted in 2024 with the Cloudboom Strike LS.

on cloudboom strike lightspray shoe
LightSpray debuted in 2024 with the Cloudboom Strike LS (pictured).
Jack Seemer for Gear Patrol

This makes it On’s first training shoe to feature LightSpray but far from the last. The company recently opened a new factory near Busan, South Korea, increasing its production capacity for the upper “30-fold,” it says.

Robotic arm inside a glass-enclosed automated manufacturing line with metal conveyor belt.
On recently opened a new factory in South Korea to increase the production of LightSpray shoes “30-fold,” it says.
On
White and teal sock-style sneaker with black sole labeled "ON RUNNING" held by a robotic arm in a testing setup.
The process is fully automated and takes mere minutes to complete.
On

It works like this: Robotic arms spray the upper onto a mold with single piece of synthetic monofilament — similar to how a spider weaves its web. Then the upper attaches to the midsole with a patent-pending thermal bonding technique.

Close-up of a 3D printer nozzle extruding thin, curly strands of blue filament onto a textured surface.
Robotic arms spray a single piece of synthetic monofilament around a shoe last.
On

The whole process takes mere minutes from start to finish, and it cuts down the carbon emissions up to 75 percent, On claims.

Robotic arm holding a white and blue sneaker with a yellow sole inside a manufacturing machine.
On claims that the LightSpray production process cuts down carbon emissions up to 75 percent compared to traditional manufacturing.
On

Put the “light” in LightSpray

If sustainability alone is a hard sell, rest assured that LightSpray has already proven it can perform at the highest level, including a win at the 2024 Boston Marathon.

Hellen Obiri crossing the finish line of the 2024 Boston Marathon
LightSpray has already conquered the world stage, including a win at the 2024 Boston Marathon.
Omar Rawlings / Stringer

Much of its prowess comes from weight, or rather, the absence of it. The LightSpray Cloudmonster 3 Hyper clocks in at just 7.2 ounces (men’s US 8.5), making it the lightest Cloudmonster yet … by far.

Pair of white running shoes with yellow soles shown from the back on a white background.
The upper results in the lightest Cloudmonster yet. The shoe weighs just 7.2 ounces despite a base layer of EVA foam.
On

The shoe arrives alongside the Cloudmonster 3 and Cloudmonster 3 Hyper, which weigh 10.4 and 9.7 ounces, respectively.

All three shoes features a base layer of EVA for durability, with the two Hyper models adding Pebax-based Helion HF for improved efficiency and performance.

White slip-on athletic shoe with black logo, yellow sole with cutouts, and "LightSpray" text on the heel.
In addition to EVA, the shoe features On’s Pebax-based Helion HF foam.
On

Availability and pricing

The LightSpray Cloudmonster 3 Hyper ($280) drops in limited quantities on March 5. The global release is scheduled for April 16.

The Cloudmonster 3 ($190) rolls out worldwide starting March 5, with the Cloudmonster 3 Hyper ($220) hitting shelves on March 19.

About the Author:

Jack Seemer is the executive editor at Gear Patrol, with over a decade of experience in product journalism. He currently reports on a wide range of topics, including footwear, watches, EDC, cookware and more.

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