The top-secret On shoe that won the Boston Marathon

On Monday, Kenya’s Hellen Obiri etched her name in Boston Marathon history by taking back-to-back victories at the prestigious event. In a tight finish that kept all spectators on the edge of their seats, Obiri out-sprinted compatriots Edna Kiplagat and Sharon Lokedi in the final mile, breaking the tape in a pair of groundbreaking racing shoes that seemed to be straight out of a science fiction film set in 2050.

Unveiled as the On Cloudboom Strike (prototype), these innovative shoes boasted a revolutionary design featuring a complete 3D-printed sock-fit laceless upper and a blended 3D-printed midsole infused with Helion hyperfoam, derived from Pebax, ensuring remarkable bounce and energy return. Nestled within this cutting-edge construction is a full-length carbon plate, providing unparalleled propulsion and power to propel Obiri to victory.

According to On, the brand is gearing up to equip most of its athletes with the Cloudboom Strike shoes in the coming months. Last month, the shoes received the green light from World Athletics for use in competitions, initially named On Dev1 and On Dev1.2. While both versions were said to be similar, Obiri appeared to be sporting the final laceless iteration of the shoe (Dev1) set to hit the market later this year. While the price tag for these futuristic kicks remains undisclosed, buyers should brace themselves for limited availability and a premium cost due to the intricate 3D-printed design.

At first glance, the On Cloudboom Strike’s sleek design may give the impression of needing a shoe horn (or two) to slip them on. As we saw with Obiri’s performance, these shoes are designed to push the boundaries of footwear innovation.

Under the new regulations set by World Athletics, athletes are permitted to wear developmental shoes from their brand sponsors in any race except the Olympics or World Championships. (Olympic-worn footwear must be accessible to the general public.)

The Cloudboom Strike shoes were first revealed through Obiri’s Instagram story on Sunday, where she shared a glimpse of her race-day ensemble and bib. This latest advancement from On follows in the footsteps of the groundbreaking success of Nike’s Alphafly 3 and Adidas’s Adizero Adios Pro Evo 1 models earlier this year, which both broke marathon world records.