Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Advnture
Advnture
Dave Golder

On reveals more details about sci-fi-esque, 3D-printed running shoe that won Boston Marathon

On Cloudboom Strike prototype running shoes.

When Kenya’s Hellen Obiri claimed victory at the Boston Marathon’s women’s race on Monday, she probably created more social media buzz about the running shoes she was wearing than the fact that she’d won it for the second consecutive year.

But then, they were some head-turning shoes, like something you’d expect Will Smith to be wearing in I, Robot (they certainly seemed to share some of the clean-lined, Apple-inspired robot aesthetics of that movie).

It was swiftly reported that they were some kind of laceless prototype from On, but now some more info has been gleaned about this striking running shoe [via Running magazine], including a close-up image posted on The Secret Shoe’s Instagram account (below).

The shoes worn by Obiri were, according to The Secret Shoe, a prototype version of the On Cloudboom Strike, which boasts a revolutionary 3D-printed sock-fit laceless upper and a blended 3D-printed midsole infused with Helion hyperfoam, derived from Pebax, which provides increased bounce and responsiveness. The Cloudboom Strike also features a full-length carbon plate for unparalleled propulsion.

Also unusual is the Cloudboom’s high-top silhouette – which, along with its ankle-high compression-like sleeve and lack of laces – certainly makes it stand out. You just have to wonder how long they take to put on.

Hellen Obiri crosses the finish line first at the 128th Boston Marathon women’s race wearing On Cloudboom Strike running shoes (Image credit: Getty Images / Paul Rutherford / Stringer)

According to Running magazine, On will be equipping most of its athletes with Cloudboom Strikes in the coming months, and the shoes should be available for general sale to the public later this year (price to be announced, but with all that 3D printing and design innovation involved it’s almost certainly going to be pricey).

Some online commentators did wonder why Obiri was allowed to wear experimental shoes in the Marathon. After all, in 2020, World Athletics put a blanket ban on all running shoes not openly available to everyone in professional running. But less than eight months later, it tweaked the rules to allow for brand development shoes to be worn by athletes, but for no more than a 12-month development period, and not for the Olympics or World Championships (Olympians must wear footwear available to the general public).

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.