What Is CloudTec®? How On’s Cushioning Technology Actually Works

Pick up a pair of On Cloud shoes and you’ll notice the row of hollow pods running along the sole. That’s CloudTec® — the cushioning system built into every model in the range, and the reason On shoes feel noticeably different underfoot compared to a standard foam trainer.

The Basic Idea

Most on running cloud trainers cushion your foot with a single block of foam running the length of the sole. CloudTec® works differently. Instead of one uniform layer, it uses a series of individual hollow pods spread across the outsole, each one compressing independently the moment it makes contact with the ground.

That changes how the shoe behaves underfoot. Rather than the whole sole flattening evenly with every step, only the pods under load compress — so the cushioning responds to exactly where your foot strikes, not just an average across the whole shoe.

What Happens With Every Step

Here’s the sequence in simple terms:

• Landing: As your foot touches down, the CloudTec® pods beneath the point of impact compress individually, absorbing shock rather than passing it straight up your leg.
• Mid-stance: The compressed pods come together, forming a firmer, more stable platform right as your foot rolls through the step.
• Push-off: That firmer platform gives you a more solid base to push against, rather than sinking into soft foam as you drive forward.

The result is a shoe that feels soft on landing but doesn’t feel unstable or mushy when you push off.

Foam Midsoles vs CloudTec®

Where You’ll Find It Across the Range

Since CloudTec® is the foundation of every On Cloud shoe, you’ll find it whether you’re looking at maximum comfort in the Cloudmonster, a lighter, more responsive ride in the Cloud Flow, or an everyday balance with the Cloudsurfer. What changes between models isn’t the underlying system, but how it’s tuned — pod size, shape, and density shift depending on whether a shoe is built for distance, speed, or daily wear.

Even activity-specific models, like our golf shoes or Cloud X training range, are built around the same CloudTec® structure, just adapted for what that activity demands.

Is the Difference Actually Noticeable?

Cushioning preference is partly personal — what feels great to one person can feel unfamiliar to someone used to a standard foam shoe. What’s less subjective is the engineering itself: compressing individual pods rather than one solid block is a genuinely different mechanical approach, not just a styling choice. That structural difference is a big part of why CloudTec® has given On such a distinct identity in a market full of fairly similar-looking foam trainers, and why so many people who try it end up sticking with it.

Questions? We’re Happy to Help

Not sure which model’s CloudTec® setup suits what you need it for? Get in touch through our contact page and we’ll help point you toward the right fit.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is CloudTec®?

CloudTec® is On’s cushioning system built from individual hollow pods across the sole, which compress on landing and come together for a stable push-off, rather than relying on one solid block of foam.

Why do On Cloud shoes have holes in the sole?

Those are the CloudTec® pods. They’re hollow by design so each one can compress independently, letting the shoe respond to exactly where your foot lands rather than cushioning the whole sole uniformly.

Is the cushioning system the same in every On Cloud model?

The underlying CloudTec® structure is the same, but pod size, shape, and density are tuned differently across models, depending on whether the shoe is built for maximum cushioning, speed, or everyday use.

Does CloudTec® feel better than standard foam trainers?

It’s a genuinely different approach rather than a straightforward upgrade — many people prefer the adaptive, pod-based feel, though it does come down to personal preference and what you’re used to.