Swiss company On has introduced a new version of their running supershoe the Cloudboom Strike LS, featuring their brand new LightSpray™ technology. The shoe's 3D-printed upper weighs a mere 30 grams, the lightest ever on a running shoe. Unlike conventional shoe construction, which involves multiple steps such as weaving, cutting, and assembly, the LightSpray™ process creates the entire upper in one seamless operation: similar to Nike's Flyknit technology but perhaps more similar to Bella Hadid's viral spray-on dress. A robotic arm spins a single 1.5km long filament, forming a mesh-like structure that wraps around the foot like a second skin. The upper is seamlessly melded to the midsole, removing the need for a sock-liner and offering a perfect fit.
This is the first time 3d printed shoes have been truly available at the consumer level: Nike first introduced their 3d-printed Flyprint on the Nike Vaporfly Elite Flyprint for Eliud Kipchoge's record attempt at the 2017 Berlin Marathon, but the shoes were extremely limited and cost $675 (and now go for into the $1000s on secondary). Priced at $330, the Cloudboom Strike LS positions itself in the top end of the premium racing shoe market. Its initial limited local release in April quickly sold out, with future availability planned for later in 2024 and 2025 in select markets. To showcase the technology, On is planning live demonstrations, including an event at On Labs Paris this summer, where consumers can witness the manufacturing process firsthand.
The implications of this technology extend beyond just performance. If scalable, the LightSpray™ process could potentially allow for more localized production, as shoes could be manufactured wherever a suitable robotic setup is available. Consumers will be able to scan and custom fit their shoes, offering a 0-waste as well as perfect-fit solution reducing the number of blisters and returns. On co-CEO Mar Maurer was quoted by the NY Times stating that they intend to go “from a pure performance product to something that you can sell in millions of pairs to an all-day consumer”. It seems like the material can lend itself to that as well as Flyknit did with Nike. While the knit uppers are stretchy from the knit material itself, LightSpray's "stretch comes from the way the yarn itself is looped" (source). This means On can adapt the flexibility of the upper for lateral sports like tennis, soccer, and more.
Expect to see On-sponsored Olympic athletes competing in the marathon and the track events to be sporting custom printed shoes featuring the new LightSpray technology. In the future, expect to see the technology in every single shoe from On makes and a slew of copycats emerging in 2024 and 2025 as other brands adapt.
The Cloudboom Strike LS isn't yet available, but you can sign up for email updates at On.
Cole Townsend is a developer, designer, and Head of Tech at Sole Retriever. He does some writing on top of helping keep Sole Retriever running on web and mobile! In his spare time, you can find him out running. Cole was a graduate from Williams College.
