ActiveRunningWould you rent your running shoes instead of owning them? The On Cyclon model is very convincing…Gimme more of that dual-stack, fully-recyclable CloudTec midsoleWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
ActiveRunningWould you rent your running shoes instead of owning them? The On Cyclon model is very convincing…Gimme more of that dual-stack, fully-recyclable CloudTec midsoleWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
Gimme more of that dual-stack, fully-recyclable CloudTec midsole
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
(Image credit: Matt Kollat/T3)
(Image credit: Matt Kollat/T3)
The running industry is lagging behind outdoor companies in terms of sustainability. While Patagonia and others aregoing full B-Corp, showing their commitment to the environment, most running shoes are still made from synthetic fabrics and rubber, which, admittedly, isn’t great for the planet, considering runners get a new pair every few months. On’s Cloudneo running shoes offer a solution to this problem, and more importantly, they feel soft as butter on the feet.
On is going from strength to strength these past few years – they recently opened their first Europeanflagship store in London. The Swiss company’s meteoric rise is due to the cool factor of its shoes: they look the part without sacrificing performance. That said, On’s shoes have been known to be notoriously firm underfoot. Although peppy, the peculiar, loopy design of the CloudTec midsole takes some time to get used to.
(Image credit: Matt Kollat/T3)
(Image credit: Matt Kollat/T3)
Enter the On Cloudneo. I was sent a pair last year before the launch and promptly forgot about it, not least because I didn’t quite understand how it worked. Not how the shoes worked – I’d like to think I know a thing or two about running shoes at this point – but what the deal is with the On Cyclon system, which the Cloudneo is part of.
You see, you’ll never own the Cloudneo; you can only lease it (in need of a better word here). The Cyclon is a subscription-based system where you pay a monthly fee in exchange for the shoes. Once the shoes start falling apart, you send them back to On, and they send you a replacement. It’s like havingPlaystationPlus orNetflix. As long as you pay the price, you get the service.
The Cyclon is an effort from On to create a circular ecosystem for its shoes, where the lifecycle of the product doesn’t end in a landfill. The Cloudneo is 100% recyclable and is made from fewer than 10 components, all from the same material family. This includes the upper and Speedboard – On’s propulsion plate – made from a 100% bio-based material derived from castor beans. The upper also uses undyed yarns to reduce the environmental impact of the shoes even more.
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The upper is also comfortable, albeit a bit narrow, and I found the heel looser than how I like my running shoes. For this reason, I wouldn’t use the Cloudneo for anything too fast, which is a shame, as the bottom part of the shoes feels ready to go. But I assume On will update the shoes as they go along, the same way Whoop frequently updates its band (more info here:Whoop 4.0 review).
I love the shoes as sneakers for walking and the occasional running. The all-white colourway makes the shoes go with basically any outfit, but you have to be careful not to get them dirty, which is, sadly, not hard to do (getting them dirty; not keeping them box fresh). If you’re interested in learning more about the On Cloudneo or the On Cyclon subscription,visit On today.
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