I ran 40 miles in the On Cloudboom Volt and it’s a snappy super-sneaker for training and racing
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The On Cloudboom Volt first caught my eye at The Running Event in Texas 2025, where brands preview their launches for the following year.
Mostly, that was because it looks fantastic — the light blue color I tested might be the best-looking shoe I’ve tried this year, which is always a plus. However, it was also more affordable than On’s other racing shoes, and looked an intriguing option thanks to the combo of a plate and On’s bouncy Helion HF midsole foam.
By the time I tested the shoe, however, the On Cloudboom Strike 2 had somewhat stolen the Volt’s thunder as one of the best carbon plate running shoes, and the Volt simply isn’t as good a racer as the Strike 2 in my opinion.
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However, the Volt is cheaper, and in my testing it emerged as a strong plated option for fast training in particular. I wouldn’t mark it as a must-buy, but I did enjoy all my runs in the On Cloudboom Volt and if you spy it in a sale it might be a worthy addition to your running shoe rotation.
On Cloudboom Volt review: Price and availability
The On Cloudboom Volt launched in February 2026 and costs $200 in the U.S. and £190 in the U.K., making it more affordable than On’s top racing shoe, the On Cloudboom Strike 2 ($250/£230).
It’s cheap compared to most carbon racers, but the price is more in line with other fast training shoes with plates, which is where I’d position the Volt myself.
On Cloudboom Volt review: Design and fit
The On Cloudboom Volt is currently available in four colors, including the light blue Celeste shoe I tested, which is just gorgeous.
I found that it fit well in my normal running shoe size. It’s a bit tighter around the toes than On’s cushioned sneakers in the same size, but that’s normal for a speed-focused shoe, and I didn’t have any trouble with the upper rubbing during my runs.
The Volt has a 5mm drop and weighs 7.8oz in my US men’s size 9.5. It’s light, but not as light as most top racing shoes, which are usually under 7oz in my size.
Upper
The Cloudboom Volt has a lightweight mesh upper with just enough padding around the collar to be comfortable without adding too much bulk to the shoe.
I had no complaints with the upper during my testing. It was breathable enough and held my foot securely during fast runs.
Midsole
The Cloudboom Volt uses two layers of On’s PEBA-based Helion HF foam, which is also used in the brand’s top racers and the On Cloudmonster 3 Hyper LS.
However, the version of Helion HF used here is significantly firmer than on other shoes, including the Cloudboom Strike 2. It’s not as squishy and bouncy as a result, but it still delivers a good level of energy return in my runs.
A carbon-infused plate runs through the midsole between these two layers of foam, and the Volt has a mild rocker shape to aid in pushing you onto your forefoot.
Outsole
Fast training and racing shoes generally have minimal outsoles to reduce weight, so the extensive rubber coverage on the Cloudboom Volt is a pleasant surprise.
It will boost the shoe’s durability if used for a lot of training, and it grips well on wet roads. I also felt comfortable taking it onto light trails at times, knowing the rubber would protect the softer midsole foam.
On Cloudboom Volt review: Running performance
I did a variety of runs in the Cloudboom Volt, from easy daily training to fast workouts doing short and long reps. I also used it for both runs on a double-workout day, racing up to about 20 miles in the shoe that day.
I’ve tested several On shoes that use the Helion HF midsole, and it was a surprise to feel how firm the Cloudboom Volt was in comparison. However, I still found it comfortable enough for longer workouts, and the firmer feel helped to produce a fast transition from heel to toe.
It’s not the most rockered, bouncy or propulsive shoe, but the Cloudboom Volt is nimble and pushes you onto your toes during fast runs. It could be a good option for those who don’t like the exaggerated rides of highly rockered or squishy shoes, as a result, because the Volt has quite a traditional, natural ride for a modern speed shoe.
I also found it fairly stable and was happy running at easy paces in the shoe, which is not always the case with high-stack plated shoes.
There are certainly significant caveats to the Volt’s performance, though. It’s not as light as you’d expect for a plated shoe aimed at shorter events, and when it comes to my fastest training runs and races, I prefer a more efficient, aggressive ride.
Should you buy the On Cloudboom Volt?
The On Cloudboom Volt might not top any “best of” lists this year, but it’s a shoe that impressed me and one I enjoyed running in, and that’s not just because I’m obsessed with its looks.
It’s an accomplished fast training shoe, and I think it will drop in price during On’s sales. It’s available for around $150, rather than its $200 MSRP; it’s an option worth considering if you like a firmer ride in your speed shoe.
There are excellent fast training shoes available for less, though, notably the Adidas Adizero Evo SL, which is one of the best value sneakers on the market, or the Dynafish Xiaonian.
I’d also consider the New Balance SC Rebel v1 as a springier option with a plate, though it’s as expensive as the Volt.
For race day, I prefer the more aggressive, lightweight design of shoes like the Puma Fast-R Nitro Elite 3 or Asics Metaspeed Sky Tokyo, and the On Cloudboom Strike 2 would be worth upgrading to as well if you’re in pursuit of PRs.
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