ON CloudMonster Hyper 3 LS: The Future of Upper Technology?
It’s not a secret that running is going through a bit of a boom right now. From fancy foams and carbon plates, to energetic daily trainers, the industry has totally shifted in the last 10 years, and we really love it.
On is one of our brands who we see truly taking advantage of this running shoe arms race, not only by constantly improving their foam technology, but also by totally reimagining what a running shoe upper can look like.
At the 2025 Boston Marathon, On elite athlete Helen Obiri won the women’s race, wearing a never-before-seen prototype racing shoe from the Swiss performance running brand. This was a shoe that looked futuristic, custom-made, and totally, radically outside the box. This shoe turned out to be the On CloudBoomStrike LightSpray, which was released later in 2025, in extremely limited quantities around the globe. The main technology change in this shoe was the use of their all-new upper creation, ‘LightSpray,’ which reimagined the lacing system of performance running shoes, by not having any laces at all.
Instead of using a traditional upper, which can sometimes contain up to 150 separate pieces, LightSpray is formed with 1500m of a specialized thermo-plastic that is individually sprayed directly onto a midsole. This means that LightSpray construction omits the need to trim any fabric, sew any stitches, or use glue at all. One pair of LightSpray shoes is created in just 3 mins with robots that can be totally automated.
The environmental impact of the LightSpray technology is a massive benefit of this new upper system. With LightSpray, there is hardly any excess material waste. Since no material needs to be trimmed or cut out of large fabric swatches, only the material that is needed to make the shoe is used in its construction. Better yet, if there are any errors or mistakes made in the construction process, the upper can be heated up, taken off of the midsole, and recycled for future use. In traditional footwear manufacturing, these kinds of errors can often result in a shoe that is thrown away or destroyed.
In 2025, this technology was extremely limited in quantity and reserved for On’s top tier racing shoe. It wasn’t widely available for the everyday runner. Well, all of that has now changed with the introduction of the CloudMonster Hyper 3 LS. The CloudMonster Hyper is On’s long run or tempo run shoe, containing a supercritical midsole that is equally lightweight, responsive, and cushioned. The LightSpray technology is now available in this model for the everyday runner to use and enjoy, not only on their fastest race days, but their everyday training runs, long runs, and more.
When trying on a LightSpray shoe, it’s important to consider a few things before making your purchase. LightSpray is meant to create a snug, locked in feeling around the foot. At first it might be a little bit harder to get onto your foot than a traditional shoe, but be patient with yourself as you put this shoe; it is supposed to be snug and form fitting. If the shoe feels a bit tight at first, this is ok! LightSpray is designed to stretch and mold to your foot with repeated wear. Each pair of LightSpray shoes comes with a pair of On Performance Crew socks. When wearing LightSpray, be sure to wear taller socks to prevent any rubbing or excess friction on the back of your foot and achilles from the slightly taller than normal upper material.
The On CloudMonster Hyper 3 LS is now available at The Runners Shop, order this shoe online HERE, or come into the store at 374 Bloor Street West to try on this groundbreaking technology for yourself.
-Michael
