In the last few years, it seems as though On is inescapable. No, it isn’t occupying a spot among the Mount Rushmore of sportswear brands (the likes of which have been carved out by Adidas and Nike), but it has chiseled a small dent into a space that used to feel impossible to break into. On has created multiple signature tennis shoes with Roger Federer, it has a glossy sponsorship with Zendaya and it’s being worn by two of the best tennis players in the world, Iga Swiatek and Ben Shelton. The brand’s running shoes have also been worn by champion marathon runners like Hellen Obiri, who in 2023 and 2024 won both the Boston and New York marathons. It also made a small capsule collection with the luxury fashion brand Loewe.
It’s one thing to see a brand’s marketing and athletes everywhere, but if you pay attention, you’ll even see On in the streets, worn by everyone including daily commuters, travelers, runners and more. On sneakers were even an NBC Select 2024 Best of Wellness award winner. With its recent surge in popularity, we wanted to highlight some of the On products that NBC Select editors use and love.
SKIP AHEAD Best On products to shop | How we tried On products | Why trust NBC Select?
What is On?
On is a Swiss sportswear brand founded in 2010 by former athlete Olivier Bernhard and his two partners David Allemann and Caspar Coppetti. They created a new cushioning technology for running shoes called CloudTec, which is why you will often see the Cloud refrain appear in various On shoe models. According to the brand, the technology offers a soft landing that adapts to your running style. The holes you see on the soles of most On shoes are the basis of the CloudTec, which are meant to provide cushioning without feeling clunky. Its core products include running shoes like the Cloudmonster, lightweight travel workout shoes like the Cloud 5 or the walking shoe focused Cloudtilt.
Best On products to shop
Below, I gathered a list of NBC Select editors’ favorite On products. All of the items listed below are highly rated or have been thoroughly tested by our staff. We also included notes about some of the products’ minor drawbacks, whether a narrow shoe, low cushioning or a subpar waistband drawstring.
On Cloud X3
What we like
- Comfortable
- Affordable
- Supportive
During our testing for the NBC Select 2024 Best of Wellness Awards, I mentioned having a Cinderella moment when lacing up the Cloud X3 for the first time. I enjoyed the wide platform, which added support to the feet, and a star-shaped lace pattern that wraps around the top of the feet and holds them in place. The upper is made with three layers of mesh fabric, which I found breathable and temperature-regulating. It kept my feet dry during rainy days and stayed warm in the cold. One minor drawback of this shoe is the low cushioning and flatter arch support. “While they aren’t the most cushioned shoes, these are still comfortable because there is some foam cushioning,” says Bianca Alvarez, NBC Select associate reporter.
On Cloudmonster
What we like
- Great cushioning
- Good for running
- Lightweight
The On Cloudmonster is one of the brand’s running shoes meant to provide a noticeable springy bounce, according to the brand. “I currently have eight workout sneakers, but these are still one of the pairs I grab the most despite being one of my oldest ones,” says NBC Select editorial projects manager Rebecca Rodriguez. She especially likes to bring them on long trips where long walks are involved, “I’ve walked over 20,000 steps in these in a day, and my feet don’t feel sore afterward,” she says. The shoe is also designed with a rocker shape to effortlessly create a natural forward momentum. Rodriguez says she likes the shoes specifically for that reason, “It gives me a push forward that not only pushes me to keep going but slightly reduces my mile time.”
On Cloudsurfer
What we like
- Mid Cushion
- Good for everyday workouts
- Comfortable
The On Cloudsurfer is a good mid-cushion running shoe with a more neutral rolling motion than the Cloudmonster’s forward rolling motion. It has rubber pads on the outsole for stability and a lightweight woven upper for added breathability. “These are probably my top-worn sneakers overall, but it honestly has to do more with style than anything else,” says Rodriguez. She says the sneakers just look cool but also happen to feel incredibly comfortable. “The shoe cushioning gives me so much support, the only reason I wouldn’t use these to walk 20,000 steps is because they’re a little more narrow and eventually start pressing on my feet after being in them all day,” she says.
On Cloud Play
What we like
- Velcro fastening system
- Durable
Something to note
- Nothing to note at this time
The Cloud Play is a children’s shoe with some of the same design elements seen in On’s more popular adult models, such as added cushioning for stability and wide grooves on the outsole for help with movement, according to the brand. It also has a velcro fastening system, making it easier for kids to slip on their shoes. Alvarez’s younger siblings are also fans of the Cloud Play and have been wearing them for a few months now, and they have been their go-to school shoes.
On Movement Bra
What we like
- Moisture-wicking
- Flexible
- Soft material
The On Movement bra is designed for light workouts. It is a favorite among Alvarez and NBC Select associate updates editor Zoe Malin who says, “It’s a pretty seamless bra so nothing digs into or chafes my skin and I can easily pull it over my head.” Malin also likes the materials which she says are smooth and soft. During her testing, Malin says the bra wasn’t super stretchy but it’s still flexible and didn’t restrict her movement. In Avarez’s opinion, the bra could’ve been a little tighter but it still ended up as one of her favorites after testing numerous sports bras. Both Alvarez and Malin noted how well the Movement bra was at staying dry, “I appreciate the bra’s interior mesh lining. I think that helps with moisture-wicking and drying,” says Malin.
On Performance Bra
What we like
- Secure
- Padding
- Sweat-wicking
Something to note
- Nothing to note at this time
“This is my go-to sports bra for high-impact workouts like running or strength training because it doesn’t budge an inch,” says Rodriguez. The On Performance Bra has built-in padding, which is meant to provide support and sweat-wicking, according to the brand. “If I’m running over five miles, I prioritize wearing a super supportive, compressive sports bra that doesn’t restrict my movement at all and molds to my body so it doesn’t distract me. This one checks all those boxes,” says Malin. Rodriguez says the bra feels secure but not overly tight or restrictive during workouts. Both Malin and Rodriguez also praised the bra’s durability, which still looks new despite multiple washes and over a year of testing.
On Performance Tights
On’s tights have zipped back pockets, an adjustable waistband and moisture-wicking fabric. Malin says she’s washed the tights almost three times and they still feel good, which means there’s no pilling or shrinking. “These leggings are mostly made from polyester, so they don’t have a very stretchy or spandex-y feel. They offer enough compression to give me a medium level of support,” says Malin. The legging fabric is a little thick, which Malin says makes sense because they are designed to be worn in colder climates. Despite their thicker fabric, the leggings are comfortable to wear on runs. “The fabric doesn’t move around much so I wasn’t fidgeting with them or adjusting them a lot,” she says. The only drawback to the tights according to Malin was the waistband drawstring. “It’s not a tie, but rather a pulley drawstring and it doesn’t have a little clasp that you can pull into place to keep the drawstring in the position you want it to,” says Malin. “So when you pull on the drawstring to tighten the waistband, nothing stops it from getting looser as you’re running.”
How we tried On products
On has been an NBC Select favorite brand. It recently won our NBC Select Best of Wellness award, and we’ve tried multiple shoe models and On apparel. Like any other sportswear brand, we’ve worn these models for multiple weeks and examined how they functioned and how they made us feel. Though On is a newer brand in the sportswear space, its design and style are worth looking into.
Why trust NBC Select?
I am an editor at NBC Select who writes and edits stories on various topics including tech, fitness, home and more. I have covered major shopping holidays and other events for over five years. For this article, I rounded up NBC Select editor-favorite products from the On brand and NBC Select Best of Wellness award winners.
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