New On Cloud X Tempo Pro: the ultimate shoe for fast training?

There are running shoes and training shoes. And then there are models that try to do both really well.

That's precisely the challenge On has set for itself with the new Cloud X Tempo Pro, its first performance shoe developed specifically for the demands of hybrid fitness competitions. A model that has to perform when it's time to run fast, but also provides security when it's time to push a sled, do lunges, or face wall balls with your legs at their limit.

And achieving that balance is not easy at all. A very reactive shoe can work perfectly during running kilometers, but be too unstable in strength stations. A traditional training shoe can offer all the stability we need, but penalize us when we want to run fast.

With the On Cloud X Tempo Pro, the Swiss brand tries to unite these two worlds using some technologies that we normally associate with their performance shoes: Helion™ HF foam, their famous CloudTec® technology, a full carbon Speedboard®, and a Missiongrip™ sole specifically designed to offer traction during functional exercises.

Are we looking at one of the most interesting shoes for the new generation of hybrid competitions? We say yes. Let's find out what's behind them.

On goes all-in on hybrid fitness

The launch of the Cloud X Tempo Pro is important because it represents On's official entry into the competitive hybrid fitness segment. And it hasn't done so by simply adapting a shoe it already had.

The brand developed this model with Alexander Rončević, HYROX world champion and world record holder in the discipline. In fact, On explains that Rončević actively participated in the shoe's development and testing process.

That helps to understand many of the decisions we find in the model. Because a hybrid competition poses a very particular problem: we need to run fast and, a few minutes later, we want that same shoe to give us security to perform loaded and explosive movements.

The Cloud X Tempo Pro were born precisely around that compromise between speed, stability, and traction.

Helion™ HF: running DNA for fast running

Let's start with one of the technologies that most catches our attention.

On uses Helion™ HF together with its CloudTec® system to provide lightweight, reactive cushioning with high energy return. It's a performance-oriented foam that aims for the shoe to respond when it's time to accelerate.

During a hybrid competition, we can accumulate several kilometers of running. Therefore, having a stable shoe is not much use if we then feel like we are dragging it during each running segment.

The Cloud X Tempo Pro seeks to offer a sensation much closer to a fast running shoe, but without losing the necessary structure to tackle the exercises. In other words: On has not created a gym shoe that you can also run with. It has tried to create a shoe capable of truly performing in both scenarios.

Carbon Speedboard®: yes, there's carbon too

And this is probably one of the most anticipated features.

The Cloud X Tempo Pro incorporate a full-length carbon Speedboard®, developed to promote more powerful take-offs and quick transitions. This is complemented by a dynamic rocker geometry that seeks to improve energy return when we increase the pace.

It's a combination that brings the concept of this shoe much closer to the world of running competition, but here the carbon cannot work in isolation.

A shoe exclusively for running can afford to prioritize almost its entire construction around forward efficiency. In hybrid fitness, we need something more.

You have to run, yes. But you also have to brake, push, lift weights and maintain stable positions. That's why On has had to accompany that Speedboard® with a construction much more focused on foot control.

Missiongrip™: when the sleds arrive, another competition begins

Anyone who has tried a HYROX-type competition or training knows that running fast is only part of the problem.

You can reach the end of a kilometer perfectly and, seconds later, find yourself pushing or pulling a sled, where grip becomes fundamental.

On has used a Missiongrip™ sole specifically optimized for sled pushes and pulls, seeking to provide traction, grip, and control on the surfaces used in this type of event.

It is one of the details that most clearly demonstrates that we are not simply looking at fast shoes adapted to the gym; the sole is a central part of the concept. We need traction to transmit force against the ground and prevent the foot from losing stability during the most demanding movements.

And then we need to run again, that constant change of stimulus is precisely the great challenge that the Cloud X Tempo Pro tries to solve.

An upper designed to keep the foot still

Stability doesn't only depend on the midsole. On incorporates a lightweight and breathable technical mesh upper, but it's accompanied by a midfoot reinforcement and an integrated strap designed to keep the foot securely in place.

This is especially important during movements like weighted lunges, sled pushes, or sled pulls.

When running, we want comfort and a certain amount of freedom. When we're carrying weight or exerting a lot of force against the ground, we need the exact opposite: the foot to remain controlled within the shoe.

This support system tries to find a middle ground between both needs. Additionally, the breathable mesh makes a lot of sense in high-intensity sessions, where foot temperature can increase considerably.

On Cloud X Tempo Pro: key features

If we put all the ingredients together, we find quite a unique shoe:

• CloudTec® + Helion™ HF for cushioning, responsiveness, and energy return.
  
• Full carbon Speedboard® along with a rocker geometry to promote fast transitions and powerful take-offs.
  
• Missiongrip™ optimized to improve traction in sled pushes and pulls.
  
• Technical upper with midfoot reinforcement and integrated strap for increased support.
  
• 9 mm drop.
  
• Approximate official weight of 267.4 g for men and 218.7 g for women.

On paper, it's quite clear where On wants to take this shoe. It's not just looking to be comfortable; it's looking for performance.

Are these shoes for HYROX?

Although On officially talks about hybrid fitness racing, it's impossible not to immediately think of HYROX.

Alexander Rončević himself has used the model in this type of competition, and the shoe's features directly respond to the needs of a discipline where running and functional stations alternate constantly.

Therefore, if you are looking for shoes for HYROX, the Cloud X Tempo Pro automatically become one of the most interesting models in On's current catalog.

The presence of Helion™ HF and the carbon Speedboard® shows that On has put a lot of emphasis on this part. But Missiongrip™, the midfoot reinforcement, and the integrated strap aim to ensure that this speed is not achieved by completely sacrificing stability at the stations.

Are they suitable for everyday training?

Here we would make a small distinction: the Cloud X Tempo Pro can be used for specific hybrid fitness workouts, fast sessions, and workouts where running and functional exercises are alternated.

But their construction is clearly geared towards performance and competition. On itself presents them as high-performance shoes for race day.

Therefore, if you train many times a week, it may make more sense to combine them with more conventional training shoes and reserve the Tempo Pro for specific sessions, simulations, and competition.

It's a similar philosophy to what many runners follow with their running shoes: one model for accumulating kilometers and another when we want to bring out our fastest version.

Which athlete are they designed for?

Here, we believe it's important to be clear: not everyone needs Cloud X Tempo Pro.

It's a particularly interesting model for athletes who train hybrid fitness with a performance goal, want to improve their times, and need a shoe capable of performing well both while running and during functional exercises.

It can also make a lot of sense for those who, until now, had to choose between fast running shoes and more stable training shoes.

If you simply go to the gym for conventional strength training, there are probably more appropriate models. And if you only want to run, On has shoes specifically designed for that.

The Tempo Pro really make sense when you need to do both in the same competition.

What does the carbon plate actually contribute to a hybrid shoe?

We are used to talking about carbon when marathons, records, and competition shoes appear. Here the context is different.

The carbon Speedboard® aims to promote a more powerful take-off and an efficient transition during running, working in conjunction with the rocker and Helion™ HF.

But the shoe also has to maintain enough stability during exercises; this balance is probably one of the most interesting aspects of the Cloud X Tempo Pro.

It's not simply about putting a carbon plate in a gym shoe. The entire construction is designed around the specific needs of hybrid fitness.

A shoe born from competition

Another point we particularly like about this launch is that the development has not remained solely within the laboratory.

Alexander Rončević participated in the creation and testing of the model. On highlights that the collaboration sought to combine the brand's running DNA with the necessary support to face the exercises typical of hybrid fitness. And this connection with athletes who actually compete makes special sense in such a young category.

Hybrid fitness is evolving rapidly, and the needs of athletes are very different from those who only run or strength train.

We are starting to see shoes that are increasingly specific for this type of event, and On's arrival confirms something that already seemed evident: footwear for hybrid competition is becoming a category in its own right.

Are the On Cloud X Tempo Pro the ultimate shoe for fast training?

Technologically, the Cloud X Tempo Pro have practically all the ingredients we would expect to find in high-performance hybrid fitness shoes: fast foam, carbon, rocker, a specific sole, and a construction designed to keep the foot stable.

But the ultimate shoe doesn't exist for everyone; an athlete who prioritizes running a lot might look for different sensations than another who excels at strength stations. Weight, technique, level, and personal preferences also play a role.

What we can say is that On enters this category with a very ambitious proposal. It doesn't seem like a model created simply to take advantage of the growth of hybrid competitions. The brand has developed a specific shoe with one of the big names in the discipline and has transferred high-performance technologies from its running universe to a completely different scenario.

Frequently asked questions about the On Cloud X Tempo Pro

What are the On Cloud X Tempo Pro for?

They are specifically designed for hybrid fitness competitions, combining the ability to run fast with stability, grip, and support during functional exercises.

Do the On Cloud X Tempo Pro have a carbon plate?

Yes. They incorporate a full-length carbon Speedboard® designed to promote powerful take-offs and quick transitions.

Are they good shoes for HYROX?

Due to their characteristics, they are shoes clearly oriented towards the needs of this type of competition: running, sleds, lunges, and other functional exercises. In addition, they have been developed with world champion and record holder Alexander Rončević.

What is the drop of the Cloud X Tempo Pro?

They have a 9 mm drop.

How much do they weigh?

The official On specification indicates approximately 267.4 grams for the men's model and 218.7 grams for the women's model.

Can I use them as running shoes?

They are designed to offer high performance during running segments, but their design is specifically intended to combine running and functional exercises. If you only run, there are specific running models that would probably make more sense.

On Cloud X Tempo Pro: On takes hybrid fitness seriously

Some product launches simply expand a catalog, while others open a new door.

The On Cloud X Tempo Pro clearly belong to the second group.

They are On's first specific foray into hybrid competition and come loaded with technology: Helion™ HF, CloudTec®, carbon Speedboard®, dynamic rocker, and Missiongrip™, all within a shoe that seeks to solve one of the great challenges of these events: running fast without losing stability when it's time to tackle the stations.

If you're preparing for your next competition, looking to improve your times, or simply want to discover what a shoe specifically designed for this new athletic universe can achieve, the Cloud X Tempo Pro are one of those releases worth keeping a close eye on.

The new On Cloud X Tempo Pro are now available, and at BeUrban you can discover this model and receive advice to find out if it really fits your training, level, and goals. Because when every second starts to matter, choosing what you wear on your feet is also part of the competition.