On Cloudboom Echo 3

The Swiss brand that runners loved to hate for being "lifestyle first" silenced critics with the Cloudboom Echo 3. A Pebax-based foam called CloudTec Phase and a carbon speedboard deliver a ride that's competitive with anything Nike or Adidas makes. On's distinctive hollow-pod sole isn't just aesthetic — it creates a unique channeling effect that some biomechanics researchers argue reduces energy loss at impact.