More than just good-looking running shoes: On’s new Cloud X 5 and Cloud X Tempo make training shoes stylish too

Running shoes have long moved beyond the track. From Salomon and ASICS to On, performance footwear has become an everyday choice for stylish women. As fitness has evolved beyond running and weight training to include HIIT, Pilates, functional training, and even a mix of running and lifting, the next shoe category to watch may be training shoes. Swiss brand On has updated its X series with two new models, the Cloud X 5 and Cloud X Tempo, so it may be time to make some room in your shoe closet.

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For women who lift: The Cloud X 5 is all about staying close to the ground

During squats, lunges, or deadlifts, keeping your feet firmly planted matters more than chasing thick soles and bounce. That’s why the biggest change in the new Cloud X 5 is a move away from its previous running-shoe focus: the Speedboard has been removed, while the insole and midsole have been reworked to bring your feet closer to the ground. It’s suited to bodyweight exercises, strength training, and functional training.

The upper also offers greater midfoot support, with thicker padding around the collar and in the insole. Its 100% recycled polyester mesh keeps the shoe light and breathable. More practical for anyone who doesn’t spend every day at the gym, it still retains On’s signature clean, streamlined silhouette, so you can wear it from training to coffee or your commute without looking like you’re wearing serious gym shoes.

Run and lift? The Cloud X Tempo was made for hybrid training

If your workout routine starts with a warm-up run, followed by strength training and a round of HIIT, the Cloud X Tempo may be a better fit. It’s designed for the increasingly popular hybrid training approach, balancing the cushioning needed for running with the stability required for training movements like squats and changes of direction in one shoe.

The Cloud X Tempo features a dual-layer midsole and a supportive heel design, striking a balance between softness and support. Its upper combines three-color engineered mesh with 3D embossing, along with a soft knit tongue and pull tab. In function and appearance, it is clearly lighter than traditional ideas of what a training shoe should be.

It turns out carbon emissions can become the midsole beneath your feet

The two shoes share another detail worth noting. The midsoles of the Cloud X 5 and Cloud X Tempo both use On’s CleanCloud® material, which transforms industrial carbon emissions into EVA foam. Combined with the brand’s familiar CloudTec® cushioning and Helion™ foam technology, it brings sustainability into the manufacturing process alongside performance.

One shoe is focused on making every squat more stable, while the other moves with you from running to strength training. As workout habits become more varied, perhaps what we really need is no longer one pair that can do everything passably, but the pair that best suits the way we train. Already have enough running shoes? This year, it may really be time to make room in your shoe closet for training shoes.

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