On Cloud shoes are made by On Holding AG, a Swiss sportswear company founded in Zurich in 2010 by former triathlete Olivier Bernhard together with David Allemann and Caspar Coppetti.
Despite the brand’s Swiss identity and CloudTec cushioning technology, On is now a publicly traded company backed by well known investors, including tennis legend Roger Federer.
Many runners assume On Cloud is still an independent startup, or even a Federer owned brand, when in reality it trades on the New York Stock Exchange like any major public company.
This guide covers who owns On Running, when it was founded, where On Cloud shoes are actually manufactured, and how the brand compares to rivals like Hoka and Brooks.
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Who Owns On Running
On Running is a publicly traded company, not a privately held startup, despite still feeling like a scrappy Swiss upstart to many runners who discovered it recently.
On Holding AG listed on the New York Stock Exchange in September 2021 under the ticker symbol ONON, and shares jumped sharply on their very first day of trading.
Founders Olivier Bernhard, David Allemann, and Caspar Coppetti retain significant ownership stakes and continue to run the company from its Zurich headquarters.
Tennis legend Roger Federer became a shareholder and creative partner in 2019, and his stake has made headlines for its enormous growth since the IPO, according to market coverage of the stock.
Federer helps design products and appears in marketing campaigns, but he does not manage day to day operations at the company itself.
You can read more about the company’s mission and product lineup on its official website.
When Was On Founded?
On was founded in 2010 after Olivier Bernhard experimented with attaching rubber tubes cut from a garden hose to a running shoe sole, chasing a softer landing paired with a firmer push off.
That homemade prototype eventually became CloudTec, the pod based cushioning system that still defines every On running shoe sold today.
Bernhard partnered with fellow St. Gallen graduates David Allemann and Caspar Coppetti to turn the idea into a real company based in Zurich.
The brand grew quickly across Europe before expanding into the United States and Asia, where it now holds a meaningful and growing share of the premium running shoe market, according to Swiss business reporting.
Where Are On Cloud Shoes Made?
On Cloud shoes are not made in Switzerland, despite the brand’s Swiss design studios, headquarters, and marketing built around Swiss engineering.
Production happens almost entirely through contract manufacturers, with the large majority of On footwear built in Vietnam by a small number of established factory partners rather than On owned production lines.
Design, engineering, and quality standards are still set from Zurich, but the physical shoes are cut, glued, and assembled overseas like nearly every major running brand sold in the United States today.
On has also begun testing a newer manufacturing process called LightSpray, which sprays a liquid material directly onto a foot shaped last to build a shoe upper in minutes rather than stitching panels together.
What Shoes and Products Does On Make?
The original Cloud remains On’s signature everyday trainer, built around the CloudTec pod sole that gives the entire shoe line its name and its distinctive bouncy ride.
The Cloudmonster and Cloudsurfer target runners who want a plusher, more cushioned ride for longer training distances.
The Cloudstratus and Cloudboom racing shoes are built for competitive runners chasing faster race times on race day.
On also makes hiking shoes, tennis shoes, and a full apparel line, including The Roger tennis collection co designed with Roger Federer himself.
On vs Hoka vs Brooks: Who Makes Each?
On, Hoka, and Brooks compete directly in the premium running shoe category, but each brand answers to a completely different parent company.
Hoka is made by Deckers Brands, the same American company behind UGG boots and Teva sandals, among other footwear labels.
Our guide on who makes Hoka shoes covers how Deckers turned a niche trail brand into a mainstream favorite.
Brooks is made by Brooks Running Company, which operates as a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway, Warren Buffett’s sprawling conglomerate.
You can read more in our breakdown of where Brooks shoes are made.
On is the only one of the three that trades as an independent public company rather than sitting inside a larger corporate parent.
Is On Cloud the Same as On Running?
Yes, On Cloud is simply a shoe and a family of models made by On Running, not a separate company with its own ownership.
Shoppers sometimes search for On Cloud as if it were its own brand because the Cloud name appears on nearly every shoe in the current lineup.
The parent company’s legal name is On Holding AG, while its products are marketed to consumers simply as On.
Are On Cloud Shoes Worth It?
Runners generally consider On Cloud shoes worth the premium price for their distinctive cushioning feel and lightweight, low profile build.
Independent running publications frequently praise the shoes for comfort on shorter runs and casual all day wear around town.
Some experienced marathoners find the CloudTec pods compress unevenly over very long distances compared to more traditional single piece foam midsoles used by other brands.
Overall satisfaction tends to run high among casual runners and lower among ultra distance specialists who need different support characteristics.
Buyers switching over from thicker, more maximalist training shoes sometimes need a short adjustment period before the CloudTec cushioning platform feels fully natural underfoot.
Frequently Asked Questions About Who Makes On Cloud Shoes
Who makes On Cloud shoes?
On Cloud shoes are made by On Holding AG, a publicly traded Swiss sportswear company founded in Zurich back in 2010.
Is On a Swiss brand?
Yes, On was founded in Zurich, Switzerland, and its headquarters and design teams remain based there today.
Are On Cloud shoes made in Vietnam?
Most On Cloud shoes are manufactured by contract factories in Vietnam, even though the brand is designed and headquartered in Switzerland.
Does Roger Federer own part of On?
Federer is a major shareholder and creative partner who invested in 2019, but On was founded by Olivier Bernhard, David Allemann, and Caspar Coppetti.
I am Jack Neel, a mechanical engineer, researcher, and writer. I created this website to share my knowledge about different brands and products with you. I research the manufacturers behind the brands and provide you with the information you need to make smart buying decisions.