On Cloudboom Strike 2 vs Nike Vaporfly 4: Which Super Shoe Is Right for Triathletes?
Both shoes launched within months of each other as their brands’ newest marathon-pace racing platforms, and both will show up on the run leg of plenty of races in 2026. Off the bike with tired legs is a different test than a standalone marathon, so the differences between these two — stack height, foam response, weight — matter more for triathletes than the raw racing-flat comparisons most reviews focus on.
At a Glance
- On Cloudboom Strike 2 — 191g standard build, 40mm heel / 35mm forefoot stack, 5mm drop, Helion HF midsole with CloudTec Sphere geometry and a curved carbon Speedboard, £230
- Nike Vaporfly 4 — 167g (men’s size 9), ~36mm heel / 30mm forefoot stack, full-length ZoomX foam with carbon Flyplate, £239.99
On Cloudboom Strike 2
On’s second-generation Strike moves to a new Helion HF midsole paired with CloudTec Sphere — a geometry change from the brand’s usual pod-based CloudTec that’s designed to feel more like a continuous plate underfoot. The curved carbon Speedboard sits inside rather than under the foam, and the taller 40mm heel stack gives noticeably more cushioning than the Vaporfly at a similar weight. It launched on 30 July 2026 and sold out almost immediately at most UK retailers; check current stock before assuming it’s readily available, as On has not published a restock date at the time of writing.
Nike Vaporfly 4
Nike’s latest Vaporfly is a more significant departure from its predecessor than usual — reviewers describe it as a drastic change from the Vaporfly 3 rather than an incremental update. The full-length ZoomX foam remains Nike’s signature high-rebound compound, now paired with a revised carbon Flyplate shape. At 167g it’s noticeably lighter than the Cloudboom Strike 2, with a lower stack height that some runners find gives a more stable, ground-connected feel at the cost of a slightly firmer ride.
Which Should You Choose?
The taller, softer Cloudboom Strike 2 tends to suit runners who want maximum cushioning for the second half of a long run off the bike, where fatigue makes a plush landing more valuable than outright ground feel. The lighter, lower-stack Vaporfly 4 suits runners who prioritise a more responsive, connected ride and are comfortable with less cushioning underfoot. Both are genuinely fast shoes with minimal durability for daily training — treat either as a race-day-only shoe and do your brick runs in a trainer, not a super shoe.
Not sure a super shoe is worth it for your race distance? Read our guide to whether super shoes are worth it for triathletes on a budget first.
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