On was founded in January 2010 by Olivier Bernhard, Caspar Coppetti and David Allemann. Bernhard glued sections of a garden hose to a running shoe, and that idea became the CloudTec sole used in On Cloud shoes today.

These are On Cloud shoes women can wear from a commute to a long run, sorted by model. I start with the everyday Cloud and work toward the louder shapes, so you can find the pair that fits how you actually move.

The Cloud line is the easiest way into On Cloud shoes. The Cloud 5 and Cloud 6 are the pairs you see on commutes and on errand runs.

I would start with the Cloud 6, because it is the pair I reach for when I know the day involves a lot of walking. Walk across the room and notice whether the pods feel springy and not mushy. If your heel slips, go down a half size.

Cloudnova and Cloudzone push the look toward a lifestyle sneaker. They suit jeans and trousers as easily as workout leggings.

The Cloudhorizon waterproof pairs are the rainy day option in this grid. I would wear the Cloudnova with straight denim and a plain tee, and keep the Moon slip-ons for days when I want something closer to a flat.

Cloudtilt, Cloudrunner and Cloudsurfer sit between the lifestyle styles and the running shoes. Their sculpted midsoles stand out from across the room.

The Cloudpulse and Cloudswift 4 sit in here too, a little lighter underfoot. I would pick the Cloudtilt if you want the shoe to be the interesting part of the outfit, and a Cloudsurfer if you want the cushioning first.

More running-first shapes: the Cloudtilt and Cloudpulse in softer colours, plus the Cloudswift 4 and Cloudrunner 3. Check the sole and the upper to see which one suits your pace.

If you are not sure, try the shoe with the socks you actually run in, and take a few quick steps. A good pair feels light as soon as you stand up.

The Cloudmonster arrived in March 2022 with a much larger sole. It is the maximal end of On Cloud shoes.

This grid gathers the Cloudmonster 1 in several colours, the Cloudmonster Void and the Cloudmonster 3 mule. I would wear them with wide trousers or a long skirt, where the chunky sole looks like a decision and not an accident.

This grid is the Cloud X shapes plus the special editions: the Zendaya Cloudnova and Cloudzone Moon pairs, the Cloudtilt made with Law Roach, the FKA twigs Cloudmonster mule and the Cloudsoma PAF. Pick it for a colour story the main range does not have.

The Cloud X is the one I would take to a gym class, since it is built to be trained in.

The Roger shoes are On's tennis line, flat and low with a gum or white sole, and the Cloudsoma Hike is the trail shape with chunky pods. Both sit nicely with straight jeans.

If you want one On Cloud shoes pair that looks least like a running shoe, a Roger is the one I would choose.

Think about whether you want a runner or an everyday sneaker, then start with the Cloud 6 or the Cloudtilt. Fit matters more than the model name, so try a half size either way. If you want to keep browsing, I also put together Women's On Cloud Sneakers and How to Wear Most Comfortable Sneakers for Standing All Day.