Swiss footwear company On is facing a class-action lawsuit in Oregon after two customers alleged the brand’s popular Cloudmonster shoes produce an “embarrassing and difficult to stop” squeak with every step, and that the company has done nothing to address the issue.
The complaint was filed on October 10 in U.S. District Court in Portland by Patricia Ramirez of California and Louis Bologna of New York.
Both say they purchased the Cloudmonster in September 2024, Ramirez from Dick’s Sporting Goods and Bologna directly from On’s website, and noticed the shoes began squeaking during regular use. In Bologna’s case, the issue started about three months in. Ramirez said hers squeaked almost immediately and that she gave up wearing them after just three uses.
According to the filing, the squeaking is caused by the shoes’ CloudTec midsole, a design of hollow pods that compress on impact. The technology is a core feature in On’s running and lifestyle shoes and has helped distinguish the brand in a competitive footwear market. But plaintiffs argue the brand knew about the defect, and failed to inform consumers or offer refunds.
“No reasonable consumer would purchase shoes as highly priced as defendant’s, or pay as much for them as they did, if they needed to make DIY alterations to make the products wearable, or cease wearing them completely due to the squeaky noise defect,” the complaint states.
On shoes typically retail between $150 and $200, with the Cloudmonster currently listed at around $230 CAD.
The plaintiffs’ attorneys, from Portland firm Markowitz Herbold and consumer class-action specialists Bursor & Fisher, are seeking class certification, an injunction, attorney’s fees, and up to $5 million in damages.
On has not publicly commented on the case.
While a squeaky shoe might seem like a minor annoyance, online forums suggest the issue is widespread enough to have become a known pain point among On fans.
Threads on Reddit and TikTok dating back years include workarounds involving baby powder, silicone spray, WD-40, and even coconut oil rubbed into the midsole holes. Some users report partial success, others say nothing works.
“I’ve had quite a few pairs of Ons, and this is normal,” one Redditor wrote. Another warned, “Do not buy, On shoes squeak and they do not acknowledge the flaw.”
That’s a big problem for a brand with premium positioning and rapid global growth.
On reported over $2.8 billion in sales in 2024, a 30 percent increase from the previous year, with the Cloudmonster and Cloudsurfer models highlighted as key contributors during its earnings call.
The complaint argues that On could have updated the shoe design, issued a warning, or honored customer refunds, but instead continued selling the product without disclosure.
For now, the suit remains in its early stages. If class certification is granted, the case could impact a large number of consumers. At the very least, it’s a reminder that even small product flaws, like a persistent squeak, can cause big problems for a billion-dollar brand.
