Sneakers company On is facing a lawsuit from customers who claim its popular sneakers produce an "annoying and embarrassing noise" when walking.
The "CloudTec" sneakers, which typically cost around $200 (£150) and have holes in the sole to give the feeling of "running on clouds", are said to cause problems in everyday life - especially for nurses who wear them all day.
“No reasonable consumer would purchase defendant’s sneakers – or pay so much for them – if they knew that each step produced an audible and noticeable sound,” the lawsuit states.
The company "On", which did not immediately respond to a request from the BBC, has declined to comment on the allegations.
The class action lawsuit was filed on October 9 in the U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon. Customers claim that some On sneaker models are unusable without DIY and accuse the company of deceptive marketing.
The plaintiffs, who say they were unable to return the sneakers after complaints about the noise, are seeking refunds and damages. The lawsuit documents name the Cloudmonster and Cloudrunner models, among others, saying the company could have “fixed the design, offered a repair or refunded the customers’ money, but did neither.”
One of the customers said in the lawsuit that she can no longer use the sneakers as intended "due to the embarrassment and annoyance" caused by the noise.
The document also includes posts on social media platforms like TikTok and Reddit, where frustrated users suggest ways to dampen the noise, including coating the soles with coconut oil.
On, which is backed by tennis star Roger Federer, reported better-than-expected profits in August, thanks to a surge in direct-to-consumer sales. Earlier this year, the company said sales of its Cloudmonster and Cloudsurfer models had contributed “significantly” to its growth.
