QC Shoes Review [2026]: Are They Worth It?
All opinions are my own. This post contains affiliate links.
Today we’re talking all about QC shoes in this review.
What Are QC Shoes?
Have you seen QC shoes around? These trendy sneakers have two letters on them that look like a Q and a C. What you’re actually looking at is a stylized O and N. The brand is On (short for On Running), and you can find all of their shoe options on their website.
I ordered a pair a few months ago and I’m sharing a full review of my experience walking, running, wearing, and cleaning my On Cloud (aka QC) shoes.
Is It ON or QC Shoes?
It’s On. There isn’t a separate brand called QC. The On logo has a capital O and a capital N sitting right next to each other, and at a glance it reads as QC. Once someone points it out you can’t unsee it, and that little mix-up is exactly why so many people go looking for “QC shoes.”
What Country Are QC Shoes From?
On is a Swiss brand. It was founded in Zurich in 2010, so the shoes people are calling QC are designed in Switzerland. <!– VIDEO SPOT: embed your On Cloud reel or a short YouTube clip here (wearing + cleaning them). A Video result shows on nearly every keyword this post ranks for and you currently have none, so this is real estate you’re leaving on the table. –>
QC Shoe Review
Maybe you saw someone on TikTok sporting them, or you’ve just noticed them on the person in front of you at the grocery store.
The last time I bought myself new workout sneakers was three years ago. A few months after my baby was born, I was trying to find the motivation to get back into exercise, and cute new workout gear seems to do the trick (I ordered another pair of APLs that I really like). Here we are six months after my next baby and, sure enough, I started hunting for a new shoe to kickstart my exercise.
The Hunt for the Perfect Workout Sneaker
My (desired) workouts each week consist of a mix of running, weights, and classes. I was hoping to find a shoe that worked for everything.
I’d tried on the On Cloud sneakers months ago at my parents’ house (how do my mom AND my 80 year old grandma have a pair of these before I do?). I knew they were comfortable, but I wasn’t looking to get back into exercising at the time (4 weeks postpartum and still sleeping in 3 hour increments).
About a month ago I put a poll out on Instagram asking for people’s favorite running and workout sneakers. There were lots of one-off recommendations, but the two most popular answers were Hokas and On Clouds.
I was leaning toward the On Clouds just because they look cuter, but I didn’t want to sacrifice function for style when shopping for an exercise shoe.
When my high school’s Boston-marathon-running track star responded that she loved her On Clouds and runs in them, I was sold.
Picking Which QC / On Cloud Shoe to Buy
There are a million different On Cloud options, and purchasing can be a bit tricky. I chose specifically based on style and price, knowing I was using them mostly for running short distances, long walks, and the occasional workout class. I wish I would have used the shoe selector on the On website, which lets you filter by activity. It makes choosing a shoe much more straightforward.
What I ordered:
- On Cloud 6: ideal for light running under 5 miles, lifestyle, and gym workouts ($160)
Other ones to consider:
- On Cloudrift: great for road running or treadmill running
- Cloud Runner in Waterproof: ideal for longer runs
QC Shoes for Women
If you searched “QC shoes for women” and landed here a little confused, you’re in the right place. The QC shoes women are asking about are On Clouds, so everything I’m sharing is from the women’s side of the lineup.
I’ve been wearing my On Cloud 6s for 12 months now, and they’ve turned into the pair I reach for most. They’re light enough for a jog or a fitness class and cute enough that I keep them on for school pickup and errands afterward. At pickup these days I can always spot at least one other mom wearing hers, too.
The Cloud 6 also comes in more colorways than almost any other model, so if you want a clean all-white pair or something with a little more color, you’ll find a women’s option for it (good luck trying to pick a color).
A quick note on women’s sizing – My first pair, ordered in my regular size, ran too small. I went up half a size and they’re perfect. From other reviews I’ve read, several of the women’s styles run about half a size small, and the toe box is a little narrower on some models than others. If you’re between sizes, or you have a wider foot, I’d order half a size up.
Are QC Sneakers Worth It?
They are beautiful. They are very comfortable. They are supportive.
The particular style I have also doesn’t require you to tie them, and I can slip them on while holding a baby. I am sold.
If you’re only trying to find a pair of supportive running shoes, you can find cheaper options. If these are in your budget, though, you cannot go wrong with the On Clouds.
Two month update: I love these shoes more and more. It really does feel like slipping into a cloud, especially compared to other shoes. My only complaint is that sometimes if I’m walking on loose gravel, a small stone will get stuck in the bottom of my shoes.
2026 update — I retired my shoes after my toe nail wore a hole in the mesh at the top. Since then I have purchased a pair for my husband and two pairs for my kids (my 11 year old LOVES the slip on on functionality of a real sneaker). I got gifted a pair of adidas so I haven’t repurchased for myself with but I am planning on it.
Pros and Cons of QC Shoes
Pros
- Beautiful: these stylish shoes work with a ton of different outfits.
- Tons of styles and colorways: there are lots of different styles and colors to choose from.
- Comfortable.
- Slip-on with no tying necessary in some styles.
Cons
- Sizing: some of the sizing is a bit off in the QC / On Cloud shoes. The first pair I ordered in my regular size was too small. I sized up half a size and they’re perfect. From other reviews I’ve read, some of the styles run half a size small. A few styles also have a slightly wider toe box while others run more narrow.
- Price.
- Mesh can wear through: After about a year of wear the place on the upper mesh where my toe nail tubbed against the shoe, wore through. Yes, its on me to trim my toe nails but, still.
QC Shoes FAQ
Yes. Once you know QC shoes are On Clouds, the quality speaks for itself. They’re well made, supportive, and genuinely comfortable, and they’ve become the pair I wear most. The one thing to keep an eye on is sizing, since a few styles run small.
For me, yes. They aren’t the cheapest sneaker out there, and if you only need basic running shoes you can find less expensive options. But they’ve held up beautifully and I wear them constantly, so they’ve more than earned their spot in my closet.
Yes, these are the same brand. The correct name is On, short for On Running. The QC people see is just the On logo read a little differently.
On is a Swiss brand, founded in Zurich in 2010.
You’ll find the widest selection at on-running.com. I ordered mine from Amazon (leaving the house with little kids is still hard, and bringing them to a running store is not quite where I’m at yet). Your best bet is to get fitted in person at a running store, but if you’d rather shop online, here are a few places to try: Amazon, on-running.com, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Madewell, and Nordstrom. REI even carries a selection of used On shoes at a steep discount.
No. I first bought these as running shoes, and I do still wear them for my runs, but I’ve found myself reaching for them day to day because they feel like walking on a cloud. At school pickup I can always spot at least one other mom wearing them, too.
There are so many On Cloud styles that it can get overwhelming to choose. My top tip is to head to the On Running website and filter by activity. You can pick from active life, travel, road running, hiking, trail running, competition, tennis, and workouts. Three great starting points: the On Cloud 5 for an all-around shoe (I’ve worn mine for jogs, high fitness, and hip hop), the On Cloudrift for road or treadmill running, and the Cloud Runner in Waterproof for longer runs.
You can buy On Clouds at just about any running store and most places that sell sneakers. Try Nordstrom, Amazon, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Madewell, or Anthropologie. REI carries some used On shoes at a discount, too.
I want a 4 E shoe for walking I am 250 lb do QC have anything like that
Love the shoes but I haven’t warn them much and they already are falling apart. I paid $175 for them, they should last longer.
tell me more – how are they falling apart? Which pair did you get?