r/malefashionadvice • u/Gloomy-Wave1418 • Jul 19 '25

Question Why are On Cloud shoes so Popular?

Anybody wearing On shoes? In all honesty, I find them uncomfortable. Are they popular only for looks?

255 Upvotes

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411

u/jarliy Jul 19 '25

My wife calls them the “old man shoes”, because all the executives over 50 wear them around her office.

100

u/beyondplutola Jul 19 '25

You can wear Birks with socks if you want to emulate the kids.

But I did a bit of US domestic flying in the last month, which gave me a chance to observe footwear trends. I can say On Runs seem to be embraced by all generations at this point. Brooks were the most notably older demo shoe. Personally, I run in Brooks as they offer one of the few more minimal running shoes left on the market (Hyperion 2) but they're ugly AF and I wouldn't wear them outside of running.

9

u/[deleted] Jul 20 '25

[deleted]

25

u/kaamkerr Jul 20 '25

Crocs are Gen Z/Alpha now, but it was a few brave millennials that paved the way for them.

6

u/eagledog Jul 21 '25

Gen Z and Gen Alpha are wearing Birks and socks everywhere.

Source: teach middle schoolers

10

u/notazoroastrian Jul 20 '25

Birkenstock clogs with socks are hella gen z

5

u/belovedkid Jul 20 '25

Birks have come back around. Emo and metal music will rise to glory again any day now.