PAF x On Running: The Sneaker Collab That’s Making Me Empty My Wallet (Again)

Let me tell you something – I’ve been covering sneaker releases for over a decade now, and there’s nothing quite like the buzz I felt when I first spotted the Post Archive Faction (PAF) and On Running collaboration last year. I remember sitting in my favorite coffee shop, scrolling through Instagram, when the first images dropped. I literally spilled my oat milk latte all over my keyboard. Worth it? Absolutely.

Well, gear up sneakerheads, because they’re back at it again. And this time, they’re bringing four fresh kicks to the table for Spring/Summer 2025.

The Return of Fashion’s Unlikeliest Power Couple

When PAF first teamed up with On Running, it felt like that unexpected friendship that somehow just works. You know, like pineapple on pizza (don’t @ me) or dipping french fries in a milkshake. The South Korean fashion brand brought their avant-garde design approach to On’s performance-focused Swiss engineering, and boom – magic happened.

I’ve worn my pair from their first collab to death. No joke – the insoles have my foot imprints permanently embedded in them now. That’s love, folks.

What’s Coming in the “Current Form 2.0” Collection

So what’s in store for us with this new drop? The collection features four standout models including the Cloudmonster 2 and the Cloudventure Peak. If you’ve never tried On’s cloud technology, you’re seriously missing out. I ran my first half-marathon in On shoes, and it felt like my feet were being carried by tiny, supportive clouds. A bit dramatic? Maybe. But my knees thanked me.

From what I’ve seen so far, these new designs feature some crazy asymmetrical lacing systems that look like something out of a sci-fi movie. Exactly what you’d expect when a boundary-pushing fashion label gets their hands on performance footwear.

I particularly have my eye on the Cloudmonster 2. With its chunky silhouette and what appears to be some sort of split sole design, it’s giving me all the futuristic vibes I need in my sneaker rotation.

The Release Date Confusion

There’s been some confusion about when these beauties are dropping. Initially, the rumor mill was churning out Fall/Winter 2024 release dates, which got me checking my calendar and setting aside some “sneaker emergency funds.” You know how it is – rent can wait, limited edition collabs cannot.

But it seems we’ll need to practice some patience. The latest info points to a Spring/Summer 2025 release. That’s both good and bad news – more time to save up, but also more time to obsess over every leaked image and detail.

Last night, I literally had a dream about missing the drop because I was stuck in a meeting. I woke up in a cold sweat. This is what sneaker culture does to you after a decade, folks.

Why This Collab Matters

In a market saturated with collaborations, why does this one stand out? For starters, On isn’t your typical collaboration brand. While Nike, Adidas, and New Balance churn out collabs like there’s no tomorrow, On has been more selective. Their partnership with PAF represents their willingness to step outside the performance running space and embrace fashion’s more experimental side.

I remember trying On running shoes for the first time back in 2015. The sales guy at my local running store looked at my flat feet and immediately recommended them. “Trust me,” he said. He was right. Now seeing them venture into this more fashion-forward territory without sacrificing what makes their shoes great is pretty darn cool.

What We Still Don’t Know

As with any highly anticipated release, there are still plenty of questions. Pricing details haven’t been officially announced, though I’m setting aside at least $200-250 based on previous releases. I’ve got a special savings jar labeled “unnecessary but necessary footwear” for occasions just like this.

We’re also waiting on full colorway reveals and detailed tech specs. Will they maintain On’s famed comfort while pushing the aesthetic envelope? If their previous collab is anything to go by, the answer is a resounding yes.

The Waiting Game

So now we wait. I’ll be refreshing my feeds obsessively, annoying my less sneaker-obsessed friends with updates they didn’t ask for, and probably having more stress dreams about missing the drop.

In the meantime, I’ll be breaking in my current On runners and making more room in my already overcrowded sneaker shelf. My partner keeps telling me I have a problem. They’re not wrong, but some problems are just too fun to fix.

Stay tuned for more updates as they come in. And remember, set those alarms when the release date gets announced. These won’t sit on shelves for long, and I don’t want to hear any of you crying in my comments section about having to pay resale prices!