Call this one the case of the squeaky sneakers.
On Inc., a Swiss company with North American headquarters in Portland, is facing a class action lawsuit alleging that the CloudTec technology in its On shoes causes “a noisy and embarrassing squeak with each and every step.”
The suit, which law firm Markowitz Herbold filed last week in federal court in Portland, claims that On’s CloudTec outsoles are defective and cause squeaking in all products that use the cushioning technology.
Two plaintiffs brought the suit, which names 11 products with some variation of the name Cloud that are alleged to cause squeaking. The suit claims that the squeaking happens when both walking and running in the shoes.
A spokesperson for On said the company does not comment on ongoing legal matters.
Squeaking sneakers are common across the industry. Nike, for example, includes a page on its website with tips on how to stop shoes from squeaking.
The affected sneakers cost between $140 and $180 per pair, the suit says. It claims that On is aware of the problem but that its warranty does not cover the issue.
“Consumers have reported being left in the lurches as Defendant has categorized the squeaking as normal wear and tear,” the suit says.
The lawsuit says consumers have tried various do-it-yourself remedies to eliminate the squeaking.
“There is no easy fix,” the suit claims.
The suit includes screen shots of multiple consumers’ online complaints about the sneakers.
“Lol my nickname at work is squeak,” one commenter wrote.
The suit demands a jury trial but does not specify the financial damages the plaintiffs are seeking.
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