Why I am importing the Neon Cobalt On Cloudsurfer Next to Italy before the local release

May 07, 2026

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The Neon Cobalt Hype

I have been a fan of On for years, but the 2026 launch of the On Cloudsurfer Next has really raised the bar. Specifically, the 'Neon Cobalt' colorway is what everyone is talking about. It is a vibrant, electric blue that stands out during morning runs, and currently, it is a US-exclusive release. I noticed that many runners in Australia and Europe are already scrambling to find ways to get these because the local color options just do not compare.

Why I am importing the Neon Cobalt On Cloudsurfer Next to Italy before the local release
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The tech in the 'Next' generation is also a significant step up. We are looking at a refined CloudTec Phase midsole that feels smoother than the previous versions I have tested. Since I wanted to be the first in my local running club in Milan to have them, I decided not to wait for the European release cycle.

Why Italy has to wait

It is a common frustration we face. Brands often prioritize the US market for these limited-edition drops, leaving those of us in Italy waiting months for the same inventory. By the time the Neon Cobalt hits our stores, the US will likely be onto the next big thing. I realized that if I wanted these shoes while they were still trending, I had to shop US store sites directly.

My shopping strategy for US exclusives

To make this happen, I used a tax-free US address provided by comGateway. This is a simple way to bypass the regional shipping restrictions that many US retailers have. I simply set my delivery address to their warehouse in Oregon, which also saved me from paying US sales tax.

I found that using a parcel forwarding service is the most reliable way to handle these types of purchases. Once the shoes arrived at the warehouse, I could manage everything from my phone. If you are curious about the process, you can check out this how it works guide which explains the steps clearly.

The BuyForMe advantage for difficult stores

During my search, I encountered a bit of a hurdle. Some major US stores, including big names like Nike, Sephora, or Apple, are notorious for blocking international credit cards. Even if you have a US address, they might decline the order if they detect a non-US billing address or a known forwarding hub. I have had orders cancelled before, and it is incredibly annoying.

This is where we used the "BuyForMe" service. Instead of me trying to force my Italian card through their system, I let comGateway handle the purchase. Their team uses a domestic US credit card to buy the item on my behalf. This is the safest way to guarantee an order doesn't get cancelled at the last second. It solves the problem of "international card declined" errors that many of us in Italy face when trying to buy high-demand items like the Cloudsurfer Next.

Getting the shoes to Italy

Once the shoes were secured, the next step was getting them to my door. I was worried about the cost of ship to Italy, but it turned out to be quite manageable. I used the shipping calculator on the website to get a solid estimate before I committed to the shipment.

Knowing the international shipping rates upfront helped me decide whether to ship the shoes alone or wait and consolidate them with a few other items I wanted from the US. Consolidation is a great trick I use to lower the overall cost per item.

Staying safe with shipping rules

Before you ship anything, I highly recommend looking at the list of prohibited items. While sneakers are generally fine, there are certain cleaning kits or electronics with specific batteries that might have shipping rules you need to follow. I made sure my order was strictly the shoes to avoid any delays at customs.

My experience getting the On Cloudsurfer Next was seamless. By the time they arrived in Italy, I felt confident that I had made the right choice. The Neon Cobalt looks even better in person, and the performance on the road is exactly what I expected for 2026 gear. If you are tired of waiting for local releases, this method is definitely the way to go.

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