Hoka Cielo X1
Hoka's original dual-gate carbon super shoe with bouncy two-layer PEBA and an extremely aggressive rocker. Fun, deeply cushioned marathon ride for runners who commit to its geometry, but at over 9 oz it was heavy for an elite racer and the rocker polarized testers. Superseded by the much lighter Cielo X1 2.0 and 3.0.
Reach for the Hoka Cielo X1 for race day and tempo days and intervals. It's a neutral shoe, best for runners with an efficient stride who don't need pronation support. The tall, soft stack favors comfort over ground feel. That's great for high mileage and bigger runners, less so for racing snappiness.
- Huge PEBA bounce
- Aggressive rocker rewards committed toe-off
- Surprisingly stable for a super shoe
- Heavy for a racing shoe
- Polarizing geometry
- Superseded by 2.0/3.0
| Shoe | Cushion | Support | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nike Alphafly 3 | Maximum | Neutral | $285 | Analyze |
| Adidas Adizero Adios Pro 4 | Maximum | Neutral | $250 | Analyze |
| ASICS Metaspeed Sky Tokyo | Maximum | Neutral | $275 | Analyze |
| ASICS Metaspeed Sky Paris | Maximum | Neutral | $250 | Analyze |
Ratings compare the current lineup. Price favors lower cost.
Runner Toolkit may earn a commission when you buy through these links. It never affects the price you pay or which shoes we recommend.