Had you asked us a year ago, hadn't cracked the code in the super-shoe category yet. We're in a COMPLETELY different world now. With the launch of x1, HOKA not only has one, but two shoes at the absolute top of the we've tested in the office.
Maybe you've already encountered HOKA's first race-day option, namely , so the natural question would be, how does Cielo x1 stand out from it? And why is it necessary? Hoka Rocket x2 was and is an excellent race shoe, perhaps one of the best, so which runner is out there missing Cielo x1?
It's inevitable that we'll repeat ourselves a bit when writing these articles. Our perspectives are constantly shifting and challenging. is a shoe that AGAIN pushes the limits and challenges our idea of what a can achieve.
Before we dive into this wonder of a , here are a few quick facts about Cielo x1:
Facts:
Type: Race day, neutral
Heel drop: 7mm
Stack height: 39mm forefoot, 32mm heel
Midsole material: Two-layer PEBA
Carbon: Wing-shaped carbon plate.
A small masterpiece - HOKA Cielo x1
The upper is made of a knitted material that actually has quite a lot of structure and substance, considering it's a race-day shoe. This is a small masterpiece in my eyes, as a midsole with so much (pleasant) noise benefits from an upper that helps keep the foot in place. The tongue, I think, might divide opinions; it's certainly stretchy, and that's all I'll say. In a shoe where a lot of thought has gone into the design, I think HOKA's team decided on the laces just before a coffee break, because they're a bit tricky to deal with. Anyway, on to lots of positives!
Top-shelf rocker geometry
Two-layer PEBA midsole. You heard right, two-layer. In between, a carbon plate, what else, it is 2024 after all. The shoe also features what we call an “Early Stage Meta-Rocker.” I throw around terms, I apologize! But it essentially means you get this rolling run, and early-stage means this rolling sensation starts early in your landing. My experience with Cielo x1 is that you get a very strong energy return if you land quite prominently on your mid-forefoot. Not in that trampoline-like way as you know it from e.g., , but more a shoe that quickly pushes you to the next step.
The outsole features a relatively large amount of rubber on the surface, which can be really good for several things, durability and grip, but naturally, it doesn't help reduce the weight, so here it probably depends a bit on the individual runner whether it's a plus or a minus. Generally, most runners want lightweight running shoes for race-day, and I probably belong to that group. But weight isn't always the determining factor for me in a race shoe.
For those on Team “I-just-want-to-know-how-it-feels”:
is smooth as butter.
Yes, please! HOKA Cielo x1
“Yes, please!”, “Yessss !” I almost had to shout when I finally found myself running in Cielo x1, on a run with a bit of marathon intensity. It just felt smooth, it felt effortless, and those who know me personally know that not all my runs are without grimaces and struggles. I don't hold back verbally when my body doesn't cooperate with me. But it did this day, and Cielo x1 was absolutely contributing.
In HOKA's lineup of race-day shoes, Cielo x1 is the obvious choice for longer distances, whereas Rocket x2 is a bit more versatile and in our view can be used for all distances. Cielo x1 is heavier, but it's not just dead weight, you get some extra fun for these grams, both in the midsole and also in the form of stability in the upper. I think it's an important point that these 20-30 grams aren't just extra weight you have to carry around, but that you actually gain something from it. You get this ultra-smooth roll from midfoot to forefoot, which you truly benefit from when you start to get a bit more tired towards the end of the run - or km 35 in your marathon, when the seriousness really sets in. If you know, you know.
HOKA Cielo x1 makes running fun, and that must be one of the biggest compliments you can give a shoe.
Didn't find a favorite?
See the entire selection of running shoes here:
