Cielo X1 is dedicated race series, and to be brief, I lack nothing in this third generation. In April, I will run the Danish championships in 10 kilometers on the road, and the shoe quickly moved to the front of the line of shoes I considered for the purpose.
If you're running a half or a marathon, consider it your preferred weapon. As advanced as the name HOKA chose for the shoe, they made the choice easy for you: is what you need.
- Weight: 198 grams in US 9
- Foam material: PEBA
- Drop: 7 mm (38 mm/31 mm*)
- The shoe is for those who want a race shoe for distances from five kilometers up to a marathon with an incredible sense of speed.
HOKA Cielo X1 3.0 – Leno-woven upper perfected
Let's start from the top. The first time I encountered an upper like this was also on a HOKA shoe. 2 was the first shoe I held with an upper of this type, now called Engineered Leno-woven textile.
It's a very fine yet open woven material that allows for super low weight without compromising lockdown, meaning the feeling of being locked in place, even at high speed.
In Mach X 2, the feeling wasn't as refined as it is here. The tight weave is firm and doesn't allow much flex, which is why it's brilliant that HOKA adds an elastic element under the laces on Cielo X1 3.0. This small addition makes a huge difference, especially since the shoe is unisex and slightly on the narrow side.
The light upper has received asymmetrical laces this year, which help the shoe fit as it did when you tied it 20 kilometers ago.
The shoe is 15 grams lighter than the previous generation, making it actually HOKA's lightest race shoe, if you disregard the ultra-light Cielo Road. This is despite the shoe having a higher midsole than its little brother Rocket X 3.
If you compare the two brothers, don't doubt: Big brother has the upper hand. Cielo X1 3.0 is the fastest and softest. If you focus solely on speed, go with Cielo X1 3.0. If you want a more stable shoe, go with Rocket X 3, which works better for training sessions.
If there's a small asterisk with Cielo X1 3.0, it's stability. Something that can be felt and seen in the midsole.
HOKA Cielo X1 3.0 – Midsole with lighter construction and faster transition
Although HOKA has improved the heel geometry to increase stability, the shoe is not stable. Did I expect that from a race shoe? No, not at all. I would always choose a slightly lighter shoe over the bit of stability some brands build into their race shoes.
It becomes clear how the shoe has become significantly lighter when you look underneath. Here you find a long groove in the middle of the midsole where there is no foam. It gives the feeling of an unstable platform when standing on the heel, but that's not where you should be in a race.
Instead, it leaves the PEBA midsole with a large space to decompress, giving you full value for the responsive foam. The midsole is, for me, a perfect combination of shock absorption and energy return. I feel like I get the energy I put into the shoe directly back.
This is likely also due to the carbon plate you can see in the groove between the PEBA material. It is curved in its form, and together with an early placed MetaRocker, it gives a feeling of true speed. If you run on the midfoot, which most do at high intensity, you get a sensation few shoes can match.
HOKA Cielo X1 3.0 – Grip on race terms
The outsole is minimal, which is entirely appropriate. The shoe's weight is clearly prioritized here. Under the forefoot and toes, you find most of it, while two small panels protect the heel. A clear sign that the shoe is made for quick takeoff and pace.
The material itself is firm. Not the soft rubber you find on regular shoes, and it needs to be broken in before it truly shines. The shoes have passed winter training on slippery surfaces, but as mentioned, it's not a particularly stable shoe. The midsole's height and the relatively smooth material the outsole consists of are not made for sharp turns but for propulsion.
HOKA Cielo X1 3.0 is the best shoe from HOKA I've run in. My only gripe is a slightly narrow toe box, which can easily be explained by the shoe being unisex. Additionally, a bit of reduced comfort is expected in a shoe with this speed.
I've long had a clear idea of which shoes I would race in in 2026. Cielo X1 3.0 has confused me. Feelings for the French brand, which I thought were long gone, have slowly returned. For I am willing to overlook past broken promises and wild trends for another round with the vibrant Cielo X1 3.0.
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