Hoka Cielo X1 review

Hoka is known for its high-stack, max cushioned shoes, and the brand has launched a new shoe with even more stack and cushioning foam. Matt Baird reviews the Cielo X1 to see if it’s good enough to land a place on our list of the best running shoes…

First impressions of the Hoka Cielo X1

The first thing to say about Hoka’s latest launch is that the laces are terrible and whoever designed them should be forced to tie the laces of every Cielo X1 customer stuck at the race start while their rivals are already 500m down the track.

They don’t stay tied together and would be a disappointment on a £10 pair of pumps from Shoe Zone, let alone Hoka’s latest £250 ($275) creation.

Fit and feel

Rant (partially) over, the second thing about the Cielo X1 is that I’m struggling to recommend them for triathlon race day due to the gusseted tongue being incredibly fiddly and time consuming to sit flush on the dorsal area, which isn’t what you need in T2.

There’s also no tri-friendly heel loop and the narrow opening for the foot also poses problems. Sadly, Hoka’s superior Rocket X 2 also suffer in transition, meaning both of the brand’s super carbon shoes aren’t as tri-friendly as they could be.

The result is I’d rather race short-course triathlon in my trusty Rincon 2s and 3s or the Mach Xs, even without carbon plates.

Bounce and comfort

Once you get the Cielo X1s on, there is Ironman appeal, however, with the layers of PEBA foam delivering arguably the bounciest and spongiest Hoka ride yet.

While, again, I personally prefer the Rocket X 2’s slightly firmer ride, the winged carbon fibre plate sandwiched between the layers of foam and Hoka’s classic rocker shape do deliver the energy return goods.

Stack height is just below World Athletics’ 40mm barrier, with the heel-to-toe drop of 7mm being a little more than most circa-4-5mm Hoka shoes.

As someone with a history of ankle issues, I didn’t find the Cielo X1 as stable or confidence-boosting as the Rincons and Rocket X, and I did worry about turning my ankle on uneven surfaces.

Ride and performance

Hoka says it ‘eliminated anything that didn’t enhance the ride’ when designing the Cielo X1, but the weight, at 227g (UK7), isn’t as light as some super shoes – see the sub-200g Asics Metaspeed Edge+ and Nike Vaporfly 3.

Hoka has built cut-outs into the outsole in a bid to reduce that weight, but these can collect stones if you’re running on grittier surfaces.

The outsole feels durable and I had no issues with the grip, while the knit upper, which feels and looks a little corduroy-like, also suggests longevity. It also proved breathable on summer runs and offers comfort for anyone wanting to run sockless.

Conclusion

Overall, though, there’s just not enough here to shift the Rocket X 2 or Rincons off my feet for training and racing.

I’m just struggling a little to think about what races I’d attempt in these and, while they’re plenty of fun to run in, £250 ($275) is a lot of money to pay for a training shoe.

See our list of the best carbon plate running shoes for more.

Hoka Cielo X1 specs