- Type: Road racing
- Weight: 209g (W6), 263g (M8)
- Drop: 7mm
- Heel height: 37mm (W), 39mm (M)
- Forefoot height: 30mm (W), 32mm (M)
- Who it’s for: Runners who want a propulsive super shoe with an aggressive rocker, but also need a wide and stable platform when racing
- Rocket X 2: Nike Alphafly Next% 3, New Balance FuelCell SuperComp Trainer v2, New Balance FuelCell SuperComp Trainer v2
The shoe
The Cielo X1 came into being when Hoka found itself at a crossroads in 2022. The brand was faced with two choices: make a third iteration of the Rocket X or create a completely different kind of Hoka racing shoe.
The first Rocket X came out in 2020, and Hoka spent three full years working on the Rocket X2. Rather than hasten the third version, Hoka postponed liftoff on a Rocket X3 and chose the new model route instead, reaching for the sky with the Cielo X1.
'It seemed like a good time for us to take an assessment of our brand and really understand the experiences we were providing,' said Colin Ingram, Hoka’s vice president of global product. 'What we got to was this: the central components of what we do are the Meta-Rocker, the Active Foot Frame, and the cushioned midsole. They are what everybody knows us for. Those three pieces are the core heart of what makes a Hoka shoe.'
By focusing on these three components specific to the brand, the Hoka team designed two new trainers: the Cielo X1 and Skyward X. Though both have carbon fibre plates in their midsoles, the shoes are quite different. The Skyward X is basically a quintessential Hoka on steroids — it’s a super trainer with the plate sandwiched inside PEBA foam.
Saucony Endorphin Pro 3, Asics Superblast, and The shoe has a thick stack height, reaching 39mm in mens and 37mm in womens. But Hoka was ahead of the game when it released the Bondi X back in 2021. The Skyward X, inspired by the Bondi (Hoka’s most cushioned trainer), takes the plush Hoka experience to the Nth degree.
We’re still waiting on samples of the Skyward X, but we were able to have a small group of trustworthy, tight-lipped wear-testers go for some runs in the Cielo X1 before Hoka announced its release.
What's it like to run in the Hoka Cielo X1?
When we received the Cielo X1 for testing, we couldn’t resist drawing comparisons to other existing super shoes. Its decoupled heel, for instance, faintly resembles the one found on the first two versions of the Nike Alphafly. best carbon plate running shoes for race day Saucony Endorphin Pro 3. Both the Cielo and Rocket models have accommodating fits, paired with that distinct Hoka cushioned feel. But their rides tell a different story.
Ingram explained how the Saucony Endorphin Pro 3 was the Cielo X1’s starting point. The Saucony Endorphin Pro 3 was built around the full gait cycle — its rockered sole smooths heel-to-toe transitions for midfoot and forefoot strikers alike. With the Cielo X1, Hoka set out to sculpt an even more aggressive forefoot rocker to amp up the speed and create an explosive ride.
Speed is actually reflected in the Cielo X1’s etymology. The 'Cielo' part of its name (cielo is the Spanish word for 'sky') derives from Hoka’s track spikes. The X refers to the shoe having a carbon fibre plate.
Like the Skyward X, the Cielo X1 has a Peba foam midsole. Sandwiched inside is what Ingram calls the brand’s most advanced carbon-fiber plate yet. It’s partially revealed by cutouts in the midsole and uses a new winged design — which indirectly connects to Hoka’s slogan, 'Fly human fly'.
For our testers familiar with Hoka, running in the Cielo X1 shattered their preconceived notions of what a Hoka shoe is.
One of our testers had previously run in the Clifton, which she described as a plushy trainer ideal for recovery days. While the feel of the Cielo X1 felt just as soft on her feet, she immediately noticed the added speed when running in the shoe.
'As soon as I put them on I noticed how the sole rocks you onto your forefoot,' she said. 'I continued to notice this on my run — the shoes really kept me moving, pushed me onto my toes, and seemed to shift the effort to my quads.'
Another tester, who ran in the original Carbon X, was also surprised by how different the Cielo X1 felt compared to all the Hokas he’s tested.
'The silhouette of the Cielo is classic Hoka with the traditional thick, tapered white foam of the sole,' they said. 'But in almost every other way, these are different from any Hoka I’ve ever put miles in.
'These shoes are meant to move. I mean that quite literally, as the shape of the sole forces you to rock back and forth a bit, even when you’re standing still. Most other racing shoes have a similar feeling when you lean forward — an aggressive toe-off angle — but the Cielos have an aggressive angle in the rearfoot, too. It means on every stride, regardless of where you land, your foot strike will roll off the ground,' he said.
'The feeling really intensifies at speed (around 7:00 per mile pace and faster). I will say that at any slower pace, the sole shape felt a bit awkward. But these are racing shoes, so you should be going fast anyway!'
My runs so far in the Cielo X1 have been on the treadmill due to a debilitating heel injury that forced me to pause my marathon training. After I was cleared to train again, my PT said I could run at a conservative pace indoors. But I agree with Fox: the Cielo X1 wants you moving at race pace.
The shoe’s rocker reminds me of the first time I put on Saucony’s Endorphin Pro. I had the same rocking horse sensation just trying to stand still in the Cielo X1. I hiked up my speed from 7.5 to 9.2mph, feeling like I was soaring, even though I was on a rickety gym treadmill.
Putting on the shoe was the only beef testers had. The Cielo X1 has a rather snug — but cozy— ankle collar, making it a struggle to pull on. However, the overall fit is accommodating for wide feet.
