Hoka Cielo X1 3.0 Review | Hoka’s Fastest Carbon Race Shoe Yet

The Hoka Cielo X1 3.0 review from our front of the pack racers to let you you know if it’s the right carbon plated super shoe for your big goals.

The HOKA Cielo X1 debuted in 2022 as the brand’s first carbon-plated super shoe, designed specifically for elite marathoners chasing fast times. Built with input from professional athletes, the original Cielo X1 featured a responsive carbon fiber plate, PEBA-based foam, and an aggressive geometry aimed at maximizing speed over 26.2 miles.

The shoe has evolved since the first iteration, with the focus still being on keeping it a race-specific, lightweight, and aggressive racing shoe–something that could contend with adjacent brands coming out with race-specific carbon shoes

It’s a shoe that LOOKS fast and feels very light, coming in at 7.0 oz–half an ounce lighter compared to the previous version–and accentuated stack of 37mm/30mm. But how does it actually perform versus the big dogs of Nike, Adidas, and Puma? 

Spoiler: this shoe is FAST.

I’m a sucker for a good rocker geometry and this one is undeniably aggressive and I’ll definitely be lacing up for at least one or two races this spring with it on my feet.

Hoka Cielo X1 3.0 Overview

The moment I pulled the Cielo X1 3.0 out of the box, I knew I was holding something fast.

Our team gushed over the Cielo X1 2.0 and it appears we’re going to keep that train rolling with this newest model.

It looks sleek, feels aggressive, the step-in experience was pretty unique. You feel the aggressive rocker in two ways–upon step-in, you’re immediately pushed forward. And while just standing still, you can feel a noticeable drop in the foam right where (on my foot) the metatarsals form.

The foam feels full and robust at the ball of the food, and drops away quite substantially at the heel and toes. It’s not uncomfortable, just very distinctive. You know instantly that you’re in a shoe built for one thing: speed.

In Hoka’s current lineup, the Cielo sits at the top of the performance pyramid. It’s poppy, aggressive, and light. The Rocket X3 is Hoka’s versatile workout and/or race shoe with much more stability vs. the Cielo. And the Mach X3 is a step below that, being a solid shoe choice for uptempo training days and workouts. 

I first tested the Cielo X1 3.0 during a simple fartlek with 5k efforts on wet, post-snow roads…and despite dodging patchy pavement, the paces felt effortless.

The energy return is real, the bounce is massive, and the foam—soft PEBA, similar to the Alphafly—gives that huge stack feel without beating up the legs.

Truthfully: I had more fun during my cooldown than the workout itself, which probably tells you this shoe is built for longer, sustained speed rather than short, sharp efforts.

Coach Amanda: I’m sitting over here injured just enough not to take this shoe out yet for a test and I’m bummed. I’ve got all three models lined up to see what’s different and now I want to experience it. I can say just standing the shoes the 3.0 is more stable, so while it’s not yet perfect it’s an important update.

I think this shift might also be why the shoe feels a little more comfortable at a variety of paces.

Hoka Cielo X1 3.0 Fit

The fit is excellent. The upper hugs my foot in a way that feels secure without being overly tight—which is rare for race shoes, in my experience. A lot of race-day shoes have unforgiving uppers that feel constricting, but the Cielo’s Leno weave textile gives just enough while still locking you in.

The toebox was fair–not excessively roomy for my narrow foot, but had just enough wiggle room (making me think that a wider foot would also be fine in this shoe). I wouldn’t say it’s roomy, but it’s not uncomfortably tight either; there’s enough vertical space for my toes without feeling sloppy.

I lace my shoes in a double-back style to lock in my heel (I’ve gotten finicky about lacing as I’ve gotten older), and I did the same with these. The lockdown is solid—no heel slip, no weird movement. The asymmetrical lacing also helps relieve pressure on the instep, which I appreciated.

The tongue is thin but stays in place well, and I didn’t experience any bunching or discomfort. Overall, the fit is dialed—true to size for me, and very race-precise without feeling narrow like some other super shoes.

Hoka Cielo X1 3.0 Feel

This shoe is bouncy. Like, really bouncy. The PEBA foam is soft and responsive—similar to the Alphafly, in my opinion—and you can feel the huge stack underfoot. It’s firm enough to feel supportive, but soft enough that you’re not getting beat up.

I took these out for a fartlek with 5k efforts on some slick roads and the paces felt GOOD (which my ego needed, since it was my first workout back post-marathon.) I was able to click off sub-6 splits without feeling like I was working too hard.

I’m 5’9″, so I’m tall for a female runner, and I need a shoe that’s stable—I’m not one of those featherweight runners who can get away with anything.

Given this: my biggest complaint was stability, which is something I knew might be questionable after reading reviews of previous Cielo models.

I had to focus on keeping my ankles stable because the roads were patchy and uneven; but I’m not sure if the instability I felt was the shoe itself or just the conditions (or the fact that I was hyper-aware that stability might be an issue?).

On smoother surfaces, I’d imagine it feels more planted. The Hoka Rocket X3 is way more forgiving with stability, and I definitely find myself reaching for the Rocket over the Cielo for smaller week-day workouts.

The rocker is aggressive—you really feel it pushing you forward. And the plate isn’t overly stiff,, like the Puma Fast-R Nitro 3, which flared up my neuroma so badly that I’m nervous about wearing it again.

It’s actually somewhat shocking how cushioned the Cielo felt despite how fast and rockered the platform is underfoot. I’d be very comfortable trying this out for longer distances—half marathon or even marathon paces.

I also had a blast during my cooldown, keeping it uptempo (which I love to do to get the most bang for my buck in a workout). Maybe I had more fun in the cooldown than the workout itself? Which probably speaks to the fact that this might be too much shoe for 5K stuff. It really shines at tempo and marathon paces.

Similar Shoes to the Hoka Cielo X1 3.0

We’ve tested a few carbon plated shoes that feel similar, but different based on the brand fit: 

I really like this shoe. A lot. The upper is fantastic, the energy return is undeniable, and it’s clear HOKA is serious about competing at the top of the super shoe market. I think they’ve done it with the Cielo X1 3.0.

Would I race in it this season? Yes. Would I choose it over the Alphafly for the marathon? TBD–I’d need to wear it for some big marathon workouts/long runs to see how my feet and legs hold up. I’ll definitely keep grabbing it as I build back my fitness this spring.

Hoka Cielo X1 2 vs 3

One of the big questions we often get is should I buy the new model or can I get the old one on sale and we feel like that’s valid enough to address on most reviews!

They have not yet discounted version 2 and may not since it’s a shoe that is much more user specific and not quite as broad of an appeal. Assuming it doesn’t drop then we 100% prefer the updates made to the 3!

• 3 feels better at shorter distances as well (10K)
• Stability is significantly improved in the 3
• Weight and stack height are pretty much the same
• The geometry changed a bit to add that stability – more width through midfoot outsole
• Energy return is a little better in the 3 and a top speeds a little means a lot
• The forefoot might be softer in the 2 and some may prefer that

Who Tried It?

Mary is a recent addition to the Run to the Finish reviewing team, but has been running marathons since 2010 and started coaching in 2015. She’s the owner and founder of Lift.Run.Perform and mom of two kiddos. She’s also a lover of strength training and loves to help others realize just how impactful lifting is. After major hip surgery in 2022, she’s been working back into healthy running and is finally reaching her stride 3 years post-op. Follow Mary at @itsamarython  

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