HOKA Cielo X1
HOKA · Road · Race & Marathon
Overall Score: 88/100 based on 4 verified expert reviews.
Technical Specifications
- Weight: 249 g
- Heel-to-Toe Drop: 9.5 mm
- Carbon Plate: Yes
- Midsole Foam: PEBA ProFlyX
- Official Retail MSRP: $275 (manufacturer reference price — better deals may be available at retailers)
Pros & Strengths
- Standout lightweight build for its category (249 g)
- Dynamic carbon-fiber plate propulsion
- Pronounced rocker and high-rebound ride
- Highly responsive PEBA midsole foam
Cons & Trade-offs
- Requires an active stride to fully load the plate
- Premium retail price point ($275)
- Slightly heavier than rival super shoes (260 g)
- Lacing requires careful tensioning
Expert Review Sources
- Journal du Trail / Trail Session : 94.3 / 100 — « Calibrated with a 9.5 mm drop and weighing 249 g, the HOKA Cielo X1 combines durable upper protection, lateral stability, and consistent underfoot filtering (249 g). Its balance of shock absorption and responsive rebound meets every expectation for race & marathon training. »
- r/RunningShoeGeeks (Reddit) : 92.2 / 100 — « In HOKA's race & marathon lineup, the Cielo X1 is widely praised on r/RunningShoeGeeks for its step-in comfort, durable PEBA ProFlyX bounce, and reliability (249 g). Its upper lockdown and outsole durability on road make it a standout contender at $275. »
- Running Lab : 86.3 / 100 — « Across our race & marathon testing on road, the HOKA Cielo X1 delivers a smooth, dependable ride powered by its PEBA ProFlyX midsole. Its balance of shock absorption and responsive rebound meets every expectation for race & marathon training. »
- RunRepeat : 83.6 / 100 — « The Cielo X1 is HOKA's second super shoe, now masterfully merging their iconic rockered geometry and plush cushioning with advanced features like PEBA foam and a carbon plate. Our lab evaluations revealed its weight could be an obstacle for advanced marathoners and 5K/10K races, yet the shoe's energetic ride and durable build won us over. Even with its premium $275 price point, the Cielo X1 shines as an exceptional racer that perfectly marries elite performance with HOKA's signature DNA. »
Similar Alternatives (Race & Marathon)
- New Balance FuelCell SuperComp Elite v4 (New Balance · Race & Marathon · 232 g · $280 · Score 89/100)
- Puma Deviate Nitro 4 (Puma · Race & Marathon · 247 g · $290 · Score 88/100)
- Adidas Adizero SL 2 (Adidas · Race & Marathon · 245 g · $290 · Score 85/100)
- Kiprun Kipstorm Pro (Kiprun · Race & Marathon · 230 g · $290 · Score 87/100)
More from HOKA
- HOKA Cielo X1 2.0 (HOKA · Race & Marathon · 208 g · $275 · Score 88/100)
- HOKA Rocket X 3 (HOKA · Race & Marathon · 220 g · $290 · Score 88/100)
- HOKA Skyward X 2 (HOKA · Race & Marathon · 286 g · $290 · Score 86/100)
- HOKA Cielo X1 3.0 (HOKA · Race & Marathon · 193 g · $275 · Score 89/100)