There’s often debate as to whether the average runner should invest in a pair of carbon plated racers. Having reviewed the Hoka Cielo-X1, taking it the distance in my first half-marathon, there’s only one answer I can give – a resounding “yes”. Our Cielo-X1 review demonstrates, even as a newcomer to the sport with average pace, it’s worth the investment.

Hoka Cielo-X1 Specifications:

• Stack Height of 39mm in the heel with 7mm drop
• Winged carbon plate sandwiched between two layers of PEBA foam
• Aggressive Rocker Geometry
• 264g

This week, we’re reviewing the Hoka Cielo-X1, the company’s latest entry into the race day market. While Hoka have made a number of attempts at carbon-plated racers, the only real success prior to the Cielo-X1 was the second iteration of the Rocket X, the aptly named Rocket X2. Feedback from early testing has been largely positive. But is it suitable for the average runner? We decided to answer that question.

The Cielo-X1 boasts a stack height of 39mm, has a 7mm drop, and weighs in at a not-insignificant 264g. A winged carbon plate sits in-between two layers of PEBA, and it’s brought together with an aggressive rocker geometry which helps keep you moving forward.

Cielo-X1 Design

Like many in Hoka’s range, the design of the Cielo-X1 is likely to be divisive. For starters, there’s the name of the colourway – Evening Sky / Lettuce – a strange decision to say the least. I’m not sure many have thought, “I’d really like my next pair of racing shoes to be lettuce coloured”. Despite the somewhat confusing choice (though really, what difference does it make), I personally think the Cielo-X1 looks absolutely brilliant. They sure are striking and completely different to anything in the market. What’s more, you’re sure to stand out in the sea of Vaporfly / Alphafly on race day.

Cielo-X1 Fit

Typically, I wear either an 8 or 8.5 UK in all brands. I went with the latter in the Cielo-X1 and they fit perfectly. Glove-like, in fact. On first donning the Cielo-X1, you may find yourself having a bit of trouble getting your foot in them. I’d heard similar things about the Rocket X2, but unfortunately haven’t had the opportunity to try the X2s. The Cielo-X1s aren’t exactly difficult to get on, perhaps just a little … odd? The absence of a heel tab almost forces you to stomp down the backs of the shoes. When you’re spending £250 on a pair, you don’t really want to be doing this.

The thing is, this is likely by design. After a few wears, the upper moulds to the shape of your foot. It’s quite possibly one of the most comfortable, form-fitting uppers I’ve tried. Top marks here.

One common complaint from early reviews, however, has been the choice of laces. I do agree, they’re a bit … different. But in my experience, because of the glove-like fit, I don’t need to tighten the laces at all. A quick double knot and they’re good to go (and haven’t come undone so far). I can, however, see them being a little annoying if the upper isn’t as form-fitting. Attaining a precise lock down in said situation could be awkward. I’d personally like to see Hoka provide a suitable replacement for future purchasers. It would be a shame if people were dissuaded by something so easily (and cheaply) rectified.

First Run

I decided to Christen the Cielo-X1 on a Tempo 5k as part of my April marathon training. This involved 1km at conversational pace (no faster than 5:55 /km), followed by 5km at 5:10 /km.

I was immediately blown away by the propulsion of the Cielo-X1. It felt significantly harder to slow the shoes down than it did to let them take me for a ride. Unfortunately, this meant going a tad quicker than I’m used to for my warm up kilometre. This wouldn’t have been an issue had it not been for my underdeveloped engine and a largely uphill segment. As a result, I was feeling reasonably spent before the tempo section even started.

This was one of my concerns when originally setting out to buy a pair of super shoes. I wondered whether, as an average runner, I had the lungs to match the increased paces demanded by the shoes.

Despite the initial concern, the tempo session went exactly as planned. The 5km interval came in slightly fast at 5:09 /km, and the warmup 5:53 /km. The fastest I took the shoes was 4:34 /km.

The Cielo-X1 felt equally at home across the multitude of paces. Nonetheless, a Tempo 5K session is not sufficient to discuss performance. What I can say, is there’s an unbelievable amount of bounce. The Hoka Cielo-X1 demand more out of you. It’s like you’re fighting to keep up with them.

To assess performance at the distances they’re designed for, I decided to take the Cielo-X1 for a spin in my first half-marathon.

Half-marathon

When I bought the Cielo-X1s, I knew I would be running the half-marathon distance the following week as per Runna’s training plan. Originally, it seemed a no-brainer to use my trustee New Balance SC Trainer V2, a shoe that’s kept my legs feeling fresh after a number of long runs. They were definitely the safe choice.

Equally, I wondered how much I was leaving behind using what is essentially a plated daily trainer (albeit a fantastic one). How fast could I really run a half-marathon on my first attempt? As a result of the tempo run detailed above, I was really torn about wearing the Cielo-X1 again. Sure, they’d helped me to achieve the target pace demanded by the session, but they also made it difficult to reduce the pace when necessary. Was it a stupid decision to run my longest distance after just 6 kms in them? Probably.

But I’m so glad I did.

My biggest concern was that the Hokas would be too much shoe for my current ability. Would I set off too quickly, struggle to pace myself, and end up knackered after a few kilometres? To minimise the chance of this happening, I chose a reasonably flat course to prevent a dramatic increase in heart rate. Nonetheless, I still intended to run the first couple of kilometres between 5:30-6:00 /km to ease my body into it. The shoes, however, had other ideas.

Over the first four KMs, I averaged 5:10 /km without much effort at all. While it was easy to maintain this pace, I actively tried to reduce it, reminding myself I had another 17.1 kms to go. For the next 6 kms, I settled into a rhythm, averaging 5:26 /km. There was a weird moment where the shoes seemed to lose their pop. I soon realised, however, I was just becoming accustomed to the bounce of the shoe – learning how to control and roll with it.

Over the duration of the run, the slowest I was able to run was 5:38 /km, which came as a bit of a surprise considering this was kilometre 18 and I was definitely feeling the distance. At the other end of the spectrum, the quickest I took them was 4:55 /km. I didn’t want to go too fast and jeopardise longevity (sure you didn’t). Similarly to the tempo session, the shoes felt at home across the spectrum of paces.

Performance, Comfort, and Stability Of The Cielo-X1

Hoka have obviously created the Cielo-X1 to perform at unfathomable paces, much quicker than I’m currently (or perhaps ever) able to take them. But they were also fantastic at keeping my legs turning over at the low to mid 5-minute kms, helping me to achieve a respectable first half-marathon time of 1:52:22 (or 5:20 /km average over the 21.1). I had questioned whether an average runner such as myself would be able to cope with the propulsion of super shoes. Would they benefit me, or would they provide too much for my underdeveloped engine? The answer was that the Hoka Cielo-X1 worked just as well for someone of my ability – they just take a little bit of getting used to.

If you’re a beginner who’s used to running in a standard daily trainer, you’re essentially doing all of the work. In the Hoka Cielo-X1, the load is shared. That help comes in the form of forward propulsion. This places a higher demand on you, in some ways forcing you to keep up with the shoes. But as you start to feel tired, they’re still there, making you faster than your rate of perceived exertion. That’s why, while feeling the distance at kilometre 18, i’m still able to maintain marathon pace. If you’re trying out a super shoe for the first time, all I’d say is, give them a few sessions before deciding if you like them. These absolutely do work for those of us running at slower paces. While designed for the elite, they work for the average runner, too.

While performance is an important component of shoe selection for half-marathon distance and beyond, comfort and stability are equally vital. Where comfort is concerned, I can’t speak highly enough of the Cielo-X1. As mentioned previously, the knit upper just seems to provide a warm embrace to my feet. In tandem with the perfect fit from going 1/2 size up, I don’t need to tighten the laces at all which reduces the chances of lace bite – an issue I’ve had with other models. The gusseted knit tongue is a nice addition and seems more adjustable than others I’ve tried, meaning you can dial in the comfort. Furthermore, the 4mm sock liner provides extra cushion, support, and comfort.

Perhaps more impressive, is how stable the Cielo-X1 feels. Though advertised as a neutral stability shoes, it felt equally as stable as my daily trainer and significantly more so than other super shoes I’ve tested.
This is even more impressive when you consider the stack height of the Cielo, as well as the lateral mid foot cutout (which Hoka have done to keep the weight down). It’s important to note, of course, that they may not work for everyone. If you’ve a history of ankle issues, the lateral mid foot cutout may be cause for concern, but it’s hard to know until you try them yourself!

Conclusion

In the short time I’ve been running, I’ve tried a number of super shoes, the Adidas Adios Pro 3 and Takumi-Sen 8, for example. The Hoka Cielo-X1 is on another level, providing significantly more propulsion than either of those and providing a comfortable foot bed and upper.

At the steep price of £250, part of me really didn’t want to like the Cielo-X1. If not for the 30 Day Guarantee offered on direct purchases from Hoka, I probably wouldn’t have purchased them. In truth, I half expected to try them out for a couple of runs, see minimal benefit, and send them straight back. But the Cielo-X1 has, much to the dismay of my bank account, exceeded all expectations. It’s hands down the best super shoe I’ve had the fortune of trying, and will be staying firmly in the rotation.

While reviews such as this one provide an overview of an individual’s thoughts about a shoe, nothing compares to trying the shoe for yourself. As briefly touched on, Hoka offer a 30 Day Guarantee if purchasing directly from them. In those 30 days, you’re able to put any shoe from Hoka through their paces and decide whether they’re for you. If you’re on the fence about the Cielo-X1, I highly recommend utilising this fantastic service. Hopefully more brands start to offer this, particularly with the ever-increasing cost of race day shoes.

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