Hoka Cielo X1 2.0 Review
By Andrea Myers and Matt Klein
Hoka Cielo X1 2.0Price: $274.95 at Running Warehouse
Weight: 8.1oz, 230 g (men's size 10), 6.8oz, 192 g (women's size 8)
Stack Height: Not Provided
Drop: 7 mm
Shoe Purpose: Super Racing Shoe
Pros: Over an ounce lighter than previous version, more responsive midsole, more aggressive heel bevel and forefoot rocker
Cons: Medial rearfoot cutout may cause stability issues for some, more aggressive heel bevel may not work for heel strikers
RUNNING SHOE SUMMARY
The Hoka Cielo X1 2.0 is a super racing shoe for those that want a fast, efficient shoe for longer races. A new minimal jacquard mesh provides a secure and snug lockdown for those wanting a closer fit. A brand new sole design makes for an aggressively rockered ride with an incredibly bouncy PEBA midsole that makes going fast for longer distances easy. Best as a 10k to marathon racer for those with efficient and neutral mechanics, the Cielo X1 2.0 returns as a completely different and far more aggressive shoe than its predecessor.
Editor's Note: The Cielo X1 is a carbon plated racing shoe series meant for long distance races. There are additional Cielo shoes in the Hoka line-up. There is also the Cielo X LD and MD which are track spikes. The Cielo Road is a super lightweight nonplated option for workouts and for some shorter distance road racing.
SIMILAR SHOES: On Cloudboom Strike
PAST MODEL: Hoka Cielo X1
FIT
(To learn how a shoe should fit, check out our full podcast on fit by Matt Klein.)
Matt: The Hoka Cielo X1 2.0 fits me mostly true to size in my normal Men's US size 10. The fit is snug and feels like a racing shoe. There is a little more volume in the forefoot but the fit is tapered at the toe box. This is especially noticeable with the toe guard, so socks are a must with this shoe. The forefoot is snug and not wide. This transitions into a mostly normal fitting midfoot. The tongue is extremely thin with no gusseting. I did have to tighten the laces slightly as there is a little more volume in the midfoot, so those with a higher instep will do well. This continues into a normal to slightly snug heel. The heel collar has minimal padding and the heel counter is moderately flexible. I did not have any issues with the counter and only those who are most sensitive will notice it. The lockdown was great after I tightened the laces over the midfoot and I did not have any slipping problems. While I sometimes felt like I was going to fall off the shoe due to the narrow platform, the upper did a great job keeping my feet locked on the platform. I did not experience any heel slippage, so it is fairly secure throughout the length of the shoe. The really snug fit does break in slightly after 10-15 miles but it continues to have a closer fit than the prior version.
Typical Size: Men's US Size 10
Shoes that have fit Matt well: On Cloudboom Strike, Asics Gel-Nimbus 27, Xero HFS, Topo Cyclone 3, Adidas Adizero Evo SL
Shoes that have fit snug: Hoka Arahi 7, Brooks Launch 11, Diadora Mythos Vigore 3
Shoes that have fit large: Salomon S/Lab Phantasm 2, Adidas Agravic Speed Ultra
Andrea: The Hoka Cielo X1 2.0 fits true to size in my usual women's 9.5. I have a little less than a full thumb's width from the front of the shoe to my big toe, and the toe box is just wide enough that I did not experience any pressure on my 1st or 5th MTPs. Compared to the original version of this shoe, the toe box has less volume, length, and width, but it still fits me comfortably. The midfoot and rearfoot are normal width and it was easy to lock the shoe down without any readjustment during the run. The non-gusseted tongue is thin with minimal padding, but is held securely in place by a lace loop. The laces are a big improvement over the wide, stiff laces of the original version and I did not feel them at all on the dorsum of my foot, despite the thin tongue. The rearfoot features a semi rigid counter in the inferior half of the heel and is very flexible in the upper half. There is a small amount of padding internally and I did not have any issues with heel rubbing, like I did in the Mach X 2. Overall, I am pleased with the fit of the shoe and have zero fit-related complaints.
Andrea's Typical Size: Women's US Size 9.5
Shoes that have fit Andrea well: Brooks Hyperion Max 1 and 2, Topo Cyclone 2, Nike Vaporfly 3, ASICS Novablast 4 and 5, PUMA MagMax Nitro
Shoes that have fit snug: Altra Escalante 4 (toe box width and volume), Mizuno Wave Rebellion Pro 2 and 3 (length), Saucony Endorphin Speed and Pro 1-4 (length)
Shoes that have fit large: Adidas Boston 12 (length), Adidas Adios 8 (length)
Doctors of Running Checklist
Is This a Good Shoe for Walking: No
Is This a Good Shoe for Standing: No
Is the Forefoot Flexible: No
How Flexible is the Shoe: Not Flexible
Is This a Good Heel Bevel: Depends
Recommended for Haglunds: Somewhat
Recommended for Sockless: No
Durability Expectation: Average
PERFORMANCE
Matt: The Hoka Cielo X1 2.0 is a super racing shoe for longer-distance racing. The midsole is full length supercritical PEBA which provides a bouncy and slightly softer ride. The weight is noticeably lower than the prior version and is in line with other super racing shoes like the On Cloudboom Strike and Nike Alphafly 3. The geometry is highly rockered with a large heel bevel and a long early forefoot rocker. Although the midsole is bouncy, the most noticeable part of the transition comes from the roll forward. There is a 7 mm drop but it feels slightly lower than that due to the large heel bevel. The heel transition is smooth and a bit aggressive in its roll forward. This transitions almost immediately to the forefoot which begins to roll you right off the toes.
The midfoot features the greatest amount of cushioning, so those that land more centered, which is where the shoe almost forces you, will experience a more cushioned feel. As there is a full length carbon fiber plate in this shoe, there is no flexibility in the forefoot (or any part of the shoe). There is a large amount of toe spring which combined with the snug fit almost made the shoe feel short for me. Those with toe mobility issues will not do well due to the aggressive toe spring but those that want this will be right at home. Pace-wise, this shoe is meant to go faster. I struggled to get it to go 5k pace and below due to the larger rocker but 10k up to marathon pace feel awesome. This shoe locks in extremely well during longer efforts, including longer intervals, tempo runs and marathon type runs as long as your mechanics can handle the narrow heel and medially based midfoot (more on that in the next section). It does not feel great at slower speeds as the large rocker, narrow sole and bouncy ride feel awkward until the pace picks up. Surface wise this shoe is only meant for road and track. The narrow sole and cut-outs and exposed PEBA midsole will get torn up on anything but man-made surfaces. The durability is also not great, as I have already chewed up a significant amount of the lateral midfoot at 25 miles. This is due to the amount of exposed midsole and the small heel outsole pieces are about to get torn off. The forefoot outsole has done great due to the more extensive coverage, so those that land farther forward will get more miles out of these.
Andrea: The Hoka Cielo X1 2.0 is an exciting update on the original, the Hoka Cielo X1. The original was a surprise favorite of mine in 2024, with it performing exceptionally well for uptempo long runs as well as intervals from half marathon to mile pace. My main complaint about the original was its weight, and I was hoping the updated version would be slimmed down. My wish was granted, with the 2.0 weighing in over an ounce lighter than the original. I could tell just walking around my house in them that Hoka made the 2.0 a lighter, bouncier shoe and I was really excited to test them in some workouts. I have tested them at paces ranging from 10k to 800m pace, and I have been very impressed by the shoe's performance. The dual-density PEBA midsole is highly responsive and the aggressive heel bevel and early forefoot rocker feel both perfectly suited for midfoot landings and provide a propulsive ride. The medial rearfoot-midfoot cutout was more noticeable for me at easy paces during my warmup and cooldown, but as someone who tends to land too far laterally, I actually liked the feeling of the shoe making it easier to load the medial aspect of my forefoot. I didn't particularly feel the medial cutout when running faster, but I do think that it contributes to faster transitions because it helped me load my 1st MTP more quickly. The shoe also responded well at mile-800 pace, but did feel like it was a little too much shoe for those paces. I think the shoe is best suited for the 5k-marathon distance and I would not hesitate to use it for an uptempo long run if I were marathon training right now. All of the runs I did in the shoe were 8-9 miles, including warm up and cooldown, and I had absolutely no foot discomfort for these distances. The shoe feels a little lower than its stated 7mm drop due to the aggressive heel bevel and moderately compliant foam. The moderately compliant midsole also balances out the very stiff platform.
We have had a terrible winter here in CT, with snow or ice storms nearly every week for the past 2 months. One of my runs was on slush covered roads, but I was extremely impressed by the traction of the Cielo X1 2.0. The outsole has a high amount of rubber coverage, and it also felt like the medial midsole cutout acted like a large lug, biting into the slush. I had to be careful, but I did not slip at all on this run, which was extremely impressive for a racing shoe. I would have a lot of confidence using the shoe in a rainy race or on regular, wet roads. There is almost no visible wear on the rubber outsole and exposed midsole, so I would expect higher than average durability from the outsole. Like most super shoes, the durability will likely be limited by the performance of the midsole.
Editor's note for beginner marathoners: The team does not recommend this shoe to beginner runners looking to complete their first marathon or for runners who aren't seeking to race their marathon uptempo. The shoe is not so comfortable at a regular pace.
STABILITY
(Learn more about stability in our full guide)
Matt: The Hoka Cielo X1 2.0 is a neutral racing shoe that may be unstable for some. Those who enjoyed the lateral bias of the prior version will find that has disappeared in this version. There is now a medial cut out in the midfoot, which despite a plate does cause collapse through the medial midfoot, especially at slow to moderate speeds. There is a slightly larger medial sidewall in the midfoot that attempts but does not full correct for this. The heel and midfoot are also incredibly narrow for how tall this shoe is. The heel is balanced with a central guidance line that splits the midsole sections, allowing the lateral side to collapse separately from the medial side. This works better for those like myself who need some lateral bias but will not work well with those sensitive to lateral motion at the heel. Combined with the softness of the midsole, this makes this shoe not a good option for those with midfoot or heel stability/guidance needs. The forefoot is at neutral with a wider platform, the large rocker and medial/lateral sole flare. The back part of the forefoot is softer and the shoe is not flared enough for its weight, which keeps the front on the more neutral side even with a small medial and lateral sidewall. Overall, the Hoka Cielo X1 2.0 will be best for those with neutral mechanics, particularly in the midfoot and rearfoot.
Andrea: The Hoka Cielo X1 2.0 is a neutral racing shoe that has the potential to cause instability issues for some runners. The medial cutout in the rearfoot and midfoot is noticeable when running, for me more so at slower paces than faster paces, so those who have any kind of medial stability needs will likely not do well in this shoe. On the contrary, those with lateral stability issues like myself may really like the decreased resistance to medial motion in the Cielo X1 2.0. Besides the midsole cutout, the aggressive heel bevel encourages a more forward landing, so those who land heavily on their rearfoot, even at faster paces, may find the Cielo X1 2.0 to be even more unstable. The shoe does feature a moderate amount of sole flaring in the forefoot, which in combination with the wider forefoot base, provides a stable landing surface for midfoot or forefoot strikers. This stability is counteracted by the narrower midfoot and rearfoot, which will also place greater demands on heel strikers. The early forefoot rocker, which will reduce work at the 1st MTP and ankle joint, will likely shift stress to the hip joint, requiring greater hamstring and glute strength and control.
Thoughts as a DPT: Stability in the Hoka Cielo X1 vs Hoka Cielo X1 2.0
By Andrea Myers
I think I surprised my fellow DOR contributors when I named the Cielo X1 a runner up for my favorite performance trainer of 2024. I love the ride of the shoe, but it was too heavy for me to consider as a racing shoe, so I didn't mention every time I used it for a workout or uptempo long run. The Cielo X1 2.0 is over an ounce lighter than the original and finally feels like a true supershoe. However, the weight difference is not the only major update.
Hoka made a big change to the geometry of the 2.0 by relocating the midsole cutout from the lateral midfoot to the medial rearfoot/midfoot junction. This change, in combination with a more aggressive heel bevel and narrower rearfoot and midfoot base, has made the 2.0 significantly less stable as compared to the original. The more aggressive heel bevel encourages a more forward landing pattern, which may feel highly unstable for those who land further back and/or have medial stability issues. The less aggressive heel bevel and lateral cutout of the original version made the shoe more suitable for rearfoot strikers and provided some resistance to early medial motion. While I did not particularly notice the lateral cutout of the original despite my tendency to land too far laterally, I definitely liked the feeling of the medial cutout in the 2.0, as it felt like (rightfully so) there was less resistance to medial motion from initial contact at my lateral midfoot to loading my 1st MTP to prepare for push off.
Sometimes a shoe update is just an upper update, or a small geometry change, but in the case of the Cielo X1, the update is a major geometry update that has completely changed the shoe's ride and stability. Runners, coaches, sports med professionals, and those who work in run specialty should be aware of the major differences between the two shoes, and proceed accordingly.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Matt: I can appreciate the updates to the Hoka Cielo X1 2.0 as it brings this shoe into the realm of a truly aggressive super racing shoe. However, there are some things that have gone too far that may need some correcting. The first and most obvious one is the medial cut-out. While I personally liked the lateral cut out of the original, I recognize that too did not work for some people. My suggestion is to keep a central cut out while have at least small pieces of midsole on the far medial and lateral sides of the midfoot. This would correct the biases of both the first and second motion and make the shoe feel more centered. Secondly, I would like to plead with Hoka to just make a full coverage outsole. I am absolutely destroying these outsoles and tearing through the midsoles. With the price this high (almost $300), these shoes need to last longer. If they dropped the stack height just slightly to offset the outsole coverage, that would be totally worth it. Outside of those things, this is a really cool shoe for me. I just wish it was a little more stable and would last a little longer so I could get more use out of it.
Andrea: The Hoka Cielo X1 2.0 is the update I was hoping for - over an ounce lighter, better laces, and a shoe that I would actually use in a race (as opposed to the original version being one of my favorite performance trainers). I love running in this shoe and I would not hesitate to use it in any race from 5k-half marathon. I can't say for sure if I would use it in a marathon because I am not doing runs long enough or at marathon pace right now. So for me, I really wouldn't change a thing in the 2.0. However, I think the medial midsole cutout and more aggressive heel bevel is going to make this shoe work for fewer runners due to rearfoot instability. If Hoka wants to give the 3.0 a broader appeal, they might consider making the cutout smaller or shifting it to the center of the rearfoot and midfoot to maintain the weight savings.
WHO IS THIS SHOE FOR?
Matt: The Hoka Cielo X1 2.0 is a bouncy, fast rolling/rockered super shoe that is best for 10k to marathon distances in those with highly stable mechanics. Those wanting a snug fit with a little extra height/volume will like the racing style secure fit the upper provides. Those who want one of the most rockered rides on the market with a ton of PEBA midsole foam that rolls along will do best with the geometry. The medial cut out and narrower sole will work best for those with neutral mechanics and those with medial movement biases will be limited to shorter distances in this shoe. Version 2.0 truly brings this shoe into competition with some of the other higher-priced super racing shoes like the Alphafly, Cloudboom Strike and the Endorphin Elite 2. Like most of those shoes, it also becomes far more neutral. I will do my best to get more miles on this shoe despite the early wear but will be limited to 10k and maybe half-marathon efforts. I encourage these companies to continue to try to keep shoes centered rather than biased but at least those with lateral movement sensitivities will do better in this one compared to the previous. Those who loved the previous version for its comfortable, bouncy but fast ride that also had rare lateral bias will have to find something else now.
Andrea: The Hoka Cielo X1 2.0 is a bouncy, propulsive, and highly rockered supershoe that will be best for 5k-half marathon distances. Due to the relocation of the midsole cutout from the lateral side in v1 to the medial side in v2 and a more aggressive heel bevel, the shoe may not be suited for those who land heavily at the rearfoot and/or have medial stability needs. For those who land further forward and have lateral stability issues like myself, this could be a great racing shoe option. The 2.0 is absolutely a well-done update on v1, coming in over an ounce lighter, a more responsive ride, and a better upper and laces. At $275, it is priced competitively with comparable super shoes and I think its performance is a good value for the price. I definitely look forward to getting more miles on it and testing it in a 5k or 10k this year.
GRADES
Matt
Fit: A-/B+ (True to size racing fit. Snug in forefoot and heel with a normal width in the midfoot. Highly secure)
Performance: A- (Highly rockered and fast ride that works best from 10k to marathon efforts)
Stability: C+ [Neutral] (Highly neutral racing shoe with borderline unstable midfoot and rearfoot)
Value: C (Higher price point with worse durability. A fun shoe but already tearing through outsole/exposed midsole at 25 miles)
Personal: C (I want to like this shoe more but the durability and midfoot stability issues kill it for me)
Overall Design: B-
Andrea
Fit: A (fits TTS, feels like a racing shoe without any pinch points, toe box sufficiently wide, laces much better than v1)
Performance: A (Performs like a lightweight supershoe. Moderate compliance, high responsiveness, and propulsive ride due to aggressive rocker geometry. Performs well at any race pace I throw at it.)
Stability [neutral]: C (This is a neutral racing shoe that will likely cause stability issues for rearfoot strikers or those with medial stability needs. For those with lateral stability needs, the medial midsole cutout noticeably makes it easier to load the 1st MTP joint and transition to push off.)
Value: A ($275 is a normal price for a high performing super shoe. Outsole appears more durable than other supershoes.)
Personal: A (This shoe is so much fun for me to run in and the weight loss from v1 is noticeable. I will definitely be getting more miles on it, and hopefully a race or two this year.)
Overall Design: A
SHOP | SUPPORT DORHoka Cielo X1 2.0Price: $274.95 at Running Warehouse
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FURTHER READING
A lighter weight daily driver with big stack.
Hoka's signature shoe gets a good upgrade.
Find all Shoe Reviews at Doctors of Running here.
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