If you ran in the X1 2.0 and thought, “This is fast… but why does it feel a bit awkward unless I’m absolutely sending it?”, the HOKA Cielo X1 3.0 feels like HOKA nudging the concept back toward a more natural, usable kind of speed.
It's not quite on the same accessible level as the Rocket X 3, but it's edging closer.
My pair in US M9 comes in at 7.0oz / 198g, and it genuinely feels that lightweight once you start turning your legs over.
The big story though isn’t just weight, it’s how the shoe’s balance and bounce come together across more paces than the previous version, without needing perfect race posture to “unlock” it.
Key specifications
- Price: For the best price and colorway options, get them here: $275 at hoka.com
- Weight: 7oz / 198g (my pair, US M9) - 0.2oz lighter than the Cielo X1 2.0, 0.3oz lighter than the Rocket X 3
- Drop (and stack height): 7mm drop, 38mm heel, 31mm under the toe
- Upper: Leno weave textile with a stretchy “dynamic vamp” and asymmetrical lacing
- Midsole: Dual-layer PEBA midsole foam with a new carbon fiber plate design
- Outsole: Compression-molded polyurethane outsole
The refined heel geometry brings a little extra stability, the upper feels more streamlined, the asymmetrical lacing provides a nice secure fit, and and I'm loving the new long tongue.
Sizing and fit
Fit is still true to size, with a medium width, and it still feels race-precise but not narrow like many other rade day options.
The wrap feels secure, the heel lock is good overall, and it stays composed when I’m pushing hard.
The tongue is much better now too, it's nice and long, and wraps your foot very well.
The toe box isn’t roomy, but it’s comfortable and predictable, just don’t come in expecting loads of toe-splay space, that's a rare thing on any super shoe.
Performance review
The big change vs the X1 2.0 is an improved balance you can feel at slower paces
This is the first thing I notice when I’m not running flat-out.
Cielo X1 2.0 (left), Cielo X1 3.0 (right)
The Cielo X1 3.0 feels better-balanced, and therefore, at cruising speeds it feels less awkward, more natural, and easier to settle into a strong rhythm without having to “force” the shoe into its sweet spot.
It also passes the standing and walking, test in a way the X1 2.0 didn’t for me.
That weird backward-rock sensation I got when standing or just cruising in v2 is basically gone here, and the overall balance feels closer to the original Cielo X1 - mostly due to the redesigned rocker at the heel.
Bounce and pop: the midsole has great energy return
The ride is incredibly bouncy, more so than any previous iteration.
It feels like I’m getting more pop back with less effort, likely due to the carbon plate redesign.
This response is exactly what I want when I’m trying to run hard over long distances, without feeling like I’m muscling the shoe through the stride.
The weight plays into that feeling too, my pair weigh 7.0oz / 198g (US M9) and they feel properly lightweight on foot. Sure, they're not Vaporfly 4 standards, but close.
I notice the impact of such light running shoes, mostly when I’m turning my legs over at faster paces and a higher cadence.
It’s one of those shoes that makes it easy to find race rhythm quickly.
Watch out for: because it’s so bouncy (and so light), it can make it very easy to go out too hot early if you’re not paying attention.
Alastair Dixon
Rocker and landing point is better for midfoot-to-forefoot
The best landing point has shifted slightly for me, because the rear rocker feels decreased, or at least shortened.
The effect of this update is that the shoe feels better balanced for midfoot-to-forefoot landings, rather than feeling like it’s forcing an exaggerated forward pitch.
It’s also why the transition/roll-through feels cleaner across a wider range of paces now.
I’m getting a smoother “set → load → pop” without needing perfect race posture to unlock it.
the carbon plate provides a crisp toe-off without being so picky
The toe-off still has that crisp snap that helps me click into race mode, but it feels less fussy now.
Before, I felt like I had to be more precise to keep it feeling smooth and fast. In the Cielo X1 3.0, the plate still gives me that quick pop, but it doesn’t punish me as much if my landing point wanders slightly towards the heel.
That’s a meaningful change late in races, because you’re rarely landing perfectly when you’re hanging on; sometimes we sit back while we recover which means landing more towards our heels, or we tend to pronate a little.
Alastair Dixon
The catch is still heel stability
This is the only real drawback for me: it’s not very stable at the heel.
The heel footprint is narrow, and if I land even a bit heel-first, or fatigue nudges me back, it can feel tippy / less planted.
This is where the original Cielo X1 felt more confidence-inspiring for a wide range of runners. It absolutely nailed heel stability in a way this version doesn’t match for me.
So while the 3.0 is better balanced overall than v2, it still rewards runners who stay forward and assertive late in the run, which means it definitely favors strong runners.
If your form drifts heelward when you tire, that narrow rear can feel sketchy, especially when running around corners or on any uneven ground.
Grip and cornering confidence
Grip stays reliable for me, including on slick areas.
I don’t feel like I’m babying corners or painted lines, which is exactly how I want a race shoe to behave; fast decisions, clean turns, no hesitation.
Who it’s for (and who should skip it)
Best for: runners who naturally land mid-to-forefoot, like a bouncy, fast, race-tuned feel, and can stay assertive late in the run.
You might struggle if: you rely on some form of heel stability, or if your form tends to drift into heel striking when fatigue hits.
If you want a comfort-first marathon cruiser type of ride, this still isn’t that kind of racer (even though step in comfort is 10/10), but you're in luck because HOKA's Rocket X 3, is the more accessible version of this one.
My verdict
The HOKA Cielo X1 3.0 still feels like a true race shoe for aggressive running but it’s less awkward at cruising speeds now, and the bounce feels easier to access without needing perfect posture to make it work.
It's up there with the best carbon plated racing shoes right now but I do urge you to also read my Rocket X 3 review, because that one is also incredibly fast, but more stable!
I recommend buying these at Hoka.com for competitive prices + often sales up to 30% off • HOKA Membership perks • Free shipping for members • Easy 60-day returns for members (30 days non-members) • New membership sign-up: 10% off.
