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The HOKA Cielo X1 3.0 is one of those shoes that makes you want to run a little faster the moment you start moving.
If you tried the X1 2.0 and thought, “this is quick… but it feels a bit awkward unless I’m absolutely sending it”, the 3.0 feels like HOKA smoothing out the edges.
It still has that race-only personality, but now the balance is more forgiving across a wider range of paces, so you don’t need perfect form at all times just to enjoy what the shoe is good at.
It’s still not the easiest super shoe out there (HOKA’s Rocket X 3 is more approachable for most runners), but the Cielo X1 3.0 now feels like it’s chasing “usable speed” rather than “only works when you’re redlining”, or an elite athlete.
Key specifications
- Price: $275 at hoka.com
- Weight: 7.0oz / 198g (my pair, US men’s 9)
- Drop / stack: 7mm drop (38 mm heel / 31 mm forefoot)
- Upper: Leno weave textile with stretchy “dynamic vamp” + asymmetrical lacing
- Midsole: dual-layer PEBA foam + redesigned carbon plate
- Outsole: compression-molded polyurethane outsole
A few of the updates I noticed immediately: the heel geometry feels refined, the upper feels more streamlined, the asymmetrical lacing locks things down nicely, and the tongue is finally long enough to feel properly race-comfortable.
Sizing and fit
Fit is true to size, with a medium width and a race-precise feel that isn’t overly narrow (which is honestly rare in this category).
The midfoot wrap is secure, heel lock is very good, and the whole shoe stays composed when I’m pushing hard.
The tongue deserves a shout too; longer, better padded, and it actually wraps the foot properly now.
Toe box space is what you’d expect from a super shoe: not roomy, but comfortable and predictable. Just don’t come in expecting loads of toe-splay freedom.
Performance review
The big change vs X1 2.0 is balance you can feel at slower paces
This is the first thing I notice when I’m not running flat-out.
The X1 3.0 feels more naturally balanced at cruising speeds, less awkward, easier to settle into, and generally less “fussy” about how you land.
It even passes the standing-and-walking test for me in a way the X1 2.0 didn’t.
That backward-rock sensation I got in v2 is basically gone, and I think most of that comes down to how HOKA has reshaped the rear rocker and heel geometry.
Energy return is epic
The energy return is the headline for the Cielo line, and especially this new version.
It’s bouncier than any previous version I’ve run in, and it feels like I’m getting more back with less effort, especially once I’m ticking up cadence.
I’d bet the redesigned plate is doing a lot of work here.
The shoe wants to move, and it’s very easy to lock into race rhythm quickly.
One small note: because it’s so light and lively, it can tempt you into going out too hot early if you’re not paying attention to your perceived effort level. Not the worst problem to have… but it’s real.
The rocker and landing point is better for midfoot-to-forefoot
The best landing spot feels shifted slightly forward for me.
The rear rocker feels shortened (or at least less dominant), and the whole shoe feels happier when I’m landing midfoot-to-forefoot rather than letting it pull me into an exaggerated forward pitch.
The payoff is a cleaner roll-through across more paces. I get a smoother land-takeoff transition without needing perfect race posture to unlock it.
The carbon plate has a crisp toe-off without being so picky
Toe-off still has that crisp snap that tells your legs, “yep, this is a race shoe”. But it’s less punishing now if your landing point drifts a little rearward.
That matters late in races, when form gets messy, and your legs tire.
You’re rarely landing perfectly at mile 22 (unless you’re an elite), sometimes you sit back for a moment to reset, or fatigue pulls you a touch heelward.
In the 3.0, the plate still gives the pop, but it doesn’t feel as unforgiving about it.
The catch is heel stability
This is still the main limitation for me.
The heel platform is narrow, and if I land even slightly heel-first, or fatigue nudges me back, it can feel tippy and less planted than I’d like.
So while the 3.0 is better balanced overall than v2, it still rewards runners who can stay forward and assertive late in the run.
If your form drifts heelward when you tire, that narrow rear can feel sketchy, especially on corners or uneven ground.
Grip and cornering confidence
Grip has been reliable and durable for me so far, including on slick patches and painted lines.
I don’t feel like I’m tip-toeing around turns, which is exactly how a race shoe should behave: quick decisions, clean corners, no hesitation.
My verdict
The HOKA Cielo X1 3.0 still feels like a proper race shoe for aggressive running but it’s less awkward at cruising speeds now, and the bounce is easier to access without needing perfect posture to make it work.
It’s right up there with the best carbon-plated marathon racers available today… with the caveat that heel stability is still the price of admission.
If you’re the kind of runner who stays forward when it matters, this shoe is seriously fun, and highly effective; yes $275 is expensive but every super shoe that performs this well is going to cost you.
And if you’re on the fence, I’d also look at the Rocket X 3 because it delivers a lot of the speed, but with a calmer, more stable feel, making it very accessible for most runners.
