HOKA Cielo X1 3.0 Review: Big Bounce, Serious Race Speed
The HOKA Cielo X1 3.0 is HOKA’s most aggressive “super shoe” option right now — a high-stack, carbon-plated racer that’s built to feel fast the second you turn your legs over. It’s light, it’s wildly bouncy, and it has a rocker that wants to keep you rolling forward… but it’s also a shoe that rewards good mechanics, especially late in a race.
If you’re picking a race-day shoe for a 10K, half, or marathon — and you want a soft-but-springy ride that feels like it’s helping you maintain pace — this is one of the most exciting options in the carbon-plated racing category right now (and yes — it’s a unisex model).
Quick specs (what matters)
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Use case: Race day + key workouts (tempo, longer intervals, fast long runs)
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Plate: Full-length carbon
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Ride: Very rockered + highly propulsive
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Best for: Midfoot/forefoot runners chasing speed over 10K–marathon
Shop the current colourways here:
How the Cielo X1 3.0 feels on the run
1) It’s bouncy — and you feel it immediately
This shoe is designed to feel like a trampoline at race effort: soft enough to protect your legs, but energetic enough to keep you moving forward. Once you’re up to pace, it feels like it wants to keep going — the rocker/plate combo really encourages fast turnover.
2) The rocker is aggressive (in a “race shoe” way)
The Cielo X1 3.0 doesn’t feel like a neutral daily trainer that happens to have a plate — it’s a purpose-built racer. The geometry helps pull you onto the front half of the shoe and rewards runners who stay forward and assertive through their stride.
Fit and sizing
The Cielo X1 3.0 is a snug, race-locked fit — secure through the midfoot with a streamlined upper that’s made to hold you in place when you’re moving fast. As a general rule, it’s not the “roomiest” toe box style of super shoe, so if you prefer a relaxed forefoot, keep that in mind.
If you’re unsure, the best move is always to match the shoe to your stride and foot shape with a quick in-store assessment — our team can help with fit and suitability through Run Hub Gait Analysis.
Who should buy the Cielo X1 3.0
This shoe makes the most sense if:
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You’re racing 10K to marathon
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You naturally land midfoot-to-forefoot at faster paces
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You want a soft, bouncy super shoe that still feels fast
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You like a rockered ride that keeps you rolling forward
Verdict
The HOKA Cielo X1 3.0 is a properly modern super shoe: light on foot, extremely bouncy, and built to help you hold pace when you’re running hard. If you stay forward and load it the way it wants to be loaded, it feels electric.
If you want help choosing the right race shoe for your stride, drop into us for Gait Analysis and we’ll point you at the right option for your mechanics and goals.
