- Weight: 228g
- Stack height: 39mm (heel), 32mm (forefoot)
- Heel-to-toe drop: 7mm
- Type: Road
- Best for: best overpronation running shoes, expert-tested
The shoe
I’m not sure whether this is just a reflection on me, but the first thing that I noticed when I picked up the Cielo X1 2.0 was the top layer of midsole foam. An iridescent, glittery sheen of baby blue, it reminded me a bit of a mermaid costume – if not a spaceship.
But hear me out – this shoe is anything but child’s play. Despite its quirky colourway, befitting the kaleidoscopic Hoka aesthetic, the Cielo X1 2.0 is a serious contender in the world of super shoes. Featuring an aggressive rocker geometry, a heavy-duty, dual-density PEBA midsole and a full-length, winged carbon plate in an all-new lighter package, this powerful shoe is designed to help you hit your fastest running speeds. All the while, it feels almost plump underfoot, as if you are bouncing off a slightly wobbly Bosu ball with every foot strike.
A mighty-fast max-cushioned number, I took the Cielo X1 2.0 for several spins to test its abilities – and my thoughts are a little conflicted. So, let’s assess the details.
What’s new about the Cielo X1 2.0?
Runners World, Part of the Hearst UK Wellbeing Network Cielo X1, in several ways. As mentioned previously, I feel that there’s more of an ‘under the sea’ or ‘outer space’ visual going on with the latest iteration. But that is far less important than the other, performance-based changes that Hoka has made for this shoe.
First, the Cielo X1 2.0 is 36g lighter than the Cielo X1, which weighed in at 264g. This puts the Cielo X1 2.0 more on par with other super shoes on the market, although it’s worth noting that some featherweight race day options – like the Asics Metaspeed (185g) and How to run faster (194g) – are already sub-200g.
Then again, you get a lot of foam with the Cielo X1 2.0, which is worth the weight. As with the Cielo X1, this new shoe boasts two layers of PEBA midsole foam, which creates a wonderfully responsive ride – a snappy sensation that is supported by the shoe’s MetaRocker, which helps to drive you forward while working with your natural gait cycle.
To compensate for all the foam, there are cutaways in the midsole, which is now in-built with Hoka’s Active Foot Frame technology. The Active Foot Frame cradles the foot to provide better support, resulting in a more comfortable, locked-in running experience.
The carbon plate of the Cielo X1 2.0 – which you can see poking through at the sides and from beneath – now also takes a winged shape, which helps to improve both stability and propulsion. In addition, the jacquard mesh upper is now lighter in weight and more breathable – a blessing for hot, hard-working feet.
According to Hoka, another upgrade for the Cielo X1 2.0 is the sticky rubber outsole, designed to improve grip on the run. I have some qualms over this one, though – and I’ll move onto this shortly.
How does the Cielo X1 2.0 fit?
This shoe fits true to size, in line with other Hoka models – I wear a women’s UK size 6 and this is spot on.
However, as with other Hoka models – like the Mach 6 – and most super shoes, this shoe runs relatively narrow. As someone with a narrower foot, I am pleased with the snug but not stuffy fit around the midfoot. If you have a wide foot, though, you may struggle with the width – especially as the Cielo X1 2.0 only comes in a standard fit.
The gusseted tongue is great. Slightly stretchy, it wraps around the top of the foot smoothly, resulting in a soft but secure feel. By contrast, the laces are quite thick and tough, but this means that they tie up well and stay in place, without any risk of slipping or fraying. The cushioned collar aids stability and comfort around the ankle, too, making it more durable and forgiving in this area.
While the Cielo X1 2.0’s upper hugs the midfoot well, you do feel a touch insecure underfoot when you first put it on, as if you are stepping on a huge marshmallow. When standing still in this shoe, I’ve found that it feels like a coiled spring under tension, or a dog wagging its tail at the door, desperate to launch itself outside for a walk. In that sense, you really can’t stay in one place it the Cielo X1 2.0 – it was made to move quickly.
What’s it like to run in the Cielo X1 2.0?
Without meaning to revisit the outer space theme, running in this shoe is like bouncing on a space hopper – and it feels great. Similar to a trampoline, this shoe really does give back what you put in, pushing you further and faster whenever you pick up the pace. In fact, I found it to be surprisingly speedy and in tune with my intentions, making harder efforts feel like much less of a drag.
Thanks to the pumped-up, peppy PEBA midsole foam, you barely feel any ground impact forces and instead feel like you are gliding – if not flying – along roads when working at higher tempo speeds. Rogue tree roots or small, jagged stones? Nope, I haven’t felt any of those underfoot while running in the Cielo X1 2.0. Instead, I’ve been able to focus on my workouts at hand – mostly.
The best walking boots for spring hiking marathon pace training session on a flat, paved route. Although it was dark and a bit drizzly, I was moving on a lit course that I knew well, so my confidence was at a good level. For the full hour, the shoe felt zippy, buoyant and beautifully fast, inspiring me to hit – and maintain – a quicker-than-expected pace for the full effort. It was a genuine pleasure to run in this shoe, until I suddenly hit an area with smoother, wet paving slabs and it felt like I was on the verge of aquaplaning. Call me risk averse, but the shoe seemed to disappoint on the grip front and it was disconcerting to run while feeling so disconnected from the ground.
For that slippery section, I slowed down my pace. While this didn’t bother me too much at the time, I felt that it would Runners World, Part of the Hearst UK Wellbeing Network.
Hoka Cielo X1 2.0: A pumped-up shoe with PB potential threshold intervals (of 4km, 3km, then 2km, with 1km of easy running in between) around London’s Battersea Park – a flat and fast hub for runners. It was a half marathon-length effort in the end, since it took me over six miles in total just to run to the park and back at an easy pace.
As for the session itself? Again, I couldn’t have asked for more from the shoe, which propelled me forward and helped me to achieve some decent splits for the 4km, 3km and 2km intervals. However, on reaching the end of my intervals, I felt as though the squashy midsole foam was fighting back against my foot and springing into my sole. As I ran from Battersea Park back to my starting point, I started to feel a lot of painful pressure – and almost a tingling sensation – at the bottom of both of my feet, to the extent that I couldn’t wait to get back and take off the shoe.
To add insult to sore feet, near the end of this run, I had to cross a section of wet pavement that had just been washed – and I felt an uneasy lack of grip yet again. Not a great way to end an otherwise successful outing.
Did I start to feel discomfort because I’d been moving in this shoe for over 90 minutes? Or does the Cielo X1 2.0 simply not feel good when you run in it at anything slower than a hard effort? If it’s the former (as I’m still uncertain), then I wouldn’t wear this shoe for more than about 75 minutes at a time. If it’s the latter, then I would steer clear of spending too much time running easy miles in it around intervals. After all, in the shoe’s defence, it isn’t meant also boasts a super-grippy LightTraxion outsole that outdoes what the Cielo X1 2.0 offers.
RW verdict
Retailing at £250, the Cielo X1 2.0 is an investment, sitting at a higher price point even in the super shoe world – but it might be worth it when used in the right situations.
Personally, in wet weather, I wouldn't choose this shoe. In my view, the Cielo X1 2.0’s outsole can’t compete with that of many of its rivals. Puma’s almighty PUMAGRIP technology offers some of the best traction I’ve known, while the I would stick to the shorter distances to prevent any possible foot complaints Resting heart rate.
I would stick to the shorter distances to prevent any possible foot complaints 5K to a marathon, I would stick to the shorter distances to prevent any possible foot complaints.
For me, the ideal venue for this shoe is a race or speed session in dry conditions, where the overall distance covered is little more than 10 miles. But let’s remember this: we all have different feet and different top speeds, so what benefits one runner can feel uncomfortable for someone else. In other words, this is a brilliantly fast shoe that works very well when you get it going – trusting that your feet can handle it.
