Hoka Cielo X1 2.0 Review

by Niels Oomkes · April 1, 2025 , 6:22 am

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Wow. Technology!! That is my absolute first thought as I take the Hoka Cielo X1 2.0 out of the box. Subsequently, this will be my first foray into the world of super shoes. It’s obviously not a new concept as they’ve been around for numerous years. With that in mind, I consider myself to be a fairly consistent and fanatical runner, but not to the point where I think I ever needed a “super shoe” to help me shave off those precious seconds in a race. That said, I am really curious, and want to find out what the hype is all about. The ultralight, hyper responsive foam with the embedded carbon-fiber plate are combined elements that will be eye opening, I’m sure.

Technical Features

PEBA midsole foam
Winged carbon fiber plate
centric MetaRocker™
focused Active Foot Frame™
Sticky rubber
Under 40mm Road Racing height for M8.5
Engineered jacquard mesh
3D screen printed overlay
Warp knit tongue made with 100% recycled polyester
SCF TPEE sock-liner

This video graphic is directly from Hoka’s website. I like it, because it really helps to show the breakdown of the major components.

Hoka Cielo X1 2.0 Upper

Letting you on a little secret here: despite the uppers striking looks, the midsole and its rocker/carbon plate will likely get all your attention the minute you put these on. However, the upper is super unique in its material makeup. The Cielo’s upper is quite thin, and feels really durable with its new engineered jacquard mesh. It flexes, bends, and crunches down really easy. The fabric is kind of a blend between a high-performance knit material and lightweight breathable mesh. Furthermore, it can and has been designed with targeted ventilation in mind. Lastly, the graphics are also somehow woven into it.

As mentioned, the upper is super lightweight, thin, and doesn’t really have any structural support elements. However, the heel cup (basically, the rear white portion as seen in the two photos below) does have a more solid feel to it. The hope is that the heel snuggles in and conforms nicely while providing the proper backboard (for lack of a better word) to be able to flow confidently from one stride to the next.

Most of my “regular” running shoes usually have quite a bit of padding around the ankle. Not the case here! It’s got a thin protective cuff that cleanly lines the ankle up towards the laces. I’m kind of an ankle knocker (if that’s even a phrase), and I have knicked up plenty of socks, ankles, and running shoe cuffs. Time will tell how these fare for me.

The tongue is also thin, but it works. No sliding around, because of the lace loop located a few lace crossings down. It’s keeping it in place throughout all of my runs.

Hoka Cielo X1 2.0 Midsole

The rather extreme cutouts throughout the midsole and outsole are there to reduce weight. That’s a good thing, right? On the one hand, I’d say they made positive strides towards that goal. On the other hand, it does create instability or imbalance when going slower or simply standing. Not to the point of falling over, but the ankle stabilizers are definitely activated. These are meant for speed, but I’d like to see a bit more moderation on this front.

The PEBA midsole foam is a definite tribute to the Hoka line of shoes that have come before it. It is thick and squishy to provide the support, comfort, and bounce for many runners.

Carbon has made its way into the running shoe world, and seems to have caught on. The Winged Carbon Fiber is light, moldable, and strong to provide that extra base for a springy return. The assumption being that it will propel you forward faster. On that note, I’d make sure you work on the leg turnover to keep up with the shoe. Lastly, the centric MetaRocker™ is the part you have to get used to, as it puts you on the forefoot to promote faster running.

Outer Sole on the Hoka Cielo X1 2.0

The consistent green-ish yellow layer of sticky rubber is obviously what engages the ground. I can’t speak to the durability at this point, but Hoka has a good history of shoe and sole making. I’ll make the assumption that they will last me several hundred miles.

It’s very evident by the above photo that that the front of the foot is where you should be spending most of your time. The back of the sole is rather narrow which plays into that swaying motion when not at a decent running pace.

Taking the Hoka Cielo X1 2.0s For A Spin

When first putting these on, I have to be brutally honest and thought “what have I gotten myself into?!?” The carbon plate / rocker element truly shocked me, and reminded me of those MBT shoes that were a thing back in 2010 or so. Bear with me here for a sec, because that immediately triggered the Better Call Saul fan in me. Jimmy bought those MBT shoes for his elderly mall walking clients.

These are obviously NOT intended for mall walking. Quite the opposite. They are designed and meant for some super speedy races and personal bests. They certainly look the part. The super thick cushiony sole imbedded with the rocker and carbon plate should help propel me. I will be very careful to get used to these at first, but I am super excited to see how they will perform.

First of all, sizing! It’s important, so I always recommend going to your local running store to try them out. I went with size 11.5. For years, I was a size 11. As my body has aged, my feet have flattened a bit, so that means larger shoes. I’d say, these Cielo’s fit maybe slightly on the small side. At 11.5, I have good spacing in the toe box which allows for adequate toe splay and freedom.

I first walked around in these for a few miles just to get used to what I can only call that wobbly effect. When I went out for my first run, I really felt like it forced me onto my toes. My natural gait is kind of a mid foot strike, so this does feel a bit unusual.

***TAKE NOTICE*** Every time I put these on, it feels weird! It’s not a natural feeling to be on this carbon rocker that pushes you forward. In addition, I feel a little off balance. When I start running, that feeling is still there for a little while; say a mile or two. Once I find my rhythm, and my stride or gait has gotten used to the fact that I am meant to be in a more aggressive position, that awkward feeling slowly goes away, and I am merely running as I usually would. The main difference is that I now feel speedier or more aggressive in my running.

My first test is a one mile speed test to put down a base to measure the rest of the season by. Mind you, its mid February, and I have been nice and steady with my 9-10 minute mile pace. The urge came over me to push it a bit, and I managed a 7:06 mile without going completely for broke. I am quite happy with that time at this point in my training program. That wasn’t an all out effort, but what I came to realize is that speed work is hard and is as much a mental game as it is physical. It’s been a while for me, so this will be a great experiment. It really does take a special mindset to push yourself to a limit that is truly uncomfortable and almost painful.

With that in mind, these Cielo’s are now my motivating factor to insert a speed session once per week. The following week, I added a 400 dash into the mix to set a baseline time for a specific section in my local park. We don’t have a nearby track, so I’ve found numerous Strava Segments to take the oval’s place. It was a 1 minute and 15 second effort on a slight uphill straightaway. Again, very painful, but encouraging. I’m not going to say yet that these Hoka Cielo X1 2.0 are the difference makers when it comes to speed. However, I will say that for now, they have become the motivator to get me out there to push hard.

My other tests for this shoe have revolved around faster, but steady tempo sessions. Clocking 5-8 miles at a solid speed I can maintain is the goal here. I am starting to like these Cielo’s for that purpose, because I am able to push the pace faster for longer.

Final Speed Invoking Thoughts On The Hoka Cielo X1 2.0

The Hoka Cielo X1 2.0 is a super shoe that will truly encourage you to pick up your legs and go fast. It definitely takes some getting used to as that initial feel is one of slight imbalance. The MetaRocker forces the ankle stabilizers to go into overdrive to keep steady. However, after a short warm up to train the legs, body, and mind, you will find your rhythm. And once you do, it turns into a speed machine. $275 is a hefty price to pay for a running shoe. I certainly get that, and because of that, the Cielo won’t be for everyone.

All that said, if you want to work on your running and speed form, these will aid you in that goal. It’s almost like a running coach or guiding hand that’s built into the shoe. I am literally forced into a more aggressive running form which really helps me on my longer tempo runs. I will definitely tell you to go to your local running store to try these on first. The learning curve is real! I intend to use these for my mid to long tempo runs with some shorter speed bursts thrown in. Give them a shot! For more information or to check out a pair for yourself, visit hoka.com.