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Cielo X1 3
Tracked dailyCarbon Plated
PEBA super-stack racer. Lightest and most stable Cielo X1 yet
Where to buy
Today's tracked prices
- 01SportsShoesLIVE£149.99£250.00−40%
- 02DerbyRunner4d ago£169.99£250.00−32%
- 03J's Cycles5d ago£174.99£250.00−30%
- 04AchillesHeel9d ago£175.00£250.00−30%
- 05365RiderLIVE£179.50£250.00−28%
- 06RunningXpert4d ago£199.99£250.00−20%
- 07Runlimited4d ago£200.00£250.00−20%
- 08HokaLIVE£250.00
- 09Bog Dog9d ago£250.00
- 10Run ActiveLIVE£250.00
Tracked daily
Price history
Expert review
Our verdict
The Hoka Cielo X1 3 is a max-stack carbon racing shoe built for runners who want a big, protective ride without giving up pop at pace. It sits right at the top of the stack rules with a 44mm heel, a carbon plate and a PEBA-based super foam, so it is squarely a marathon and half-marathon shoe rather than a short, snappy 5k racer. The story of this third version is refinement. Earlier Cielo X1 models were brilliant fun but heavy and a handful at slow speeds. This one is billed as the lightest and most stable yet, and that matters because it makes the big platform far easier to actually race in. If you have looked at the Nike Alphafly 3 and wanted something with a broader, more planted feel underfoot, this is the Hoka answer. It is premium at 250 pounds, but for long-distance race day it delivers a genuinely propulsive, cushioned ride.
Key features
- PEBA super-stack midsoleGives you a soft, bouncy ride with high energy return that protects your legs deep into a marathon
- Carbon plateStiffens the ride and drives a smooth rocker that tips you forward and adds pop when you push the pace
- 44mm heel stackDelivers maximum legal cushioning so the closing miles of a long race hurt a lot less
- Reworked stability geometryKeeps the tall platform feeling planted instead of tippy, so you can trust it when your form fades
- Lightweight race upperHolds your foot securely and breathes well without adding heat or bulk
Who it suits
Who should buy it
- Marathon and half-marathon racers who want maximum cushioning at speed
- Heavier runners who need protection over long distances
- Runners who find most super-stack racers feel tippy and want something planted
- Anyone chasing a long-distance PB with legs still fresh at the finish
Who should not buy it
Good to know
Extra information
Fit & sizing
The Cielo X1 3 fits true to size for most runners, so take your usual Hoka race length. The forefoot is a touch more generous than a knife-thin racer like a Vaporfly, which suits runners who want a little room for toe splay over marathon distance without the foot sliding around. Midfoot lockdown is secure through the laces, and the heel hold is good once you tie it snugly, though a runner with a very narrow heel may want to lock the top eyelets. Width is best described as standard, leaning slightly roomy in the toe box rather than narrow. If you are between sizes, stay true to size rather than sizing down. Only consider half a size up if you race long in thick socks or your feet swell badly late in a marathon. This is a race-day fit that still leaves enough space to stay comfortable at three or four hours on feet.
Performance breakdown
Ride & feel
This is a big, rolling ride rather than a firm, aggressive one. The tall PEBA midsole and carbon plate work together to give you a smooth rocker that wants to tip you forward, so once you are up to pace it feels like the shoe is doing some of the work for you. Hold half-marathon or marathon effort and it comes alive. At very easy jogging speeds the height can feel like a lot of shoe, which is normal for anything in this stack class. Compared with the outgoing Cielo X1 2, the reworked geometry feels calmer and more predictable underfoot, which pays off in the closing miles when your form starts to go. Turnover stays lively for a shoe this tall, and the return you get on each push is what makes the long grind feel more manageable.
Cushioning
Cushioning is the headline here. With a 44mm heel and 31mm forefoot of PEBA-based foam, this is about as protected as a legal racing shoe gets, and your legs will thank you late in a marathon. The foam is soft and bouncy rather than dead and mushy, so you get impact protection without losing the energy return that makes a super shoe worth the money. Heavier runners and anyone stepping up to the marathon will notice how much the big stack takes the sting out of the road. It is plush for a racer, but the plate keeps it from feeling vague. If you have struggled with legs falling apart in the final 10k of a marathon, this level of cushioning is exactly the kind of insurance you are paying for.
Stability
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