I ran 40 miles in the Hoka Cielo X1 3.0 — here’s my verdict

If January is anything to go by, 2026 is shaping up to be a fantastic year for new racing shoes, with the Hoka Cielo X1 3.0 launching hot on the heels of the excellent Puma Deviate Nitro Elite 4.

The Cielo X1 3.0 is the lightest racing shoe from Hoka yet, and also offers improved grip and stability compared with the Hoka Cielo X1 2.0, while retaining the extremely bouncy ride the Cielo X1 line is known for.

I loved testing the Cielo X1 3.0, and it performed well across several hard workouts on the track and road. It’s one of the best carbon plate running shoes available, but it is a very aggressive and demanding shoe, and many runners might find more approachable options like the Hoka Rocket X3 suit their running style better.

Hoka Cielo X1 3.0 review: price and availability

The Hoka Cielo X1 3.0 launched on 29 January 2025 and costs $275 in the U.S., which is the same price as the Hoka Cielo X1 2.0. It’s at the more expensive end of the pricing spectrum for super-shoes, with the Rocket X3 ($250) offering a cheaper alternative in the Hoka line-up.

Hoka Cielo X1 3.0 review: design and fit

The Hoka Cielo X1 3.0 launched in the yellow and white colorway I tested, and I found that it fit me well in my normal running shoe size, the same size I used for past Cielo X1 shoes and across the Hoka line-up in general.

Hoka lists the stack height as 38mm at the heel and 31mm at the forefoot for a 7mm drop, which would be less than the 40mm most carbon shoes hit in line with World Athletics regulations, but it feels just as cushioned as any racer I’ve tested.

It’s the lightest Hoka racer yet, tipping the scales at 7.1oz in my US men’s size 9.5, which is 0.2oz lighter than the Rocket X3 in the same size, and 0.4oz lighter than the Hoka Cielo X1 2.0.

Upper

The Cielo X1 3.0 uses a lightweight leno weave textile for its upper and has asymmetrical lacing. As with all racing shoe uppers, it’s built to hold the foot securely while adding as little weight to the shoe as possible, and I found that it did this job well throughout my runs.

Midsole

There are two layers of springy PEBA foam in the midsole of the Cielo X1 3.0m, which has a carbon plate running through those layers and a highly-rockered profile to push you from your midfoot onto your toes with each stride.

The plate no longer has forefoot wings to add stability, as it did on the Cielo X1 2.0, but the Cielo X1 3.0 is actually more stable than its predecessor because Hoka has removed the medial side cutout on the bottom of the shoe.

There is still a long cutout running through the middle of the Cielo X1 3.0, which helps to reduce weight, but removing the medial cutout from the Cielo X1 2.0 means the new shoe has more support on the inside of the foot.

Outsole

The Cielo X1 3.0 has a lot of exposed foam on its underside, which is pretty standard for lightweight racing shoes, but there is enough rubber on the forefoot and heel to create a reliable grip in wet conditions.

I’d say the rubber used is a notable improvement on what I’ve seen on the Cielo X1 line in the past, offering better traction in slick conditions.

Hoka Cielo X1 3.0 review: running performance

I’ve used the Cielo X1 3.0 for a variety of fast training runs ahead of its launch, including short intervals, a tempo run plus a marathon-pace 10K in 34 minutes, and I’ve been impressed with its bouncy, propulsive ride each time I’ve used the shoe.

I’m well used to testing very bouncy super-shoes at this point, but the Cielo X1 3.0 even stands out from the crowd for how springy it is, with the PEBA midsole delivering high rebound and a very propulsive ride.

It’s easy to unlock this bounce, too. Even when I was running at a fairly easy pace, the shoe felt springy, and as I sped up, it became even more so.

The shoe still feels like the Cielo X1 2.0, but with some important upgrades in the improved grip and increased stability.

That said, the ride is still quite demanding in that it feels like the shoe is pushing you to run in a certain way. The design of the midsole makes you land on the midfoot and then get sprung forward from the rocker.

It feels fantastic at first, and is certainly a fast ride, but if it doesn’t tie into your natural running style, I think the Cielo X1 3.0 could be an unforgiving shoe late in races if your form breaks down, a bit like the Mizuno Wave Rebellion Pro 3.

Should you buy the Hoka Cielo X1 3.0?

There are a lot of great carbon plate super-shoes available right now, so runners are spoilt for choice, but the Hoka Cielo X1 3.0 is among the best I've tested, delivering a bouncier ride than most.

Whether you go for it will depend on your preferences and perhaps your running style. If you're all about bounce, then the springy, rockered feel of the Cielo X1 3.0 might be ideal.

I have a high-cadence style and love the extremely lightweight and responsive rides of the Asics Metaspeed Sky Tokyo and Puma Fast-R Nitro Elite 3, which aren't as bouncy as the Hoka, but have a highly efficient transition from heel to toe.

If you're worried the very rockered and aggressive ride of the Cielo X1 3.0 won't work for you, then more stable and supportive shoes like the Hoka Rocket X3 and Puma Deviate Nitro Elite 4 could work better, especially for a marathon.