The Hoka Cielo X1 is one of Run Tester Nick’s favourite new shoes of 2024 and he’s been racking up the miles in the shoe, racing a couple of times as well as doing a lot of hard training sessions. In this long term review of the Hoka Cielo X1 Nick talks through the pros and cons of the shoe and compares it to 12 other top carbon racing options.
JUMP STRAIGHT IN:
00:00 – Intro
00:14 – Design & Key Stats
01:32 – How’s The Fit
02:22 – The Run Test
06:58 – Durability
08:42 – Verdict & Comparisons
09:38 – vs Asics Metaspeed Sky Paris
10:18 – vs Nike Alphafly 3
10:45 – vs Hoka Rocket X2
11:19 – vs Adidas Adios Pro 3
11:48 – vs Nike Vaporfly 3
12:39 – vs Saucony Endorphin Elite
13:00 – vs New Balance SC Elite v4
13:21 – vs Adidas Prime X Strung 1 & 2
13:56 – vs Mizuno Wave Rebellion Pro 2
14:52 – vs Puma Fast-R 2
15:17 – vs Under Armour Velociti Elite 2
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Asics Metaspeed Sky Paris Review:
Nike Vaporfly 3 Multi-Tester Review:
Nike Alphafly 3 Review:
Puma Fast-R 2 Review:
Saucony Endorphin Pro 4 Review:
New Balance SC Elite v4 Review:
Best Carbon Plate Running Shoes 2023:
Nike Alphafly NEXT% 2 Review After 230km:
Hoka Rocket X2 Review:
Adidas Adizero Prime X 2 Strung Review:
Best Super Trainers 2023:
Mizuno Wave Rebellion Pro Review:
Asics Superblast Review:
Hello and welcome to run testers my Name's Nick and this is our long-term Review of the hoker clo [Music] X1 so cx1 launched near the start of the Year it's a shoe I've been doing a lot Of running in this year she OB really Taken to and used for a lot of training So I want to do this long-term review as I've now done around 210k in the shoe It's a new racer for hoker this year This yellow X1 sits above the ET x2 in The range in terms of price and in terms Of General size it's probably more of a Longdistance racing shoe whereas the Rocket X2 is a lighter more agile design The cell X1 cost £250 or $270 it's Fairly heavy for a carbon plate racing Shoe weighing in at 253 G or 8.9 o in a UK size 9 and it has a 7 mm drop from Heel To Toe you a pretty wild design With this yellow X1 with two layers of Hocus peber foam with a carbon plate Running through the middle of them it's A winged carbon plate to try and add Some stability there's lots of cutouts Both in the midsole itself and actually Even on the carbon plate it's self to Try and reduce a little bit of weight There you've got a knit upper with a Partially gusted tongue it's quite a Booty style fit around I'd say and a Little bit of structure at the heel but Not too much it's still quite flexible
There tiny bit of padding on the inside But not really much on the tongue at all To keep the shoe as light as possible And youve got a rubber outside that has Pretty good coverage for all the foam That actually does come into contact With the ground there's a little bit of Unexposed foam at the heel there which You will hit if you are a heel Striker And over time that wears down a little Bit but for the most part you've got a Pretty good outsa there that has GP well For me and lots of wet runs and quite Good coverage all around [Music] The fit on this yellow X1 has been Really good for me in my normal running Shoe size I've got a uk9 here which is a US 9.5 it's got a really nice kind of Tight but not uncomfortably tight hold Throughout the kind of midfoot and front Of the shoe there and it has got that Booty style fit which does create quite A nice natural lockdown to the point Where actually there's been times when The laces have come undone on the shoe During a run and I've been able to run Without actually you know losing that Feeling of lock down because the actual Upper itself holds the foot quite well Probably the main reason I really like The fit on the shoe it's got very good Heel design that doesn't irritate my Achilles at all which is not the case
With some Racing shoes you've got two Strips of little bits of padding there But quite a lot of open space at the Back of the shoes there just creates a Nice comfortable and secure hold I've Been able to use this yellow X1 even When I've had little flare ups of my Killes from running in other shoes with Much more stiff heel counters so yeah All around that fits me really good with The shoe in my normal running shoe [Music] Size so this yellow X1 has become a bit Of a go-to shoe for me this year so Pretty much whenever I haven't had a Shoe in that I need to test for a review I've pulled this yellow X1 out of my Pile for any hard training sessions I Have that week and as a result I have Racked up over 200k of running in the Shoe including a half marathon and a Park run and lots and lots of training Sessions especially during my marathon Training for the London Marathon lots of Long training sessions with the longest Being about 40K in total and the reason I keep going back to it is just the ride Is so fun it's got a really nice bouncy Ride that is bouncy and fun and fast but Not so wild as to feel unstable or a Shoe that you have to limit the amount You use it like it really does feel like It's got quite a controlled and stable Base despite all these cutouts but you
Are getting that phenomenal bounce and Quite a nice rocker as well so it all Adds up to a really fun shoe to go and Turn out miles in and it's a shoe I Think that works at a really nice range Of Paces like my longest run in the shoe I did a progression 24 miles with a Short cool down afterwards and I was Picking the pace up every six miles in That session and starting out you know Really quite relaxed and and finishing At a decent lck you know not far off my Marathon goal pace and it just felt Really good throughout that whole run Like it really can handle those easy Paces was then having the speed to go Really fast when you are trying to do That for all the kind of crazy stuff Going on the design here like I said it Has felt quite stable to me and very Usable as sh you can just take out and Use wherever you are run on like Trails Or run on camped Pavements that kind of Thing it it almost feels like a slightly Tamer version of shoes like the Muno Wave Rebellion Pro 2 or the original Adidas Prime X strung which are really Fun shoes but shoes I limit where I use Them almost you know kind of good flat Roads or the track or something like That whereas the hoker C X1 I feel like I just run anywhere in it and it just Always feels really fun really bouncy But also quite controlled it's also
Despite its you know relatively High Weight and big size really good for you Know Flatout stuff you know short reps I've done one minute reps in the shoe I've gone and done like kind of 1K and 400 meter reps at the track earlier Today I did a hill session running you Know 16 times 30 second Hill Sprints in The shoe like it moves very well and it Feels lighter on the foot than it is it Is a big shoe that does come into play Sometimes but it's so bouncy and fun you Can pick your feet up in it really well And do those short hard reps in it as Well as really excelling when it comes To the longer sessions so of 10 * 1K 10 * 1 mile like long progression runs long Tempos it just feels amazing for those Cuz you've got that that bounce and the Efficiency you get from the plate and The Rocker and loads of protection from The foam and it just stays bouncy Throughout Those runs as well it doesn't Really bottom out at all like sometimes With the rocket X2 I felt like I was Losing a bit of a Bounce by the end of a Long run but not at all with the clo X1 It really is very springy all the way Through probably the session that sticks In the mind the most is the 10 times one Mile session I did like at the back end Of my London marathon training I had to Do it really early in the morning Because it was used of holidays and had
To get back and you look after the kids So it was 10 times 1 mile like first Three reps at 525 then 520 for three Reps than 510 and then like last rep was A kick that was just a tiny bit faster Than 510 and that's really what the Sho Shan because early on the reps are quite Cruy you know I'm just getting into the Session as I built up the speed it felt Very good really controlled loads Protection lots of efficiency so you're Not really burning yourself out at those Slightly Cruiser speeds and then when it Came to the flat out ones it did feel Fast and Pacey like it it doesn't feel Nimble it doesn't feel very lightweight Or anything like that but it is it feels Fast for sure and there's been lots of Sessions where I've done those kind of Hard reps at the end of them and it's Felt really good because it's protected The legs throughout and it does still Feel very energetic and bouncy at the End for all that said it is a big shoe And that does tell sometimes like in the Half marathon I ran it was London Landmarks half marathon it was meant to Be a fairly controlled effort at 1123 you know overall time Pace about 530 a mile but actually With the Wind on The day that turned into pretty much an Allout effort especially the last three Miles into a headwind and at that point You know trying to move into a headwind
The shoe just started to feel a bit big Compared to things like The aex Meta Speed Sky Paris I also was testing at Around the same time which is just much Easier to pick your feet up and turn Over in and when you are really tired And struggling to put a lot of force Into each step just don't get quite as Much back from this shoe because there Is a lot of Bounce there but you got to Kind of push into the foam to really get That bounce and when you're running fast And running with control and feeling Really good it's very easy to do that And it's easy to do that even when You're really tired at the end of Sessions with reps I'd say because You're just pushing through the rep but A sustained effort like a half marath You really are burning out at the end it Sometimes feels the shoe just feels a Little bit big and harder to move Through your stride compared to Something like the Met speed Sky Paris Or the vapor fly through which just much Lighter shoes other little criticism I Have is the laces they just not my Favorite like in 210 km of running They've only actually come undone twice Normally I find if I do a really hard First knot then do one or two more knots On top of that they do stay tied but of The two times they have come on tied one Was during the under Larks half marathon
Which isn't obv obviously isn't ideal in A race to have to stop and do your shoes Up and actually like I said earlier on I Did run for quite a long stretch with The laces undone because the booty fit Still holds the foot quite well but yeah I' still swap these laces out so and Then the word on durability after 210k They definitely still feel very bouncy And fresh I've actually been able to get Hold of a completely brand new version Of the shoe to test against it today so Went for a little run with one shoe on Either side and you know it still feels Very bouncy the yellow X1 after 210k it Feels exactly the same pretty much as The newer shoe you maybe got a little Bit more stiffness in the new shoe which I think often happens but it breaks in Quite quickly and then you just get that Soft bouncy feeling obviously with still Plenty of stiffness from the plate in There not really seeing any signs of Wear and tear nothing on the upper at All the mid Sole still seems good it's Just changed color a little bit and the Out sole like I said you have got a Little bit of exposed foam at the back There so I heel strike a bit more on my Left side this is the left shoe you see I've just torn up a little bit of that Exposed foam I think especially today Because I was doing hill reps where I Was doing you know really hard uphill
Sprint and then just kind of walking or Stumbling back down on my heels to get Back the start of the rep and that's Actually a bit more wear than I had Before I started that run this morning But yeah you do get a little bit of wear At the back of the shoe there if you are A heel Striker haven't got it so much on My right shoe because I land slightly Further forward on that side but it's a Little bit different to the new shoe as You can see but otherwise no real change To the outside there I've not worn it Down even with some runs on light Trails Like I say so I do think durability is Going to be really good with this shoe I It bounces back quite quickly so again The rocket X2 I felt if I did a long run In that shoe the next day it might not Feel quite so springy I feel the foam Needed a bit of time to you know Decompress whereas the cellox one it's Just so bouncy it doesn't really lose Any of it throughout long runs or if You're using it a couple of times in a Week as a training shoe and I do think That's one of its strength I think it is One of the carbon plate Super Shoes you Can use a lot uh for training runs Because it has a very fast ride springy You know crazy Super Shoe ride without Being so wild that you feel Uncomfortable using it at certain times Which is the case with some Super Shoes
I find and I think that foam and outside Is going to be pretty durable so you can Rack up a lot of miles without worrying You're ruining your race day [Music] Shoe so my verdict is I think the huso X1 is one of the best new carbon plate Shoes released this year I think it's One that's going to end up pretty much Underrated and underused because of that Big headline weight which obviously if You're clicking to buy something online It's hard to justify buying that you can Get such an amazing shoes like the ASX Meta speed Sky Paris or the alply 3 Which have a lot lower weight it's also A pretty expensive shoe so again that Will probably count against it in People's minds but I think in Pure Performance I love it I think it's one Of the most fun rides you can have I Think it's a shoe you can use a lot Unlike some carbon plate Super Shoes the Durability is there and the performance Is great for kind of everyday sessions As well as obviously your races and if You are looking at marathons in Particular I think it's a very good Marathon racing option I think you're Getting so much protection and bounce From the foam it counteracts the Downsides of the weight you have here so A really good carbon you around and one That I rank among my favorites and now
I'm going to Rattle through as many Carbon plx shes as I can to give a Comparison to see where the Hocus yellow X1 stands against the market at large so Brace yourself I think I've got 12 of These first up aex metas speed Sky Paris Which is my favorite carbon plate Running shoe at the moment because it is So incredibly lightweight it weighs I About 70 gram less than the clo X1 in my Size which is obviously a big difference Get a little bit more bounce from the Clo but the metas speed Sky Paris is Still bouncing it's got a lightning fast Transition pushes you onto your toes Gives you plenty of pop it's a shoe that Makes it easy to run fast not only early In races when you're feeling good but Also at the end when you're not feeling Good so I used the Met speed Sky Paris For the London Marathon was able to keep Turning my feet over even as I got Really tired at the end of the race Still running a decent pace and I think It's easier to do that in the metas Speed Paris than it is with the hoco X1 As fun as the shoe is as a racer really For any distance I think the metas speed Sky Paris is the shoe I prefer out of These two you got the Nike alphafly 3 Which is another very bouncy shoe but It's probably got a bit more purpose a Bit more directness to it like I think The hook is a little bit more fun it's a
Sh I enjoyed more using for General Training also done some kind of 20 M Training runs in the alpha fly and it Obviously feels amazing but this is a More fun shoe if I was coming to race Day though I would wear the alply 3 over The C X1 it's lighter bit more direct Like I said moves you onto your toes a Bit faster it's got a slightly more Tippy forward feeling to it I do think It's just the faster racer at any Distance pretty close between them at The marathon though then comparing it to Hok's other shoe the rocket X2 which is Lighter nimbler more agile it feels a Bit more kind of stable and aggressive You're going to attack something like a 5k or 10K it's really fun to Corner in The rocket X2 compared to a lot of Super Shoes out there the cellow X1 is a bit Bouncier and like I said earlier I think It retains its bounce a bit better in Long runs than the rocket X2 so if I was Looking at a marathon racing I would buy The C X1 myself but the rocket X2 is Probably the smarter purchase as an all Round racer that's a bit lighter and a Bit cheaper still a very good Marathon Shoe as well but yeah so I slightly Prefer the yell myself but I think the Rocket X2 is probably the smarter buy of The Two hoker Shoes then you got the Adidas adios Pro 3 which is a nice all Distance racing shoe that I think is
Also skews a bit more towards the Marathon as a big slightly heavier Carbon shoe than most out there it's a Firmer ride the C X1 it's not as fun I Don't get quite as well good a roll Through with the adios as I do with the C X1 I prefer the hoker myself adios Pro3 is a very popular shoe around I Think it's a great shoot but I just Think C1 is a bit more fun to run in and I think it matches the adios for Speed On longer races for sure maybe on 5K and Tanky I'd take the adios but overall I Prefer the yellow X1 of those two got The Nike VAP fly 3 next and that is a Better rating Sho round it's lighter Nimbler it's still very cushioned it's Got a bit of Bounce not as much as a Yellow but enough bounce there to see You for a marathon I have run a marathon In that shoe and I really enjoyed it Hoker is a more durable shoe for sure Though and if you are looking at a Carbon shoe you're going to do a lot of Training and racing in this yellow would Probably have the edge over the vaporfly Which has an outside that falls apart Quite quickly the vaporfly 3 is a shoe I Think is getting a little underrated all Around these days but and I think it is A better all round racing shoe than the C X1 but if you're looking at shoe You're going to use in training as well Maybe I'd consider the clo for its extra
Durability couple of scky shoes next Against the Endorphin Pro 4 you've got a Much bouncier and more fun ride with the C X1 and I think it's my preferred shoe Of those two the nor Pro for though is Quite a natural feeling super shoe it's Got a nice rocker it is lightweight it Is fast and if you don't like really Bouncy shoes or are worried this will be A bit wobbly and all that kind of stuff The pro four is a good option against The Endorphin Elite I think that is a Faster shoe Flatout I think it's one of The fastest carbon shoes on the market But it's also a very aggressive ride and Actually I find it quite harsh for any Kind of longer races so I prefer this Yell X1 to the Endorphin Elite myself I Do think the Endorphin Elite is probably A more accomplished and fast racing shoe As long as it doesn't start to give you Any kind of discomfort because of the Very aggressive rocker that I find makes My for foot hurt a little bit in races Then there's a new balance SC Elite V4 Another quite fun bouncy almost mellow Carbon plate racing shoe that is still Very fast but you can use it for Cruising around in as well I think They're quite similar shoes I think the C X1 is a better shoe I would get it Over the New Balance myself I think it's Got a better rocker I think it's got a Bounc of foam all in all I just
Preferred running in it kind of at any Speed so yeah prefer the cellow out of Those two then the Adidas Prim ex strong One and two I actually think this yell X1 is quite a nice combination of the Two because I think it's got the wild Bounce and pace of the Prime XR one but With the extra stability you got in the Prime X rung 2 now I think the prime X Rung 2 veered too much to that side it Became much more of a training shoe for Me I would never really consider that Shoe for racing you know regardless of The stack height you had there whereas The prime x r one was a really good shoe All around Al the heel did cut me up a Little bit I think the fit is better on The cx1 and I think it is obviously a Legal racing height as well and I think It matches the prime XR for kind of Bounce and speed so yeah I prefer it to The the primx duo there then the Muno Wave Rebellion Pro 2 I've just finished Up testing recently so as I talked about In the run test this feels almost like a Safer version of that shoe like the wave Reliant Pro 2 is fast it's incredibly Bouncy it's very fun but it's slightly Tricky shoe to use day today like I've Mostly used it on kind of good flat Roads and on the track like I have also Used it for one run on roads around near Me lots of camed Pavements and it was Fine but I do prefer the feeling of the
Hoker it just feels a bit more kind of Grounded stable still loads of Bounce Still very fast so the Hocus ends up Being a Sho that I've used lows and lows I' be very happy to use a couple of Times a week or the Muno feel like have To use a bit more sparingly I often find After a run in that shoe I've got some Slightly odd aches and pains cropping up Because it isn't suited to my natural Running style I think that is probably Key here like if you are someone who Lands on your midfoot very naturally you Get that really nice rocker and bounce From the mauno without it changing the Way you run a bit much where I think I Have to adapt a little bit to the shoe And as a result I don't enjoy it quite As much or the feeling afterwards Whereas this yellow X1 feels much more Natural to me we've also got the Puma Fast R2 which came out this year which I Think is cut from a similar cloth to the Huckus yellow X1 really designed to be Very B bouny quite a big shoe not too Worried about weight lots of explosive Bounce but probably geared more towards Marathon running around I think they're Fairly similar and I prefer the ride of The Hocus yellow X1 I think it's a Bouncier more fun feeling and a shoe I Got on with better in terms of fit as Well theuma heel design wasn't great for Me and I didn't love the upper I really
Do like the fit of the hoker and then Lastly the Under Armour velocity Elite 2 There's no competition here the Under Armour is somehow heavier whilst being a Lot less bouncier having a lower stack Being less quick all round so yeah hoker Definitely wins that one and that is it That is all the com shoes I'm comparing It to right now I probably have Forgotten some apologies if so overall This is a shoe I really like I think It's expensive a hard shoe to recommend Buying because I do think they are Faster races as I've talked about but I've loved having it around I've used it For loads of training I've used it for Races I think it performs really well I'm really excited to see what hoker Does with the second generation I don't Think they have to do too much to change It if they could trim a little bit of Weight whilst retaining All That Bouncy Fun then they'd have a real winner on Their [Music] Hands that's a longterm review of the Hocus y X1 let us know what you think in The comments below please like And Subscribe ring the little bell and we'll See you next time
