A new era for Hoka, at least when it comes to the most innovative and fast running shoe of the moment, and so it’s time to take a look at the recently launched Hoka Cielo X1 2.0. We’ve tested the shoe extensively and in this review you will find what we think of it.
‘A new era’ sounds like quite a statement and it is. All the more so when you consider that it is not even a statement made by Hoka itself, but by our reviewer. Predecessor Hoka Cielo X1 was actually already known as the top shoe within Hoka’s line – at least for competitive runners looking for pure speed – and this successor – the Hoka Cielo X1 2.0, that is – should now top that. Even better, even faster, even lighter, even more stable. And even though expectations were very high and these facets seem almost impossible to combine, Hoka succeeds. The Cielo X1 2.0 simply is an amazing shoe to run on.
First of all, a disclaimer: the Hoka Cielo X1 2.0 is a top-of-the-bill carbon shoe, which is of little use to you as a slower runner. Now, of course, you can raise the question of who’s fast and who’s not, but in general you could say that you will only really benefit from this shoe if you can run 10 kilometers – or longer – at a pace of, say, 4:30 minutes per kilometer. The faster you go from that point, the more benefit you experience from the Cielo X1 2.0. In fact, when you put the shoes on, you immediately understand what we mean: this shoe wants to move forward, and not by much. The double layer of PEBA foam and carbon plate provide unparalleled energy return with every step you take. You don’t see it, but you feel it. And we can tell you: that feeling is almost magical.
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What’s extra nice about the Hoka Cielo X1 2.0 is the offset and design of the carbon plate. Around the forefoot, this plate actually runs wide, allowing you to experience a stability even on this lightning-fast carbon shoe that you don’t see on any other model. There is also a caveat to this: you experience this especially if you are a forefoot runner. If you are a runner who lands more on the middle of the foot or even on the back or heel, then the stability decreases considerably. Of course, practice does show that most faster runners naturally land more on the front of the foot, so that’s a good thing.
You don’t buy this shoe for the easy endurance runs. You buy the Hoka Cielo X1 2.0 to attack personal bests, smash records and push your limits. That the shoe is even lighter than its predecessor and breathes even better – making it less likely to get hot feet and/or develop blisters – is a more than welcome extra.
Hoka has gold in its hands with the Cielo X1 2.0. Or even a polished gem. A shoe that can perfectly compete with the top models of other brands – or even surpass them – including the still very popular Nike VaporFly and Alfhafly. Logically, this does come with a price tag: the Cielo X1 2.0 has a suggested retail price of 275 euros.
