Innovation in outdoor gear can often feel like a game of limbo: How low can you go? Or to be more specific: How lightweight can a piece of gear be and still remain functional?
That threshold seems ever closer with the debut of HOKA’s 2026 update of the Cielo X1 3.0. Now in its third iteration since the model’s debut in 2024, this super shoe aimed at long-distance running has dropped more weight than a supermodel prepping for the catwalk — and it was already pretty darn lightweight to begin with.
When AllGear Editorial Director Sean McCoy tested out the original 1.0 model back in 2024, he called it HOKA’s “wildest road shoe yet.” He compared it to a Mercedes-Benz E-Class Coupe that’s “faster than a frightened tomcat,” if “not nimble like a sports car.” Back then, it was already HOKA’s lightest racing shoe, at 9.3 ounces for a pair of size 10s.
The shoes trimmed down to 8.1 ounces with the 2.0 released last year. It has now shed even more weight with the 3.0, weighing in at just 7.5 ounces for a men’s size 10.
For marathoners and long-distance runners trying to push the envelope and set new personal bests, the Cielo X1 clearly remains laser-focused on trimming the fat.
HOKA Cielo X1 3.0: Details
Most of the other features of the Cielo X1’s original model remain the same. It still has a carbon fiber plate, though it has been redesigned since the original model.
There’s still rocker geometry, a PEBA foam midsole, and what HOKA calls a “grippy” outsole that’s been updated with CM polyurethane. (McCoy called the original model’s outsole “decent, if minimal.”) The shoe also retains asymmetrical lacing that aims to “reduce pressure points and improve comfort.”
The upper is still woven, with the brand’s “highly engineered Leno weave” providing equal parts durability and breathability.
Stack height, however, has been reduced a tad since the model’s debut. It was about 40mm in 2024, but slimmed down just slightly to 37mm for the 2.0 and 3.0 updates. That means the shoe stays “race legal” under World Athletics guidelines.
In a press release, HOKA said its new model was “already proving itself on the world’s biggest stages.” Alex Masai used them during the 2025 Chicago Marathon, finishing third overall with a personal best of 2:04:37. And at the Valencia Half Marathon, Adrian Wildschutt ran a personal best of 59:13 to finish fifth overall, while Alessia Zarbo set a new French national record with a time of 1:08:20.
HOKA Cielo X1 3.0: Pricing & Availability
The Cielo X1 3.0 is available now at HOKA.com and authorized dealers around the world. Like most running models in the super shoe category, it costs enough to warrant a second glance at the price tag. The MSRP on these puppies is currently $275.
To be fair, that’s still nearly half the price of the $500 adidas Adizero Adios Pro Evo 1, which weighs in at a staggering 4.8 ounces. (Though you can find them on sale for $350 at Running Warehouse, at the moment.) The Cielo X1 price tag is more comparable to the Nike Alphafly, GearJunkie’s current pick for the best marathon shoe.
But if you’re a HOKA loyalist, you’ll find the Cielo X1 3.0 in the brand’s memorable and colorful designs, this time in Neon Yuzu/Thyme and Alabaster/Yellow Gold.
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