Advice for Road Runners: Looking for HOKA's highest energy returning running shoes? You've found them. The HOKA Unisex Cielo X1 Running Shoes are HOKA's most advanced carbon-plated innovation. A perfect option for your next race.

Underfoot Feel

The HOKA Cielo X1 features a ProFlyX™ midsole construction. What does this mean?

A full-length carbon-fibre plate is sandwich between two layers of PEBA foam. The two layers of foam are not the same as each other. The top layer is softer; this improves comfort on long runs. The bottom layer is firmer; providing a resilient source of power.

As the plate has asymmetrical wings that wrap up medially and laterally, it offers more support than typical plate designs. It is also worth noting these have HOKA's Active Foot Frame™ design. In simple terms, your feet sit into the cushioning, which improves support.

An early stage MetaRocker™/exaggerated rocker profile helps you to move forward with greater ease. It's likely this design will lower the stress placed on your calf muscles.

Even though the Cielo X1 are not the lightest super shoes, an aggressively cored out midsole reduces the chance of there being any unneeded material or weight. Minimal outsole rubber also saves weight. 

Upper Fit

As these are for road racing, the knit upper and collar is light and breathable. An asymmetrical gusseted knit tongue ensures it stays in place. This should result in a distraction free fit.

Important sizing note: The HOKA Cielo X1 are unisex shoes. However, the UK size on the box - and therefore the size on our website - is a men's UK size. Our sizing chart shows the equivalent women's US size for each UK men's size. 

Ideal Run Type

The HOKA Unisex Cielo X1 Running Shoes are for race-day; from 5K through to the marathon. Although, it's likely you'll get the most out of these HOKA road racing shoes in longer distance events. This is because they offer a relatively high degree of support. 

Technical Features

• Approximate weight of a men's UK size 9.5: 264 grams
• Approximate weight of a women's UK size 6.5: 210 grams
• Rearfoot stack height: 40 mm
• Forefoot stack height: 33 mm
• Drop: 7 mm
• Colour shown: Black/Electric Aqua

Sizing Advice

Shoe size is a personal preference and everyone's feet are different, but we want to ensure you avoid any pain or discomfort from bruised toenails, rubbing, blistering or pins and needles.

Your running shoes should have enough width to allow you to spread your toes and should have some space at the front (we recommend having a half to one thumb's width of space from the end of your longest toe to the front of your running shoes).

This usually means that your running shoe will be at least a half size bigger than your regular shoe size though this can vary from brand to brand.