HOKA Cielo X1 2.0 review: A lightweight rocker for a speedier run

HOKA Cielo X1 2.0: two-minute review

When I got the chance to try the HOKA Cielo X1 2.0, I was ecstatic. It looked plush and had a rocker design, known to alleviate pain and stress in feet and ankles. This sounded like a shoe I needed to test: two years ago, I was dealing with constant pain in my toes, upper foot, and hips when I ran, so often that I had to stop running for weeks at a time. Finally, I found the HOKA Stinson 7, a trail running shoe that was plusher and relieved my pain when nothing else (stretching, doctor visits, etc.) would. That said, most of the time I run on the road, and that trail running shoe was heavier and bulkier than I liked. HOKA may have started out with a trail running shoe, but since then, they’ve been putting out impressive road running shoes year after year and regularly feature in our best running shoes roundup. The HOKA Cielo X1 2.0 launched in February 2025, the second iteration of the Cielo X1 which launched a year before in February 2024. The Cielo X1 2.0 has a more breathable upper made of engineered jacquard mesh – so breathable and clear that I could see my socked toes and feel the wind and some light rain when I ran on a drizzly day.

HOKA also enhanced the forefoot cushioning and improved the outsole traction. During my testing period, it was particularly rainy in Texas and so I had to run on light rain days or after the rain had stopped. I always felt secure and never slipped, not even when I had to run over slick brick roads in my city’s historic downtown.

The biggest improvement to the Cielo X1 2.0 has to be in the weight and more aggressive rocker profile. Where the Cielo X1 is 9.3 ounces, the Cielo X1 2.0 has dropped to 8.10 ounces. For those who race, an extra 1.2 ounces can go a long way. To achieve the weight reduction, HOKA utilized significant cutouts on the bottom of the shoe.