HOKA Cielo X1 3.0 In-Depth: Building Control for Marathon Racing

Hoka’s making big strides in 2026 with a big updated to their top-tier distance racing shoe: the Cielo X1 3.0. Matt is joined by Rebekah Broe, Senior Director of Product Performance Footwear at HOKA, to dive into every detail of the changes. They talk foam composition, midsole geometry, tweaks to the plate and much more!

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Chapters
0:00 – Intro
2:06 – The origin of the Cielo X1 line
5:26 – How long did development take?
7:56 – How has 3.0’s geometry changed from the previous version?
14:04 – Why did the cutouts change?
18:44 – What Hoka sees as the ideal use for this shoe
21:48 – The role of the central groove
26:42 – How has the plate changed?
32:32 – The nature of the midsole foam
39:00 – Upper changes
44:48 – Who does Hoka think this shoe will/won’t work for?
49:06 – Wrap up

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We are a group of physical therapists and runners interested in the art and science of running shoes. Learn more by visiting doctorsofrunning.com