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?
8:26 - How has 3.0's geometry changed from the previous version?
14:34 - Why did the cutouts change?
19:14 - What Hoka sees as the ideal use for this shoe
22:18 - The role of the central groove
27:12 - How has the plate changed?
33:02 - The nature of the midsole foam
39:30 - Upper changes
45:18 - Who does Hoka think this shoe will/won't work for?
49:36 - Wrap-up

#283 Breaking Down the Cielo X1 with Hoka

Doctors of Running Podcast

#283 Breaking Down the Cielo X1 with Hoka