Which is lighter, the HOKA Cielo X1 2.0 or the HOKA Rocket X 3?

Neither — both weigh 210g in a men's US 9.

Which is cheaper, the HOKA Cielo X1 2.0 or the HOKA Rocket X 3?

The HOKA Rocket X 3, at £220 UK RRP against £250 — £30 less. Street prices move, so check the retailer for the live figure.

Which lasts longer, the HOKA Cielo X1 2.0 or the HOKA Rocket X 3?

The HOKA Cielo X1 2.0 — we estimate roughly 350km of competitive life against roughly 280km. That is the point at which the foam stops returning what you paid for, not the point at which the shoe falls apart.

Are the HOKA Cielo X1 2.0 and HOKA Rocket X 3 legal for road racing?

Only the HOKA Rocket X 3 (40mm). The Cielo X1 2.0 measures 46mm, over the 40mm limit, so it is not legal for World Athletics Applicable Competitions.

Race Shoe FinderThe independent race lab

HOKA Cielo X1 2.0 v. HOKA Rocket X 3

HOKA against HOKA: the enormous 46mm shoe its marketing leads with against the 39mm one you can legally race in.

The short answer

The Cielo X1 2.0 and the Rocket X 3 weigh the same at 210g, the HOKA Rocket X 3 is £30 cheaper at RRP (£220 against £250), and the HOKA Cielo X1 2.0 stays fast for roughly 70km longer (~350km against ~280km). Only the HOKA Rocket X 3 is road legal — the Cielo X1 2.0 stands 46mm, over the 40mm limit.

Weight · men's US 9

Cielo X1 2.0210g

Rocket X 3210g

0320g

Price · UK RRP

Cielo X1 2.0£250

Rocket X 3£220

0£450

Competitive life · km before the foam fades

Cielo X1 2.0350km

Rocket X 3280km

0700km

■ marks the better figure, where better is not a matter of taste

Both soles, one drawing3 units per mm · the line is the 40mm road limit

Cielo X1 2.046mm — over limit

Rocket X 340mm — on the limit

The tape

manufacturer-stated · ■ the better figure, where better is not a matter of taste

Specification	Cielo X1 2.0	Rocket X 3
RRP	£250	£220 (advantage)
Weight	210g	210g
Stack	46 / 39mm	40 / 33mm
Drop	7mm	7mm
Road legal	no — 46mm	yes (advantage)
Plate	carbon fibre	carbon fibre
Foam	PEBA	PEBA
Competitive life	~350km (advantage)	~280km
Price per km of life	£0.71 (advantage)	£0.79
Fit	standard	standard
Underfoot	stable	balanced
Built for	Marathon · Ultra	10K · Half · Marathon
Economy gain	2.8–4%	2.9–4%

Reading — both shoes, your race

Race

Current time

= 5:20/km

Compared with

Cielo X1 2.0

Time bought back

−2:18 – 3:39

010 min

Projected finish: 3:41:21– 3:42:42
Per second ■: £0.25
Per race: £45
Races in the foam: ~5.5

Rocket X 3

Time bought back

−2:25 – 3:39

010 min

Projected finish: 3:41:21– 3:42:35
Per second: £0.27
Per race: £50
Races in the foam: ~4.4

Modelled economy gain adjusted for pace and your current shoes; ranges reflect the spread published between individual runners. Full method.

Which we would choose

Race	For the time	For the money
10Kat a reference 45:00	Only the Rocket X 3 is built for this distance.
Half marathonat a reference 1:45:00	Only the Rocket X 3 is built for this distance.
Marathonat a reference 3:45:00	Rocket X 3−2m 25s to −3m 39s	Cielo X1 2.0cheaper per second saved
Ultra / 50K+at a reference 5:30:00	Only the Cielo X1 2.0 is built for this distance.

Reference times, trainer baseline, whole-life economics. Your own time changes the answer — use the reading above.

The case for each

HOKA Cielo X1 2.0

Enormous, cushioned and surprisingly stable. For heavier runners and slower marathoners it may genuinely be the most comfortable way to cover 42km fast.

■ Caution At 46mm of sole it sits 6mm above the road limit, so it is unlikely to pass inspection in an Applicable Competition. It is also heavy at 210g.

HOKA ↗SportsShoes ↗

Full sheet

HOKA Rocket X 3

HOKA’s legal racer, and much the better shoe for anyone who actually needs to comply with the rules. Balanced and predictable.

■ Caution Overshadowed by the Cielo in HOKA’s own marketing despite being the more sensible race-day choice.

HOKA ↗

Full sheet

Straight answers

Which is lighter, the HOKA Cielo X1 2.0 or the HOKA Rocket X 3?: Neither — both weigh 210g in a men's US 9.
Which is cheaper, the HOKA Cielo X1 2.0 or the HOKA Rocket X 3?: The HOKA Rocket X 3, at £220 UK RRP against £250 — £30 less. Street prices move, so check the retailer for the live figure.
Which lasts longer, the HOKA Cielo X1 2.0 or the HOKA Rocket X 3?: The HOKA Cielo X1 2.0 — we estimate roughly 350km of competitive life against roughly 280km. That is the point at which the foam stops returning what you paid for, not the point at which the shoe falls apart.
Are the HOKA Cielo X1 2.0 and HOKA Rocket X 3 legal for road racing?: Only the HOKA Rocket X 3 (40mm). The Cielo X1 2.0 measures 46mm, over the 40mm limit, so it is not legal for World Athletics Applicable Competitions.

Manufacturer-stated specs unless marked estimated on the shoe sheet · last reviewed 2026-09-04 · prices are UK RRP.