NEW RELEASE SHOES

Putting your next trainers through their paces

|| Carbon plating isn’t just for the elites, it’s for the rest of us too, particularly when it’s tucked inside a shoe like this||

Hoka Cielo X1

£250|hoka.com|Tester Esther

It’s time for the big boys to fight it out, but don’t expect them to play nicely. With new Nike Alphaflys and Brooks Hyperion Elites fresh in my mind, I wanted to give these a fair trial.

The fit Race-day shoes can be a bit of a squidge; sometimes the sockfit upper can feel restrictive if you have wider feet. I’m used to the comfort of everyday shoes with cushioning around the heel, and if you are too, then it might take a moment to adjust to this tight fabric encasing your ankle and heel. One thing to note is that the laces on these aren’t my favourite – they’re rigid and slippery, so you need to tie them very securely.

The comfort Once you adjust to the sockfit upper, Hoka’s new Cielo is incredibly comfortable. I’ve run in both Brooks and Nike rivals recently, and it’s worth saying right here, that this shoe, in my opinion, judged on fit and feel, is streets ahead. Yes, even of Nike.

To normal runners who aren’t about to win marathons anytime soon, Alphaflys can feel extremely bouncy, but incredibly unstable underfoot – the platform simply isn’t wide enough for my feet, and unless you’re running superfast (and perhaps even when you are), I think with the Nike you’re in danger of rocking your ankles. The Cielo offers no such danger, and that feeling of security and balance is immediate. The midsole is super comfortable, very bouncy and peppy, and once you’re strapped in, it feels totally secure. There’s perhaps a little more space around the toes than I’m used to in a Hoka, which can sometimes feel a bit mean there. I ran in a 6.5, which is my usual running size.

Who and what they’re for As an upgrade from the Rocket X2, this shoe has been built for roads, racing and speed. It sits at the top of the tree of the Hoka racing range, in direct competition with the Nike Alphafly 3 and the Brooks Hyperion Elite 4.

On the run I’m seriously impressed with these shoes. Looks-wise, these aren’t clad in a livery I’d choose – that crazy mix is a bit trippy for the likes of us who prefer to go under the radar in life as much as in running.

And I must admit, I wasn’t sure on the first run, but they’ve grown on me to such an extent that I would position them head and shoulders above the Alphaflys. Why? Because I think that the Hoka Ciela X1 are a carbonplated shoe for everyone not just Brigid Kosgei. I am not a sub-3hr marathoner. I’m not even a sub- 4hr marathoner. I’m only barely a marathoner – but these work really well for me.

I’ve taken them on dozens of shorter runs, mixing it up with my usual plush road shoes, and on the days I wear these, the runs genuinely feel easier. The energy return is insane – as if you’re cheating the system. I love the bounce so much that I’m fully intending to wear these at my next race. And I hope in so doing that I might persuade more people to try shoes like these – carbon plating isn’t just for the elites, it’s for the rest of us too, particularly when it’s tucked inside a shoe like this.