ShoeGeometry

Hoka Cielo X1 3.0 vs Nike Vaporfly 4

Two popular shoes in the same category, compared on measured geometry. Each cell carries a provenance badge; open a shoe for sources.

heel boneHoka Cielo X1 3.0: heel 37 mm, forefoot 30 mm (drop 7 mm); toe rocker 43 % of length, radius 52 % of length; heel bevel 12 % of length, 34 mm high at the back, ending about under the heel bone.Hoka Cielo X1 3.0: toe rocker 43 % of lengthNike Vaporfly 4: heel 36 mm, forefoot 30 mm (drop 6 mm); toe rocker 35 % of length, radius 47 % of length; heel bevel 11 % of length, 17 mm high at the back, ending about under the heel bone.Nike Vaporfly 4: toe rocker 35 % of length
  • Hoka Cielo X1 3.037/30 mm · toe rocker 43 % · heel bevel 12 %
  • Nike Vaporfly 436/30 mm · toe rocker 35 % · heel bevel 11 %
Illustrative profiles, not photographs: drawn from published stack heights and photo estimates of the unloaded shoes on a common length (300 mm), heels aligned, toe to the left; dots mark where each toe rocker starts; the dotted vertical line is under the heel bone (12 % of length), so a heel curve reaching past it is a bevel in front of the heel bone. Dotted lines use typical values where a shoe has no measurement. Exact values are in the table below.

Which suits you

If you wantPickBecause
A smoother roll at toe-offHoka Cielo X1 3.042.9 vs 35.2 % toe rocker
More cushioning under the heelAbout the same37 vs 36 mm heel stack
More under the forefootAbout the same30 vs 30 mm forefoot stack
A lower dropNike Vaporfly 47 vs 6 mm drop
A stiffer, snappier forefootAbout the same46 vs 53 /100 stiffness
A firmer, more stable feelAbout the same48 vs 55 /100 firmness
A wider base under the forefootNike Vaporfly 4107.6 vs 110.6 mm forefoot base

From the values below, with differences inside measurement noise shown as about the same. This describes the shoes, not what is right for your feet; comfort in the first few runs decides.

MetricHoka Cielo X1 3.0
Racing · Road
Nike Vaporfly 4
Racing · Road
Heel-to-toe drop7 mmStated6 mmStated
Heel stack37 mmMeasured36 mmStated
Forefoot stack30 mmMeasured30 mmStated
Weight—190 gStated
Toe rocker43 %est.35 %est.
Rocker radius52 %est.47 %est.
Rocker rise angle29 degest.26 degest.
Rocker angle at toe57 degest.55 degest.
Toe tip over ground55 mm*est.38 mm*est.
Visible rocker lift onset68.7 %est.76.2 %est.
Toe spring (relative)23.9 %est.17.4 %est.
Heel bevel length12.2 %est.11.1 %est.
Heel bevel height34 mm*est.17 mm*est.
Midsole width (forefoot)107.6 mmMeasured110.6 mmMeasured
Midsole width (heel)78.1 mmMeasured77 mmMeasured
Toe box shape—71 %*est.
Interior forefoot width91.4 mmMeasured91.7 mmMeasured
Toebox width70.4 mmMeasured73.2 mmMeasured
Longitudinal stiffness46Derived53Derived
Midsole firmness48Derived55Derived
PlateCarbon plateCarbon plate
Primary foamDual-layer PEBAZoomX
List price$275$270

Key differences

  • Hoka Cielo X1 3.0's heel-to-toe drop is 7 mm, 1 mm higher than Nike Vaporfly 4's 6 mm.
  • Hoka Cielo X1 3.0's heel stack is 37 mm, 1 mm thicker than Nike Vaporfly 4's 36 mm.
  • Forefoot stack is about the same: 30 mm for Hoka Cielo X1 3.0, 30 mm for Nike Vaporfly 4.
  • Hoka Cielo X1 3.0's toe rocker is 43 % of length, 8 % of length longer than Nike Vaporfly 4's 35 % of length.

Read more about both shoes

We measure the shape. For how they feel over many miles, and for lab tests of cushioning, grip and fit:

Hoka Cielo X1 3.0

Nike Vaporfly 4

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Hoka Cielo X1 3.0 details · Nike Vaporfly 4 details · Add more shoes