Step 02 — The lineup
6 shoes scored across eleven metrics · Any purpose
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Hoka Cielo X1 2.0 — Big, soft and heavily rockered super shoe for heavier or slower marathoners.
Sizing note
Everything here fits true to size. Leave a thumbnail of space at the toe.
Durability
Plated models here average ~228 mi; non-plated land closer to ~300 mi.
Step 03 — Every metric
| Metric | Nike Air Zoom Alphafly NEXT% 2(2022) | Nike Alphafly 4(2026) | New Balance FuelCell SuperComp Elite v5(2025) | Saucony Endorphin Elite 3 | Brooks Hyperion Elite 5(2025) | Saucony Endorphin Pro 4(2024) | Saucony Endorphin Azura |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weight | 240 g / 8.5 oz | 190 g / 6.7 oz | 213 g / 7.5 oz | 200 g / 7.1 oz | 201 g / 7.1 oz | 218 g / 7.7 oz | 240 g / 8.5 oz |
| Drop | 8 mm | 8 mm | 8 mm | 8 mm | 8 mm | 8 mm | 8 mm |
| Stack (heel) | 40 mm | 40 mm | 40 mm | 40 mm | 40 mm | 40 mm | 40 mm |
| Cushioning | |||||||
| Flexibility | |||||||
| Stability (5 = most guidance) | |||||||
| Rocker geometry | |||||||
| Energy return | |||||||
| Responsiveness | |||||||
| Toe-box | Narrow | Standard | Standard | Standard | Narrow | Standard | Standard |
| Plate | Carbon | Carbon | Carbon | Carbon | Nylon | Carbon | — |
| Intended pace | 4:45–6:45 /mi | 4:50–7:00 /mi | 5:00–7:15 /mi | 5:00–7:15 /mi | 5:00–7:00 /mi | 5:15–7:30 /mi | 6:45–9:30 /mi |
| Purpose | Race day | Race day | Race day | Race day | Race day | Race day | Daily, Tempo, Long run |
| Sizing | Size up ½ | True to size | True to size | True to size | True to size | True to size | True to size |
| Durability | ~200 mi | ~220 mi | ~220 mi | ~220 mi | ~200 mi | ~250 mi | ~400 mi |
| Price | $275 | $280 | $250 | $290 | $250 | $225 | $150 |
Your reference shoe is shown first for context. Cushioning, flexibility and stability are rated 1–5, where 5 stability means the most guidance and 1 means fully neutral.