Hylo Impact Running Shoe Review

“These shoes are almost perfect,” I thought. With 4 miles to go and 2 to go – my typical training run for new shoes – I could tell that Hylo’s debut running shoe, the “Influence”, wouldn’t shatter my PR. The shoe wasn’t overwhelmingly fast and didn’t feel noticeably different than any other well-made running shoe.

But strangely enough, that similarity to so many other big-name shoes I test was in itself quite remarkable. While it felt comparable, it certainly wasn’t built comparable to the competition. Sugar cane in the foam, cellulose in the laces and castor beans in the upper were just some of the notable durability features built into the Impact.

“Run like the world depends on it” – the cornerstone of Hylo’s mission and the mantra stamped on the sole of every shoe – sets the bar pretty high for an upstart brand.

After a few months and about 60 to 70 miles of testing, I can’t say if the Impact will really save the world. But I can attest to how well the shoe performs for everyday runners and anyone who is acutely aware of the “footprint” their shoe makes.

In brief: The HyloImpact ($165) presents the latest and possibly best attempt at creating a performance running shoe with minimal… well, influence. It combines a unique and comprehensive mix of sustainable materials and production approaches that reduce, reuse and recycle to varying degrees. If you’re training hard for serious races and marathons, traditional production shoes still have the real performance advantage. But for people who simply need a reliable, comfortable and agile racing shoe, the Impact offers competitive performance with superior durability.

Whatever your pace or distance, check out our Best running shoes to find your perfect pair!

Hylo Impact Running Shoe Review

Environmentally friendly shoe

If you’re looking for the Hylo Impact, it’s more than likely because you’re specifically looking for a sustainable option. In addition to the shoe, Hylo offers a veritable laundry list of ecological awards, from the composition of the outsole (60% natural rubber) to the midsole (bio-EVA with sugar cane) and the insole (20% bio-based foam). the way to the upper (PFC-free DWR and castor beans) and even the laces (Tencel Lyocell cellulose).

You can even see the brand’s B-Corp score (104.3) and the measured carbon footprint of production (8.63 kg/co2e). So if your only concern when shopping for running shoes is the minimum possible impact on the environment, Hylo has virtually all the data you need.

Hylo Impact: How It Compares

I realize how many raw materials and waste go into shoes, especially running shoes. They don’t really have a second life, and all the materials that make a great shoe are usually non-renewable. But there aren’t many great eco-conscious alternatives when it comes to a shoe that’s light, fast, comfortable, and at least reasonably durable.

That’s just to say that while a shoe’s impact on the environment is a concern, ultimately it has to perform before I even consider it. So the real test of the Hylo Impact comes from running. The Impact looks and feels exactly the same as any other modern one running shoe.

At around 11 grams for my size 13 (285 grams for sample size 9), the Impact is perfectly in line with my other running shoes; It’s not an ultralight running shoe, but it’s an acceptably light fitness shoe for everyday use.

The knit upper is breathable and soft, but surprisingly the PFOA, PFAS, PFC-free (Bluesign certified) DWR beads deflect light water very well. Under a delicate stream from the tap, the water flowed nicely, and although some areas on the outside felt damp, no water penetrated the outside.

That said, this is by no means a waterproof shoe, and I wouldn’t use it for splashing through deep puddles. On a foggy day or when the sky was in danger of sprinkling, the DWR should be sufficient.

Perform impressions

My test runs for the shoe ranged from 3 to 6 miles at a pace between 8 and 9 minutes per mile. For these runs, the Impact felt as fast and comfortable as the other shoes I like in my rotation. The cushion is not ‘maximum’, although with a height of 33mm in the heel and a drop of 8mm it is sufficiently soft. At no point did I ever experience foot pain or fatigue after a run in these shoes.

On the plus side, while the Impact provides a healthy amount of midsole cushion, it doesn’t sacrifice the precision I’ve seen in other shoes at this height. The shoe did not suffer from the “overflow” between the knitted upper and the midsole, which some shoes of this height suffer from. I never experienced a stumble or feeling disconnected from the road while running.

If there is a downside, it is that the shoe does not have the surprising “wow” factor in terms of speed that I have felt in some cases. other shoes. Hylo mentions that the Impact has a ‘Max’ responsiveness – and it adds a little bounce to the gait – but it’s not the springy rebound that high-end running shoes with full synthetic materials possess.

That said, the shoe certainly feels nimble overall. It is just as suitable for full-hour tempo training as it is for interval training on stairs. It’s light, breathable, cushioned and generally comfortable.

End-of-life care

The only big question mark is of course the lifespan. I can’t say whether the Impact will meet, outlast, or mirror the longevity and wear patterns of my traditional running shoes. So far these shoes show virtually no signs of wear, apart from some dirt and losing the shine of new shoes.

One area I will be keeping an eye on is the outsole. Hylo says it took inspiration from Formula 1 tires to “displace water and increase traction.” In fact, Hylo has added rubber “pods” that run lengthwise along the forefoot and heel. According to the brand, this increases ground contact when wet. To be honest, I didn’t notice much of it on either side when running in light rain.

But I’m curious to see if those rubber pods will stick to the shoe in the long run. Again, at this point, so far, so good!

However, this shoe won’t last forever. Fortunately, the Impact is saving one last feature for its last hurray. Hylo says it will recycle the shoes by breaking them down into parts, separating them into waste streams and then shipping them to be mixed with new materials to create a new “masterbatch” that is poured into a mold to make new Make Hylo products.

And supposedly it all happens through your phone (well, almost). The shoes have an NFC chip in the tongue (my pair only has the right shoe activated). Most smartphones can automatically read this with a simple tap. It brings out Hylo’s recycling page where you can start the process of returning your shoes. I’ll be sure to update this review once I’m ready to try it out!

Good performance, great story

In many ways, this shoe represents the antithesis of the growing trend toward artificial intelligence and increasingly synthetic replicas of organic ideas and ingenuity. But in a strange way it’s the same goal. The HyloImpact strives to achieve the high standards set by the world of synthetic wonders through natural means.

In that way, this shoe is not designed to outperform the competition, but to simply keep up with the competition. That’s exactly what the Impact has done during my test drives over the past few months.

Hylo’s debut shoe achieves what most people can’t: a lighter footprint with a bigger impact.