Overview: Soft and Sustainable

The all new Hylo is marketed to be an environmentally conscious daily trainer that delivers performance and sustainability in a sleek package. As a sustainable shoe, I was a bit skeptical as to how it would feel and how the build quality would be, but I have to say Hylo did not disappoint. Featuring a super-critical bio based EVA foam called Hyperbolt, the Impact is surprisingly soft and responsive. The Impact is also pretty lightweight is a great first step for more sustainable running shoes.

Featuring a stack heigh of 33mm in the heel and 25mm in the forefoot, the Impact as a 8mm drop. This drop is pretty noticeable on runs, due to the super soft foam, but the ride felt extremely smooth. Although it does lack some support, (specifically arch support) the Impact is a great daily trainer with the 33mm of supercritical foam feeling light, cushioned, and responsive underfoot. As a light runner I did not have any problems bottoming out and I have really enjoyed taking this shoe out for daily miles.

The upper on the Impact is extremely cushioned, although this comes as the cost of breathability. On hot days my feet were definitely wanting to get some airflow. The Outsole is one of the best parts of the shoe, and is derived from Formula 1 rubber. On rainy days I did not slip at all on the ground. Coming in at $165, it is a it on pricier side, but the extra cost is most likely due to the sustainability of the shoe. If you like shoes such as the New Balance Rebel V3, this shoe will feel similar, but with just a bit more of everything.

‍Specs

Weight - 285g

Stack - 33mm/25mm

Drop - 8mm

Price - $165

‍Midsole: Supercritical-EVA

The midsole on the Hylo Impact is a super-critical nitro-infused bio-EVA that is incredibly soft and cushioned. Similar to a lot of raceday foams, Hylo’s “Hyperbolt” foam is lightweight and responsive without feeling like its going to bottom out at the end of runs. However due to the super soft foam, the Impact is incredibly flexible. This is not necessarily a bad thing, but a lot of arch support and stability is lost.

‍Ride: Softer than Soft

The ride of the Impact is very pleasant and natural with the super-critial foam feeling bouncy and light underfoot. For daily miles this shoe would make a great addition to your rotation, and doesn’t bottom out super hard at the end of longer efforts. However, if you run high mileage I would recommend give the foam a day to rebound between runs.

At fast paces, the Impact feels fine although I would not recommend using it for tempos and speed workouts. It is super lightweight and features a super-critical foam, so will be pretty responsive but just feels a but clunky at those faster efforts. However if your only looking to progress at the end of a run, this shoe will get the job done well.

Runners who prefer a soft ride and don’t need a ton of support will really love this shoe. It reminds me a lot of suped up New Balance Rebel V3 or a less cushioned and softer Nike Invincible. As Hylo Athletics is a newer company its exciting that they already got so much right, but I would really like to see a bit more stability and support in the shoe.

‍Upper/Fit

The Upper is one of the ticker I’ve seen on a modern shoe, so in warm weather it did start to get pretty hot. However, I cold weather I did not mind it as much. The heel is fairly still so I you do get some support, and the upper almost grips you foot if you tighten the laces a lot. The tongue is very padded so I felt no discomfort, although I do recommend using a runner’s knot to get a lockdown. Overall, I don’t any huge complaints about the upper. It isn’t the best I’ve felt but it still gets the job done. In terms of sizing, the toe box is pretty accommodating, and the fit is pretty true to size.

‍Outsole and Durability

The outsole on the Halo Impact is surprisingly good compared to most other options. Designed with F1 technology, it is extremely grippy in wet conditions, but it is not super robust. However, surprisingly, at 100 miles, the outsole on mine hasn’t seen a ton of wear so I could see the outsole lasting for a while longer. The midsole on the other hand seems to be starting to lose some of its pop. The supercritical eva in the midsole, although soft and bouncy, is not dense at all has lost its feel very quickly. This is especially noticeable after a few runs in a row and I would strongly recommend giving it a day or even two to let the foam rebound.

‍Who’s is Best For

The Hylo Impact is an extremely soft daily trainer, so if your a lighter runner the shoe should work pretty well. However, as the foam needs a day to rebound, I would strongly recommend having the Impact be a part of a rotation. If your looking for other options the New Balance Rebel V4 is fairly similar and should offer better durability. For more information on other shoes, be sure to check out our shoe matcher tool, where we'll choose the best running shoes for you based on your goals and preferences.

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