I Didn’t Expect This Much from a Sustainable Shoe | Hylo Athletics Impact Review

If you’re looking for a shoe that combines some cushion with responsiveness to protect your joints on less-than-ideal surfaces (apartment treadmills, anyone?) – the Hylo Athletics Impact deserves some consideration.

The Hylo Athletics Impact represents the brand’s effort to create daily trainers with a sustainability focus that doesn’t compromise on performance.

40% of the shoe is composed of bio-based material: the upper, the laces, midsole, outsole, and insole all contain varying degrees of sustainable material. It’s designed to be an all around training shoe, which is exactly why I put it to the test in a variety of activities.

After putting the Hylo Athletics Impact through daily training runs on treadmills, roads, and even some classes at my local Hyrox Training Club, this shoe has quickly become a strong contender for my new go-to daily trainer.

This shoe is great for runners who want a versatile daily trainer that can handle everything from easy recovery runs to moderate-paced workouts.

Hylo Athletics Impact Overview

The Hylo Athletics brand stands out for their commitment to combining environmental responsibility and performance. Since 90% of our shoes end up in landfills, Hylo even has a recycling program, Hyloop™. Just scan the tongue of your Hylos when you are done with them to get started!

The moment you step into the Impact, you notice that the insole feels like a pillowtop mattress for your feet. But despite this plush initial feel, I think that the midsole tech prevents that sinking sensation that typically bothers me in heavily cushioned shoes. This insole also has a bio-based foam as one of the components.

I would describe it as “stable plush” – you get significant cushioning and joint protection, but with enough responsiveness to maintain your pace.

As someone who gravitates toward the responsive feel of On Cloudmonster, I haven’t before found a cushioned shoe that could meet my responsiveness standards. The Impact manages to provide substantial cushioning while also keeping  me engaged throughout my run … because if I am sinking, the desire to stop running is just too great!

The “TreadLight outsole” technology is great for providing traction as I head into rainy North Carolina summers. We are a Formula 1-watching-family, so the Formula 1-inspired tread patterns were intriguing – and effective! They provide great traction across different road running surfaces.

While there’s no prominent rocker like some of my other favorite shoes, this actually enhances the shoe’s versatility for cross-training activities. I felt comfortable wearing these to a total body workout class!

After wearing this for multiple weekly run clubs, speed workouts, hill workouts, and a few Hyrox classes, I can confidently say these are durable! There has been some minor fading on the letters on the insole, but that happens with every shoe – especially as we hurtle toward the sweltering North Carolina summers!

The aesthetic appeal of the Impact really struck me the moment I opened the box. The unique tread pattern inspired by Formula 1 tires isn’t just functional – it’s genuinely attractive, especially with the slogan “Run like the world depends on it” engraved.

The overall design feels modern and clean, making these shoes I’m happy to wear both for training and casual activities.

Hylo Athletics Impact Fit

The Impact fits true to size – I wore my standard size 7.5 and found the fit perfect.

The bio-based nylon upper has a comfortable, secure feel without being restrictive. The flat laces (my preference) delivered excellent lockdown potential.

The tongue is gusseted, and attaches to the upper about half way down the tongue. One detail I appreciated was the tongue thickness – at around 5 mm of padding (again, I measured!), it wasn’t too bulky.

The upper material (a 100% bio-based nylon derived from castor beans!) strikes an impressive balance between protection and breathability, though I did notice it can be a bit warm during runs – something to consider for hot weather training.

I never experienced any heel slipping or movement during runs. The toebox offers enough room without feeling oversized (but it’s worth noting I have normal width feet and am used to a narrower toe box!).

Who Tried it

​​Hi there, I’m Anna! As someone who works in tech, is pursuing a graduate degree, and is a passionate runner, I’m always looking for opportunities to get my steps in! Lately, my favorite distances have been the half marathon and 10k. When I’m not working or studying, you can find me exploring new routes and chatting on my runs as a founder of a women-focused run club in Raleigh, NC – Raleigh Girls Run (@RaleighGirlsRunning on IG!)