hylo Impact Review

Upper

Jon: "The upper of the hylo Impact feels soft and premium on foot. It wraps comfortably around my foot without being too wide or too narrow; it is just right. The eco-friendly mesh is very soft and breathable, and the tongue has the perfect amount of padding. The only issue I had with the upper is that the heel counter is quite stiff and it caused some irritation against my Achilles. Given that I was battling an Achilles injury the past several months, this was not an ideal fit for me and limited the number of miles I accumulated in this shoe."

Marie: "The Impact's upper was so nice and comfortable for walking around and running. The tongue is slightly padded and I experienced no irritation throughout testing. The mesh upper is adaptable and should accommodate those with a wider foot than mine. The midfoot was a definite highlight for me, as I like to have a snug, secure fit around my foot, and the Impact reminded me a bit of my adidas Boston 12, providing a secure midfoot with a comfortably spacious toe box. The Impact's ankle collar seemed to rest a bit higher on my ankle than some of my other daily trainers, but I did not experience any issues. Overall, the feel is simple, comfortable, and high-quality."

Midsole

Jon: "Soft and responsive is a fantastic midsole combination, and that is exactly how I would describe the HyperBolt foam featured in the hylo Impact. The supercritical, nitrogen- and sugarcane-infused compound delivers a responsive and versatile ride. I really enjoyed running easy paces in this shoe, and it was nice to easily pick up the pace when I mixed in some strides. I am slightly concerned about the foam's durability, given its unique composition. Regardless, it is awesome to see that making a high-quality, eco-focused foam is possible.

Although this shoe has a lot of stack (39 mm / 31 mm), it did not feel as protective as I would expect, especially in the forefoot. I would attribute this to the super-compressive foam upon ground contact. It does not exactly bottom out, but I wonder if it would over longer distances."

Marie: "The midsole foam was really plush with a consistently responsive bounce. I would not categorize this as a highly responsive shoe, but it did offer a reasonable amount of energy return throughout testing. Initially, the look and feel seemed geared more toward a casual audience with that plush, marshmallowy underfoot feel. That said, it delivered in terms of ride, and I had no issues doing shorter and longer runs while also playing with pace.

The only setback is that I prefer a firmer foam to give my foot a more stable and supportive feel. The Impact has a wide platform that helps create a more stable landing, which is great, but a firmer feel is what I gravitate toward. But overall, the Impact was a fun ride. I would recommend this shoe to the runner who loves a plush feel for their daily runs."

Outsole

Jon: "The outsole features strategic rubber placements in the shape of large popsicle sticks, so it is very unique looking but performs in line with what you'd expect in a daily trainer. I had no issues with grip, but of course, I wonder about the durability given the unique approach of having strips of rubber versus full outsole coverage."

Marie: "The design of the outsole is a bit different but well executed overall. The strip-like rubber along the outsole offers good traction on pavement and gravel. I did one grassy test run and had no issues with any slippage. All of my runs were on dry surfaces, so I cannot speak to whether the traction would be sufficient in wet weather conditions, but for my usage, I had no issues. The Impact's outsole performed great throughout testing, with no noticeable signs of abnormal wear and tear.

I'd also like to note that this shoe's outsole was so quiet—like the quietest of all my shoes! I know this is not something that normally receives much attention when reviewing shoes, but it was so nice not to hear my feet repetitively slap the pavement. I felt like a little ninja running along on my route."

Comparable Models

hylo Impact vs. Brooks Glycerin 21

Marie: "I would put the hylo Impact in the category of a daily trainer with soft, protective cushioning and medium responsiveness. This shoe provides a unique underfoot feel, but I would compare it to shoes like the Brooks Glycerin or Saucony Ride. That said, I would prefer the hylo Impact on easier runs when I want to enjoy the scenery or allow my legs to recover. The Impact is a very comfortable shoe, and if you want an eco-conscious choice at a fair price point, then I would encourage you to try the hylo Impact."

hylo Impact vs. Nike Infinity Run 4

Jon: "It has been a minute since I have run in the Nike Infinity Run 4, but this is the shoe that came to mind while testing the hylo Impact. In addition to sharing an eco-conscious approach, both shoes deliver a pleasantly soft and responsive ride that makes for a distraction-free run.

I think the Infinity Run 4 feels a little more protective, though the Impact's midsole has a bit more squish to it thanks to the supercritical foam. The Impact is also about 2 ounces lighter, which makes it quite a bit more versatile than the Infinity Run. Overall, the Infinity Run 4 lands more in the comfort and protection category, whereas the Impact can handle different types of runs better by having a more responsive foam in a much lighter package."