Hylo Running Shoes Explained: Everything You Need To Know

Hylo is a very different running shoe company from most of the established brands. While performance remains important, the British brand was created around the idea that running shoes can be made with a much greater proportion of bio based and recycled materials while reducing their overall environmental impact.

That approach can be seen throughout its current running range. Hylo uses materials derived from sources including castor beans and natural rubber alongside technologies such as HyperBolt+ cushioning and TreadLight outsoles. Its latest shoes are designed to compete as genuine everyday running shoes rather than asking runners to accept lower performance in return for better environmental credentials.

The current range is relatively small, with Impact 2 providing the neutral everyday option and Axis adding greater cushioning and guidance. If you've seen Hylo running shoes and wondered what makes them different, how sustainable they really are or whether they can compete with more established running shoe brands, here's everything you need to know.

The History Of Hylo

Hylo is a relatively young running brand, having launched in 2020 with a shoe called the Hylo Light. From the beginning, the company set out to reduce the reliance of sports footwear on conventional petroleum based materials and explore how renewable alternatives could be incorporated into shoes without sacrificing their usefulness.

The early range subsequently expanded to include models such as the Hylo Legacy and Hylo Run. Those shoes helped the company develop its understanding of materials and manufacturing, but Hylo eventually decided it needed a substantially different shoe if it wanted to compete more directly with established performance running footwear.

That led to the development of the original Impact following around two years of research and development. Rather than treating sustainability as something to add to an existing running shoe, Hylo describes its approach as materials first, developing the design around alternatives to some of the petroleum derived materials traditionally used within footwear.

The range has continued to evolve. Impact 2 is now Hylo's current neutral daily running shoe, while Axis expands the collection into supportive everyday running with greater cushioning and guidance.

Why Are Hylo Running Shoes Different?

The most obvious difference is the importance Hylo places on materials. Conventional running shoes rely heavily on synthetic materials derived from fossil fuels, while Hylo has deliberately investigated alternatives including castor bean based materials and natural rubber.

Hylo uses the CleanTech name for its approach to developing footwear with a greater proportion of bio based and recycled materials. Rather than simply replacing one small component with recycled material and marketing the finished shoe as sustainable, the company considers material choice throughout the shoe and tries to increase the proportion coming from alternative sources.

Performance still has to come first when someone actually runs in the shoes. Hylo has therefore developed its own cushioning, geometry and outsole technologies rather than positioning its footwear primarily as environmentally conscious lifestyle trainers.

That distinction is important. The proposition behind Hylo is not that runners should buy a less capable shoe because it has better environmental credentials. The company is attempting to show that lower impact materials can be incorporated into credible modern running footwear.

What Is Hylo CleanTech?

CleanTech is the name Hylo uses around its approach to developing footwear with a greater proportion of bio based and recycled materials. It influences material selection throughout the shoe rather than describing one individual component.

The original Impact demonstrated the principle particularly clearly. Hylo used a castor bean derived nylon upper, bio based components within its cushioning and natural rubber within the outsole, while also examining where materials were sourced and how they were transported to the factory.

The latest Impact 2 and Axis take that approach further. Hylo states that 50% of the materials used in both current models are bio based and recycled, illustrating how material development is continuing alongside improvements to the performance of the shoes.

CleanTech should not be interpreted as meaning that the shoes contain no conventional synthetic materials. Hylo itself acknowledges that it has not eliminated fossil fuel derived materials completely, making the percentage of alternative materials an important part of judging its environmental claims.

What Is Hylo HyperBolt+?

HyperBolt+ is the cushioning technology used in Hylo's latest running shoes. It is a supercritical bio based foam designed to provide cushioning and responsiveness while reducing reliance on conventional petroleum based running shoe foams.

Impact 2 uses HyperBolt+ to create a relatively lightweight and responsive everyday ride. Hylo describes the shoe as providing mid level cushioning, making it suitable for regular road running while remaining responsive enough for faster sessions.

Axis also uses HyperBolt+ but in a higher cushioning configuration. Its broader platform and supportive geometry give the foam a different role, providing comfort while working with the rest of the shoe to create a more stable ride.

The important point is that the foam is not being used simply to strengthen a sustainability claim. Hylo has developed it as a performance component, with its bio based content forming part of the wider CleanTech approach.

What Is Hylo PureGlide SP?

PureGlide SP is the guidance technology used within the Hylo Axis. Rather than relying on a traditional medial post to control movement, Hylo uses the shape and construction of the shoe to create greater structural stability while trying to retain a smooth and natural running experience.

The system works alongside the wider platform and high level of HyperBolt+ cushioning used in Axis. Sculpted geometry helps guide the foot through the stride, while the construction is designed to provide additional stability without making the shoe unnecessarily heavy or rigid.

This reflects a wider change in supportive running footwear. Many modern support shoes increasingly use platform width, geometry and different foam characteristics to guide the foot rather than relying on the firm medial posts traditionally associated with stability shoes.

For runners, the important point is relatively simple. PureGlide SP is what differentiates Axis from the neutral Impact 2 and makes it the Hylo model intended for runners who want greater support and stability.

What Is Hylo TreadLight?

TreadLight is Hylo's outsole technology. Grip is obviously important in any running shoe, but Hylo has also tried to reduce the environmental impact and unnecessary weight associated with the outsole.

Impact 2 uses an outsole containing 60% natural rubber, with the rubber positioned strategically across the areas where runners require grip. This helps provide traction without unnecessarily covering the entire underside of the shoe with additional material.

For road runners, the aim is dependable everyday grip rather than the aggressive traction associated with a trail shoe. TreadLight is designed primarily around pavement and normal road running conditions, which reflects the current focus of Hylo's footwear range.

What Is Heel Drop?

Heel drop is the difference in height between the heel and forefoot of a running shoe. Hylo does not use exactly the same geometry across its current models because Impact 2 and Axis are designed for slightly different types of runner.

Impact 2 has a 6 mm drop and a 34 mm stack height, creating a moderately cushioned platform without becoming an exceptionally high shoe. Axis has an 8 mm drop and a 38 mm stack height, reflecting its greater emphasis on cushioning and support.

Neither figure should be considered in isolation. The width of the platform, firmness of the foam and overall geometry can influence how a running shoe feels just as much as the numerical drop.

If you are moving from a shoe with substantially different geometry, allow your body some time to adjust. Comfort and the overall feel of the shoe remain more useful considerations than selecting footwear purely according to a particular heel drop.

Does Hylo Make Neutral Running Shoes?

Impact 2 is Hylo's current neutral daily running shoe and is designed to provide a balanced ride without conventional pronation control features.

Hylo combines its HyperBolt+ cushioning with stable geometry rather than making the shoe excessively soft or unstable. This allows Impact 2 to provide a relatively natural ride while retaining enough structure for everyday running.

The shoe is aimed primarily at road running and everyday use while remaining light and responsive enough for faster 5K and 10K efforts. For someone who normally chooses neutral daily trainers from other brands, Impact 2 is the most obvious Hylo model to consider.

Does Hylo Make Support Running Shoes?

Axis is Hylo's current support running shoe, although the company uses the language of guidance rather than positioning it as a traditional stability or motion control shoe.

Axis uses PureGlide SP technology, a broader platform, sculpted geometry and areas of slightly denser foam to create greater structural stability. A reinforced heel counter and more structured upper also help keep the foot securely positioned over the platform.

The aim is support without aggressive correction. That makes Axis relevant to runners who prefer a more stable daily trainer as well as those who find very soft or narrow neutral shoes less secure.

Runners who have been specifically advised to use a particular type of stability shoe should still consider their individual requirements. Axis provides guidance and stability, but that does not automatically make it equivalent to every traditional support shoe.

Does Hylo Make Carbon Plated Running Shoes?

Hylo does not currently have a carbon plated racing shoe within its main running range. Impact 2 and Axis are both designed around everyday road running rather than competing directly with specialist carbon plated super shoes.

That means the company currently concentrates on cushioning, geometry, grip and material innovation rather than using a rigid plate to maximise racing efficiency. Impact 2 can be used for faster running, but it remains a daily neutral trainer rather than a dedicated racing shoe.

For most recreational runners, this is not necessarily a disadvantage. A versatile daily running shoe will normally be used for considerably more mileage than a specialist racing model, making comfort, durability and suitability for regular training more important.

The absence of a carbon plated shoe also keeps the current Hylo range relatively straightforward. Impact 2 covers neutral running, while Axis addresses runners wanting more support and cushioning.

Read more about running shoes brands here.

Does Hylo Make Trail Running Shoes?

Hylo's current core running collection is focused on road running rather than trail running. Impact 2 and Axis are both road running shoes and their construction reflects that purpose.

TreadLight provides grip for normal running surfaces and changing weather conditions, but that should not be confused with a dedicated trail outsole using deep lugs for mud, loose ground or technical terrain.

A Hylo shoe may cope with an occasional park path or straightforward hard packed surface, as many road running shoes can. If a significant proportion of your running takes place on trails, however, a dedicated trail shoe from another brand is likely to be more appropriate.

Which Hylo Running Shoe Is Right For You?

Hylo Impact 2

Impact 2 (pictured above) is Hylo's current neutral daily trainer and the model most runners should consider first. It is designed as a versatile road running shoe for everyday training while also being light and responsive enough for faster 5K and 10K efforts. The shoe uses HyperBolt+ supercritical bio based foam and has a 34 mm stack with a 6 mm heel drop. Hylo lists the men's shoe at approximately 260g, putting it at a reasonable weight for an everyday trainer rather than pushing it into heavily cushioned territory. Underneath, TreadLight uses 60% natural rubber positioned in the areas where grip is most important. Hylo has also concentrated on reducing unnecessary weight, with the aim of producing a shoe that remains responsive enough for faster sessions while retaining the comfort required for everyday mileage. Sustainability remains central to the design. Hylo states that Impact 2 is made from 50% bio based and recycled materials, demonstrating how the company is attempting to increase its use of alternative materials while simultaneously improving the performance of the shoe. For runners wanting to try Hylo for the first time, Impact 2 is the obvious starting point. It is the more versatile neutral option and the closest equivalent to the everyday road trainers that form the heart of most major running shoe ranges.

Hylo Axis

Axis takes Hylo in a different direction by providing greater cushioning and support. It is designed for road running and everyday training but specifically targets runners who prefer additional stability beneath the foot. The shoe uses HyperBolt+ cushioning alongside PureGlide SP guidance technology. A broader platform, sculpted geometry and areas of slightly denser foam are designed to increase stability without producing the intrusive sensation sometimes associated with older style stability shoes. Axis has a 38 mm stack height and an 8 mm drop, while Hylo lists the shoe at approximately 295g. The structured upper and reinforced heel counter also provide greater security around the foot. Like Impact 2, Axis uses 50% bio based and recycled materials. This is particularly significant because supportive and highly cushioned shoes require substantial amounts of material, making Hylo's attempt to reduce reliance on conventional fossil fuel based components an important part of the design. Axis is therefore the Hylo model to consider if you want a more cushioned and supportive everyday shoe. Runners happy in neutral trainers are more likely to gravitate towards Impact 2, while those wanting greater guidance and stability should look towards Axis.

The Axis

Are Hylo Running Shoes Sustainable?

Sustainability is where Hylo differs most clearly from the majority of running shoe brands. The company was established specifically to explore how running footwear could reduce its dependence on petroleum derived materials while still providing the performance runners expect.

The material choices are unusually prominent. Hylo has used castor bean derived nylon, bio based cushioning components and natural rubber, while its current Impact 2 and Axis shoes are both described as containing 50% bio based and recycled materials.

The company has also calculated the carbon footprint of individual products through life cycle assessment. For the original Impact, Hylo reported a footprint of 8.63 kg CO2e per pair and said the shoe contained 40% bio based material by weight. That measurement considered areas including raw materials, manufacturing, packaging, logistics and the end of the product's life.

It is important not to apply that 8.63 kg CO2e figure automatically to the current Impact 2. It relates to Hylo's original Impact and provides useful evidence of the company's approach to measuring environmental impact rather than a current carbon footprint for every shoe it produces.

Hylo has also created Hyloop, its platform for extending product life through care, repair and recycling. The longer term ambition is a more circular system in which products and materials remain useful rather than simply being discarded when a shoe reaches the end of its running life.

The company is also a certified B Corp, providing external assessment across wider areas of social and environmental performance. Hylo says it conducts independent audits within its supply chain and manufactures its footwear near Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam, with materials sourced as close to the factory as practical.

There is still an important distinction between lower impact and impact free. Hylo itself acknowledges that its shoes are not yet made entirely from renewable materials and that it still needs to use some fossil fuel based components.

That transparency strengthens rather than weakens the sustainability argument. Hylo is one of the relatively small number of running shoe companies making material composition, carbon footprint and end of life considerations central to the development of the product rather than relying primarily on small amounts of recycled content.

Are Hylo Running Shoes Vegan?

Hylo states that its products contain no animal products, making its current running shoes suitable for runners specifically looking for vegan footwear.

That fits naturally with the company's wider approach to materials, where alternatives to conventional materials are considered throughout the design. Vegan does not automatically mean environmentally sustainable, but in Hylo's case it forms one part of a much broader attempt to reduce the environmental impact of its products.

Are Hylo Running Shoes Worth It?

Hylo is an interesting proposition because runners are not simply choosing between two different shoe models. They are also deciding whether the company's approach to materials and environmental impact is something they want to support.

Impact 2 is the more versatile choice for most runners. Its neutral construction, moderate cushioning and relatively low weight make it suitable for everyday road mileage while still allowing it to handle shorter and faster running.

Axis fills an important gap by providing a more cushioned and supportive alternative. Its guidance based approach means Hylo can now cater for runners who want greater stability rather than limiting the brand entirely to neutral footwear.

The range remains much smaller than those offered by established companies such as Asics, Brooks, Adidas or Saucony. There is currently no dedicated trail shoe or carbon plated racer, so Hylo cannot yet provide a shoe for every type of running.

What makes it stand out is the attempt to combine credible running performance with unusually ambitious material choices. If environmental impact is an important factor when choosing running shoes, Hylo deserves serious consideration rather than being viewed simply as an eco focused alternative to a conventional running brand.

Final Thoughts On Hylo Running Shoes

Hylo is still a much smaller running shoe brand than most of the companies it competes against, but that is part of what makes it interesting. Rather than building a huge collection immediately, it has concentrated on developing a small number of road running shoes around a distinctive approach to materials.

Impact 2 is the natural starting point for neutral runners, combining moderate cushioning and relatively low weight in an everyday road trainer. Axis expands the range with greater cushioning and guidance for runners who want additional support and stability.

The bigger story, however, is sustainability. Hylo is attempting to reduce reliance on petroleum derived materials through bio based alternatives, increase recycled and renewable content, measure product carbon footprints and create a route for products at the end of their useful life. Importantly, it also acknowledges that it has not yet eliminated conventional materials entirely.

That makes Hylo one of the more interesting running brands for anyone who wants environmental considerations to play a meaningful role in their choice of footwear. The current range cannot cover every type of running, but Impact 2 and Axis demonstrate that sustainability and credible everyday running performance do not have to be treated as completely separate objectives.

Read more about sustainable running shoe brands here.