Sustainable. Recycled. Carbon footprint. These are all words which, over the last decade, have become everyday household terms. Many of the running industry’s biggest brands have tried to use them to greenwash consumers into guiltlessly indulging in a new pair of running shoes. Marketing and the unrestricted recording of data has made it almost impossible for the average consumer to see through the jargon and understand what they are actually buying and what impact those purchases have on the world around them.
Hylo are one of the brands trying to actively change how the running industry operates and the impact that our sport has on the natural environment. Their previous shoe, the Impact, built excitement for what could be the future of running footwear. However, it lacked the excitement and ride factor needed to gain real traction.
They are now back with the Axis, a max-cushioned support trainer engineered with bio-based materials. The aim is to deliver higher energy return while leaving a lighter footprint on the environment.
Upper and Fit of the Hylo Athletics Axis
What works for me
I was pleasantly surprised by the upper of the Hylo Axis. I love the way the all-white colourway looks sleek and smart, giving the shoe a muted lifestyle feel. The Axis is something I could easily wear all day, whether I was going for a run, running errands around town, or heading out for a walk. However, given the winter conditions I was testing the shoe in, they didn’t stay white for very long.
Rather than relying on fossil-fuel-based polymers, the upper of the Hylo Axis is made from a 60 percent bio-based castor bean-derived yarn. This is one of the steps Hylo have taken to reduce the shoe’s carbon footprint by replacing what would traditionally be a fully synthetic fibre. Many brands boast about using recycled uppers. While this reduces the amount of raw resources used and the waste produced, it does not necessarily provide a truly sustainable long-term solution.
I was impressed by the high-quality feel of the upper. The initial step-in feel is exactly what I would want from a max-cushioned shoe. There is significant padding around the heel, which contributes to excellent heel lockdown.
The lockdown overall feels comfortably secure, particularly through the midfoot. The upper transitions nicely from the heavily padded heel into a much thinner and more breathable construction in the forefoot and toe box. This lighter construction allows for excellent breathability in the front of the shoe.
Overall the Axis fits true to size, and the last feels particularly well shaped. There is strong security through the midfoot combined with ample room in the toe box, giving the shoe a relatively natural-feeling fit.
What doesn’t work for me
Earlier I mentioned that the breathability of the upper is exceptional. However, that really only applies to the forefoot of the shoe. The midfoot and heel area feel noticeably warmer.
While I have no issue with the heel being relatively non-breathable, the midfoot could definitely benefit from improved ventilation. This is particularly important if you are planning to use the Axis during summer mileage.
One of the main reasons for the heat buildup in the midfoot is likely the extremely plush tongue. The amount of cushioning here feels somewhat unnecessary. A slightly thinner tongue design would likely improve breathability without sacrificing comfort.
Midsole and Ride of the Hylo Athletics Axis
What works for me
The midsole of the Hylo Axis is built around Hyperbolt+, a midsole compound that uses a 50 percent bio-based supercritical nitrogen-injected foam.
The ride sits on the firmer side compared with most max-cushioned shoes. Despite this, I was pleasantly surprised by how uniform and smooth the shoe felt underfoot. The added firmness actually works in its favour, making the ride comfortable across a wide range of paces.
I tested the Axis on easy runs as well as during a threshold treadmill session recently. During that workout, I was impressed by how responsive the shoe felt at faster paces considering its weight.
It is not soft enough for me to reach for on long runs or on days when my legs feel heavily fatigued. However, as a reliable do-it-all trainer, the Axis performs very well.
One of the main technologies in the Axis is its ESS stability guidance system in the heel. As a forefoot runner who generally does not need much stability support, I often find stability shoes feel restrictive or dull. That was not the case here. The stability elements are integrated in a way that makes them almost invisible while running.
In fact, I often forgot that I was running in a stability shoe at all. This subtle guidance is likely a key reason why the Axis feels so stable and confident across a wide range of paces.
What doesn’t work for me
Honestly, not much.
Would I call the Axis a max-cushioned shoe? Probably not, especially when comparing it with other shoes currently in that category. The midsole is not quite soft enough, and there simply is not as much foam underfoot as many modern max-stack trainers.
But for me, that is not really what the Axis is trying to be.
The Axis feels more like a responsive, moderately stable daily workhorse that handles everyday mileage well while still being capable of picking up the pace.
Outsole of the Hylo Athletics Axis
Grip and Traction
Hylo have eliminated the use of glue between the midsole and outsole by co-moulding the two components together during the manufacturing process. This is another example of how the shoe has been designed to reduce its environmental footprint.
The Axis features extremely generous outsole coverage across almost the entire base of the shoe. The rubber pattern resembles the tread of a car tyre, designed to channel water in a similar way.
Grip throughout testing has been excellent. I have had no issues running in wet conditions or on loose gravel paths.
Durability
Based purely on the amount of rubber coverage, I can easily see the Hylo Axis lasting hundreds, if not close to a thousand kilometres.
Conclusion
Value for Money
At $175, the Hylo Axis sits toward the higher end of the moderate stability daily trainer category. However, for a relatively new brand entering the running market, and considering the sustainable materials used throughout the shoe, the price point feels justified.
Fitting it into a shoe rotation
As mentioned earlier in the review, the Hylo Axis works best as a reliable daily workhorse. It handles easy miles day after day with ease, but it also responds well when you decide to pick up the pace.
I have particularly enjoyed using the Axis as a daily trainer that can double as an uptempo shoe when needed, and I will continue to use it for exactly that role in my rotation.
Final Verdict
Overall I was pleasantly surprised by the Hylo Axis.
Sustainability in running footwear is an area I would love to see more brands explore, and Hylo have taken a strong step forward with the Axis. What makes the shoe particularly interesting is that it does not just reduce its carbon footprint through bio-based materials. It also focuses on durability, meaning runners are likely to get more miles from a single pair.
That combination ultimately reduces consumption and waste over time.
I would recommend the Hylo Axis to runners looking for a stable, durable, and slightly different daily trainer. However, if you are looking for an ultra-soft, marshmallow-like midsole feel, this probably is not the shoe for you.
The Axis is not a perfect shoe, but it provides a strong foundation for Hylo to build on in future models. It also sets an encouraging precedent for other brands to explore new materials that help preserve the natural environments many of us enjoy running through.
