Peter Macfarlane awards the Helly Hansen Skyhawk TR his Greener Choice and likes the specs. Find out why.
The Helly Hansen Skyhawk TR sits in the middle ground of trail shoe design. There’s some padding without being overly chunky, and a fit that is contoured around the forefoot but roomier around the ankle and heel.
Peter Macfarlane’s Greener Choice
I like the spec, the design and potential performance of the Skyhawks, especially as an all-round trail shoe with an emphasis on trekking.- light
- accessible
- comfortable
- roomy heel cup won’t suit everyone
- wet weather grip
| Quick specs | |
|---|---|
| Price | $160 | £140 (available from Helly Hansen) |
| Weight | 608g (UK9 pair) |
| Heel-to-toe drop | 10mm |
| Lug depth | 4mm |
| Materials | Upper: 100% Recycled Polyester, Lining: 100% Recycled Polyester, Insole: 100% Ethylene Vinyl Acetate – Outsole: 100% Rubber |
| Features | High recycled content, non marking rubber soles, proprietory HH technologies throughout design and construction |
| Waterproof | no |
| Sizes | 6.5-12.5UK inc half sizes, 40-48EU |
| Women’s version | Yes |
| hellyhansen.com |
I’ve had to work a little to get the best from this. The forefoot is excellent; it feels snug without being tight and this gives great confidence for foot placements. The roomy heel cup made confident running more difficult – I had to swap around footbeds, inserts and sock thicknesses to stop heel lift. The top lace slots allow for a good tight runner’s knot, but it wasn’t quite enough for me.
Elsewhere, the upper is mostly mesh with some overlays in the midfoot and the lace slots, and some strengthening at the toe and heel. The tongue is thin mesh with overlays to spread the pressure of the laces a little. The mesh allows good breathability and also means that the Skyhawk pumps water out when flexed after any bog hopping. Inside, the removeable footbed is well shaped and has a layer of foam padding. The midsole is well padded and quite stiff which works well for walking on rough or rocky terrain. The toe flex is stiffer than I’d expect on a trail runner, which likely amplified my heel lift when running. Then again, this works really well on rough ground when walking. The outsole doesn’t have the deepest lugs at 4mm but the pattern is aggressive and I found good grip across a variety of terrain until it got too soft or wet.
Despite my own personal fit issues, I like the spec, the design and potential performance of the Skyhawks, especially as an all-round trail shoe with an emphasis on trekking. Just try them on first in a shop.
How we tested
Peter has a favourite 22km running loop starting from his door through Kilpatrick Hills where testing miles were accrued over the winter and early spring. He has a narrow heel and wide forefoot. Weights were taken from his own digital scales. This review was first published in the June 2026 issue of The Great Outdoors. You can compare it to other in our guide to the best trail running shoes.
