REASONS TO BUY
Durable
Better traction than some road runners
Lightweight
REASONS TO AVOID
Expensive
Narrow
Rigid
Brooks Hyperion Max - Women's Review
A lightweight and rigidly designed shoe that offers a snug and agile running experience
While not the comfiest shoe in our lineup, we had some really enjoyable testing runs in the updated Brooks Hyperion.
Credit: Ally Arcuri
Our Verdict
The Brooks Hyperion Max is a rigidly designed, fantastically lightweight shoe with a 31mm maximum stack that feels significantly less. Designed with a narrow profile, this performance-oriented shoe caters to narrow-footed runners seeking precision in their stride. The Hyperion was seemingly designed without much consideration of comfort, providing a snug overall running experience. However, innovative features make it a decent choice for those who prioritize agility, have narrow feet, and are interested in a shoe that feels entirely different from the traditional Brooks-made feeling.
Our Analysis and Test Results
Weighing in at 5.67 ounces per women's size 6.5 with an 8mm drop, the upgraded Brooks Hyperion Max is primed to be a departure from Brooks' typically supportive, reliable kicks. Lacking responsiveness, we found this to be a good option if you enjoy a narrow and rigid road running shoe.
This rigid and narrow audience will appeal to a subset of runners - it likely isn't the next shoe that your running club will be raving about.
Credit: Ally Arcuri
Landing Comfort and Cushioning
The Hyperion offers a firm structure, minimally cushioned features, and enough stack to get the job done without going overboard. The combination of firmness and targeted cushioning makes the Brooks Hyperion a shoe suited for runners seeking a balanced shoe to add to their existing running shoe arsenal. But based on comfort alone, we struggle to recommend the Hyperion. Even though it stands at 31mm in the rear, the overall fit of the Hyperion feels lower, providing a more intimate road experience. The Hyperion is one of the more narrow shoes we tested, and this fact continues to feel prominent during our runs. While it is not the narrowest shoe we tested this season, its rigid side walls create foot claustrophobia that our average-footed testers are unaccustomed to. The widest point of the outsole is 3.96 inches, and the widest point of the insole is 3.27 inches. For reference, the ultra-responsive Nike Vaporfly 3 is another narrow shoe, but it has next to zero rigidity in its upper, allowing for a more comfortable fit.
The Hyperion is one of the narrowest shoes we tested, but the only narrow shoe with such firm sidewalls.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Responsiveness
The Hyperion Max is marketed as a more responsive option from Brooks. Engineered with cutting-edge technologies, the Hyperion features a moderately responsive midsole with some energy return. The energy return predominately comes from the stiffer-than-average platform and isn't enough for us to consider this a race-ready running shoe. The lightweight construction enhances overall agility and promotes quick foot turnover, which will allow you to move quickly. But without prime energy return, why spin your proverbial wheels? Another reason we struggle to recommend the Hyperion is because its responsiveness-to-weight ratio is askew. Many lightweight shoes are built for speed, and while the Hyperion is less than 6 ounces per women's size 6.5 shoe, other kicks provide notably better energy return.
The curvature of the Hyperion is primed to help this shoe propel you to top speed, though we did not find that all of the elements came together well enough to provide that experience.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Stability
The stability of the Brooks Hyperion is above average but not necessarily geared toward runners who want a stability shoe. The shoe incorporates a supportive midsole designed with BioMoGo DNA, which adapts to each runner's unique foot shape and gait. This is a double-edged sword when it comes to stability since it can easily pack out to enable overpronated gaits. The stability of the Hyperion is mostly due to its rigid side walls, which add to its overall feeling. If you are in the market specifically for a stability-centric shoe, we have better options on our radar. If the other elements of the Hyperion speak to you, and the stability is an added bonus, it's worth checking out.
The rigidity and low stack (31mm at its highest) of the Hyperion make it an inherently more stable shoe than most super-stacked options.
Credit: Ally Arcuri
Upper Comfort
The upper comfort of the Brooks Hyperion shoe is characterized by a balance of support and breathability, making it mostly comfortable. This is not a shoe that we often want to reach for since it feels rather stiff, but every time we put it on, we grew used to it and enjoyed our runs. The shoe's upper is designed with incredibly lightweight and breathable materials that promote adequate airflow, something we take into consideration for runners who run in warm weather. Much like the rest of the shoe, the upper provides a snug fit, offering a degree of support that can cater to the natural contours of your foot or irritate the heck out of them. While the Hyperion is not the epitome of plushness, it strikes a suitable compromise between comfort and functionality, making it a viable choice for individuals seeking a lightweight running shoe.
The upper of the Hyperion is fairly breathable, which allows it to be comfortable.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Weight
The Hyperion Max women's size 6.5 running shoe boasts a feather-light design, tipping the scales at a mere 5.67 ounces. While this is one of the lighter shoes in our lineup, as mentioned above, its energy return doesn't align with the typical featherweight trends. The Hyperion certainly isn't a shoe that is going to slow you down due to its weight, but its lighter-than-average weight doesn't feel especially purposeful.
The Hyperion has quite a few features that make it more lightweight. Shown here, its minimalistic tongue has just enough cushioning to protect your feet without adding to its bulk.
Credit: Ally Arcuri
Should You Buy the Brooks Hyperion Max?
The Brooks Hyperion Max is a rigidly dynamic shoe that won't suit all runners. Its inherent rigidity may not be suitable for all, but runners seeking a lightweight, narrow, and firm shoe will enjoy the underfoot feel that this shoe offers. If comfort is your sticking point, we have better options. If you are motivated by a lightweight shoe but want something more race-forward, other options might suit you better. And finally, if speedy pickups are your jam, we still have options that might better hit those marks.
Cutting into each shoe helps us see what they are made of and often gives us a way to explain what we are feeling. The scant heel cushioning of the Hyperion illuminates part of why it feels so firm.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
What Other Running Shoes Should You Consider?
Our Best Buy award winner, the Saucony Kinvara 14 is a lightweight contender that offers a bit more comfort and responsiveness than the Hyperion for a great price. If a responsive, super shoe is what you're after, we do not hesitate to recommend the top-tier offerings by Nike. The Vaporfly 3 and the Alphafly 3. Both shoes are race-specific and provide significantly more snap than the Hyperion. If you want a balance between comfort and responsiveness, we recommend looking in the direction of the Saucony Endorphin Speed 4. This shoe offers more responsiveness and comfort than the Hyperion and has a near-identical price tag.
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Ally Arcuri
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