Performance

Lightness
10
Cushioning
9
Flexibility
8
Responsive
9
Stability
7
Grip
7

Details of Hyperion Max

Gender Men , Women
Weight 200 gr
Drop 8 mm
Cushion High
Runner weight Light
Running gait Neutral
Surface Road
Use training
Pace High
Strike heel
Distance Short , 10K , Half-marathon , Marathon
Colour Yellow , Blue , White , Orange , Black , Red
Year 2023

The trend is here to stay, and there is no running shoes manufacturer without a model designed for speed training. They are shoes that also fit a wide range of runners, and that do not cause problems if you do not have an excellent running technique. The fight against time is also one of the objectives of many runners. And that's why the speedy Hyperion family from Brooks has a new member: the Brooks Hyperion Max.

The Brooks Hyperion Max is one of the new shoes of the 2022 Brooks season. As the name indicates, that name Max gives us a clue that we are talking about the super shoe with maximum cushioning from the American company. It is aimed at all those who want to run very fast with very good cushioning. That is, running with more fluid and dynamic transitions, but without neglecting a high level of joint protection.

What are the strengths of the Brooks Hyperion Max?

The first sensations with these Brooks Hyperion Max running shoes are spectacular. They are inspired by the famous Brooks Hyperion Elite 2 for the most professional and fast athletes on the tarmac, and who aspire to be in the most privileged positions of each competition.

Its main virtues are lightness, around 200 grams, its great reactive cushioning and its spectacular design.

However, unlike the Hyperion Elite, the new Brooks Hyperion Max are not so focused on breaking records, but on improving the runner's performance and efficiency. In fact, everything points to the fact that these Hyperion Max do not have the carbon fibre plate in their midsole. Thus, it can be concluded that these Hyperion Max fall in between Hyperion Elite and Hyperion Tempo from Brooks Running.

Importantly, there is no carbon plate. But these Brooks Hyperion Max not only ensure a high level of cushioning, but also add a premium lightweight section. At this point it says alot that this model features a more training-oriented upper, along the lines of the Brooks Hyperion Tempo, although this time, the lining seems to be designed with 3D printing and overlays, eliminating all seams. This simpler and lighter upper is shaped with the idea of running at a livelier pace and bringing out your best version in each series, fartlek or workout.

This new Brooks Running model comes to compete head to head with other top models such as the adidas Adizero Prime X, the Saucony Endorphin Speed 2, the Nike Tempo Next% or the New Balance FuelCell RC Elite v2, for example.

Do you have any questions? Ask our expert

Review of Brooks Hyperion Max

17 April 2023

Brooks Hyperion Max, a strong candidate for best non-carbon plate running shoe

The new Brooks Hyperion Max is a model that every runner should want to have in their closet. It is a running shoe that could be included in the category of "fast shoes without carbon plate". And in this list it is going to have very powerful rivals, but against which I think they will be able to compete very well.

The first thing I'd like to highlight about these Brooks Hyperion Max running shoes is the ratio of cushioning, responsiveness and speed. I think it has a brilliant balance in these 3 parameters. Achieving this is very difficult and you can tell that Brooks have put a lot of effort into achieving it.

What type of runners are the Brooks Hyperion Max for?

I would recommend them for all runners who want to do workouts at their fastest paces but with a good cushioned feel. That doesn't mean they can't be used for running at slower paces. You will be able to use them in more comfortable sessions but you will get the best out of them the more pace you ask of them.

If you are up to date with the running shoes news, you will know that the carbon plate is one of the star topics. Brooks has had and still has models with carbon plate like the Brooks Hyperion Elite. And yet, the American company wants to bet on the most popular segment of running and make models suitable for all audiences. The category of best running shoe without carbon plate has a clear contender with these Brooks Hyperion Max. In this category it will compete with the Nike Zoom Streakfly, the New Balance Rebel or the ASICS Superblast. They are very powerful competitors but I think the Brooks Hyperion Max are on a par with all of them.

For what distances do we recommend the Brooks Hyperion Max?

For any distance. I have been able to use them for short runs (less than 7 km) and slightly longer runs (up to 15 km) and their response is just as good. This is also influenced by the comfort of the Brooks Hyperion Max. This is a model that is constructed of a mesh upper. That mesh is not as stretchy as other models we have tested lately but this detail does not detract from the comfort at all.

The uppers are very nice and the last is wide without being excessive. And another detail I would like to highlight is in the lacing. It's an area that we sometimes neglect in our reviews and I think it's important. The laces of these shoes are very well finished because you don't notice them when you tighten them and because they have an interwoven composition that prevents the knot from unraveling.

And one last detail that is important when assessing comfort is in the tongue. It is a very simple and thin tongue but with a little padding on top. You don't notice it and that's the best thing that can be said about this part of the shoes.

What we liked most about the Brooks Hyperion Max

The truth is that I really liked everything about them. They're comfortable, they're cushioned, they're fast, they're aesthetically pleasing, they're breathable, they're lightweight. And they are also very stable. In the heel area they have a more robust plastic plate. The purpose of this finish is to fix your heel and keep it from slipping when you step on the ground.

These Brooks Hyperion Max are the heirs of the Brooks Hyperion Tempo that I had the opportunity to try a few years ago, but still improved... And, above all, .

  • Improved in lightness because they go from 210 grams of the Tempo to200 grams of the Max).
  • Improved in response because they have a slightly more lively behavior in fast paces.
  • Improved cushioning. The DNA Flash technology incorporated in the midsole of this model performs spectacularly.

When you are running at fast paces you take advantage of its responsiveness, but if you start to get tired or start to lean with your midfoot or heel, they have a very good cushioning for your feet, ankles and knees.

What models can we compare the Brooks Hyperion Max to?

Brooks Hyperion Max Improvement Opportunities

If I'm being honest, the first time I had the Brooks Hyperion Max I really liked them. But the first thing I thought of as a point of improvement was in their durability. The sole area has the DNA foam in contact with the ground. I was sure that it was going to suffer with the passage of kilometers. But I have to say that I have been wearing these Brooks Hyperion Max for almost 100 kilometers and they are surprisingly as good as the first day. However, we'll see how it behaves after a few hundred more kilometers.

Perhaps I would improve the shape of the tongue to make it more compact and fluffy but it is not an excessively important point.

Final conclusions of the Brooks Hyperion Max

I think Brooks has hit the mark with this model. It is aimed at a very interesting segment of runners and with a very elaborate proposal. Sometimes I have criticized the brand for not innovating in some of the most important models but in these Brooks Hyperion Max the feeling is just the opposite. Good job!

RUNNEA tester's rating

  • Lightweight: 95.
  • Responsiveness: 95.
  • Cushioning: 95.
  • Stability: 9.
  • Flexibility: 9
  • Grip: 85.

Pros

  • Lightweight, comfortable and responsive cushioning
  • Stability
  • Design with attractive aesthetics

Cons

  • The shape of the tongue
  • Durability