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Tom's Guide
31-07-2025
- Tom's Guide
I ran 35 miles in the Brooks Hyperion Max 3 — here's my verdict
The Brooks Hyperion Max 3 is a high-stack running shoe that's built to offer a combination of both comfort and speed, but only really excels with regard to the former. It's a bit too big and heavy to be a really fast shoe, and lacks the versatility you can get from some plated training shoes, like the Nike Zoom Fly 6 or Hoka Mach X2. While I did enjoy cruising through long runs in the Hyperion Max 3, it has too high a price to justify picking up for that purpose alone, when there are cheaper cushioned shoes that can do the job just as well, like the Asics Novablast 5. The Brooks Hyperion Max 3 launched in July 2025 and costs $200 in the U.S. and £170 in the U.K., which is a $20 price hike on the Hyperion Max 2. That price puts it up against great shoes like the Asics Superblast 2 and Hoka Mach X2, though it's still a lot cheaper than the Brooks Hyperion Elite 5, the brand's flagship carbon plate racer. The Hyperion Max 3 is currently available in two colors, one of which is the Fiery Coral/Black/Atomizer design I tested myself. It stands taller than any Brooks shoe I've tested to date, with a stack height of 46mm at the heel and 40mm at the forefoot. It's the same 6mm drop as the previous model, but there's a lot more foam underfoot, which results in a gain in weight. The Hyperion Max 3 weighs 10.6oz in my US men's size 10, which is an ounce heavier than the Hyperion Max 2. I found that the shoe fit me well in my normal running shoe size, the same size I've used for Brooks shoes across the range for the past decade. The Hyperion Max 3 has a mesh upper with a sock-like fit. It's quite open and breathable around the toes, but it is a bit oppressive around the tongue, and the rolled padding on the collar is a little too noticeable on the run for my tastes. I tested the shoe in the summer, and it does run a little hot. Given the performance focus of the Hyperion Max 3, a more lightweight and stripped-back upper would feel better to me. The midsole of the Hyperion Max 3 uses two different foams, with a springy top layer made from the PEBA DNA Gold foam used in the brand's racing shoes, like the Brooks Hyperion Elite 5, and a firmer bottom layer made from DNA Flash v2, a nitrogen-infused EVA material. In between those layers of foam is a plastic SpeedVault plate, which helps to stabilize the high stack of foam as well as adding some extra propulsion, without being as stiff as the carbon plates used in racing shoes. The Hyperion Max 3 has a RoadTack outsole, with rubber covering most of the forefoot and heel. The shoe has gripped well for me on all my runs, and it seems to be a hardy rubber with no signs of wear and tear as yet. While it wasn't the most exciting plated trainer on the market, I did like the Brooks Hyperion Max 2, and it offered a blend of stability, comfort, and speed that worked for runners who didn't get on with more unstable options. I was excited to try the Hyperion Max 3 because of the DNA Gold foam in the midsole, which I have enjoyed on the Hyperion Elite 4 PB and Hyperion Elite 5 racing shoes. Owing to that foam, the Hyperion Max 3 is a bouncier shoe than its predecessor, and it's a fun shoe for long runs in particular, thanks to the comfortable ride. However, the addition of DNA Gold is just one of the many changes Brooks made to the Hyperion Max 3, and overall, I've been a little disappointed and confused by the shoe. It's now quite heavy and doesn't feel great for faster runs, and certainly lacks the pace you get from the best plated trainers like the Saucony Endorphin Speed 5 and Hoka Mach X2. Even the bounce of the ride is muted because of the bottom layer of foam on the shoe, which does help it be quite stable for such a high-stack shoe, but it dulls the ride compared to springier options like the Mizuno Neo Vista 2. Ultimately, the Hyperion Max 3 ends up being a very cushioned shoe for easy and long runs, which is fine, but it doesn't justify its high price, and there are better options available for less, whether you just want a comfortable daily trainer or a versatile, plated super-trainer. There are too many excellent running shoes available right now for me to say the Brooks Hyperion Max 3 is worth buying, especially for the lofty price of $200. If you want a highly versatile plated trainer that works well for fast and slow runs alike, I recommend the Nike Zoom Fly 6, Hoka Mach X2, and Saucony Endorphin Speed 5 in particular. Those seeking a bouncy-plated shoe that excels on long runs will find it in the Mizuno Neo Vista 2, which I enjoyed more than the Hyperion Max 3 for easy efforts. You can also get cushioned daily trainers without plates for a lot less than the Hyperion Max 3 that are great for easy and long runs, like the Asics Novablast 5 and Hoka Clifton 10. If the $200 price doesn't put you off, I'd spend that money on the Asics Superblast 2 instead, which is a max-cushioned shoe that's still very light and fun to run in at any pace.
Tom's Guide
18-07-2025
- Lifestyle
- Tom's Guide
I ran 35 miles in the Brooks Hyperion Elite 5 — here's my verdict on Brooks' flagship racing shoe
There's an old saying about buses; that you wait ages for one and then two come along at once. The same is true of top-tier Brooks racing shoes, because after waiting years for a competitive super-shoe from the brand, it has now released two in 2025. The Brooks Hyperion Elite 5 follows hot on the heels of the Brooks Hyperion Elite 4 PB, which was the first Brooks racer to use a bouncy PEBA foam in the midsole, which elevated its performance to match that of the best carbon plate running shoes. After racing and doing several fast training sessions in the Brooks Hyperion Elite 5, I'd say it's an upgrade on the Hyperion Elite 4 PB, with a slightly lighter and springier design. It's an excellent option for races of any distance, but in the highly competitive carbon shoe market, I still have it behind a couple of standout super-shoes, like the Puma Fast-R Nitro Elite 3 and Asics Metaspeed Sky Tokyo. The Brooks Hyperion Elite 5 launched in July 2025 and costs $275 in the U.S. and £240 in the U.K., which is a $25 / £40 jump in price on the Hyperion Elite 4 PB. In the U.S. in particular, the Hyperion Elite 5 is quite an expensive option, with shoes like the Adidas Adios Pro 4 and Hoka Rocket X3 being notable cheaper options. The Hyperion Elite 5 launched in the Pink Clay/Atomizier Blue color and tested and it fit well in my normal running shoe size, the same size I use across the Brooks range. It has a stack height of 40mm at the heel and 32mm at the forefoot for an 8mm heel-to-toe drop, and weighs in at 7.2oz in my US men's size 10, a fraction lighter than the Hyperion Elite 4 PB, which was 7.3oz in my size. The upper on the Hyperion Elite 5 is made from a TPU-coated yarn and it's very open to be as breathable and lightweight as possible, especially in the toe box. There is minimal padding on the tongue, but there is a strip that runs around the heel collar to hold the heel in place. I didn't love this strip of padding, which sometimes irritated my Achilles a little, but it wasn't a major problem, even on longer runs. The Hyperion Elite 5 uses the DNA Gold foam that was introduced on the Hyperion Elite 4 PB, which is made from PEBA and is the lightest and bounciest foam in Brooks' range. There are 'bubbles' on foam in the midfoot on both sides of the shoe, which allows Brooks to reduce the amount of foam used and the overall weight of the shoe without creating as much instability as a full cutout. Running through the midsole is a full length 3D-printed Arris carbon plate. Brooks says that the plate is made to measure for each size of the Hyperion Elite 5, rather than just being shrunk or stretched, which optimizes the stiffness for each size. A 1.5mm thick layer of Speedtack rubber covers the forefoot of the Hyperion Elite 5, and there are two strips of rubber on the heel as well. I found the shoe gripped well for me throughout testing and there are no signs of wear and tear on the rubber yet. I did three hard workouts in the Brooks Hyperion Elite 5 on both the road and the track, as well as racing a 10K in 33:17 with the shoe, and its overall performance is certainly impressive and in line with most carbon plate super-shoes. It has a bouncy ride with a fast transition from heel to toe, and feels very light and nimble on the foot. There's also enough cushioning in the midsole for long distances, and I got the usual benefit of a carbon plate shoe in that my legs felt pretty fresh the day after a hard effort or race. For a super-shoe, the ride is quite natural and stable. The Hyperion Elite 5 is not as squishy and wobbly as a shoe like the Saucony Endorphin Elite 2, or as aggressively rockered as a shoe like the Puma Fast-R 3. This means it could suit those new to carbon racers quite well, and will feel a bit more supportive over longer events like marathons. It's also comfortable and stable enough to use for regular training, though durability will always be a concern with lightweight racing shoes like this. However, the drawback of the more natural design is that it doesn't feel quite as fast and propulsive to me as a shoe like the Puma Fast-R 3, or the Asics Metaspeed Sky Tokyo, which is lighter and bouncier. The Brooks Hyperion Elite 5 is a fast, lightweight and springy carbon plate racing shoe that I'd be delighted to have on my feet for races of any distance. Unfortunately, that's also true of several other super-shoes right now — the market has never been more competitive, and there isn't one thing that really stands out about the Hyperion Elite 5 that makes me recommend it above all others. There are a couple of standout shoes for me right now, which are the Puma Fast-R 3 and Asics Metaspeed Sky Tokyo, which are lighter and feel faster, and they'd be my go-tos if you just want a flat-out speedster for racing. However, the Brooks is a bit more stable than those shoes, but if you do want a more natural ride in a super-shoe you can get it for less, from options like the Puma Deviate Nitro Elite 3 or Hoka Rocket X3. The Adidas Adizero Adios Pro 4 is also cheaper and performs at the same high level as the Brooks Hyperion Elite 5. As good as it is, I think there are better or at least better value options than the Hyperion Elite 5 I'd check out first, but if you do pick it up, you can be sure you're getting a great racing shoe.
