Brooks Hyperion Max 2 Review
By Andrea Myers and Matthew Klein
Brooks Hyperion Max 2Price: $180 at Running Warehouse
Weight: 9.1oz, 258 g (men's size 9), 8.1oz, 229 g (women's size 8)
Stack Height: 36.25mm heel/30.25mm forefoot
Drop: 6mm
Shoe Purpose: Plated daily trainer
Pros: Improved upper fit, particularly tongue stability; rocker geometry and stiff platform are ideal for easy-marathon pace
Cons: No longer suited for speed work as compared to v1, traction not as good as v1
RUNNING SHOE SUMMARY
The Hyperion Max is a plated, very rockered trainer that offers versatile daily training. The Hyperion Max 2 changes quite a bit, adding 4mm of stack to the shoe and a new Brook's SpeedVault Plate which adds some stiffness for slightly faster work. The midsole upgrades to their more responsive DNA Flash v2 foam. The shoe does pick up weight with all the changes, but remains an Andrea favorite.
SIMILAR SHOES: Puma Deviate Nitro 3
PAST MODEL: Brooks Hyperion Max
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| Compared to v1 (right) |
FIT
(To learn how a shoe should fit, check out our full podcast on fit by Matt Klein.)
Matt: The Brooks Hyperion Max 2 fits me true to size in my normal Men's US size 10. The fit is slightly wider, particularly for a Brooks shoes. The volume is a slightly above average, with both height and a decent amount of stretch from the upper. The toe box is tapered, more noticeable due to the slightly thicker toe guard. This moves into a slightly wider forefoot which is made even more comfortable by the slightly stretchy mesh. The midfoot fits more normal with a gusseted thin but wide tongue. The midfoot hold is fairly good and I did not have to tighten down the laces much. This continues into a normal width heel that features mild to moderately padded heel collar. The heel counter is rounded and mildly flexible. Those extremely sensitive to counters will notice but I did not have an issue with it. The inner liner of the upper is mostly comfortable except for the prominent internal toe guard. This makes socks a requirement for most people. With socks the upper is comfortable and works great for providing enough room and security at the same time.
Typical Size: Men's US Size 10
Shoes that have fit Matt well: Saucony Guide 17, ASICS Kayano 30, Hoka Gaviota 5, Saucony Endorphin Elite, Nike Ultrafly
Shoes that have fit snug: Hoka Arahi 7, Saucony Kinvara 14
Shoes that have fit large: Salomon S/Lab Phantasm 2, Altra Timp 5
Andrea: The Brooks Hyperion Max 2 fit true to size in my usual women's 9.5. I have nearly a full thumb's width from the front of my big toe to the end of the shoe, and the toe box has sufficient width that I experienced no discomfort at my 1st or 5th MTPs. The upper has been completely redesigned from v1, and even though v1 is one of my all time favorite shoes, I like the upper of v2 even more. The mesh upper has a sock like feel to it and the tongue is integrated much better as compared to v1. The mesh receives a good amount of structure from the large Brooks logos on the medial and lateral sides of the midfoot and the large sidewalls in the midfoot and rearfoot further help stabilize the foot in the shoe. The gusseted tongue is thin and made of a similar mesh material to the rest of the upper. Despite not having a lace loop like v1 (which I needed to keep the tongue of v1 in place), the tongue of v2 stays perfectly in place without a lace loop. The flat laces are textured and stay securely tied. There is a semi-rigid heel counter with moderate padding internally. Overall, I found the step in comfort and security of v2 to be even better than v1, and I have had zero discomfort in this shoe.
Andrea's Typical Size: Women's US Size 9.5
Shoes that have fit Andrea well: New Balance Beacon v3, Brooks Hyperion Max, Topo Cyclone 2, Nike Vaporfly 3, Altra Via Olympus 2
Shoes that have fit snug: Saucony Kinvara 14 (length and toe box width), Altra FWD Experience (length and width), Hoka Cielo Road (toe box width), Saucony Endorphin Speed and Pro 1-3 (length)
Shoes that have fit large: Adidas Boston 12 (length), Adidas Adios 8 (length)
Doctors of Running Checklist
Is This a Good Shoe for Walking: Yes
Is This a Good Shoe for Standing: Yes
Is the Forefoot Flexible: No
How Flexible is the Shoe: Minimal
Is This a Good Heel Bevel: Yes
Recommended for Haglunds: Maybe
Recommended for Sockless: No
Durability Expectation: Above Average
PERFORMANCE
Matt: The Hyperion Max 2 is a maximal plated daily training and long run shoe. The midsole features a tall amount of DNA Flash midsole, which provides a slightly firmer feel for how tall the shoe is. This provides a highly cushioned ride that is protective but not mushy. The Speedvault plate adds to the stiffer ride of the shoe, which adds to the snappiness when the pace picks up to uptempo efforts. There is a large aggressive heel bevel that feels a little clunky at easy paces and smooths out somewhat with uptempo speeds. This transitions into a mildly medial biased and slightly stiff midfoot due to the lateral plate projection. The forefoot features a large rocker that despite being slightly stiff transitions well. There is only a little toe spring, so those with toe mobility issues may do well here. Pace wise, this shoe does best for easy runs if you like a stiffer shoe and uptempo efforts. The Hyperion Max 2 feels a little heavier than its 9.1 oz listed weight (men's size 9) but when the pace is pushed a little smooths out quite well. It is a little too large and the foam does not feel responsive enough for really fast efforts or races. For daily training miles and uptempo efforts, especially uptempo long runs it does well.
Fortunately it has the outsole durability to handle training miles as there is extensive rubber coverage on the bottom. My pair has 30 miles on them and there is not noticeable wear even in my normal spot. For that reason I expect a large number of miles out of these. Terrain wise these do best on road or extremely smooth, non-rocky trails. Attempting to take these off road has resulted in rocks getting stuck in the central groove. Thus, I would keep these on the road.
Andrea: Anyone who has read this site in the last year and a half knows that I love the original Hyperion Max. For me, it can do anything, from speed work to long runs to recovery runs. When Brooks announced v2, I wondered if I would need to stockpile v1 in case they ruined it for me. I am very happy to report that I don't feel the need to stockpile v1, for the reason that Hyperion Max 2 and Hyperion 2 (review coming soon) cover all of these uses and do them better than v1. Hyperion Max 2 finally lives up to its "Max" name, gaining 4mm of stack in the heel and 6mm in the forefoot. This greatly reduces the ground feel of the shoe and makes it feel more protective, but definitely not soft. The SpeedVault plate creates a stiff platform from heel to toe and the large heel bevel and early forefoot rocker provide noticeable guidance through stance phase. The shoe basically feels like a stiffer, higher stack version of Hyperion Max 1 with a better upper. Due to the new 6mm drop and large heel bevel, the shoe feels ideal for midfoot landings and the forefoot rocker does not start so early that it feels aggressive. The forefoot has a large amount of sole flaring that is wider on the lateral side, which also felt like it helped me load my 1st MTP more easily.
The added weight and stiffer platform makes this shoe more suited for easy runs, long runs, and marathon pace workouts, but less suited to faster running for me. I have 35 miles on the shoe, which includes a few easy runs, a long run at 45 seconds slower than marathon pace, and some threshold to marathon pace intervals. At easy paces, the shoe feels incredibly protective and the rocker geometry promotes turnover, even with tired legs. At faster paces, the shoe becomes more responsive (but not bouncy) and felt great for anything down to marathon pace. At faster paces, I found myself wanting more bounce, forefoot flexibility, and responsiveness. The added weight was also noticeable as I got below marathon pace. A couple of my runs were on wet roads and traction is average, if not a little worse, than v1. I did find myself slipping a little on the wet roads. After 35 miles, there is zero visible wear on the outsole, even the part that has exposed midsole, so I would expect greater than average durability from this shoe. All of my test runs have been during a heat wave here in Connecticut, and I am happy that the mesh upper provided decent breathability.
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| Rear and outsole, v2 vs. v1 (red is v1) |
STABILITY
(Learn more about stability in our full guide)
Matt: The Hyperion Max 2 is a stable shoe for those with lateral motion issues. The base is on the wider side with slightly more sole flare in the lateral heel and sole flare in the medial and lateral forefoot. The central groove to expose the plate does provide some mild centeredness in the heel and midfoot. The large sidewalls in the heel combined with the large bevel also keep things mostly in the middle. The Speedvault plate also adds a high level of stiffness throughout the shoe, creating an inherently stable platform. However, there is a decent amount of medial bias due to the additional stiffness from the lateral plate projection in the midfoot, the lateral only forefoot sidewall. This is great at the forefoot as it encourages loading of the 1st MTP joint but less so at the midfoot. This will work great for those who may go a little too far laterally but not for those sensitive to medial motion, especially in the midfoot.
Andrea: The Hyperion Max 2 is a stable neutral shoe thanks to several well done guidance features. The large heel bevel and early forefoot rocker provide a nice rolling sensation from initial contact to pushoff without feeling too aggressive. The large sole flare in the forefoot creates a noticeable amount of stability and centering, and the wider lateral forefoot sole flare encourages 1st MTP loading (for those like myself who need a little assistance in this area). The large sidewalls in the rearfoot and midfoot provide structure to the mesh upper and further help to center the foot in the shoe. The redesigned mesh upper and tongue provide better lockdown than v1 and the improved tongue integration results in a better fit. The new SpeedVault plate creates a stiff platform that further contributes to forward motion.
Comparison: Hyperion Max 1 vs 2: Those Magic (Geometry) Changes
By Andrea Myers
Hyperion Max 2 has a different ride than v1, thanks to some significant changes to the geometry of the shoe. The most noticeable change is the increase in midsole stack, with an additional 4mm in the heel and 6mm in the forefoot of v2. The midsole material is also different, with v1 having DNA Flash and v2 DNA Flash v2, which Brooks states is 10% more responsive than v1. The additional stack height in the forefoot and SpeedVault plate result in a stiffer forefoot as compared to v1, which makes the shoe feel less responsive at faster paces, but better at settling into easy-marathon paces. The stiffer and higher platform also results in reduced ground feel in v2 as compared to v1, making it feel more protective, especially during longer runs. The other major geometry change in v2 is the larger forefoot sole flare, which makes the forefoot feel more centered and stable compared to v1. The forefoot sole flare is wider on the lateral side, which is beneficial for runners like myself who have difficulty loading their 1st MTP at push off.
Hyperion Max 2 also has major changes to the upper that improve foot lockdown. The large medial and lateral sidewalls that extend from the rearfoot to the forefoot do an excellent job of centering the foot in the shoe and providing structure to the mesh upper. The sidewalls are also more prominent in the lateral forefoot, which works well with the sole flare to reduce excess lateral foroot motion. The redesigned mesh tongue is gusseted, unlike v1, and stays securely in place without neeefd for a lace loop. Some mesh uppers do not have enough structure to sufficiently stabilize the foot, but the large medial and lateral overlays provide structure without any pressure points.
All of these changes result in Hyperion Max 2 being a truly stable neutral shoe that I have found best for easy paces to marathon pace. While I loved Hyperion Max 1 for its versatility, v2 has found its niche and is even better for easy-marathon pace as compared to v1. I think that Hyperion 2 will fill the void for faster paces that Hyperion Max 2 has left behind.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Matt: Compared to the previous iteration, Brooks has created a plated training shoe that differentiates itself clearly from the Hyperion 2. The stack height is finally maximal and the plate is obvious this time. My big suggestions center around the weight and responsiveness, which may be addressed by finally using a more resilient midsole foam. There are tons of great mixes and options on the market that would allow for a slight drop in weight and increased bounce from the sole. For how much foam there is underfoot, I would expect either a more compliant or more resilient ride. The geometry does create a rockered ride, but there could still be improvements in the midsole foam quality particularly at this price point. My last suggestion is to decrease how steep the heel bevel is and make it more gradual. This may help make smoother heel transition, although a heel bevel modification would not be necessary if the midsole foam was more compliant. Outside of that, this is a solid update.
Andrea: First of all, I would like to thank Brooks for not ruining my favorite shoe. The Hyperion Max 2 is a very well done update on my favorite all around daily trainer/performance trainer. One of the only criticisms I have of v1 is that it really isn't a "Max" shoe and the name did not adequately describe its ride or purpose. Hyperion Max 2 is truly a "Max" shoe and is likewise more suited to easy pace to marathon pace, as one might expect for a shoe with a 36mm/30mm stack height. While this change has made it much less suited to speed work, the new Hyperion 2 feels like they took Hyperion Max 1 and made is a true speed shoe. Basically, Brooks took an all-arounder (Hyperion Max 1) and turned it into two more differentiated, more purposefully designed shoes (Hyperion Max 2 and Hyperion 2). The only thing that would make this shoe better is if it lost a little weight, but I'm not sure where Brooks would shave that off without changing the ride or fit of the shoe. Overall, I am very happy with this update and will surely be getting many more miles on it.
WHO IS THIS SHOE FOR?
Matt: The Brooks Hyperion Max 2 is a high stack height, stiffer, rockered daily training/uptempo shoe. Those who like stiff rides and need some help with lateral motion particularly at the midfoot will do well with this shoe. The upper will work best for those with normal to slightly wider feet particularly with the stretch. The slightly stiffer and rockered ride do make this shoe great for uptempo efforts while the weight and durability make it an excellent daily shoe for those who like training in plated shoes. The price tag is a little steep for the firmer and less bouncy ride compared to competitors but this is easily made up for by how durable this shoe is. So those looking for a slightly stiffer, rolling training shoe with a decent amount of room, the Hyperion Max 2 may be one to consider.
Andrea: The Brooks Hyperion Max 2 is basically a higher stack, firmer version of Hyperion Max 1 with a better upper and a little more weight. Those who loved v1 will not be disappointed by v2, but may find that it is not as useful at faster paces as v1 and is more comfortable for long runs and easy pace. It is debatable whether it is a good thing to take a shoe that was good at everything (Hyperion Max 1) and divide its uses over two new shoes (Hyperion Max 2 and Hyperion 2). For those who like the value and simplicity of one shoe that can do it all, it is time to stockpile v1, which of course is on sale now. For those who like shoes that are more specifically designed for speed work or long runs, Hyperion Max 2 and Hyperion 2 will fill those roles and in my opinion fill those roles better than v1. Some people who like the increased ground feel and lower stack of v1 may find that Hyperion 2 is a similar do it all shoe (I need more miles on Hyperion 2, but review coming soon). From a value perspective, Hyperion Max 2 is $10 more than v1 at $180, and I think this price increase is worth it for the thicker midsole, plate, more protective ride, and expected high durability.
GRADES
Matt
Fit: A- (Upper provides plenty of room for an uptempo/training shoe with a little bit of stretch)
Performance: B/B+ (Stiffer rockered ride best at uptempo efforts but maximal ride feels slightly heavier and best for training)
Stability: B+ [Medial Bias] (More lateral heel flare, lateral plate projection creates slightly more medial bias with wide, centered base at forefoot. )
Value: B+/A- (A highly durable shoe but not one that sticks due to limited speed versatility)
Personal: B+ (A solid shoe I enjoy the more I run in it but the stiffness and medial bias are not my cup of tea for this type of shoe)
Overall Design: B+
Andrea
Fit: A+ (New mesh upper is comfortable, accommodating, and secure. Tongue integration improved from v1.)
Performance: A+ (Shoe provides a protective, rolling, comfortable ride for easy runs - marathon pace runs. No question this will be my favorite daily trainer of 2024.)
Stability: [stable neutral] A (Impeccable use of rocker geometry, forefoot sole flare, stiffening agent (plate), and sidewalls to provide centering and guidance without being intrusive.)
Value: A ($180 for a plated, high stack daily trainer is pretty standard for 2024 and this shoe will likely have high durability)
Personal: A+ (Brooks made my favorite shoe better - can't ask for more.)
Overall Design: A
SHOP | SUPPORT DORBrooks Hyperion Max 2Price: $180 at Running Warehouse
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FURTHER READING
Revamped with more stack and more comfort in mind.
Nothing taken away, and more added to the fan favorite.
Find all Shoe Reviews at Doctors of Running here.
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