“The Hyperion Max 2 doesn't make me feel like I’m bouncing or being propelled forward,” she says. “The sensation is much more natural; it’s like they’re a cushioned and protective extension of my body that helps me cruise without thinking about my feet. I decided to wear these shoes on a long run. I figured I’d do no more than 13 miles, but they felt so smooth that I went for 15! They are pretty stiff with firm cushion and a rocker shape—one of my favorite combinations.”
My first test run in the Hyperion Max 2 was a cutdown fartlek with two sets of 6 minutes at half marathon pace, 3 minutes at 10K pace and 1 minute at 5K pace. This was my first speed workout in about eight weeks as I’ve been rehabbing an ankle injury. I was nervous about both my ability to hit the paces and how my ankle would feel, but I felt a lot better than I expected!
Just like Kate mentioned, I didn’t feel like I was bouncing down the sidewalk but the shoes made it feel very natural to pick up the pace. I usually prefer softer, taller and springier shoes for speed workouts but the Hyperion Max 2 feels much more stable, which gave me confidence with my ankle injury.
The outsole is a mix of rubber and exposed midsole foam, which is commonly done in running shoes to save weight. Neither Kate nor Nate mentioned any issues with the traction, but I did find myself slipping over a couple of crosswalks as the road paint gets very slippery when wet. I’m not sure if I can really blame the shoes, as it had been raining for about a week straight at this point.