Shoe Review: Brooks Hyperion Max
The 2023 new year has brought a lot of great things—new goals and resolutions, a fresh sense of inspiration, and a new addition to the Brooks Hyperion line-up.
The Brooks Hyperion Max is the latest shoe in Brooks’ Hyperion family, comprised of three lightweight shoes that perform best during faster efforts and races: the Hyperion Tempo, the Hyperion Elite and now, the Hyperion Max.
Built with a hefty DNA FLASH midsole and a unique rocker shape, the Brooks Hyperion Max is built for speed and performance. Fleet Feet reviewers tested the Brooks Hyperion Max during interval workouts, longer, slower runs, and even running errands. Here’s everything you need to know.
Tech Specs | Brooks Hyperion Max |
Weight | 6.7 oz (W), 7.8 oz (M) |
Heel-to-toe drop | 8 millimeters |
Stack height (heel/toe) | 32 mm/24 mm |
Category | Neutral |
Surface | Road, track |
Comparable to… | New Balance FuelCell Rebel v3, HOKA Mach 5 |
Who is the Brooks Hyperion Max Best For?
The Brooks Hyperion Max is a great choice for neutral runners—runners who don’t overpronate (the excessive inward rolling of a runner’s feet after impact with the ground) or need extra support. It works well for runners who enjoy a lightweight, close-to-the-ground feel with a bit of extra pep and bounce.
The Hyperion Max works well for runners with narrow to medium width feet, since it isn’t available in wide sizing. Our wide-footed reviewer, Nate, noticed that the forefoot didn’t allow for much wiggle room, although the heel and midfoot felt true to size.
Although the shoe is called the Hyperion Max, reviewers noticed it doesn’t feel (or look) as maximally cushioned as other shoes in its class. With more and more shoes increasing in stack height, the Hyperion Max’s heel stack height of 32 millimeters feels fairly moderate. This makes it an ideal shoe for runners who aren’t on board with the ultra-thick, pillowy-plush trend taking over the running world.
“I really like firm, responsive shoes, and Brooks nails this one,” Nate says. “While it feels a little bit too stiff at first, it livens up when picking up the pace. I like the ground contact, and I feel a good connection with this compared to other max-cushioned shoes.”
DNA Flash Cushioning Ups the Ante
The Brooks Hyperion Max feels responsive and lightweight thanks to Brooks’ signature DNA FLASH midsole material, a nitrogen-infused foam that’s lighter than traditional EVA foams and easier to fine-tune. It’s the same foam used in the Hyperion Tempo and the Hyperion Elite.
“The performance and ride of Hyperion Max is astounding,” Mandy says. “It feels as though there’s absolutely nothing on my foot until I hit the pavement, and then it feels like the road is just a trampoline propelling my foot forward.”
The outsole of the Hyperion Max is made with Green Rubber, a more environmentally friendly version of traditional outsole rubber. There’s plenty of exposed midsole foam on the outsole, which is common in lighter shoes as it keeps the weight down. Because of this, it’s best to stick to asphalt and pavement in the Hyperion Max.
Rocker Shape Rocks the Boat
While the DNA FLASH midsole foam makes for a smooth, peppy ride while picking up the pace, reviewers noticed the Hyperion Max doesn’t feel quite as smooth while running slow or walking, likely due to the unique rocker shape.
Brooks calls this rocker shape their Rapid Roll technology. The curvature in the heel and toe make it easy to transition from landing to toe-off, as long as you’re landing on your midfoot or forefoot, which most runners do when picking up the pace.
But reviewer Max, who’s a self-described heel-striker, felt uncomfortable with the aggressive heel curvature. “Any stability offered by the Hyperion Max feels like it’s centered in the midfoot, while the heel itself doesn’t do any favors for my gait,” Max says. “The curved heel felt unstable, although those with a more efficient stride may not notice it.”
Other reviewers disagreed, and felt that because they were running on their toes more during speed workouts, the rocker shape helped propel them forward.
“The shape of the Hyperion Max really helps me transition more quickly,” Kate says. “Like a lot of speed shoes, they feel better the faster you go. The problem with weartesting these while seven months pregnant is that I just can’t go very fast right now, but when I make an effort to pick up the pace, the Hyperion Max feels light and smooth.”
Smooth Upper Won’t Weigh You Down
Brooks uses a stretch-woven upper to provide breathable comfort and support in the Hyperion Max. The upper was designed with 3D Fit Print technology, which uses screen printing to fine-tune the structure and flexibility of the material.
Reviewers noticed the lightweight, stripped-down feeling that typically accompanies racing shoes.
“These fit like a classic Brooks—snug in the midfoot, moderately roomy in the toe box and a locked down heel collar,” Caroline says. “I really enjoy the thin, minimalist feel of the upper. It feels similar to the other shoes in the Hyperion family. The material feels smooth and natural on my foot, and the ankle collar sits fairly low around the heel and ankle which avoids any rubbing or chafing.”
Some reviewers felt that the upper was stretchy, while others thought it was more structured and rigid, but everyone agreed that it was light as a feather.
“I love the fit of the upper on the Hyperion Max,” Kate says. “The thin tongue has a suede material that feels soft, as if it melts into the top of my foot. It blends well with the heel collar, which is lighter and thinner than other Brooks shoes. The whole shoe feels super lightweight and ready for fast running.”
No Carbon Plate, No Problem?
The Brooks Hyperion Max is a dependable choice for faster efforts, but is it better for speedwork than its carbon-plated counterparts? Some would argue it is.
Carbon-plated shoes, like the Brooks Hyperion Elite, help your foot transition with the most potential energy and efficiency after each stride. This force helps you shave off precious seconds during a race, but anecdotal evidence has shown that carbon-plated “super shoes” can alter running biomechanics, which can place extra load on different muscles. This is why some runners argue it’s not ideal to wear carbon-plated shoes all the time.
Victor Ornelas, Senior Director of Vendor Management at Fleet Feet who studied Exercise and Sports Science at UNC Chapel Hill, says it's beneficial for your legs to adapt to running in various shoes, including carbon-plated shoes.
“The carbon-plated shoe is a great tool to have in your toolbox. Consider working them into your rotation, but don’t depend on them every day. This will help to diversify the experience for both your legs and the run in general,” Ornelas says.
Brooks Hyperion Max vs Brooks Hyperion Tempo
Tech Specs | Brooks Hyperion Max | Brooks Hyperion Tempo |
Weight | 6.7 oz (W), 7.8 oz (M) | 6.7 oz (W), 7.3 oz (M) |
Heel-to-toe drop | 8 millimeters | 8 millimeters |
Stack height (heel/toe) | 32 mm/24 mm | 22 mm/14 mm |
Category | Neutral | Neutral |
Surface | Road/track | Road/track |
Price | $170 | $150 |
While testing the Brooks Hyperion Max, we couldn't help but notice the similarities—and differences—between it and its less-cushioned counterpart, the Hyperion Tempo.
While both shoes use the same DNA FLASH midsole compound, the Hyperion Max packs more of it underfoot—an extra 10 millimeters, to be exact. This may account for the slight increase in weight in the men’s shoe, although the women’s shoe didn’t seem to get any heavier.
The shape of the Hyperion Max is also noticeably different from the Tempo. The Max features an aggressive rocker shape, while the Tempo looks and feels more flat. The Max also has more exposed midsole foam in the outsole than the Tempo.
And while the Hyperion Tempo and Hyperion Max both use a lightweight, stretch-woven upper, reviewers felt the shape of the Max was more accommodating than the Tempo, mainly because of the tapered-out heel that prevents rubbing and chafing.
While both the Hyperion Max and Hyperion Tempo are designed to do the same thing (run fast), reviewers thought the Max felt more premium, thanks to the added DNA FLASH foam, the rocker shape and the tapered heel collar. Because of that, we concluded it’s worth the extra $20.
“Brooks has continued to improve their shoe game,” Adina says. “The Hyperion Max fits like a glove and feels downright comfortable. They helped me glide along the pavement with ease, and I’ve also worn them to work, on walks and for running errands.”
How Does the Brooks Hyperion Max Stack Up?
We took a look at some comparable shoes and how they stack up against the Brooks Hyperion Max. Here’s what we found:
Tech Specs | Brooks Hyperion Max | New Balance Rebel v3 | HOKA Mach 5 |
Weight | 6.7 oz (W), 7.8 oz (M) | 5.8 oz (W), 7.4 oz (M) | 6.8 oz (W), 8.2 oz (M) |
Heel-to-toe-drop | 8 millimeters | 6 millimeters | 5 millimeters |
Stack height (heel/toe) | 32 mm/24 mm | 27.5 mm/21.5 mm | 29 mm/24 mm |
Price | $170 | $130 | $140 |
Final Thoughts
Fleet Feet reviewers noticed that the Hyperion Max is a great shoe to have in your quiver because it can do so many things well, from tempo workouts and speed intervals to longer runs and races.
“When I wear the Brooks Hyperion Max, I can feel them pushing me to run a little bit faster by rolling forward naturally,” Alex says. “They have enough cushioning to feel like a top-tier comfort shoe while still feeling responsive enough to encourage nimble and engaged running. I don’t run speed workouts, but if I did, I would reach for these tasty little foot rockets.”
While the Brooks Hyperion Max feels fast, it’s more durable than most carbon-plated racing shoes, and, at $170, it’s more affordable. Fleet Feet reviewer Mandy has already racked up over 75 miles in her pair and says they still feel new.