Brooks Hyperion Max 2 review

Brooks was slow to the maximal shoe party (it’s still reportedly the world’s best-selling running shoe brand) and I was pretty lukewarm about the brand’s overpriced carbon-soled release, the £200 Hyperion Elite 3, in 2023. 

At £40 cheaper, the Hyperion Max are far more satisfactory shoes than the underwhelming Hyperion Elite 3, which couldn’t really decide if they were a training or racing shoe.

The Hyperion Max, however, are clearly billed by the US behemoths as a training shoe, but they’re also one that can handle race days, too. But are they good enough to land a place on our list of the best running shoes?

First impressions

Out of the box and the Hyperion Max 2 look fantastic, which isn’t something we’ve often said with Brooks shoes in recent times.

My fiery orange, white and black version on test can hold their own against the Nikes, Hokas and New Balances out there.

The extended heel tab reminded me of recent Hoka Cliftons. I’m personally ambivalent about these, but I had no blisters or irritation from the Hyperion Max 2’s fairly rigid version.

In comparison to the previous Hyperion Max, a new PEBAX SpeedVault plate has been inserted in the midsole to create added propulsion.

The stack height has also increased by 4mm in the heel and 6mm in the forefoot to produce a total stack height of 36mm in the heel and 30mm in the forefoot with a 6mm heel-to-toe drop. 

The 264g (UK 8) weight is a little heavier than purely race-focussed contenders, but it’s not outrageous for a training shoe.

Ride and feel

Onto the foot and the Hyperion Max 2 are instantly comfortable, with the one-piece knitted upper gracefully hugging the foot and the tongue having a duo of wings that hold it in place over the dorsal region. 

That knitted upper offers plenty of ventilation on midsummer runs, but you probably wouldn’t pick these for rain-soaked efforts or anything that moves away from smooth tarmac.

The outsole grip is adequate in the rain, though, and feels hard-wearing.

Happily for triathletes looking for transition speed, the shoes are easy to slip into, helped by that extended heel tab, and the tongue instantly sits in place.

Sockless wear is also great thanks to the lack of internal seams and the soft knitted upper lacking coarseness.

The laces also lock securely in place, although you may well want to swap them out if you’re racing in the Hyperion Max 2.

They’re fairly roomy in the toe box, which suited this reviewer, but slim-footed athletes might want to try them for size first.

Conclusion

The Hyperion Max 2’s versatility comes to the fore on the run.

They shine on faster-paced training efforts, with that SpeedVault plate offering the pop strangely absent in the Hyperion Elite 3, but with enough support and stability for midtempo efforts. 

Despite the ‘Max’ in the title and the 36mm heel height, there’s a firmness here that means these wouldn’t be our pick for easy recovery plods.

Overall, though, these are a brilliant neutral shoe that straddle the training and racing genres and a timely return to form for Brooks. 

Alternatively, see our list of the best cushioned run shoes for more options.

Brooks Hyperion Max 2 specs