Brooks Hyperion Max 2 Introduction
There’s no running brand with more potential than Brooks. Their uppers are crafted with meticulous attention to detail and are amongst the most comfortable in the game. Their midsoles on the other hand feel outdated and severely lack the fun factor.
While some other brands are putting PEBA into almost every premium trainer/racer they have (New Balance), the designers at Brooks don’t believe in PEBA in midsoles. They insist on using EVA or a supercritical version of it in some of their shoes. Brooks could be a real force to be reckoned with if they ditch the EVA for a more modern, more lively midsole foam.
The Hyperion Max 2 is one of the exciting trainers in the Brooks lineup because it’s the only other Brooks road shoe besides the Hyperion Elite that has a plate in its midsole. The previous version of the Hyperion Max didn’t have a plate.
The Hyperion Max is the speed trainer in the Hyperion family. It also consists of the Hyperion (plateless) speed trainer, Hyperion GTS (plateless) speed support trainer and the Hyperion Elite (the carbon-plated) long-distance racer.
I tried the original Hyperion Max when it came out 2 years ago. It was a decent daily trainer but it didn’t feel like the speed trainer it was designed to be. I haven’t used it for many runs in the past 2 years as it didn’t provide much speed assistance without a plate.
The Hyperion Max 2 weighs 9.1 oz (258 g), significantly more than its predecessor which weighed 7.8 oz (221 g). It has 4 mm more stack height in the heel and 6 mm more in the forefoot than its predecessor. It has a 6 mm drop.
Brooks Hyperion Max 2 First Impressions
When I took it out of the box, I couldn’t help but marvel at the exquisite build quality. It felt like a finely crafted piece of art. There wasn’t a single loose seam or glue mark and it felt extremely premium.
My first proper run in the Hyperion Max 2 was a track workout consisting of 400 m intervals. It surprised me during that run because it was a lot quicker than I expected it to be. Transitions felt smooth and the plate did its job but wasn’t very noticeable.
The new DNA Flash v2 midsole foam didn’t feel very different to the previous version, which was DNA Flash v1. The ride felt medium-firm without much squish. It felt really comfortable from the get go and it didn’t need a break-in period.
Brooks Hyperion Max 2 Upper
The Hyperion Max 2 has a magnificent upper. It’s really soft, smooth and it feels refined- a big improvement over the previous version.
Breathability is average and the mesh has some stretchability. The tongue is flat and semi-gusseted so it doesn’t slide around. Foot lockdown is fantastic.
My favourite component is the thin, notched laces that you’d find on a racing shoe. The fit is true to size and it will be comfortable for narrow, normal and wide feet.
Brooks Hyperion Max 2 Sole Unit
The really popular speed trainers like the Endorphin Speed, Boston and Magic Speed all use a premium racing foam in their midsole. This is because they have to deliver a ride which is similar to their racing counterparts but in a cheaper, more durable package.
The Hyperion Max 2 uses the exact same midsole foam as the Hyperion Elite 4: DNA Flash v2. The only difference is that the Elite 4 has a carbon plate while the Max 2 has a flexible Pebax plate so their rides are comparable.
The Pebax plate in the Hyperion Max 2 is not as flexible as the Endorphin Speed’s nylon plate but also not as stiff as the Deviate Nitro’s composite plate. It provides a good amount of snap to the forefoot while also making the ride more stable. It also helps the mild rocker to function more effectively.
Most speed trainers feel better during uptempo runs because they are designed to go fast. This is the case with the Hyperion Max 2 as well. During slow paces, it feels very ordinary. When you drop the pace down to marathon pace or faster, it shines.
I enjoy using the Hyperion Max 2 for tempo runs, short threshold runs and intervals. It has a firm base which to push off from which suits fast running more than relaxed runs. When I use it for easy runs, I find it not soft enough.
As a midsole foam, DNA Flash v2 doesn’t cut the mustard. It’s a supercritical EVA foam infused with nitrogen but it doesn’t compress or rebound much. Brooks says that it’s 10% more responsive but in reality, it’s so little that you don’t notice a difference.
I would prefer it to be at least 20% softer than it currently is. DNA Flash v2 feels springy but not bouncy so you have to drive your feet down into the midsole really hard to benefit from its energy-returning properties.
Brooks has stability versions of some of their neutral daily trainers. There’s no stability version of the Hyperion Max 2 but it does have guide rails and arch support. If you have flat feet, you might find the prominent arch annoying. I find it noticeable but not uncomfortable.
One of the benefits of DNA Flash is how durable it is. Due to its high density, it’s more resistant to scuffs, scratches and punctures than other midsole foams. You’ll be able to get a lot of mileage out of the Hyperion Max 2.
The outsole is also very durable. It has thick rubber covering all the high wear areas. There is minimal wear showing on my pair and I’m normally very hard on outsoles. Traction is good on dry surfaces and acceptable on wet ones.
Brooks Hyperion Max 2 Conclusions
The Hyperion Max 2 is another example of a good Brooks running shoe which could be great if it had a more exciting midsole foam. It’s very well-built, comfortable, stable, durable and it can go fast. It is however missing something very important- it’s not fun to run in.
It’s like the speed trainer version of the Brooks Ghost: nothing exciting but it just gets the job done. The Hyperion Max 2 is the plain vanilla ice cream of speed trainers.
If it had a more bouncy, more energetic midsole foam like FuelCell, ZoomX or Lightstrike Pro, it would easily be one of the best speed trainers on the market. Its current EVA midsole makes it feel like it belongs to a previous generation of speed trainers.
At $180, it has some really fierce competition. The ASICS Magic Speed, Saucony Endorphin Speed 4 and Puma Deviate Nitro are cheaper than the Hyperion Max 2. They all have more engaging rides than the Hyperion Max 2 and are just as fast if not faster.
Version 2 of the Hyperion Max is an improvement over version 1: it has more cushioning, a plate which makes it more snappy and it feels more premium. It also delivers a more similar ride to the Hyperion Elite 4.