The Brooks Hyperion Max Has Always Been Divisive. Here Is Where the 4 Lands.

The Brooks Hyperion Max has been polarizing since its release in 2023. Let’s find out what the Hyperion Max 4 brings to the table.

While it had a high stack of foam with a nylon plate and a sharp rocker profile, it wasn’t really MAX. The stack height was only 33 mm in the heel and the DNA Flash v2 midsole left a lot to the imagination, especially when compared to other Max supertrainers.

The Hyperion Max 3 was the first version to include Brooks’ PEBA-based DNA Gold foam on top of a layer of DNA Flash v2, made of supercritical EVA. The nylon plate, or Speedvault remained the same. This was also the first of the Hyperion Max line to have enough foam underfoot to be worthy of the MAX title.

Version 4 picks up where version 3 left off, with the same foam setup, but a new upper. Did Brooks make any slight improvements or did they mess with a good thing? Let’s find out.

Brooks Hyperion Max 4 Overview

Similar to what is employed in shoes like the Hoka Skyward X2 or the Adidas Boston 13, the special race foam sits underneath the foot. A nylon “Speedvault” plate sits under that and on top of a layer of Brooks’ supercritical EVA-based DNA Flash v2 foam.

In most cases, and specifically in the aforementioned Skyward X and Boston 13, the top layer is noticeably softer than the bottom layers. The Hyperion Max 4 is made differently, there isn’t a huge difference in the softness of the two foams.

The DNA Gold layer does feel softer on the run, it is anything but harsh. The DNA Flash layer is there for firm support and to help with faster transitions. The whole package here really worked for me. 

My first run in the Brooks Hyperion Max 4 was a short 3 mile run, starting out with one mile at easy pace, then settling into one mile at marathon pace, with the last mile at threshold pace.

Each time I increased the intensity I didn’t feel a real noticeable uptick in effort. It was like gently stepping on the gas. “Smooth” was the word on my mind, during and after that first run. The ride was so smooth I thought it might be a good idea to pull out my phone and put Carlos Santana and Rob Thomas’ “Smooth” on as the soundtrack for that run. 

The weight of the shoe does hinder faster efforts over longer periods. My men’s size 11 weighed in at 11.69 ounces. The weight wasn’t bothersome on long runs, one of which was a 105 minute steady long run over beach paths and rolling hills, but my legs were feeling the weight during a 30 minute threshold interval of another long run. 

Shorter threshold intervals kept the weight from being an issue. I put in some faster 200 meter intervals at the end of a long run. Perhaps I would not have been as bothered if those intervals were after a short warmup instead of at the end of an 80 minute run. Short strides at the end of shorter easy runs were much easier to get into.

Heel striking was less enjoyable in the Hyperion Max 4.

The layer of DNA Gold is very thin under the heel and mostly cups your heel for stability, so you’re essentially right on top of the nylon Speedvault plate. Due to the set up, this shoe is better set up for midfoot and forefoot strikers. The ride when heel striking is still smooth but it is more dull and a little hard on the heels.

The Brooks Hyperion Max 4 is not a shoe I would lace up for a recovery run. In addition to the firmer heel landings, the responsiveness and rapid rolling ride make it fairly easy to settle in and run faster than intended.

Stability was mostly good. I did have a few wobbles on uneven gravel or parts of the road with big cracks. The heel is not what I would call wide but it’s not dangerously thin. The base of the forefoot is considerably wide, lending more credence to my theory that this shoe will work better for midfoot and forefoot strikers.

The outsole layout is unchanged from the Hyperion Max 3 to the 4. Grip was very good on dry roads and the sandy beach path. I didn’t come across any wet sidewalks during my travels so I can’t say how it handles wet roads, but from my experience when grip is good on the beach path then it’s usually good in the rain.

The cutouts both in the outsole rubber and the medial midfoot cutout were a bit of an issue. It is jacaranda season in my neighborhood, and I came home with dead jacaranda blooms stuck in the cutouts, along with a couple fallen palm nuts each time I went out for a run.

It appears as though white shoes with some form of yellow and black are going to be all the rage this year…and I’m here for it. The Brooks Hyperion Max 4 is a shoe that will look good on the run and when running errands afterwards.

Brooks Hyperion Max 4 Fit & Feel

Just on appearance alone the Hyperion Max 4 looks like comfort would be considerably less than good. The heel collar has the thin stitched edge that will sometimes cause irritation at the achilles tendon.

Visually it looks more race oriented and less comfort-forward. Brooks did a good job of threading the needle with comfort and performance.

The generous amount of cushion in the heel cup does a great job of keeping things comfortable and secure. The heel counter is very rigid. I didn’t notice any heel slippage, but if you do the laces are long enough for a runner’s knot.

As mentioned before, the upper is the biggest change in the Hyperion Max 4. Version 3 had more of a stretchy knit upper with a cage-like inner structure for stability, and the tongue was attached to the ankle collar for more of a sock-like fit.

I did give the Hyperion Max 3 a try-on and I wasn’t a fan of the tongue. I’ve always had some issues with the sock-like tongues, something about them never worked for me.

Version 4 has separated the tongue from the collar, added in some padding and a gusset for a secure fit, and it works really well. The triple jacquard knit upper, dubbed Hyperwarp by Brooks, is more stretchy in the more ventilated strips and less so in between, giving the upper some stretch while remaining secure. Overall I thought the fit and breathability were great.

The Brooks Hyperion Max 4 is not a big departure from the previous version. If you struggled with the upper and tongue you might like this one. The tongue is a lot more padded and gives the shoe a more secure feeling. But if you and the Hyperion Max 3 got along swimmingly, it will probably be going on sale in the coming months and you can stock up.

Hyperion Max 3 Vs Hyperion Max 4

Are you wondering if you should stock up on the older version while it’s on sale or wait for the 4?Honestly if you liked the 3, then get yourself on down to the store and pick up some pairs at a highly discounted rate.

The specs didn’t really change for this version since they didn’t mess with the midsole, which means you’re really buying a change to the upper. If you loved the underfoot feel previously, then the upper change might make this a big win for you.

Where the 3 had a bootie like fit that was in theory designed to be faster, it created some stability issues. The change back to padding, seems to allow for better lock in and heel cupping. That makes the whole shoe more stable.

All right there you have our initial thoughts on the slightly updated Brooks Hyperion Max 4. Have you tried this line up, do you love it? Hate it?

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