Brooks Hyperion Max 2 Review

The Hyperion Max 2 is a cushioned option in Brooks' performance-focused line. We found it comfortable and reasonably versatile for easy to moderate running. Depending on the runner, it could also be great for workouts. However, for us, it falls short of similar shoes at a comparable price.

Side View Cut in Half

Cushioning

We've already mentioned this a few times, but the Hyperion Max 2 doesn't quite live up to its max-cushioning name. Our standardized lab testing measured 37 mm of foam at the heel and 29 mm at the forefoot. That's a big chunk of foam, but it is significantly less than other premium, highly-versatile max-cushioning trainers like the Mizuno Neo Vista and Asics Superblast 2, or even the Asics Novablast 5. Instead, it's on par with many other daily trainers in today's running shoe market.

Similarly, the DNA Flash v2 foam isn't soft or resilient compared to the best shoes in our lineup. The nitrogen-infused midsole felt very firm at every pace and hard at slow paces. That's been a common note in user reviews as well. Heavier runners might find the foam a little more forgiving. This shoe would benefit significantly from a more resilient, premium foam (similar to all its competitors'). That isn't to say the Hyperion Max 2 isn't protective — it kept our legs insulated during long runs, but it doesn't have the more plush landing comfort we'd expected based on Brooks' marketing.

Runners who prefer a firmer ride will likely get along with this shoe well. The rocker is well-placed for most landing patterns and is unobtrusive. The forefoot has good flaring for stability, and we found that the geometry worked well for landing mid-to-forefoot. We did note that once we started to push closer to threshold pace, the transitions at the forefoot became choppy. Overall, landing comfort isn't bad, but it's not as good as the competition.

Upper Comfort

The upper on the Hyperion Max 2 is excellent. The softer materials are highly breathable and conform to the foot very well. Also, we have to shout out Brooks' choice to give the shoe the ribbed laces that are often found only on race shoes. We wish more daily trainers had these laces — they don't slip and are very easy to dial in the perfect tension.

The shoe has ample room for runners with a wider forefoot, and the toebox taper doesn't start too early. We do have a minor complaint: the seam between the upper and midsole wasn't well-protected, and we could feel it towards the end of 90+ minute runs around our medial arch and forefoot, and the sock liner didn't seem to cover it as well as it should. Some user reviews have noted this as well.

Stability

The Hyperion Max 2 gets good marks for stability thanks to the forefoot flaring, sidewalls, and firm midsole. However, it's still a neutral daily trainer. This could be a good option for runners who want an uptempo shoe with decent support.

Responsiveness

The Hyperion Max 2 is marketed as an uptempo trainer, which is somewhat true. It feels best at moderate paces — we found marathon pace to be the most comfortable pace to run in the shoe. We found that the rocker geometry worked very well at that effort level. But when you start to push faster, the ride gets choppy, and the lack of resilience in the foam becomes more noticeable.

Trying to run faster workouts in the Hyperion Max 2 was disappointing. The firmness of the midsole lends a more snappy feel, and the plate and rocker work really well at moderate efforts. But all those things worked against the shoe once we started to push faster than a 10K effort. The shoe feels too clunky at those paces, and the midsole has very little energy return, which is disappointing. Then again, for runners in the middle of a marathon block who have lots of long, moderate-effort workouts, this might be a great choice.

This shoe is excellent for long runs, easy-to-steady mileage, and efforts at around marathon pace. It's not a workout monster.

Weight

We weighed the Hyperion Max 2 at 9.68 ounces per men's US size 10 shoe. That's decent for a daily trainer, but it's a bit heavy for a shoe with uptempo aspirations and a lower stack height. The weight and bulk are noticeable at faster paces. An easy place to save some weight would be the outsole, where the cutout-style lugs could be replaced with a different, thinner pattern.

Traction

The shoe's traction is decent, and the rubber outsole covers a good amount of surface. The smooth, larger cutouts that act as lugs performed well on looser surfaces. However, those exact cutouts and the cutout showing the plate under the midfoot were rock magnets. We had to pick out smaller rocks on dirt roads several times.

Should You Buy the Brooks Hyperion Max 2?

The Hyperion Max 2 is an interesting shoe. It has the hallmarks of a speed trainer: plate, rocker geometry, and performance fit upper. However, it has a disappointing foam with little-to-no resilience compared to the competition and a ride many runners might find too firm. It also doesn't feel great at paces other than moderate efforts. On the other hand, runners who like a firm ride and want a more stable feel for their moderate efforts might enjoy this shoe. Still, for an above-average price, this niche-use shoe isn't the right choice for most runners.

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