Brooks Hyperion Max 3 Review: Prince of the Wild Things

Introduction to the Brooks Hyperion Max 3

ROBBE: I love it when a shoe lives up to its name. The Brooks Launch, the official shoe of astronauts everywhere. The Brooks Ghost, perfect for a haunted house tour where you can say whatever the hell you want. Sometimes they blast out of the wall and fall out of the ceiling and give you a big, fat, load of cushion for you to run on. It’s interesting, the Ghost.

But for the first two iterations of the Hyperion Max, it was a bit hype, but no max. This was a huge thorn in our side when reviewing the shoe. Judging by the name, one would assume it would’ve been a max cushion or max stack version of the Hyperion. It was neither, it was just a slightly more stacked version, with a SpeedVault plate and DNA Flash v2 midsole.

That’s not to say we didn’t enjoy the shoe. The Hyperion Max 2 was a personal favorite of mine last year, seated somewhere between trainer and tempo with a pitch-perfect upper fit. It settled into a certain pace and just rolled along, mile after mile. The only issue I really had with the shoe was that it seemed a bit too close to the standard Hyperion. And again, there was the name. I just felt like the “Max” seemed out of place for what the shoe was designed for. 

Maybe Brooks heard us and changed their ways, but it’s likely they just wanted to see the shoe evolve. So things have evolved, greatly.

And it deserves to be called Max, king of the wild things.

Here’s what’s changed:

This newest version – coming out less than a year after the past one – has plenty of upgrades. There’s the stack height, most obviously. We are now officially in the max cushion category with the Hyperion Max 3, gaining a whopping 10 mm of midsole foam, for a total of 46 mm in the heel and 40 mm in the forefoot (6 mm drop). The composition of all that foam is divided between a top layer of DNA Gold and a bottom layer of DNA Flash v2. 

You’ll also notice a midsole cut-out on the medial side that may cause you to do a double take: no, it’s not the Hoka Cielo. But it’s pretty close. Throw in a SpeedVault plate, rocker geometry, and a RoadTack rubber outsole and you got yourself a shoe. 

That’s a lot to talk about, and we’re allowed to say whatever we want since this is the adult tour, so let’s talk about it.

JON: It seems it was only yesterday we were singing the praises of the Hyperion Max 2. It performed great and may have been the best looking pair of Brooks I’ve seen. Our big gripe was that the name didn’t match the experience,  otherwise it was a home run from a brand I stopped paying attention to. 

Several obscure Max Headroom references later, we are back with the Hyperion Max 3. Brooks made a lot of changes: more stack, new midsole, and a new upper. Unlike previous versions, it finally tracks with the Max name. Is this going to be a good thing though?

CARYN: I got some really interesting looks when I started showing up to weekend long runs last year in a Brooks shoe. Look, Brooks has had some serious shade thrown their way over the years thanks to lack of innovation, boring designs, no race day option – the list goes on and on. The Brooks Hyperion Max 2 was one of the first Brooks shoes I enthusiastically recommended to other runners of all kinds (as well as the mailman, the grocery store check-out lady, and my hair stylist – kidding, but you get the point).

I found myself constantly offering up the Hyperion Max 2 as a great option for a variety of types of running. The upper was absolutely perfect, the foam was soft but responsive, and the rocker provided a smooth and simple ride. So, credit where credit is due, eh? The Brooks Hyperion Max 2 was enough to make me start paying attention to Brooks again (well that, and their contracts with several killer US female marathoners). Will the Hyperion Max 3 continue the hype? Let’s find out.

What we like about the Brooks Hyperion Max 3

ROBBE: More than anyone else in the BITR offices, I was a big fan of the Hyperion Max 2. It wasn’t perfect, but it sure was pavement lickin’ good. The star of the shoe was the phenomenal upper, the best of any shoe in 2024. Of course, they went and changed it, because god forbid we keep a great thing for more than six months. The good news is that the change isn’t so bad.

For this version, we get a combination stretch knit with windows of mesh upper, a hedge of the bets between comfort and breathability. It offers a very nice fit around the foot, especially the soft knit tongue that ties the whole thing together. Some may even think it’s too snug, but better to be safe than sorry with a knit upper. I didn’t get any heel slip or movement in the shoe.

Everything about this version seems like an exaggerated version of the Hyperion Max 2. The huge stack of foam is actually more firm than soft, largely because of that SpeedVault plate between the two layers of foam. But it’s still bouncy thanks to the new PEBA layer of DNA Gold sitting right under the foot. Some would say responsive.

I’ll be honest, it’s giving New Balance SC Trainer v1, just a little less clunky. Especially with the knit-style upper. The shoe does feel a little squirrelly when walking around (or driving, don’t recommend), but once it gets going, it’s fairly stable. Even with the Cielo-like cutout from the medial side of the shoe.

Speaking of the Cielo, this feels like a blend between the SC Trainer and the Cielo X1. The high stack and the rockered roll of the Cielo, the knit fit and long haul trainer vibes of the SC Trainer. Smash all that together and you have the Hyperion Max 3. Now that’s a whole lot different than the Hyperion Max 2. It’s not a bad thing, it’s just a different shoe.

I took the shoe on four different runs, including a 10-mile run on a gravel rail trail that wasn’t exactly smoothed out. It felt unstable at times, but overall I didn’t have much of a problem navigating the uneven terrain. Just cruised along for the entirety of it and felt great the whole time.

The RapidRoll rocker was always the highlight of the Hyperion Max, and it carries on that tradition here. The transition is smooth from landing to toe off, with the rocker just rolling you through the stride. It’s best used when cruising for long miles. Because of the rocker, you can pick it up at times, but if I used it as a pure tempo option, it didn’t get there in the same way that the Hyperion Max 2 did. 

Which is probably because of the weight. It’s not overly heavy, but it is heavier than the last version by a good margin, picking up nearly a whole ounce of weight. Again, more stack equals more weight, so that’s no surprise.

The TrailTrack rubber provides excellent grip.

JON: Things broke in nicely after about 20 miles. The ride is quite firm thanks to the midsole and the plate sandwiched between the two layers. The rocker and 6 mm drop had me pushing forward on the ball of my feet on liftoff and it was easy to lock into a pace and zone out. The added stack height and weight did take away from how fast the HM 2 felt but still felt naturally fast. It performed best on long run days and wanted to lock into a conversational pace. 

I will say I was not a fan of the upper and its materials but it made it hard for me to truly hate it. It gave a snug, comfortable fit. There weren’t any hotspots, and didn’t feel the need to do a runner’s loop to get extra heel lockdown. This was surprising because of how much room there was in the toe box, but I had no issues with my foot moving around or heel lift. 

I’m happy to report that the outsole grip felt improved in inclement weather from the last version. The resiliency and durability is top notch; which is a plus for how fast I can chew through certain shoes.

CARYN: Brooks made quite a few changes in the Hyperion Max 3, which always makes me a little nervy as a fan of the previous version. Most notably, the stack. We waxed poetic in our last review that the Hyperion Max was not exactly Max, so Brooks really took that and ran (sprinted?) with it. This new version has a 46 mm stack, with a top layer of DNA Gold and a bottom layer of DNA Flash v2. The SpeedVault plate is sandwiched between the two foams, providing an ideally soft, but responsive ride. 

I absolutely adored the upper on Brooks’ Hyperion Max 2, and while this one has changed quite a bit, it isn’t a terrible departure. A sock-like upper with mesh windows, I found the fit equally great, albeit a bit warm. Despite the warmth, the upper had no hot spots and was easily locked down. It accommodated my slightly wide foot really well and I never had to adjust while running.

The Hyperion Max 3 offers a very soft, comfortable ride. I took this shoe out for several different types of runs over a variety of distances, and found that for me it felt most like a super trainer or daily trainer. The ride felt very squishy and comfortable, but not at all responsive. As someone that prefers a firmer shoe, I wasn’t sure how I felt about this. I wasn’t able to feel the rocker nearly as much in this version of the shoe, so faster paces didn’t come as naturally as they did in the Hyperion Max 2. I would have recommended the previous version for uptempo running, but the Hyperion Max 3 seems like it would be best suited to chew up long runs and easy mileage. It reminds me a lot of most versions of the New Balance SC Trainer, though not quite as responsive.

What we don’t like about the Brooks Hyperion Max 3

ROBBE: If I had to give a gripe, it’s that the shoe feels a little bit clunky to me. I asked for Max and I got it, but maybe that’s not what I wanted. I think it’s what most people want, though.

This is a true super trainer, which means it’s nothing like the Hyperion Max 2, which was just an accelerated trainer with some slight modifications that elevated it above the Hyperion by just a bit. So if you absolutely loved that shoe for longer tempo intervals or everyday training, then this may be too much shoe for you.

As I mentioned before, this shoe takes on almost an extra ounce of weight. That’s the thing that pulls it out of the tempo category and drops it into the trainer bucket. Not saying that’s a bad thing, but it is a thing. It’s still relatively light for such a high stack shoe, coming in at just under 10 ounces, which is kind of the standard for trainers. 

Lastly, why couldn’t you just keep the same damn upper? That last version was so light and breathable and just absolutely perfect. I get it, there’s more stack in the Hyperion Max 3, so you need some more support, which the knit upper kind of provides. It works, but I want that other upper back. Also, they got rid of the best laces ever for kind of sucky ones.

Lastly – yeah, another $200 shoe. And that’s before the tariffs.

JON: We had a good thing going with the upper. Why oh why did Brooks have to reinvent the wheel in the 3? Why did they have to add knit components? Why did they get rid of the superior sawtooth laces?

Once they broke in, it was comfortable, but I really didn’t like the addition of knit material around the heel and tongue. I tested these in early spring, but I know the knit components will be drenched once the sticky thick Maryland summer rolls through. 

It also turned like a boat. The higher stack and plate had me needing to take turns very wide and slow so I didn’t roll an ankle. And like Robbe mentioned, it is a heavier shoe so it has lost a little pep. 

Lastly, it just doesn’t look as sleek as it did with the 2. The bright orange colorway that I got felt way too loud and there is just way too much going on with the mixture of knit and mesh materials. It did have people asking me what shoe it was on nearly every group run I used them on, so I guess Brooks did a good job at making a conversation starter.

CARYN: Having truly loved the second version of this shoe, I knew if they made a ton of changes I might be a little less enthusiastic. I did love the breathability and fit of the previous upper and laces. As I said above, they were utter perfection. This new upper is going to be a sweaty mess in the Maryland summer swamp.

I will truly never understand why companies knock it out of the park and then decide to change literally everything, but hey, I’m just a nurse. I also am not, as mentioned in other reviews, a max cushion girly (as opposed to Meaghan, who loved this shoe). I found this shoe overall extremely large in size and stack, making it feel obtrusive and hard to manipulate. This tracks seeing as it has gained nearly an ounce of weight from the prior version. I wouldn’t go so far as to say the shoe is unstable, but it definitely lacks the nimble feel of the previous version. While I didn’t hate the loud neon coral colorway, it’s not exactly something I’d choose for myself (introverts, unite!).

Final thoughts on the Brooks Hyperion Max 3

ROBBE: I think Brooks did what needed to be done, which is to use what they’ve been given to grant the Max what it deserves. There’s gotta be a proverb in there somewhere, though I’m not sure what it is, so just enjoy that word salad with a side of ranch dressing.

All that to say, I don’t think this is an improvement on the Hyperion Max 2, because I think it’s a totally different shoe. However, I do think it’s finally a legit “max” shoe. I think this is an excellent version of what a super trainer should be: exciting, fun, and able to keep a smile on your face for mile after mile. In all reality, it’s the first real super trainer from Brooks. And they did a great job, even if it does offer a direct comp to the Supercomp Trainer. 

Does that make Max the king of the wild things? Maybe, though there’s plenty of competition out there. It should be enough for miles of adventure across any ocean, with a little extra to get you back home.

JON: Last year, I claimed Brooks was having their Mad Max: Fury Road moment, but now it’s more like Max Power. There’s an episode of the Simpsons where Homer changed his name to Max Power out of frustration after the slick detective that shared his name on a TV show (Police Cops) got completely worked around and was changed into a clumsy sidekick in between episodes. 

Where was I going with this other than another max reference? For better or for worse, this is a completely different shoe. Is it a bad thing? It depends on how much you liked the HM 2. It was still fun to run in it but it’s almost nothing like the last version (that’s barely been out for a year!).

Anyways, I do think this is a good execution of a super trainer; I would have probably just ditched the name and called it something else. If you have been itching for a true super trainer from Brooks, look no further. If you’re a big fan of the HM 2, I would stock up on them and move on. And that’s the end of that chapter. 

CARYN: Jon and Robbe fortunately covered all of the “max” puns and cultural references for me, so I’ll keep it simple. The Hyperion Max 3 is a completely different shoe from the second version. Whether that’s a good or bad thing depends entirely on your personal preferences. If you’re looking for a great super trainer to tackle your daily miles in comfort, then you’re all set with the Hyperion Max 3. But me? I’ll be quietly stocking up on the second version as long as I can.

You can pick up the Brooks Hyperion Max 3 for $200 on July 1 by using the buttons below.