Brooks Hyperion Elite MD 2 Review: (DNA) Gold Medal Contender

Introduction to the Brooks Hyperion Elite MD 2

KALEB: Nothing has made me happier in the footwear world than to see greater diversity on the track when it comes to race-day footwear. I no longer have to preface every spike review with “Nike this, Nike that.” Brands have finally broken into the space with their own unique tools for ripping around the oval. New Balance, Saucony, On, and even brands like Diadora have released genuinely unique offerings that serve a purpose for specific runners. Every little innovation drives another, and we all get faster because of it.

And then there’s Brooks, who tried to break onto the superspike scene a year and a half ago with the Hyperion Elite MD and LD options. They were fine, but they lacked a true, high-octane superfoam to compete with the big guns.

I raced much of my first collegiate track season in the Hyperion Elite MD and often felt I was just ever-so-slightly shortchanged on power output compared to the rest of the field. Now, with the release of DNA Gold — a 100% PEBA-based compound — Brooks finally has a real bullet in the chamber if they can only figure out how to aim and shoot.

The Hyperion Elite MD 2’s arrived during the last week of my Winter Track season, and after some consideration, I decided to run the risk of wearing them for the first time at the indoor conference championships. With three middle-distance races on the docket, it was the perfect test for the full range of speeds mid-D runners experience on the track.

So has Brooks finally joined the lead pack? I’d say so.

What we like about the Brooks Hyperion Elite MD 2

KALEB: One of the strong suits of the first Hyperion Elite MD was its looks, and version two keeps the ball rolling. Bright yellow isn’t a color I’ve seen much of in the past, but Brooks really nailed it with the bold aesthetic… somewhere in between golden slippers and the Autobot Bumblebee. I mean that in a good way; this is one of the best-looking spikes out there right now. With “Brooks” written boldly across the upper, I’m pleasantly surprised to find I can finally live in a world where I’m not ashamed to wear that name on my gear.

Speaking of the upper, it’s great. Last year’s TPU spiderweb weave was fantastic — the best upper I’d ever tried. For the Hyperion Elite MD 2, Brooks went back to a more traditional mesh upper. It doesn’t have quite the same lovely level of lockdown as version one, but don’t worry: it’s still stretchy, still form-fitting, and still keeps the foot harnessed perfectly over the midsole.

I think some of the reason for the change is the widened base of the spike: a more traditional upper helps provide a little more general lockdown for more foot types. The added width also produces more consistent power and stability around the curves of the track, something I found especially helpful during the indoor season.

Underfoot is the upgrade I hoped for from the start: DNA Flash is out, and DNA Gold is in, baby. 100% nitrogen-infused PEBA means the Hyperion Elite MD 2 finally has an engine worth revving. DNA Gold is noticeably softer and noticeably bouncier than DNA Flash ever was, and it makes all the difference in the energy return of this spike, especially considering the plate setup. Let’s talk about that:

World Athletics rules state that a shoe must not have more than one rigid structure (such as a plate, rods, a pair of skis, a butterknife, etc) embedded in the midsole. However, for spikes, an allowance is made for one additional rigid structure, provided it is a spike plate. This actually opens the door for Brooks to create a rather unique plate setup.

A rather flexible carbon-composite plate runs the full length of the spike, visible at the heel and then disappearing up into the foam right under the forefoot. This plate has a rather significant amount of flex and, on its own, wouldn’t be aggressive enough for proper mid-distance propulsion.

However, the spikeplate has been updated in the Hyperion Elite MD 2. It’s flatter, wider, and stiffer than version one, and it runs from the toe to the back midfoot. When the carbon composite plate tries to flex, it can only flex near the back end of the foot, and as you get near toe off, the force is actually redirected into the spike plate, which moves as one unit.

The long and short of this setup is that the DNA Gold is compressed on both sides, creating a greater rebound of the foam and, subsequently, greater energy return. It also means that the flex of the plate is carried from the heel lift and transferred into the stiff forefoot to provide a slingshot-esque toe-off.

Similar to version one, the more you put into this spike, the more you get, making it great for gear shifts and surges. I was very pleased with how the Hyperion Elite MD 2 responded to my tired legs on a late-meet 800. Getting up to pace and staying there wasn’t an issue.

What we don’t like about the Brooks Hyperion Elite MD 2

KALEB: I’m a big fan of aggressive spikes: my calves tend not to be my main point of injury, so I’m more than happy to ride a bucking bronco through my race if it gets my speed up and my time down. The Hyperion Elite MD 2, as propulsive as it is, isn’t especially aggressive. It just lacks some bite for something with the word Elite in the name.

Brooks generally skews more democratic than aggressive in its performance footwear. For some, that’s great news — don’t get me wrong, this is a fun spike to run in. But for those who prefer that uber-stiff, super-powerful, borderline-400 m ride in a superspike, the Hyperion Elite MD 2 isn’t the edgiest pick.

Also, for whatever reason, the pins that come with this spike are plastic. Which, in my opinion, is just a laughably bad idea. I never bothered racing in them; I just subbed them out for metal spikes. I guess all that really means is that this spike isn’t quite as light as advertised.

We’re starting to see a steepening curve of cost when it comes to spikes, and the Hyperion Elite MD 2 isn’t immune. $200 is a lot to pay for a spike. It’s a darn good spike, but it’s more expensive than crowd favorites like the New Balance MD-X, the Saucony Endorphin Cheetah, and on par with the price of the Nike Zoom Victory. That’s high company to keep, and while this is a good spike, I’m not sure it’s good enough to already boast that kind of price tag. Have some patience, Brooks.

Final thoughts on the Brooks Hyperion Elite MD 2

KALEB: Overall, I’m thrilled with Brooks’ development of their superspikes. The Hyperion Elite MD 2 feels like a bona fide, front-of-the-pack performance tool, capable of competing with the best. It has a genuinely unique ride that isn’t copying anything on the market right now, and, more importantly, that unique ride actually works. For those Brooks loyalists on the track (shoutout to my teammate Ryan), you’ve made it. Congrats. You can finally toe the line and be taken seriously.

I’d recommend this spike for middle-distance guys who lean toward the mile/1500 m distance, with occasional forays into the 800 m distance. It’s got a super fun ride that doesn’t feel like it’s breaking your form down the longer you run, and honestly, staying a little more conservative on that front allows it to be all the more effective as a spike that can be relied on when the legs are tired during those big Mid-D doubles and triples at post-season meets.

You can pick up the Brooks Hyperion Elite MD 2 for $200 from Running Warehouse (featuring free shipping and 90-day returns) by using the buttons below.