Where Does the Brooks Hyperion Max 4 Land Among Super Trainers?

Introduction to the Brooks Hyperion Max 4

KARL: If you’re new to the Brooks catalog, you should know that the Hyperion line is all about performance. All the shoes in this arena are geared towards faster, more uptempo runs. Their premium race day shoe also sits at the top of this line — the Hyperion Elite. The Hyperion Max is the high-stack super trainer meant to complement its raceday counterpart. I was a pretty big fan of the Hyperion 2, a low-stack and lightweight tempo trainer. Robbe was quite the fan of the Hyperion Max 2. It was a shoe I didn’t get to test, but I ran in the Hyperion Max 3 last year, which saw a massive design change from the 2, with quite a polarizing response from fans of the former. I enjoyed it, but could see how some people felt it was a departure from previous models.

I’ve run in quite a few Brooks shoes this season (I’m currently testing the Ghost Max 4 and the Ghost 18), and the common theme I see this year applied across the board is an “upper refresh with premium comfort in mind.” But is that premium comfort worth the upgrade from last year’s models? Let’s take a closer look.

MEAGHAN: Karl hit the nail on the head with his comment about the upper update. It feels like Brooks made some significant strides in innovation a couple of years ago, and now we’re largely seeing incremental upper refinements across their lineup — with the notable exception of the Hyperion Elite, which has felt like a different shoe with nearly every iteration.

To be fair, though, we weren’t shy about voicing our concerns when changes were made to the Glycerin Max 2, so there’s a reasonable argument for the “don’t fix what isn’t broken” approach. That said, with competing brands continuously pushing the envelope on foam technology, I did anticipate at least some evolution in the midsole compound or formulation. But as Karl noted, the Hyperion Max 4 brings only subtle upper tweaks, leaving the midsole untouched. Meaning you still get a dual-layer midsole: DNA Gold (PEBA) beneath the foot with a bottom layer of supercritical DNA Flash v2 and a plastic plate in between the two. It’s a shoe designed for uptempo and long runs.

With that, let’s dive into the review.

What we like about the Brooks Hyperion Max 4

KARL: Leading off what I stated in the introduction, not much has changed besides the upper in this iteration. Going from a sock-like knit upper in the Hyperion Max 3, the Hyperion Max 4 now sports a triple jacquard mesh that feels quite premium. This seems to be the major change in this year’s Brooks releases, with the Glycerin 23 and Ghost Max 4 sporting this triple jacquard upper. So far, it has yielded pretty mixed results from Robbe and me.

I felt like I had a better lockdown in this version, mainly because the previous version’s upper was a single piece, with the stretchy knit tongue integrated into the whole upper. In this version, the tongue (fully gusseted) is separated in a more traditional manner. Some may have thought the knit upper from last year was too snug, but I had no issues there. And because of the construction this year, you may be able to dial in the fit to better suit your preferences. The only other visible difference between the Hyperion Max 4 and last year is the loss of the heel pull tab — boo.

For some reason, unlike the Brooks Glycerin 23, I found this upper to be more breathable. The climate is starting to turn here in Baltimore, and I’ve taken this out during some moderate spring weather. I haven’t found the upper to be very warm, but I will test it out once summer fully hits.

The Hyperion Max 4 has the same midsole composition as last year’s version: a top layer of DNA Gold PEBA, a bottom layer of supercritical DNA Flash v2, and a plastic SpeedVault plate sandwiched between the two foams. The only difference is 1 mm less stack all around, but it’s not noticeable (45/39 this year vs 46/40 last year). The underfoot feel definitely leans towards the firmer end of the spectrum, which I attribute mainly to the SpeedVault plate and the DNA Gold’s durometer not being the softest.

But I personally enjoyed the ride, overall. This falls into the category of an uptempo long run shoe for me. It’s a great candidate for a long run (10 miles or more), where I want to gradually build up, lock into a pace, and just roll (with potential pickups near the end). It isn’t the lightest shoe in its category (I’ll follow up more on that in the next section), but I think it does a good job of being a “set it and forget it” shoe when it comes to dialing in your pace during a longer effort, due to the plate and the RapidRoll rocker.

For me, this feels like a first or second cousin to the New Balance SC Trainer v3 (RIP) and perhaps a slightly firmer version of the Hoka Cielo X1, albeit not as bouncy or “fun.” When super trainers first hit the scene several years ago, this was kind of the underfoot sensation you got (and none of these shoes were super light).

The RoadTack outsole has plenty of rubber coverage, and for the price, I don’t think durability is a concern. The DNA Gold PEBA isn’t tuned too soft, where I think it’ll bottom out early, either. Overall, you’re getting a very nice ride out of the Hyperion Max 4, albeit more or less the same as the previous version.

MEAGHAN: The aesthetics haven’t changed much from the previous iteration, and the white and banana yellow colorway I received has genuinely grown on me. The step-in feel is familiar yet slightly more plush, thanks to the newly padded tongue. It’s a comfortable shoe overall — snug through the midfoot for solid lockdown, while the forefoot offers enough volume to keep things comfortable over longer efforts.

Off the run, the shoe doesn’t feel particularly light, but the moment you start moving, it comes alive. The combination of foams, plate, and rocker geometry encourages a faster turnover. I found myself running 10 to 30 seconds per mile faster on easy efforts without even realizing it. Once you settle into a rhythm, the shoe delivers a satisfying propulsion that keeps your legs moving efficiently.

As someone who typically gravitates toward softer shoes, I’m still trying to pinpoint exactly why this trainer clicks for me. I think part of the appeal is that it offers a refreshing change of pace — in a market where midsoles seem to be getting progressively softer (perhaps too soft, in some cases), the firmer, bouncier ride here has been a welcome contrast during training runs. Despite the high stack, stability was never a concern, though I’ll note I didn’t put this one through any structured workouts. I’ve been using it primarily for easy days, but it’s more than capable of handling a faster pace when called upon.

What we don’t like about the Brooks Hyperion Max 4

KARL: I stated in the introduction that this year is a refresh, mainly of comfort features. The triple jacquard mesh may be too much for some, and although I find it a bit more breathable than the Glycerin 23, I think it’s overkill, especially for a shoe that’s supposed to be performance-oriented.

I believe this choice of upper is the reason why this version is slightly heavier than its predecessor. And while it isn’t the heaviest shoe, it was never really that light to begin with, so I feel like it’s a misstep to add weight, even if it’s just a couple of grams. I would love for Brooks to go back to the style of upper found on the Hyperion Max 2/Hyperion 2 and save the comfort-oriented triple jacquard for its standard, everyday run lineup.

The medial cutout hasn’t given me any issues either, but from what I’ve heard from people talking about the Hyperion Max 3, some may experience instability depending on how you pronate. It’s the exact same type of cutout here, so your experience may vary.

MEAGHAN: My one gripe with this update is that the shoe actually got heavier rather than lighter — we’re talking a difference of roughly 8.55 to 8.65 oz, so it’s negligible in practice, but I’ve always held the belief that performance-category updates should trend lighter, not the other way around.

It also ties into a broader criticism I have with the shoe as a whole. For a trainer aimed at uptempo miles, I echo Karl’s sentiment that a performance-oriented shoe in this line would benefit from a sleeker, more stripped-down upper rather than a plush one. To be clear, the upper itself is well-executed and comfortable — it just feels better suited for a different purpose. When the goal is speed and efficiency, a lighter, more performance-focused upper would better serve the shoe’s overall intent.

Final thoughts on the Brooks Hyperion Max 4

KARL: I will give credit to Brooks in that I think the Hyperion series is the most fleshed-out line it has. I think the Ghost and Glycerin lines are starting to get a bit murky and in the weeds with all the varieties (Ghost, Ghost Max, Glycerin, Glycerin Max, Glycerin Flex, the GTS versions, etc.). The Hyperion line is basically: Hyperion (lower stack daily trainer/uptempo shorter runs), Hyperion Max (long run/uptempo), Hyperion Elite (race day), and throwing in a few spikes for the track folks (Elite LD, Elite MD).

And I know “comfort” is the name of the game this year for Brooks, but I hope it can continue to innovate this line and perhaps drop weights across the board to become a bit more competitive in the market, as well as go back to some lighter, racy upper styles like that of the Hyperion 2/Hyperion Max 2, which was really received well by the team.

Overall, I do like the Brooks Hyperion Max 4 and the ride that it offers — a no-nonsense, classic super trainer meant to gobble up long miles. Personally, there are other shoes in this category I would pick over this shoe (Adidas Hyperboost Edge comes to mind at $200, or I’d spend a bit more to get the Hoka Skyward X 2 or Asics Superblast 3 since I prefer an ever-so-slightly softer midsole feel).

However, this could be the super trainer for you if you’re a connoisseur of the slightly firmer underfoot persuasion. That said, you could probably pick up last year’s version and still reap the benefits of the same ride at a discounted price. But if you’re into premium comfort as far as uppers go and/or don’t quite get along with sock-like knit uppers, then the Brooks Hyperion Max 4 is a solid option for your long run needs.

MEAGHAN: The Brooks Hyperion Max 4 enters one of the most competitive segments in running right now. The $200 super trainer has become a staple category, and nearly every major brand has a compelling option in the space. While the Hyperion Max remains one of my favorite offerings from Brooks, it’s facing stiff competition from recent standouts like the Asics Superblast 3 and Adidas Hyperboost Edge — and it’s difficult to recommend it outright over those alternatives. That said, if you loved the previous version, the minimal updates here will feel like a welcome refinement rather than a reinvention. And if you’re looking for the best value, it might be worth hunting down the Hyperion Max 3 at a discounted price first.

You can pick up the Brooks Hyperion Max 4 for $200 on July 1 from Running Warehouse by using the buttons below.