Brooks Hyperion Max 2 First Run Review: A Bigger, Softer Super Trainer

Introduction

The Brooks Hyperion Max 2 is the update to the Hyperion Max, and the changes are substantial: a much higher stack, more foam, a wider platform, and a slightly lower drop. The price has also risen a little, now $180 in the US where the original launched at $170.

This first run review covers what changed, how it feels on the road, and who it makes sense for.

What Changed From the Original Hyperion Max

The Hyperion Max 2 is now 36 mm at the heel and 30 mm at the forefoot for a 6 mm drop. That is 6 mm more stack at the forefoot and 4 mm at the heel compared with the original, all with a slightly lower drop. The extra foam and a wider platform explain the weight jump to 271 g (9.6 oz), up from around 220 g.

The midsole moves to DNA Flash v2, Brooks’s second version of the foam. It is a nitrogen-infused EVA designed to give a little more energy return and be lighter than the original DNA Flash. It feels lightweight and quite poppy, though not as squishy and bouncy as some other super foams on the market. A plastic speed vault plate runs through the shoe, and the Rapid Roll rocker carries over from the first Hyperion Max, now more pronounced thanks to the extra foam.

The upper is lightweight mesh with a high heel tab, a small amount of padding, and a partially gusseted tongue that wraps the midfoot nicely. Outsole coverage is good, with the forefoot and heel well covered in a thick layer of rubber and a cutout in the center.

Fit and Sizing

The test pair was a UK 9 / US 10, the usual Brooks size, and it fit well: enough room in the toe box and good hold around the heel and midfoot. The high heel tab was a mild concern for a runner whose Achilles can be irritated by shoes, but no problems showed up on the run. The internal heel counter is present but not as rigid as on Brooks’s more cushioned shoes like the Ghost.

The fit feels similar to the original Hyperion, which runs slightly narrower, though the Hyperion Max 2 did not feel problematic for a narrow foot. Sticking with your normal running shoe size should work.

How It Runs

The test was an easy to steady 45-minute run, starting with a little trail before moving onto the road, working from around 4:30 per km pace down toward 3:40 per km toward the end. It was enjoyable in exactly the way this shoe is built for: long runs with faster effort toward the end and mini progression runs, a pattern common during marathon training.

The rocker is a lot more pronounced than on the original, largely because there is more foam to work with, and it tips forward noticeably at both easy and fast paces. The DNA Flash v2 does not feel like you sink into it, but there is clearly more foam beneath you, adding comfort and a protective feel, especially under the forefoot.

The trade-off is nimbleness. The Hyperion Max 2 is not as light on its feet as the original and is a fair bit heavier, but it never feels heavy on the run. The foam has a firm, poppy, lightweight character, the rocker moves smoothly through footstrike, and it feels comfortable at speed while adding cushion for easy paces.

Compared With the Original Hyperion Max

Side by side, the two shoes feel quite different. The original Hyperion Max now looks like an interval shoe: lightweight, nimble, and the pick for track sessions or short reps like 60 seconds on, 30 seconds off.

The Hyperion Max 2 is the better choice for rolling at tempo pace, long runs with hard sections, and easy running. The extra stack is felt on the run, the lower drop smooths things out, and 30 mm of forefoot foam plus the rocker removes the forefoot discomfort that longer runs could produce in the original. It is now much more of a daily trainer in the modern mold: super foam, a plate, a rocker, and a fairly lightweight design suitable for a wide range of paces.

This also defines the Brooks range better. The Hyperion and Hyperion Max used to feel like very similar shoes. Now you get three clear steps: the Hyperion as the lightweight low-stack trainer, the Hyperion Max 2 as the plated super trainer, and the Hyperion Elite above that.

Buying Advice

The Hyperion Max 2 suits runners doing lots of longish runs with speed inserted into many of them, easy-to-steady progressions, and marathon training blocks that do not include many all-out sessions. It has a protective feel and a wide pace range.

There is a catch: the super trainer category is one of the most competitive areas of the running shoe market, and the $180 price puts the Hyperion Max 2 up against excellent shoes at the same price or cheaper. Rivals in this space include the Saucony Endorphin Speed 4 with its better foam underfoot and lighter design, the Nike Zoom Vomero or similar Max-stack options like the Neo Vista that are bouncier and more cushioned, and lower-priced super trainers that deliver a strong all-round experience. Brooks’s foam is not quite at the level of some of those brands, which may make it hard for the Hyperion Max 2 to stand out.

Anyone who loved the original Hyperion Max as a lighter, firmer daily trainer and does not want all the extra foam may prefer to stay with the original or the Hyperion. For everyone else, this is a solid shoe you can rack up a lot of miles in, though the high price tag is a fair question mark.

Conclusion

The Brooks Hyperion Max 2 makes sense as a move for Brooks and delivers a comfortable, protective, versatile daily trainer with a plate, rocker, and generous stack. It excels at easy-to-steady running with bursts of tempo work, but it sacrifices some nimbleness and enters a fiercely competitive category where its price is the biggest question mark. Early impressions are positive; firmer conclusions will come with more miles.