Brooks Running Shoes 2025 Lineup: Nine Updates From Race Day to Everyday

Introduction

Brooks has one of its most aggressive update cycles in years, and the headline is clear: the brand is now fully in the race shoe market with a PEBA foam it calls DNA Gold. That material anchors a new Hyperion Elite lineup, but the ripple effects reach nearly every shoe in the range, from max-stack super trainers to classic daily trainers. Here is what each new model offers and who it makes sense for.

Brooks Hyperion Elite 4 PB

The Hyperion Elite 4 PB keeps the platform of the previous Elite 4, including the 40 mm heel and 32 mm forefoot stack, the SpeedVell Plus plate that is configured differently by size, and a knit upper the brand considers among its best. The big change is underfoot: the midsole switches to DNA Gold, a 100% PEBA foam that is nitrogen infused under six times the heat and pressure of the standard supercritical foaming process. The result is more energy return, more displacement, and a weight drop from 7.8 oz to 7.2 oz in a US size 9.

It launched February 1, 2025 at $250, timed for spring marathon season. Athletes racing in it include podium finishers at the US Marathon Olympic Trials and first-American finishes at major marathons, so the racing pedigree is real.

If you wanted an Elite 4 but wished it had a PEBA midsole, this is effectively that shoe, and it is the more affordable way into the DNA Gold story.

Brooks Hyperion Elite 5

The Hyperion Elite 5 pushes the “lighter than air” theme further. It uses a TPU-coated flat knit upper with a flat knit heel collar that wraps the foot like a glove, DNA Gold in both the top and bottom midsole stacks, and the same SpeedVell Plus plate as the 4 PB. The outsole is new SpeedTack rubber, just 1.9 mm thick in total, which keeps weight down while still offering durability and wet traction.

Weight drops again to 6.9 oz in a size 9, with the same 40/32 mm stack, and the thinner outsole allowed roughly 3 mm more DNA Gold in the midsole, about 7.5% more foam volume overall. It launches July 1, 2025 at $275.

Brooks Hyperion Max 3

The Hyperion Max 3 is the training companion to the Elite 5, with a DNA Gold top stack over a FlashFeed 2 lower layer and a fiberglass-nylon blend plate that flexes more than the race plate. The stack is a chunky 45 mm in the heel and 39 mm in the forefoot with a 6 mm offset, which exceeds World Athletics limits for elite competition but is perfectly legal for everyday runners to train and race in.

A US size 9 weighs about 9.9 oz. Compared with the Hyperion Max 2, this is more of a super trainer, stacked roughly 8 mm higher, comfortable enough for most of the year’s runs while still quick enough for tempo work. It releases July 1, 2025 at $200.

Brooks Hyperion 3

The Hyperion 3 stays non-plated with full-length Flash V2, a non-PEBA foam, and leans on flexibility and a light, well-executed upper. Midsole heights are 28 mm in the heel and 18 mm in the forefoot with an 8 mm drop, landing near 37.5 mm total stack in the heel. The price holds at $140.

This is the accessible member of the Hyperion family: a lighter, closer-to-the-ground speed day shoe for runners who do not want or need a plate.

Brooks Launch 11

The Launch 11 is the other February 1, 2025 release, at $120. It gains a DNA Flash V1 supercritical foam drop-in, no plate, and a 26 mm heel over an 18 mm forefoot for a lower, sleeker feel that some runners have been craving after years of rising stack heights. At 7.7 oz it feels genuinely light, and the styling is more aggressive than previous Launch models.

Think of it as an everyday fast trainer that sits below the Hyperion line in price while covering a similar use case.

Brooks Glycerin 22

The Glycerin 22 drafts off the popular Glycerin Max formula: DNA Tuned foam with a large cell in the heel for a softer landing and a smaller cell in the forefoot for a responsive toe-off, just in a lower stack. The midsole is 28 mm in the heel and 18 mm in the forefoot with a 10 mm offset, for about 38 mm total stack in the heel.

It arrives February 1, 2025 at around $160 to $165. If you loved the Glycerin Max but want something a bit lower and lighter, this is the obvious step. The line also spans a GTS support version with guide rails and a StealthFit variant with an integrated flat, sock-like tongue; the outsole and midsole are identical across versions.

Brooks Ghost 17

The Ghost 17 raises the forefoot stack by 3 mm and the heel by about a millimeter, moving to a 10 mm offset. Total stack comes out around 35.5 mm in the heel and 25.5 mm in the forefoot, with the offset set precisely at 6.5 mm midsole geometry where every millimeter counts. The price stays at $140, and the shoe looks faster than its predecessor with a new Kickback collar.

The core update answers the most common request from Ghost 16 wearers: more cushioning under the forefoot. The Ghost franchise remains the word-of-mouth recommendation for runners starting out or getting more serious, thanks to dialed-in fit and soft materials.

Brooks Ghost Max 3

The Ghost Max 3 continues with nitrogen-injected DNA Loft foam, a broad stable base, and GlideRoll geometry for an assisted heel-to-toe transition. The double jacquard mesh upper is soft and comfortable, and the fit accommodates a wide range of foot shapes.

Where the Glycerin Max is the taller, bouncier, more luxurious ride at 45/39 mm, the Ghost Max is the more familiar everyday max-cushion option, slightly lighter and leaning soft yet responsive. It releases August 1, 2025 and stays at $150.

Brooks Adrenaline GTS 25

Brooks calls the Adrenaline GTS 25 the best version of the shoe in its 25-year history, and the changes back that up. The midsole moves to 16 mm in the forefoot and 26 mm in the heel, matching the Ghost 17 approach of adding forefoot cushioning, and the guide rails on the medial side are now co-molded, with no seams or cement, for a softer, more comfortable stability ride. The upper adds a flat knit collar with a heel loop for easy entry, and the weight drops slightly.

It launches November 1, 2025 at $145, a $5 increase that comes with the added cushioning. Runners who land midfoot to forefoot and want support without a rigid post should put this near the top of the list.

Buying Advice

If you race, the choice between the Elite 4 PB and Elite 5 comes down to budget and timing: the 4 PB is available now at $250 with the same DNA Gold midsole and plate, while the Elite 5 at $275 trims more weight and refines the upper. For a super trainer that shares the DNA Gold story, the Hyperion Max 3 is the standout, as long as you are comfortable with a 45 mm heel stack that is off-limits only for elite competition.

For daily mileage, the Glycerin 22 brings the Glycerin Max ride down to earth, while the Ghost 17 and Ghost Max 3 cover familiar, soft, accommodating everyday running at friendlier prices. The Launch 11 is the value pick for faster days, and the Adrenaline GTS 25 remains the default for runners who need support.

Conclusion

This cycle marks a real turning point for Brooks: PEBA race foam at the top, smarter forefoot cushioning throughout the range, and updated fits everywhere. Whether you are chasing a marathon PR or just want a comfortable daily trainer, there is a clearly defined option in this lineup, and the new DNA Gold shoes finally put Brooks squarely in the super shoe conversation.