Brooks Hyperion Elite 4 vs Nike Vaporfly 3

The Brooks Hyperion Elite 4 is a firmer race day shoe designed featuring 40mm of Brooks DNA Flash V2 foam. Due to its firmer foam, I wouldn't suggest using the Hyperion Elite 4 for full or even half-marathons. Feeling a lot like a track spike, the Hyperion Elite 4 feels amazing at mile-3k efforts, although high volume will leave your legs tired. The upper greatly contributes to this and is probably the best of any racer I've tried.

Brooks Hyperion Elite 4 Specs

• Weight: 204g
• Stack: 40mm/32mm
• 8mm drop
• Price: $250

On the other hand, the Nike Vaporfly 3 offers a cushioned race day experience with 40mm of ZoomX foam, delivering a plush and energetic ride. As one of the first super shoes, the Vaporfly has set the benchmark for racing shoes and has become the gold standard. It's a reliable option for various distances, up to a half marathon. However, a shoe with a firmer foam might be a bit better for larger runners.

Nike Vaporfly 3 Specs

• Weight: 200g
• Stack: 40mm/32mm
• 8mm drop
• Price: $270

Midsole

The Brooks Hyperion Elite incorporates Brooks' DNA Flash V2 foam along with a 3D-printed SpeedVault Plate. This iteration uses a softer version of the foam, making it a much better racer compared to previous versions. However, this change still leaves the shoe feeling pretty firm. Still, with the SpeedVault Plate, the Hyperion Elite comes out as very snappy and responsive. Also, Brooks has begun 3D printing their plates to ensure the shoe maintains the most energy return regardless of size.

On the other hand, the Nike Vaporfly 3 utilizes Nike's ZoomX race day foam, composed of supercritical Peba. With a 40mm stack height in the heel and 32mm in the forefoot, the Vaporfly 3 has an 8mm drop and the maximum amount of foam legal for a racing shoe. In this version, the Vaporfly 3 feels slightly softer than the Vaporfly 2, which is likely due to the less robust outsole. The Vaporfly 3 also features a full-length carbon plate sandwiched in the middle of the midsole.

On paper, the Hyperion Elite and Vaporfly seem pretty similar, but Nike's ZoomX foam is hands down the better option. Even though DNA Flash V2 is much better than past iterations, it's still just not cushioned enough. At the end of long efforts, your legs will feel like they've taken a beating in the Hyperion Elite, whereas the Vaporfly is much more protective.

Ride

The midsole of the Hyperion Elite 4 offers a firm yet responsive ride that feels a lot like a track spike adapted for road running. While its snappiness feels great for shorter interval workouts, it is not cushioned enough for longer runs. Notably, Josh Kerr won the 5th Avenue mile with a time of 3:47.9 with these shoes. However, just like track spikes, it isn't the most stable option and tends to roll out at slower paces.

The Vaporfly 3 feels very plush and lively during runs. At fast paces, it feels very fast and natural, although it is a bit more aggressive than other options. However, as the foam is softer than past iterations, it tends to bottom out at the end of long efforts, especially as it gets deeper into its life. It is also pretty maneuverable around corners and fairly stable, although other options, such as the Valkyrie TYR, could be better if you need the support.

For marathon or half marathon races, the Vaporfly 3 will work better for more people due to its better cushioning. Truly, I would only recommend the Hyperion Elite 4 for speed workouts on the track or pavement. As a middle-distance runner, I've enjoyed running mile-3k workouts in the Hyperion Elite. Still, after long tempos, my legs definitely have felt pretty tired. The Vaporfly, on the other hand, is much more protective, so if you're going to be hitting higher mileage, the Vaporfly 3 is probably the better option.

Upper & Fit

The upper on the Hyperion Elite 4 is easily one of my favorites on a racing shoe. The Hyperion Elite 4 is extremely breathable and constructed of a thin mesh upper. While feeling very much like a track spike, the Hyperion Elite 4 secures your foot down and features a cushioned and rigid heel to prevent slippage. However, the insole is made of slicker material, and my foot slid a bit before I really tightened the shoe down. The tongue also features a little padding to combat any discomfort from the laces.

The Vaporfly 3's upper is a thin mesh that is extremely breathable. In races, I have had no problem with lockdown or wear, and the padding in the heel helps to secure your heel in place. Although there isn't much room in the toe box, it didn't cause any issues and felt fast and like a racer.

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Outsole & Durability

The Hyperion Elite 4 and Vaporfly 3 perform pretty similar in their outsoles. Although neither is super robust, they will get the job done on race days. In terms of durability, you can expect to take both of these shoes to around 100-150 miles of racing before they should be retired to a workout shoe. At 150 miles, the Vaporfly 3 has really lost a lot of its cushion, although I expect my Hyperion Elites to last a bit longer thanks to the firmer midsole.

Who's It For

The Hyperion Elite 4 is best suited to bigger runners or someone looking for a spike replacement for the road. However, at $250, it is pricier considering its use case, so other options, such as the Adidas Takumi Sen, could work better. The Vaporlfy 3, on the other hand, will work for most people for a wide variety of road races, but for a full marathon, I would recommend moving up to the Alphafly 3. If neither of these looks like a great option, almost every brand now has a super shoe, so head on over to our running shoe matcher shoe to get the best recommendations.