Brooks Hyperion Elite 4 Review: Road Spike

Overview: The Road Spike

The Brooks Hyperion Elite 4 represents Brooks' latest super-shoe featuring top-of-the-line racing technology. Created to rival top competitors such as the Nike Vaporfly, this model incorporates an improved foam and a new 3D printed plate that is adjusted based on shoe size to optimize efficiency. These improvements really look to improve on past iterations and position the Hyperion Elite 4 as a great choice for fast paces. It's exciting to see Brooks elevating their Hyperion line with this shoe at the forefront.

In the heel, the Hyperion Elite 4 features 40mm of Brooks' DNA Flash V2 foam with an 8mm drop,giving the shoe some cushion and a responsive ride. While DNA Flash V2 isn't the softest foam available, it is extremely snappy, especially at quick paces. However, due to its firmness, the Hyperion Elite 4 may fall a bit short on cushion for the marathon distance and leave your legs a bit sore after longer efforts. Weighing in at 7.2oz/204g, the Hyperion Elite is in line with other racing options.

The upper on the Brooks is one of the best I've felt on a super shoe, as it is extremely breathable and very secure. It feels a lot like a track spike, so is great for middle distance workouts on pavement. Priced at $250, the Hyperion Elite is priced similarly to other options, such as the Nike Vaporfly 3 ($260) and Adidas Adios Pro 3 ($250). However, since it is a relatively new shoe, there are not a ton of deals, so you will be paying the full $250.

Midsole: Supercritical EVA & TPEE Blend

The Brooks Hyperion Elite features Brooks' DNA Flash V2 with a 3D printed SpeedVault Plate inside. In this iteration, Brooks has softened the foam a lot, making it a much more viable racer than in the past. Despite this, the nitrogen-infused Flash V2 is still pretty firm, but the SpeedVault Race Plate gives the shoe lots of snap and energy return. It also makes the shoe extremely rigid, as you would hope for in a racing shoe, and Brooks 3D prints each plate to maximize energy return for different runners.

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Ride

On runs, the midsole feels a bit firm but very snappy. Feeling almost like a track spike underfoot, the Hyperion Elite 4 feels good at extremely fast paces such as the mile. Notably, Josh Kerr, the 1500m Champion, won the 5th Avenue mile with these shoes in a time of 3:47.9. However, with this fast feel, the Hyperion Elite 4 is not the most stable shoe on the market. The landing platform is very narrow and rolls out fairly easilys, but in practice, as a middle-distance runner, I did not feel super unstable. Further, I found that for longer tempo sessions, the Hyperion Elite 4 did lack a bit of cushioning.

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Upper & Fit

The upper on the Hyperion Elite 4 is definitely one of my favorites on a racing shoe as it is an extremely breathable mesh. While feeling very much like a track spike, the Hyperion Elite 4 secures your foot down and even features a cushioned and rigid heel to prevent slippage. However, the insole is a soft material, and my foot did slide a bit before I really tightened the shoe down. The tongue also features a little padding to combat discomfort from the laces.

Outsole & Durability

While I've only logged around 20 miles on the shoe so far, it should last for a good while longer since the foam is on the firmer side. However, the outsole is a bit thin, so it may wear out before the foam. Despite this, the outsole feels pretty grippy on wet surfaces, and even snow felt better than other offerings. However, if you're a heel striker, these shoes are not the best option as they have little heel coverage.

Who's It For

The Hyperion Elite 4 is best suited for runners who enjoy a firmer, snappy ride that will push you through shorter distances. Although it is not quite cushioned enough to take up to a full marathon, it still could get you to the half, especially if you are a more powerful runner. As a middle-distance runner, these shoes have felt great for fast workouts on pavement, so if you're looking for a spike equivalent for the road, this will do the trick. For more options on racing shoes, be sure to check out our shoe matcher tool, where we'll choose the best running shoes for you based on your goals and preferences.

Final Thoughts

The Hyperion Elite 4 represents a huge shift in the Hyperion line, with Brooks releasing a wide breadth of shoes featuring their new foam and technology. Notably, the Hyperion Elite Spike MD and LD look very fast and fun, and the Hyperion Max 2 will be a strong competitor to the Saucony Endorphin Speed and Adidas Boston. I'm excited to see where Brooks is going.