Brooks Hyperion Elite 5 Introduction

When it comes to running shoe technology, Brooks is normally a follower rather than a trendsetter. Nike, Puma, New Balance, Saucony and even Skechers started using supercritical midsole foams years before Brooks joined in on the fun.

Brooks’ first innovative shoe was the Aurora-BL concept trainer in 2021 that used DNA Loft V3 (supercritical EVA). The Aurora-BL had a fun, energetic ride unlike any other Brooks trainer. It’s still my favourite Brooks running shoe to date.

DNA Loft V3 then trickled into the Glycerin 20 in 2022. Brooks was also late to the party with PEBA. Their Hyperion Elite 4 PB only received PEBA in 2023 and they were the last major brand to put PEBA into their racer. Some brands have now moved on to A-TPU in their midsoles (lighter and more energetic) but Brooks is not quite there yet.

Even though the Brooks R&D department is a bit slow, their athlete recruitment is excellent. At the 2025 World Athletics Championships, they had 4 Brooks athletes (3 women and 1 man) represent team USA and compete in the marathon. Susanna Sullivan finished 4th in the women’s race in the Hyperion Elite 4 PB. This shows that Brooks now has legitimate, competitive long-distance racing shoes.

The Hyperion Elite is their long-distance, carbon-plated racer. The Hyperion Elite 5 is the 6th version in the series- there was a Hyperion Elite 4 and a Hyperion Elite 4 PB. The Hyperion Elite 5 weighs 6.9 oz (196 grams) for men’s US9. It’s 0.3 oz (8.5 grams) lighter than its predecessor, the Hyperion Elite 4 PB. Its price has risen significantly by $25 and it now costs $275.

Testing Details

• 13 km steady run @ 6:03 per km
• Half marathon race @ 4:14 per km
• 21 km steady run @ 5:39 per km
• 6.6 km track workout @ 4:03 per km
• 25 km steady run @ 5:52 per km

Brooks Hyperion Elite 5 First Impressions

My first run was a moderately paced 13 km run with some strides. I was a little surprised at how firm it was. The midsole felt a bit denser than its predecessor even though they both use DNA Gold midsoles. The ride and the upper felt comfortable from the get go but I struggled to get a good heel lockdown.

The forefoot rocker didn’t feel as prominent as the Hyperion Elite 4 PB but its carbon plate felt stiffer. The ride that it reminded me of was the Nike Vaporfly Next% 2. The Hyperion Elite 5 felt a lot more stable and had a more comfortable upper than the Vaporfly.

Brooks Hyperion Elite 5 Upper

The Hyperion Elite 5’s upper is good but it’s not perfect. Its upper material has large vents that easily make it one of the most breathable racing uppers on the market. Its tongue is not gusseted but it’s attached on one end so there isn’t any tongue slide.

Heel lockdown is not great but there isn’t any heel slippage provided you use a runner’s knot. It feels loose because your rearfoot doesn’t sit deep enough inside the heel cup. The heel counter needs to come up higher.

It fits true to size but it has a forefoot and toe box which are on the narrow side so I can’t recommend it for wide footed runners. The laces feel premium and are ribbed so they stay tied during runs.

Brooks Hyperion Elite 5 Sole Unit

The Hyperion Elite 5 has a very traditional ride that reminds me of older generation super racers like the Vaporfly Next% and the Saucony Endorphin Pro 1. This is because it doesn’t have a very squishy midsole or an extreme rocker like the new generation super racers have.

The new racers use A-TPU or TPEE in their midsoles which feel noticeably softer, lighter and more energetic. The PEBA midsole of the Hyperion Elite 5 feels denser and flatter in comparison. Even compared to other PEBA midsoles like Nike’s ZoomX and Hoka’s PEBA, the DNA Gold in the Hyperion Elite 5 feel less bouncy.

My second run in the Hyperion Elite 5 was an all out half marathon race and I was satisfied with its performance but it didn’t amaze me. During the race, I was able to hold my half marathon target pace but I craved a bit more bounce and a bit more energy return. It didn’t feel efficient enough to race a marathon in.

The lack of efficiency is mainly due to the relatively low toe spring and mild forefoot rocker. Its forefoot doesn’t speed up transitions as much as racers like the Metaspeed Edge Tokyo, Alphafly 3 and SC Elite v5. You need to have really powerful toe offs to engage the stiff plate in the Hyperion Elite 5.

It feels best when I’m doing threshold runs or fast workouts like intervals. When I’m going faster than 4:15 per km (6:50 per m), I can really feel the speed assistance from the stiff ARRIS plate. Anything slower, and I can’t push through the plate because my foot strikes aren’t powerful enough.

A new feature of the Hyperion Elite 5 is the midfoot orb cutout that you can see on the medial and lateral sides of the midsole. During runs, I don’t notice any performance improvements from the cutouts and it’s just a way for them to reduce weight. There’s no cavity on the outsole like in previous versions so they have to save weight another way.

Stability is one of the main strengths of the Hyperion Elite 5. Its midsole doesn’t compress all that much so it has a supportive ride that doesn’t overwork my ankles and calves. My legs don’t feel beaten up after doing runs in it. It also handles easy runs better than most racers due to how stable it is.

The outsole is also well designed. The entire forefoot is protected with durable rubber and the heavy strike zones on the rearfoot are also protected. The outsole of my pair is holding up really well- there are only some small scratches on the edge of the outsole.

Brooks Hyperion Elite 5 Conclusions

The Hyperion Elite 5 is a decent racer but I was hoping for an improvement over the Hyperion Elite 4 PB. Version 5 is a bit too firm and it lacks some bounce. Even though version 5 is lighter, I prefer the 4 PB’s geometry- it feels faster to me because of its forefoot rocker and its more secure upper.

I wouldn’t race a marathon in the Hyperion Elite 5 because its ride doesn’t feel plush enough and it isn’t rockered enough. In the World Championships in Tokyo, 2 out of the 4 Brooks sponsored Americans chose to use the Hyperion Elite 4 PB instead of the 5.

Version 5 feels like a previous generation of racers and if you are looking for a new racer to replace your Vaporfly Next%, you should get the Hyperion Elite 5.

I think the Hyperion Elite 5 is heavily overpriced. It should be priced closer to the Nike Vaporfly 4, Saucony Endorphin Pro 4 and Puma Deviate Elite 3.

It definitely doesn’t feel like a $275 racer. The ASICS Metaspeed Edge Tokyo and the New Balance SC Elite v5 are a same price and they feel faster.