Brooks Hyperion Max 3 Introduction

Brooks only recently entered the super max stack category with their Glycerin Max, a supersized version of their popular Glycerin trainer. The Glycerin Max is a great trainer with a balanced and stable ride, my favourite Brooks trainer to date. In the Hyperion Max 3, we now have an even taller Brooks shoe.

The Hyperion Max is Brooks’ plated speed trainer and the training companion of the Hyperion Elite 5. I tested both the Hyperion Max 1 and 2 and I found them not as technologically advanced as other speed trainers on the market. This was mainly because of their EVA midsoles that gave them a flat ride without much bounce or energy return.

When I tested the Hyperion Max 2 last year, I said that it was very well-built, comfortable, stable, durable and it could go fast. It was however missing something very important- it wasn’t fun to run in. Similar to the Brooks Ghost and Brooks Glycerin, it was nothing exciting but it got the job done.

The Hyperion Max 3 is the Brooks speed trainer that we should have gotten last year. In version 3, we finally get DNA Gold PEBA midsole foam. This upgrade makes it a lot more competitive and a lot more engaging to run in.

The Hyperion Max 3 weighs 281 grams (9.9 oz) for a men’s US 9, 23 grams (0.8 oz) heavier than V2. Its price is $200 which is $20 more than the Hyperion Max 2.

Testing Details

• 9 km tempo run at 5:11 per km
• 3 km cool down at 7:27 per km
• 28 km long run at 6:13 per km
• 3 km hill sprints at 7:31 per km
• 8 km recovery run at 7:11 per km
• 9 km interval workout at 5:02 per km
• 4 km recovery run at 7:54 per km
• 2 km easy run at 5:57 per km
• 11 km recovery run at 7:06 per km
• 16 km easy run at 6:30 per km
• 12 km easy run with hill sprints at 6:50 per km

Brooks Hyperion Max 3 First Impressions

My first run was a workout consisting of a 9 km tempo. The ride felt completely different to the Hyperion Max 2- it was more lively and had more energy return. It also felt like a bulkier, less nimble trainer than its predecessor.

I found it quite difficult to get down to my normal tempo range and it felt like more of a long run cruiser than a speed trainer. The forefoot rocker was really prominent and I could feel it tipping me forward.

The shoe that it reminded me of most was the HOKA Cielo X1 2.0. Both of these speed shoes have rocker geometries with midsole cutouts that make them feel unstable at the midfoot. The Hyperion Max 3 felt a lot heavier and a bit more stable than the HOKA racer.

Brooks Hyperion Max 3 Upper

The Hyperion Max 3’s upper isn’t as good as version 2. V2 felt softer and more polished- one of the best speed training uppers I’ve experienced.

In V3, I feel some discomfort on the top of my feet whenever I wear thin socks: this is from the bottom of the eyelet chain poking me.

Version 3’s semi bootie construction also makes it more restrictive and less breathable than version 2. The upper fit is very secure though and I experience no heel slippage in v3.

The fit is true to size however it isn’t a very spacious upper and I don’t recommend it for wide feet. There are small reflectors on the heel pull tab for better visibility.

Brooks Hyperion Max 3 Sole Unit

If you’re looking for a traditional speed trainer along the veins of the ASICS Magic Speed, the Adidas Boston or the Nike Zoom Fly, I would recommend that you skip this version of the Hyperion Max. With the increase in heel stack height to 46 mm and the forefoot to 40 mm, the Hyperion Max 3 feels very clunky.

The Hyperion Max 3 feels like a long run specialist. I used it for a 28 km run and it was great: comfortable, energy saving and really protective from impact. It felt comfortable cruising in zone 1 and 2 pace without urging me to pick up the pace.

It has a dual midsole foam setup with a generous layer of DNA Gold (PEBA) on the top and a layer of DNA Flash v2 (EVA) on the bottom. The Hyperion Max 3 has a soft ride ride with deep cushioning. It feels softer than the Zoom Fly 6, Magic Speed 4 and Boston 13 but firmer than the Mach X 3.

The addition of PEBA in the midsole makes the Hyperion Max 3 feel a lot more modern and it provides a more similar ride to the Hyperion Elite 5. It has noticeably more bounce and dynamism than its predecessors.

There’s also a nylon SpeedVault plate in the Hyperion Max 3, similar to the one in version 2 however v3’s plate extends out on the medial side to offer more medial support whereas v2’s extends out on the lateral side. V3’s sole is much stiffer due to its thicker sole. This makes the rocker work better too.

The new medial side cutout is a feature that I’m not a fan of. As a heel striker and mild overpronator, the cutout makes it feel very unstable when going around corners and when running on uneven surfaces. This is one of the most unstable trainers that I’ve tested this year.

The Hyperion Max 3’s biggest strength is how durable its outsole and midsole are. The DNA Flash v2 bottom layer is extremely tough and it resists chips and scrapes very well. The rubber lugs are also very tough and on my pair, there’s minimal wear after 100 km. Traction is decent on wet surfaces, good on dry ones.

Brooks Hyperion Max 3 Conclusions

Version 3 of the Hyperion Max is a completely different shoe to the previous versions and it now feels more like a medium/long run trainer than a traditional speed trainer. If you were a fan of versions 1 and 2, I’m not so sure you’ll enjoy this latest version.

For me, there’s no doubt that the Hyperion Max 3 is a more exciting and more fun version than its predecessors. It has more cushioning, more energy return and a more prominent rocker. It’s a shame that it has increased in weight and in price.

I think the midsole of the Hyperion Max 3 is too thick. A lower stack height would bring the weight down significantly and would make it a lot more versatile. They wouldn’t need to implement a weight-saving midfoot cutout if the midsole was thinner

The extra weight makes it feel too clunky for speed work so I prefer other speed trainers to the Hyperion Max3 for workouts. The Magic Speed 4, Boston 13 and Mach X 3 all feel faster than the Hyperion Max 3 because they are so much lighter and more stable.

$200 is a bit high for the Hyperion Max 3 even though it has DNA Gold in its midsole. Most of the comparative plated trainers are in the $160-$190 price range. The Hyperion Max 3 is the most durable and the most cushioned though.