Brooks Hyperion Max 2 Introduction
There’s no working model with extra potential than Brooks. Their uppers are crafted with meticulous consideration to element and are amongst essentially the most snug within the sport. Their midsoles however really feel outdated and severely lack the enjoyable issue.
Whereas another manufacturers are placing PEBA into virtually each premium coach/racer they’ve (New Steadiness), the designers at Brooks don’t imagine in PEBA in midsoles. They insist on utilizing EVA or a supercritical model of it in a few of their sneakers. Brooks might be an actual power to be reckoned with in the event that they ditch the EVA for a extra trendy, extra energetic midsole foam.
The Hyperion Max 2 is without doubt one of the thrilling trainers within the Brooks lineup as a result of it’s the one different Brooks street shoe in addition to the Hyperion Elite that has a plate in its midsole. The earlier model of the Hyperion Max didn’t have a plate.
The Hyperion Max is the velocity coach within the Hyperion household. It additionally consists of the Hyperion (plateless) velocity coach, Hyperion GTS (plateless) velocity help coach and the Hyperion Elite (the carbon-plated) long-distance racer.
I attempted the unique Hyperion Max when it got here out 2 years in the past. It was an honest every day coach but it surely didn’t really feel just like the velocity coach it was designed to be. I haven’t used it for a lot of runs previously 2 years because it didn’t present a lot velocity help and not using a plate.
The Hyperion Max 2 weighs 9.1 oz (258 g), considerably greater than its predecessor which weighed 7.8 oz (221 g). It has 4 mm extra stack peak within the heel and 6 mm extra within the forefoot than its predecessor. It has a 6 mm drop.
Brooks Hyperion Max 2 First Impressions
After I took it out of the field, I couldn’t assist however marvel on the beautiful construct high quality. It felt like a finely crafted piece of artwork. There wasn’t a single unfastened seam or glue mark and it felt extraordinarily premium.
My first correct run within the Hyperion Max 2 was a monitor exercise consisting of 400 m intervals. It shocked me throughout that run as a result of it was rather a lot faster than I anticipated it to be. Transitions felt easy and the plate did its job however wasn’t very noticeable.
The brand new DNA Flash v2 midsole foam didn’t really feel very totally different to the earlier model, which was DNA Flash v1. The journey felt medium-firm with out a lot squish. It felt actually snug from the get go and it didn’t want a break-in interval.
Brooks Hyperion Max 2 Higher
The Hyperion Max 2 has a powerful higher. It’s actually tender, easy and it feels refined- an enormous enchancment over the earlier model.
Breathability is common and the mesh has some stretchability. The tongue is flat and semi-gusseted so it doesn’t slide round. Foot lockdown is improbable.
My favorite element is the skinny, notched laces that you just’d discover on a racing shoe. The match is true to dimension and it will likely be snug for slender, regular and large ft.
Brooks Hyperion Max 2 Sole Unit
The actually standard velocity trainers just like the Endorphin Pace, Boston and Magic Pace all use a premium racing foam of their midsole. It’s because they need to ship a journey which is analogous to their racing counterparts however in a less expensive, extra sturdy package deal.
The Hyperion Max 2 makes use of the very same midsole foam because the Hyperion Elite 4: DNA Flash v2. The one distinction is that the Elite 4 has a carbon plate whereas the Max 2 has a versatile Pebax plate so their rides are comparable.
The Pebax plate within the Hyperion Max 2 just isn’t as versatile because the Endorphin Pace’s nylon plate but additionally not as stiff because the Deviate Nitro’s composite plate. It offers a great quantity of snap to the forefoot whereas additionally making the journey extra steady. It additionally helps the delicate rocker to perform extra successfully.
Most velocity trainers really feel higher throughout uptempo runs as a result of they’re designed to go quick. That is the case with the Hyperion Max 2 as effectively. Throughout gradual paces, it feels very atypical. Whenever you drop the tempo all the way down to marathon tempo or sooner, it shines.
I take pleasure in utilizing the Hyperion Max 2 for tempo runs, brief threshold runs and intervals. It has a agency base which to push off from which fits quick working greater than relaxed runs. After I use it for simple runs, I discover it not tender sufficient.
As a midsole foam, DNA Flash v2 doesn’t reduce the mustard. It’s a supercritical EVA foam infused with nitrogen but it surely doesn’t compress or rebound a lot. Brooks says that it’s 10% extra responsive however in actuality, it’s so little that you just don’t discover a distinction.
I would favor it to be not less than 20% softer than it at present is. DNA Flash v2 feels springy however not bouncy so you need to drive your ft down into the midsole actually arduous to profit from its energy-returning properties.
Brooks has stability variations of a few of their impartial every day trainers. There’s no stability model of the Hyperion Max 2 but it surely does have information rails and arch help. When you have flat ft, you would possibly discover the distinguished arch annoying. I discover it noticeable however not uncomfortable.
One of many advantages of DNA Flash is how sturdy it’s. As a consequence of its excessive density, it’s extra proof against scuffs, scratches and punctures than different midsole foams. You’ll have the ability to get numerous mileage out of the Hyperion Max 2.
The outsole can be very sturdy. It has thick rubber protecting all of the excessive put on areas. There may be minimal put on displaying on my pair and I’m usually very arduous on outsoles. Traction is nice on dry surfaces and acceptable on moist ones.
Brooks Hyperion Max 2 Conclusions
The Hyperion Max 2 is one other instance of a great Brooks working shoe which might be nice if it had a extra thrilling midsole foam. It’s very well-built, snug, steady, sturdy and it may go quick. It’s nevertheless lacking one thing very important- it’s not enjoyable to run in.
It’s just like the velocity coach model of the Brooks Ghost: nothing thrilling but it surely simply will get the job achieved. The Hyperion Max 2 is the plain vanilla ice cream of velocity trainers.
If it had a extra bouncy, extra energetic midsole foam like FuelCell, ZoomX or Lightstrike Professional, it will simply be probably the greatest velocity trainers available on the market. Its present EVA midsole makes it really feel prefer it belongs to a earlier era of velocity trainers.
At $180, it has some actually fierce competitors. The ASICS Magic Pace, Saucony Endorphin Pace 4 and Puma Deviate Nitro are cheaper than the Hyperion Max 2. All of them have extra partaking rides than the Hyperion Max 2 and are simply as quick if not sooner.
Model 2 of the Hyperion Max is an enchancment over model 1: it has extra cushioning, a plate which makes it extra snappy and it feels extra premium. It additionally delivers a extra comparable journey to the Hyperion Elite 4.
