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 comfy within the recreation. Their midsoles however really feel outdated and severely lack the enjoyable issue.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 Stability), 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 footwear. Brooks may very well be an actual pressure to be reckoned with in the event that they ditch the EVA for a extra trendy, extra vigorous midsole foam.
The Hyperion Max 2 is among the thrilling trainers within the Brooks lineup as a result of it’s the one different Brooks street shoe apart from 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 each 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
Once 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 free seam or glue mark and it felt extraordinarily premium.
My first correct run within the Hyperion Max 2 was a observe exercise consisting of 400 m intervals. It stunned me throughout that run as a result of it was lots faster than I anticipated it to be. Transitions felt clean and the plate did its job however wasn’t very noticeable.
The brand new DNA Flash v2 midsole foam didn’t really feel very completely different to the earlier model, which was DNA Flash v1. The experience felt medium-firm with out a lot squish. It felt actually comfy 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, clean 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 incredible.
My favorite element is the skinny, notched laces that you just’d discover on a racing shoe. The match is true to measurement and it is going to be comfy for slim, regular and huge toes.
Brooks Hyperion Max 2 Sole Unit
The actually well-liked velocity trainers just like the Endorphin Velocity, Boston and Magic Velocity all use a premium racing foam of their midsole. It’s because they must ship a experience which is analogous to their racing counterparts however in a less expensive, extra sturdy bundle.
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 is just not as versatile because the Endorphin Velocity’s nylon plate but in addition not as stiff because the Deviate Nitro’s composite plate. It supplies an excellent quantity of snap to the forefoot whereas additionally making the experience extra secure. It additionally helps the gentle 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 properly. Throughout sluggish paces, it feels very strange. While you drop the tempo right down to marathon tempo or sooner, it shines.
I get pleasure from utilizing the Hyperion Max 2 for tempo runs, quick threshold runs and intervals. It has a agency base which to push off from which fits quick working greater than relaxed runs. Once I use it for simple runs, I discover it not tender sufficient.
As a midsole foam, DNA Flash v2 doesn’t lower 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 presently is. DNA Flash v2 feels springy however not bouncy so you must drive your toes down into the midsole actually arduous to profit from its energy-returning properties.
Brooks has stability variations of a few of their impartial each day trainers. There’s no stability model of the Hyperion Max 2 but it surely does have information rails and arch help. If in case you have flat toes, you may discover the distinguished arch annoying. I discover it noticeable however not uncomfortable.
One of many advantages of DNA Flash is how sturdy it’s. Attributable to its excessive density, it’s extra proof against scuffs, scratches and punctures than different midsole foams. You’ll be capable to get numerous mileage out of the Hyperion Max 2.
The outsole can also be very sturdy. It has thick rubber overlaying 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 sweet on dry surfaces and acceptable on moist ones.
Brooks Hyperion Max 2 Conclusions
The Hyperion Max 2 is one other instance of an excellent Brooks working shoe which may very well be nice if it had a extra thrilling midsole foam. It’s very well-built, comfy, secure, sturdy and it will possibly go quick. It’s nonetheless 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 completed. 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 top-of-the-line velocity trainers in the marketplace. 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 Velocity, Saucony Endorphin Velocity 4 and Puma Deviate Nitro are cheaper than the Hyperion Max 2. All of them have extra participating 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 experience to the Hyperion Elite 4.
