Article by Coutney Kelly, Ben David, and Sam Winebaum
Brooks Hyperion Elite 5 ($275)
Pros:
Great racing upper, breathable, comfortable- Courtney/Ben/Sam
Great lockdown and lacing system- Courtney/Ben/Sam
DNA GOLD is a great PEBA foam, exciting step forward for Brooks - Courtney/Sam
Fast and never awkward: notably stable, agile and smooth rolling for a plated max height super shoe: Sam
No midfoot plate hump to get past at “slower” paces, some flex in the mix from the bubbles and low heel and midfoot mounting of the plate: Sam
Really appreciate Brooks making some small changes that make big differences (materials, lacing etc.) - Courtney/Ben
Cons:
Responsive but not the most cushioned. Perhaps not a marathon shoe due to forefoot firmness: Courtney/Sam
Midfoot stability questionable for longer duration races: Courtney
Stats
Approx. Weight: men's 7.2 oz / 204g US9 women’s oz / g US8
Sample Weights:
men’s 7.02oz / 199g US8.5
women’s US size 9: 6.7oz / 190 g US
Stack Height: 40 mm heel / 32 mm forefoot, 8 mm drop
Platform Width: 75 mm heel / 55 mm midfoot / 100 mm forefoot
Most comparable shoes
New Balance SC Elite V5
Tracksmith Elliot Racer
ASICS Metaspeed Edge Paris
Brooks Hyperion Elite 4PB
XTep 160 2.0
First Impressions, Fit and Upper
Courtney: The Hyperion Elite is back in its fifth iteration, a shoe I’ve been anxiously awaiting since its preview at TRE last December. I was lucky enough to test V4 PB released in February featuring Brooks’ newest DNA GOLD PEBA foam. Though V4 was a huge step in the right direction with its new advanced DNA GOLD foam and comfortable bouncy ride, it lacked the aggressiveness of other race shoes out there. Enter, V5 a shoe in today’s market with some mighty power.
The “pink clay/atomizer blue” colorway is eye-catching and meant for those start lines. In V5, you see the Brooks printed big and bold onto both sides of the shoe with no overlays. When I received the shoe it was a few days out from one of my first races returning from injury. After two runs in the shoe I was certain this would be my race shoe.
The knit of the upper has changed to a tighter TPU coated weave, but is still quite open and breathable. There is a reinforced wrap around coating close to the midsole that aids in support and protection.
The lacing system is a thoughtfully designed area of the shoe, and is quite different from the recent V4 PB. Again, we see the effective sawtooth or serrated laces, but with added silicone/suede-like lace sheaths/loops. V5 also has a loop at the bottom center of the lacing which significantly helps with forefoot lockdown compared to V4. Overall, the new system provides an easier pull tight experience than traditional eyelets.
The tongue remains quite similar to V4 with light central padding to protect the top of the foot. There is a little folding of the tongue on the lateral side where there is no gusset so extra care had to be taken when pulling on the shoe to be sure that the area laid flat. It wasn’t a huge issue, just something to note.
The suede-like material you can find on the lace sheaths is actually the material Brooks had used on V4 as the heel collar. I was very happy to see Brooks change the heel area to a stretchy knit heel collar and counter on V5.
This area in the V4 created irritation on the heel and the material was starting to wear down even after my initial testing.
They have also done away with the heel tab which also bothered my achilles. Conversely, the heel collar of V5 provides plenty of cushion (Perhaps too much for some for a racer), and an easier entry into the shoe. The heel cup of the shoe has been advanced to a shaped rear center support, stiff yet soft and comfortable on the interior due to the thick bolsters. No slippage here for my narrowish heels.
Ben: Like Courtney, I had high hopes for this shoe. Would Brooks finally enter the carbon plated race shoe mix? Could it produce a shoe that would compete with Nike, ASICS and Adidas? There have been some excellent signs that it would, or at least that it could.
Last year’s Glycerin Max was an absolute revelation. It was my trainer of the year in fact. The more recent Ghost Max 3 and Hyperion Elite 4PB suggested that Brooks was ready to update its products and image and grab the attention of serious marathoners around the world. White I had seen the Hyperion Elite 5’s on the feet of Des Linden and other Brooks athletes in recent months, there remained a mystery around them. How would it be received? Was the hype real? And what’s with the bubbles?! Of course how would they perform.
Let’s say it clearly: I was pleasantly surprised by this shoe. Is it going to contend at the absolute upper tier of racing shoes, alongside the AlphaFly 3 or Adios Pro 4? Probably not, but that’s ok.
Its colorway is bright and fresh, like the shoe itself. It’s begging you to notice it. Upon step-in, you feel right away that for sure this is a new day for Brooks.
The foam immediately feels very plush, even while standing still, and the upper is sensational (maybe the best of any racing shoe I’ve tried). The open TPU weave is somehow both stretchable even if not a stretch type material due to very open weave and is at the same time adequately confining.
It held my size 9 feet perfectly. The upper is maybe the story of the shoe. I was also happy to no longer have the heel tab from the Hyperion Elite 4 PB as I found it somewhat bothersome (or at least distracting). After trying on V5, I was even more eager to test it out.
Sam: What an upper! Incredibly breathable, its open weave of non-stretch TPU holds the foot totally securely without being over rigid or suffocatingly confining.
The heel area has the often seen inner bolsters of padding but here thicker awith a memory foam like feel to pressing. It holds my foot to the rear of the shoe perfectly (no slip and well cushioned, almost plush in feel and for sure in looks). I think this approach will allow the shoe to work well for both “narrow” heels and wider ones.
The tongue has a substantial panel of lightly padded ribbed plasticky material with no gusset with the tongue on the medial side stitched to the top between the 2nd and 3 lace holes. In combination with the serrated laces, the midfoot hold is very secure and comfortable and as with the rest of the upper tops of class in breathability and low moisture absorption.
The fit is true to size in length with moderate width and volume. There is a quite substantial toe bumpe.r Again just right for my narrow to medium feet.
Brooks knocked it out of the park with this upper! They obviously spent a lot of effort getting a balance of secure lockdown front to back, high breathability, and comfort and it shows.
Midsole & Platform
Courtney: The Hyperion Elite 5’s full PEBA DNA GOLD foam and custom Arris Carbon Plate (sized differently for different size shoes) work together to provide a quick, smooth transition underfoot. V5’s unique midfoot cutout is supported by bubbles/orbs/ spheres placed to cushion the plate and interact with each other creating rebound while cutting down on weight. On the lateral side the orbs on the bottom sit just outside the top orbs, while on the medial side the top bubbles sit about 1 cm out from the bottom.
There is more compression on the medial side here due to this cutout, but Brooks balances this with the plate and higher sidewall support. The midfoot measures 5.5 cm (a centimeter less than the V4PB) while the forefoot measures 10cm and heel at 7.5 (consistent with V4PB).
Looking at the rear of the shoe, we see a slight bevel to the medial side aiding in that natural roll forward.
Looking at the shoe from the side you can see the heel bevel has a gradual slope that comes directly under the heel encouraging a quick roll to the midfoot. The PB’s bevel is much sharper and sits more to the back of the foot resulting in landings further back on V4.
Ben: As Courtney notes, the foam of the Hyperion Elite 5 is made up of Brooks’ PEBA DNA GOLD, which is lush and responsive, without being overly mushy. It’s a departure from the EVA found in the Elite 4 PB and certainly softer.
I felt that this PEBA DNA GOLD, while softer, was still very propulsive and, when combined with the Arris Carbon Plate, is more aggressive than I anticipated. This is not a mellow or ‘beginner’s’ race shoe. It is fast and wants you to go fast.
The ever-curious bubbles within the midsole act as sponges (or balls) between the plate and foam, while not adding extensively to the shoe’s weight. They look gimmicky but do not detract from the ride and, if they save weight, one can’t argue.
These components manage to work well together to create a ride that is snappy and quick, while still offering generous compression and good protection over the long run. The V5 doesn’t offer the widest platform, nor would one expect it from a race-day shoe but it never felt unstable to me or that I couldn’t trust it around corners. Like the Elite 4PB, it sits at 40mm in the heel and 32mm in the forefoot with an 8mm drop, which has become all but standard at this point.
Sam: The platform is pretty standard fare for a modern super shoe with a 40mm heel / 32 mm forefoot stack height and a somewhat narrower than usual 75 mm heel / 55 mm midfoot / 100 mm forefoot platform.
To help maintain stability, especially given the 55mm midfoot, unlike many super shoes, there are no carve outs at midfoot at the ground
Instead, Brooks moves the weight reducing, and for me ride enhancing carve outs higher up at midfoot with a series of bubbles.
To improve stability on the medial side the SpeedVault Race+ Plate plate moves outwards compared to the lateral side.
Of note, the plate from Arris Composites is made via an additive process for less waste than cutting carbon sheets, to allow a more skeletal approach and to permit molding of plates based on shoe size.
The plate location and bubbles lead to very easy landings and rolls forward towards toe off. About the easiest of any supershoe, and for me as an older slower runner, just what I have been looking for recently. Most 2023-2024 supershoes were very radical and aggressive in geometry favoring consistent mid to forefoot strikes all the way with unstable rears of the shoes, plate humps and pronounced rigid front rockers. 2025 sees more accessible rides from shoes such as SC Elite 5 and Hoka Rocket X 3 and especially so here.
The Elite 5 after those easy landings has a touch of midfoot flex enabled by the bubbles and plate location and then as its front platform is a relatively narrow 100mm an agile rolling sensation rather than a vertical bounce (Alphafly, MetaSpeed Sky). The relatively firm cushion feel upfront (the rear being more forgiving due to the low plate and bubbles) gives the Elite a snappy responsive toe off rather than a bouncy bouncy soft one.
Finally, the DNA Gold PEBA foam is PEBA like in feel, deeply cushioned, firmer than some of the TPEE, TPU nitro foams but quickly responsive and stable given the narrow platform widths joining the rest of the geometry for a distinctively agile and more “natural” rolling feel than many of its more mechanical competitors.
Outsole
Courtney: The outsole of the Hyperion Elite 5 is Brooks’ new SpeedTack rubber. It is much thinner than V4 allowing more foam without adding weight. It reminds me of Adidas Continental rubber outsole and I found it performs similarly. Even running on wet pavement I found it maintained its grip and tackiness. I have minimal wear so far and expect solid durability especially seeing how this shoe encourages more of a midfoot landing or at least a quick roll forward. The larger outsole pad is placed on the lateral side which is expected.
Ben: The outsole of the Brooks is another upgraded element that shows Brooks is serious about contending with the likes of Nike, Adidas and ASICS. The grip of the SpeedTack rubber is really nice and refined. It seems to be very durable. Like Courtney, I found very little wear on them after early miles. I would say that the shoe’s outsole is one of the areas, like the upper, in which the Brooks shoe is actually better than some of its rivals, especially the Vapor Fly 4 and ASICS MetaSpeed Edge and Sky Paris.
Sam: The outsole appears to be one of the lighter non rubber CPU compounds as Xtep uses and which has proven very durable.. Grip is good, helped by the profiling of the outsole but this is not a tacky sticky rubber as say PumaGrip or Continental is.
Of particular note and mentioned above there are no carve outs underfoot here. It’s a full contact surface which enhances stability and is more forgiving to less than perfect landings than the common more radical designs.
Ride, Conclusions and Recommendations
Ben: The Brooks Hyperion Elite 5 is Brooks’ strongest entry to date into the competitive market of carbon-plated race shoes. This is their first shoe that is ready to go the distance and urge runners to a new PR. Its upgraded foams, light overall weight and stellar upper all combine to create a shoe that is fun to run in, peppy and eye-catching. It feels good to have Brooks at last contending with the other big names out there: Nike, Adidas, ASICS, etc.
The Elite is cushioned and aggressive, though it is not overly aggressive. I suspect that Brooks lovers, especially, will gravitate to this shoe. The main question is whether the Hyperion Elite 5, good as it is, truly stands out among a crowded field of race-day options. I am not positive it will convert those who have heretofore been loyal to the likes of the VaporFly, AlphaFly or Adios Pro.
Ben’s Score: 9.7/10
with only slight deductions for a bit less cushion than other racers
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Courtney: With the introduction of a full PEBA DNA GOLD midsole, Brooks has made big moves forward and won me over in the racing department compared to the Brooks Hyperion Elite 4 PB.
The 5 has a good balance of a firm enough yet cushioned ride but not so much to make you sink in. I preferred to run at faster paces and cadences (my recent 10k averaged 6:21 min/mile coming in at 39:28). At race pace, I was landing further up in the shoe rather than my usual heel strike. The Elite 5 was an easy choice for my goal 10k because of its great control, smooth toe offs and overall speed. I did notice some soreness in muscles I’m not used to working because of this change in stride to a further forward strike.
I noticed my heart rate remains controlled and my output steady. There were a few tight turnarounds on the course and the Hyperion Elite 5 did well in supporting me on the turns. The course featured some walking paths with uneven pavement that slowed me down due to the narrow platform and I found I much prefer smooth pavement.
After my 10k, I would be confident to take it to the half marathon knowing I might be feeling a bit more sore the days following a longer effort. For me there is not enough cushion for a full marathon but I'm excited to see what it can do in at a10 miler and my goal half marathon late summer and fall.
Courtney’s Scorel: 9.67/10
Ride (50%): 9.5 deduction for less cushion especially at forefoot
Fit (30%): 10 great lockdown and comfort
Value (15%): 9.5 durability seems good so far
Style (5%): 9.8 sharp!
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Sam: My last Hyperion Elite was the v1, for me a firm dull riding if very stable more training focused “super shoe”. My things have changed! The Elite 5 is lively, light, fast and agile and has a state of the art upper that works brilliantly.
The ride is smooth with none of the “prescriptive” requirements or learning curves ( very targeted striker areas, unstable if back on the heel) many competitors require. Slower paces (9:30/ mile), unlike many super shoes are just fine here, no awkwardness at midfoot, instability or plate humps with a smooth easy to find roll forward which reminds me of the very first Vaporfly 4%. When I picked up the pace to below 8 minute miles in a 5 mile race, the relatively firm forefoot increased in response and pop. Despite not being as bouncy as some competitors I had plenty of forefoot cushion and zero plate harshness.
The narrower forefoot platform than many supershoes was very agile and quick on toe offs, if not bouncily explosive and wild ones. It was very easy to find and maintain a consistent groove stride after stride unlike many super shoes which require lots of concentration to keep aligned and moving efficiently.
Despite the narrow platform they remained stable even when I tired at the end of the race unlike most super shoes where with momentary lapses in concentration shoes get suddenly :jumpy and unstable. This consistent stability and smooth flow I think makes them a top shoe for longer races, even a marathon for me. I would call them a top choice for any pace marathoner up to about 4 hours and those who tend to heel strike regardless of race pace.
The upper is one of the best yet on a super shoe. Very light, very easy to lock in, comfortable with deep heel area padding bolsters, super breathable, and low moisture absorbing.
Brooks has clearly stepped into the front row with the Elite 5 with a distinctly different, more natural and agile even somewhat flexible riding supershoe. As a slower these days heel striker I had no issues adapting to them across a wide variety of paces including a wide range of training paces. Their firmer more responsive and narrower platform up front, at the same stack height and weights as most competitors has me leaning them to 10K to half distance races but they can clearly go full, especially if you prefer a more rolling type ride and faster cadence over an explosively bouncy front take off.
Sam”s Score: 9.7 / 10
Ride (50%): 9.7 minor deduction for a tiny touch softer and bouncier forefoot
Fit (30%): 9.8 about as good as it gets
Value (15%): 9.4 highly versatile, priced with the competition
Style (5%): 9 a bit garish and over branded for my tastes
😊😊😊😊
7 Comparisons
Hyperion Elite 4 PB (RTR Review)
Courtney: I like to compare test my shoes on the treadmill, switching them every mile or so. This gives me a ton of flexibility to test pacing in a pretty static environment. There was so much to dissect running in the 5. I think the standout differences for me was finding that V4 doesn’t want to go as fast. For me, the 4 is better suited for Marathon Pace or maybe used as a trainer with the 5. I also found V4 provides more stability through the midfoot with its more conservative geometry. It Is lighter weight, coming in a 182 grams compared to V5’s 190 grams but I didn’t notice this on foot as it's so minimal.
Ben: I really appreciated the Hyperion Elite 4 PB. It works very well at any pace and its foam manages to be both highly protective and responsive. It will likely function better for long efforts, including long workouts. The Hyperion Elite 5 wants very specifically to race and to go fast. I also had some lockdown issues with the 4PB that I did not at all have with the 5.
One thing to note, and something that can really bother people, is that the PB is much noisier than the V5 with some slapping at the forefoot. The lockdown in the forefoot of the 5 is better, aiding in its very quiet footfalls.
New Balance FuelCell SC Elite v5 (RTR Review)
Courtney: Both shoes come in at a 40/32mm stack and sport similar weights with the Hyperion coming in 2 grams heavier in my women’s size 9.
The SC Elite 5 is versatile, but less consistent. For me the Hyperion let me lock into pace and push when necessary at 10k pace where the SC Elite might struggle to maintain the effort. Both shoes have a secure and comfortable upper but there's a much easier roll forward in the Hyperion Elite 5. The SC feels less smooth, especially coming off the forefoot. I will continue to use the SC as a strong training shoe, while the Hyperion sits in the racing category for me.
Ben: I found the SC Elite 5 to be both punchier and more protective, especially at uptempo paces. For me, it comes to life the faster you run in it; I’m not sure I would say this for the Brooks, whose ride remains consistently good no matter the pace. I think this one will be all about preference.
Sam: The Brooks, as Ben says, can handle a wider range of paces than the more rigid New Balance. I would easily pick the Brooks over the New Balance for 10K to half for its snappier agility and quicker toe offs. The SC is notably stable (more stable even than the Brooks) despite its narrow platform (essentially the same as the Hyperion’s) but doesn’t have nearly the smooth rolling transition through midfoot of the Hyperion due to its rigid plating with its strike focus more clearly mid to forefoot. Its geometry and PEBA foam is duller in feel, if potentially more consistent and stable for a marathon. It has a superb upper but a very different one than the Brooks. All smooth single layer more closed mesh with more conventional rear construction.
Hoka Rocket X 3 (RTR Review)
Sam: The latest Rocket has a similar heel height but more cushioned feeling forefoot as the top layer of its dual density midsole is softer than the Elite’s. It too has some unusual for a super shoe flex but is more rigid feeling than the Elite with my toe off roll relying more on my foot driving into the soft foam than rolling forward in the Brooks. The Hoka is notably stable, yet more stable than the Brooks with a 15 mm wider midfoot platform and 5mm wider forefoot platform both combining to make it less agile. It has a more marathon distance focused ride than the livelier snappier Brooks. Its upper is somewhat higher volume, very fine but not quite as dialed in as the Elite.
NIke Vaporfly 4 (RTR Review)
Courtney: The Vaporfly 4 comes in with a stack of 35/29mm, lower than the Hyperion by 5mm with 2mm less drop and is quite a bit lighter at 152 grams. With this decrease in foam we have less protection and cushion, but the Vaporfly still reigns in top end speed for me. I would choose the Vaporfly for 5K distance and training and the Hyperion for 10k -1/2 marathon distance.
Ben: Even with the lower stack, I found the latest VaporFly to be a revelation. It’s not a marathon shoe to be sure given other choices available. Like Courtney, I wouldn’t take it past a 10K. The Hyperion Elite 5 is more versatile and ready to take on every distance (and runs better at more modest paces).
Sam: As the others have said, the latest Vaporfly with its lower stack and aggressive ride is now a shorter distance shoe than before, and for me shorter distances than I would take the Elite, maybe max 10K for the VF.
XTep 160 X 2.0 (RTR Review)
Sam: The Xtep here, and in fact all 3 of the Chinese brands racers from a few years ago, are the closest comparisons for me. Why? The 2.0 here has a flexible carbon plate and is a super agile super shoe even if its stack height is lower than the Elite’s.
Diadora Gara Carbon 2 (RTR Review)
Ben - The Diadora is heavier, more stable and not nearly as aggressive. For most of us, it will work better as a long run/workout shoe. It’s also the more expensive of the two, coming in at $300. The Brooks Hyperion Elite 5 is faster, snappier and lighter; it’s much more of a race-day shoe. This one will depend on the budget and what you’re looking for exactly.
Sam: Agreeing with Ben. The Gara Carbon will be a better choice for the beginner marathoner or for the racer seeking some more serious stability. And yes, it is also a better choice as a training super shoe than the Brooks.
Tracksmith Eliot Racer (RTR Review)
Ben: The Elliot Racer was one of my most surprising shoes of the year so far. It’s light, snappy and fun. It compares well to the Hyperion Elite 5 as both represent a kind of departure for their respective brand. Tracksmith, after all, has only been in the business of offering shoes for a few years. The Elliot Racer is not as aggressive and its upper is not as stellar but it’s a good, sturdy, reliable race-day option. There may be those who find its overall fit to be more predictable, conventional and welcome. It does not feel as drastic or extreme as the Brooks, neither in fit nor ride. I suspect that the Brooks is much more propulsive; the Elliot Racer is fast while offering a more natural feel and ride.
Sam: I agree with Ben’s take here. The Racer also has an easy rolling toe as its upper midsole is not glued in giving it more flex and give, in the same way the Cloudboom Strike from On does for me as it has a similar construction. While fine I much prefer the more precise fit of the Brooks for racing with the Tracksmith upper between racing and training for me.
Index to all RTR reviews: HERE
Tester Profiles
Courtney Kelly, age 37 is a college lacrosse player turned avid runner. She lives in Manchester, MA with her husband and two daughters ages 4 and 8. Courtney signed up for her first 1/2 marathon the morning of the race in 2022, winning second place in a time of 1:26. She decided to take running a bit more seriously, joining Wicked Running Club and trying some training plans. She ran her first marathon this fall in 3:04:27. In addition, she holds a half marathon PR of 1:25, a 5 mile PR 30:17, and a 5k PR of 18:20. She looks forward to getting some more strength and speed under her belt this next season, before taking a crack at the marathon again. She is 5’4”, 110 lbs.Off the roads, Courtney is a painter and loving mother to her girls.
Ben is the Senior Rabbi of Reform Congregation Keneseth Israel of Elkins Park, PA. A cancer survivor, he has run 23 marathons. He holds PRs of 3:15 for the marathon and 1:30 for the half. At 46, he still enjoys pushing himself and combining his running with supporting a variety of causes. Follow him on Instagram: @RabbiBPD or Twitter: @BDinPA
Sam is the Editor and Founder of Road Trail Run. He is in his 60’s with 2025 Sam’s 54th year of running roads and trails. He has a decades old 2:28 marathon PR. These days he runs halves in the just sub 1:43 range if he gets very, very lucky. Sam trains 30-40 miles per week mostly at moderate paces on the roads and trails of New Hampshire and Utah be it on the run, hiking or on nordic skis. He is 5’9” tall and weighs about 160 lbs, if he is not enjoying too many fine New England IPA’s
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