Article by Sam Winebaum, Courtney Kelly, and Michael Ellenberger
Brooks Hyperion 3 ($140)
Pros:
Performance, all around, single shoe rotation trainer: weight, cushion, ride, fit: Sam, Courtney, Michael
Enjoyable at many paces (I found most comfortable at uptempo to HMP): Courtney, Sam
Lively, energetic, agile ride: supercritical foam with enough, but not excessive stack height for daily training: Sam, Michael
Secure upper/performance fit: notably secure yet comfortable midfoot and heel area: Sam, Courtney, Michael
Strong value at $140: versatility, light weight for stack, fit and finish, modern supercritical foam: Sam, Courtney, Michael
Lower rocker profile keeps the shoe balanced and approachable to many levels: Courtney
Cons:
Could use a bit firmer forefoot rubber to increase front response, stability and pop for faster paces: Sam, Courtney
Toe box mesh is somewhat rough in feel, bumper over extended/rigid, shape low & pointy: Sam, Michael
Not quite as snappy as competitors: Courtney
- Get the same for $20 less in the Brooks Launch: Michael
Introduction
Sam: The Hyperion has been Brooks lower stack height performance road trainer. For its 3d edition it goes up 2mm in stack height to 36mm heel / 28mm forefoot and also gets a thicker sockliner, thus moving it more towards an all around daily trainer. While it gains weight, it remains light for its stack height, about 8.6 oz / 264g in a US9.
The midsole continues with supercritical DNA Flash v2 foam, on the soft side and energetic.
The upper is a quite thick and very supportive but well ventilated Jacquard mesh with a new stretch mesh partial bootie construction. Mid and rear foot lockdown is amazing here.
Stats
Approx. Weight:
men's 8.6 oz / 244g US9 (v2: 7.1 oz/ 201g) women’s 7.3 oz / 207g US8
Sample Weights:
men’s 8.4 oz / 238g US 8.5
women’s 7.72 oz / 220g US9
Stack Height:
V3 36 mm heel / 28mm forefoot
V2 34 mm heel / 26mm forefoot
Platform Width:
85 mm heel / 70 mm midfoot / 110 mm forefoot US M8.5
Most comparable shoes (with your name next to each)
Puma Velocity Nitro 4 Sam
Pegasus Plus Sam
Adizero EVO SL Sam
Skechers Aero Tempo: Courtney
First Impressions, Fit and Upper
Sam: The main material is a double Jacquard mesh. This means the open blue mesh is combined with a thin liner of black mesh which provides some smoothness on the foot.
It mainly works in what is after all a $140 shoe with a full supercritical foam midsole.
The very solid performance fit is a bit rough feeling up front in the toe box when the substantial toe bumper with, on top of that, a stiff big toe overlay (Brooks logo), combines with a lower volume and pointy toe box (plenty of length). Higher volume broad feet may struggle here.
I was OK for my narrow to medium width feet and would be just fine if the aforementioned toe bumper construction was mellowed out a bit.
At midfoot we have a stretch mesh tongue with stretch gusset strap. Lockdown is amazing and it is needed given the softish ride here.
Lace up is super easy and stays put every run.
The rear of the shoe continues the lockdown story with a very solid heel counter with deep and substantial ankle and achilles bolster type padding.
All in all an excellent highly supportive upper for more uptempo daily training whose toe box area could be mellowed out somewhat.
Courtney: When first putting on the Hyperion 3 I immediately noticed the cushion and especially at the forefoot. This was quite surprising to me as previous Hyperions were known for their lightness and snappiness. I was expecting minimal cushioning and padding (more on this later).
Similar to Sam, I found the width comfortable, but I do have concerns for those with wider feet. You can see my 5th metatarsal through the upper and I have a narrow/normal width foot (see photo).
The double Jacquard mesh upper is somewhat breathable and provides excellent hold on the foot.
The fully gusseted tongue integrates nicely with a stretch that allows you to adjust easily as needed.
The heel area has a rigid outer heel counter with ample padding at the achilles.
I agree with Sam that the toe box felt quite hard and specially its medial toe overlay, but I didn't have any issues on the run with my toe hitting it.
Michael: Right out of the box, the Hyperion 4 feels refined and purpose-built. The upper is a double-layer Jacquard mesh that’s both breathable and supportive, with a smooth internal lining. Midfoot and heel lockdown are excellent thanks to a stretch mesh gusseted tongue and some beefy heel padding. Lacing is simple and stays locked in. Absolutely no complaints up “top.”
The toe box is where things are a little less dialed. The volume is fine - I wouldn’t size down - but there’s a bit more length than I need, and the shape feels slightly pointy. There’s also a stiff overlay over the toes that could be softened up. It’s not a dealbreaker, but it’s the one spot where the fit didn’t completely disappear on foot. My achilles didn’t love the heel counter - it’s quite rigid - but it was far from the worst. There’s some padding that really juts out far, but did the trick.
Overall, the upper is really solid. It's built more like a performance trainer than a plush cruiser, and it works well with the platform underneath.
Midsole & Platform
Sam: The single density midsole (no plate) is supercritical nitrogen infused EVA Flash v2 foam. It is relatively soft and bouncy compared to Flash V1 with a feel similar to Puma’s Nitro foam in the very comparable Velcoity Nitro 4 (see my comparison at the end of the review.
The stack height is increased over v2 by 2mm with also now a 2mm thicker sockliner to 36 mm heel / 28mm forefoot which for 2025 is the reference height for a non max daily trainer.
A few years ago such stack heights would have been more “max” but with lighter supercritical foams we see stack heights increasing across the board to take advantage of the superior cushioning properties and “return” of the new foams. And here that is exactly what Brooks has done while at the same time moving the Hyperion from a shorter distance fast pace light shoe to a more substantial one yet still a very light one.
Courtney: The Hyperion 3 is a neutral shoe but feels quite stable due to the widened midsole and heel. The very secure lockdown and inner support also contribute to this feeling and especially on landings.
The Hyperion 3’s sockliner is one of the most plush I have tested adding an additional 2mm of stack overall. The medial arch on the sockliner is well developed and surprisingly provided some mild pronation control while also adding to the overall comfort of the shoe.
Brooks adds a conservative 2mm of stack to the Hyperion which is par for the course. What strikes me is the substantial posterior heel flare and less extreme rocker. Although this added element helps with the heel landings and with overall stability, it takes away from the snappiness.
At the forefoot we see a similar story. The rocker and toe spring are less sharp, and though this may be more comfortable for easy to uptempo paces, I believe it contributed to more energy expenditure at my half marathon pace (6:22-6:25) and 10K pace (6:09).
Michael: Brooks’s DNA Flash v2 midsole is soft, energetic, and bouncy without feeling unstable. It’s not plated, but it still has good flow through the gait cycle, and the ride feels smooth at a range of paces. Definitely feels “performance tuned” or “ready to race” or whatever buzz might be added - this is just a do-it-all (or at least, do most!) shoe. The added 2mm of stack and upgraded sockliner definitely help it feel more substantial underfoot compared to the v2.
The geometry is relatively neutral with a low-key rocker, which keeps the shoe approachable. The flare at the heel helps with stability, and the shoe feels planted even when running a bit fatigued. I wouldn’t call it hyper-exciting, but it's fun to run in. There’s more “roll” than “bounce” here, if that wasn’t clear, and compared to the many soft shoes out now with high stack and big drops, this feels a little more "normal" underfoot. That’s both a compliment and a slight knock - it does everything well, but doesn't necessarily stand out as some “crazy new trainer” (nor, I think, does it mean to).
Outsole
Sam: Plenty of rubber here, well segmented and distributed. That said, up front, the segmentation of the rubber with cutouts and the blown rubber's softness along with the softness of the midsole make the forefoot a bit lacking in response or pop off the road as well as stability at faster paces. Firmer rubber or fewer cutouts might be in order?
The flex point, interestingly, and despite the cut outs, is quite far forward. This midfoot stiffness, I think, helps with stability. Further back, the lack of a deep central cavity which might reduce weight is not missed as the rear and midfoot (helped by the upper hold and overall geometry) is notably stable at all paces.
Courtney: The rubber outsole provides plenty of coverage with substantial heel and forefoot pads. The grippiness of the rubber combined with the more flexible forefoot made uphills feel light and natural. It was also quite agile on tight corners. Durability seems to be doing well after about 20 miles on the shoe.
Michael: I almost never have complaints about the outsole on a trainer, and I definitely do not here. There's generous rubber coverage, especially for the weight. The layout is well segmented and grips nicely on dry roads and light debris. I had no issues with traction. The forefoot rubber is soft, which contributes to the smooth ride, but it does mute the toe-off a bit. I wouldn’t mind a firmer compound upfront for more snap and directional stability at faster paces.
Durability looks to be solid based on early wear (about 30 miles).
Ride, Conclusions and Recommendations
Sam: While I ran the Hyperion Tempo, I did not test either predecessor to this edition. The Tempo was a very firm responsive shoe good for short fast runs, and that was about it for me .
Here Brooks moves the Hyperion far closer to an all around daily trainer yet one with a performance focused upper and performance trainer class low weight. The ride is energetic and quite soft with plenty of fun to run cushion. I have run a wide range of paces from higher 10 minutes per mile down to 8 min miles in my testing on runs of 5 to 6 miles.
At my faster paces, as noted in Outsole, I wish for more response and a touch more forefoot stability while slower paces were smooth and flowed well.
The upper is “⅔” great. The toe box area could use some work in terms of reducing the overlays over the toe and toe bumper to give the foot a bit more very front of the shoe room. The midfoot and rear parts of the upper are totally locked down yet comfortable, understanding we have a stretch type snug hold from tongue and its gusset and very solid heel counter which play big roles
I am headed to Europe for a month and this will be the one all around road shoe I will take, to go with many trail shoes due to its versatility. Last year I took the Hyperion Max 2 which served me well.
At $140 the Hyperion 3, while maybe no longer the more uptempo Hyperion of old, is now more of a versatile lower stack (for 2025) light weight daily trainer and is a great value. I am curious to see what Brooks may come up with next as their lower profile fast non plated tempo shoe.
Sam’s Score: 9.42 /10 😊😊😊😊
Ride (50%): 9.4 Fit (30%): 9.3 Value (15%): 9.7 Style (5%): 9.5
Courtney: Although I really like this shoe and will continue to log many miles, it is not the performance trainer I expected the Hyperion 3 to be. The more muted geometry and softer foam makes it a slower shoe for me overall. Its plush interior and excellent lockdown make it an easy choice for easy to uptempo runs, but I probably won't be selecting this for faster workouts. I will be recommending this shoe to friends of all running abilities as it’s energetic enough to be fun, but with a conservative stack height, and is not too aggressive or too firm for newer runners.
Courtney’s Score:9 /10 😊😊😊😊
Ride (50%): 8.3, not exactly the speed training shoe I was expecting, but still a great trainer
Fit (30%): 10, great lockdown and comfort
Value (15%): 9 $140 for a shoe one could do most of your training in
Style (5%): 10 great colorway and design
Michael: I’ve really enjoyed my runs in the Hyperion 3. It’s one of those shoes that disappears on foot once you start running - in a good way. The ride is smooth, cushioned, and easygoing. There’s enough energy return to make uptempo efforts enjoyable, and it holds up well for easy days too. But it doesn't feel like a “speed” shoe anymore (not in the era of the Endorphin Speed or even Pegasus Plus) - instead, it's a modern lightweight daily trainer, done well.
My main (and only real) knock is existential: why does this shoe exist alongside the Launch? The Launch is similarly fun, just as versatile, and $20 cheaper. Brooks could combine the two lines and end up with a very strong product at $130 (or, even better - $110! Why not?).
As it stands, this is a great option for runners who want one shoe to do it all, and don’t mind a slightly pointy toe box. It’s not a race-day pick, but it’s a workhorse with some zip. This shoe would have been my absolute favorite in my college years, but still works really well for me today.
Score: 9.3 / 10 😊😊😊😊
7 Comparisons
Brooks Launch (RTR Review)
Michael: This is the elephant in the room. The Launch is similar underfoot - maybe a bit firmer, but still lively - and fits very similarly. It's $20 less and covers the same use cases. Unless you prefer the softer DNA Flash packed in here (though honestly, the two blends feel quite similar) or want a stretch bootie upper, I'd point most people to the Launch. Spend that $20 on a Peacock subscription and watch track!
FuelCell Rebel v5 (RTR Review)
Sam: The Rebel is 26g lighter in my US8.5 at about the same stack height. It is more stable underfoot, less bouncy fun but more reactive and responsive in ride feel. Its thin and supportive upper is well matched to the platform and has a more accommodating toe box than the Brooks. The Hyperion in this match leans more daily trainer than the more uptempo focused Rebel v5 if you have a lower volume narrower foot.
Skechers Aero Spark (RTR Review)
Courtney: Similar to the Hyperion, the Spark runs narrow through the forefoot but length wise is on the long side. It comes in a little heavier than the Hyperion. I found the toe off in the Spark to be a bit more energetic than the Hyperion but lockdown and comfort was not as premium as the Hyperion 3. The Spark has a carbon infused H-Plate that helps with rigidity and propulsion and there is also a bit more foam in the forefoot of the Spark adding to its more propulsive ride. The Spark comes in at $130, so slightly less than the Hyperion.
Skechers Aero Tempo (RTR Review)
Courtney: The Skechers Aero Tempo is a speed shoe with super critical Hyperburst foam and a full length carbon plate. There is significantly more stiffness and pop in the Tempo compared to the Hyperion 3. The upper of the Hyperion out performs the Tempo for its great lockdown and comfort whereas the Tempo needs some refinements. The Aero Tempo is a more versatile shoe than the Hyperion and works well for workouts where paces change frequently.
Puma Velocity Nitro 4 (RTR Review)
Sam: The closest comparison. The Puma is at the same heel height but is 2mm lower at the forefoot as it is a 10mm drop shoe. Its platform is slightly narrower and its weight the same. Both have supercritical foam midsoles with very similar softer and energetic rides. The Puma is more flexible and less stable at the midfoot and heel with its similarly performance oriented upper lacking the stretch tongue/gusset of the Brooks. Fits are similar and TTS and both have somewhat pointy toe boxes and low volume overall. I prefer the ride of the more stable and secure Brooks which better tames the soft energetic foams found in both.
Nike Pegasus Plus (RTR Review)
Sam: At 8.42 oz / 239g US8.5 the Peg Plus weighs exactly the same as the Hyperion 3 but due to its 10mm drop (8mm here) is 3mm lower at the forefoot and 1mm lower at the heel. Both play in the performance daily trainer category. The Nike’s upper is equally as secure and is more comfortable and refined but still quite low volume upfront. The all ZoomX ride is more responsive and snappier if a touch firmer and less bouncy. The Nike clears wins on traction for anything other than smooth road. The big difference here is the retail pricing. The Nike’s retail is $40 more so the Brooks is a better value unless you seek light trails, snow traction and a slightly faster firmer uptempo ride.
Michael: Both are lightweight, performance-oriented daily trainers with similar fit profiles. The Peg is more responsive and has better traction for off-road or bad weather runs. It’s also $40 more, so value clearly favors the Hyperion unless you need the extra grip.
Adizero SL EVO (RTR Review)
Sam: Somewhat higher stack and 18g lighter at 220g / 7.76 oz US 8.5 with a 38.5 mm heel / 32 mm forefoot, the Adizero, unlike the Brooks, features a small plate below the sockliner.Tthis plate stabilizes the softish and energetic Lightstrike Pro PEBA foam which is more quickly responding than the Brooks’ Flash V2 foam. That said for me this plate over stiffens the shoe at midfoot making it only useful for uptempo running unlike the Brooks which handles a wider range of paces. The EVO’s upper is clearly higher volume with the hold close to tenuous for me while the Brooks is locked down but low volume and less “comfortable”. Both true to size.
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.
Michael is a patent attorney and graduate of Northwestern University Law School. Prior to law school, he competed collegiately at Washington University in St. Louis (10,000m PR of 30:21). Michael’s PRs include a 67:43 half-marathon (Chicago Half-Marathon) and a 2:20:41 marathon PR at the 2025 Houston Marathon. Michael continues to race on the roads, and is chasing a sub-2:20 marathon and potential OTQ in the future.
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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Great review of the Brooks Hyperion 3! Agree on the versatility and value. The lower rocker is a win for many runners. I'd love to see a slightly firmer forefoot, as suggested. Thinking of pushing this shoe on a Snow rider course.
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