Brooks Hyperion 2 review

The Hyperion 2 shines as a refreshing shift from the overwhelming trend of ultra-cushioned, high-stack designs. And we believe is a stellar pick for:

• Runners craving a classic, low-to-the-ground ride that recalls racing flats from years past.
• Brooks aficionados seeking an interval trainer to seamlessly complement the Hyperion Max 2 in their running rotation.
• Athletes seeking a streamlined running shoe that boosts foot strength and offers an exhilarating ride at faster paces.

We think the Hyperion 2 offers a solid upgrade over its predecessor, but it still lacks the superfoam needed to deliver top-tier energy return. In our view, if you’re after maximum bounce and responsiveness, the Adidas Adizero Adios 8 and the Nike Pegasus Plus offer superior bounce, especially for midfoot and forefoot strikers.

Additionally, we believe the Hyperion 2 may feel a bit underwhelming for those seeking top performance. While it’s lightweight, the absence of a carbon plate limits its potential. The obvious choice is the Brooks Hyperion Elite 4, as it's the beefed-up version of this model. Alternatively, the Adidas Adizero Takumi Sen 10 features a similar running experience but with noticeably greater bounce.

We just noted our amazement at the Hyperion 2's lightweight design, especially given its increased stack height. Here’s the detail: 32.2 mm in the heel—a height similar to most daily trainers—making this shoe more inviting for rearfoot strikers than ever.

The forefoot receives a bigger boost, and in our view, it’s a smart improvement. While this shoe’s essence is to deliver a natural ride with plenty of feedback from the ground, that's now paired with added forefoot protection, which we believe was needed.

The previous version felt overly thin in this area, but with 22.4 mm underfoot, it’s now better suited for medium-distance runs—think 15K or even 20K. Beyond that, though, it starts to feel limited.

Brooks claims an 8 mm drop for this shoe, but our measurements found it at 9.8 mm. This slight variance doesn’t significantly affect biomechanics—it remains a heel-striker-friendly shoe.

We believe that all footstrikes can enjoy a smooth running experience with this shoe; however, if you are a forefoot striker and prefer a lower drop, consider the Saucony Kinvara 15 instead.

The most significant update in the Hyperion 2 is the midsole, now featuring Brooks’ new DNA Flash v2—a more resilient, energy-returning version of the supercritical EVA foam used in their lightweight trainers. In our experience, this midsole felt notably bouncier.

However, it's not softer; in fact, it’s a touch firmer at 26.1 HA! This firmness isn’t a drawback, though—shoes with a low stack height and overly soft midsoles tend to bottom out quickly, especially as the foam begins to wear. It's also worth noting that nitrogen-infused foams like DNA Flash v2 typically feel softer than the durometer suggests, thanks to their airier composition.

With the increased stack height and slightly firmer formulation, there’s less ground feel compared to the first version. But don't worry—the connection to the ground is still there!

After chilling the Hyperion 2 in the freezer for 20 minutes, we retested its foam with the Shore A durometer. Our findings revealed a minor 18.6% change—a stellar result for an EVA-based foam!

We appreciate Brooks' cohesive design approach in the Hyperion 2. When the focus is on creating a leaner, lighter shoe, every element aligns with that vision—hence the minimalistic, paper-thin 2.9 mm insole that perfectly complements this shoe.

With a midsole this thin (by today’s standards!) and no plate at all, Brooks had no need to add a huge rocker—typically used to counteract stiffness, which isn’t an issue here.

There is, however, a subtle toe spring that adds an interesting, helpful boost, especially for forefoot strikers. Even with that, the ride remains as natural and unassisted as it gets.

This shoe wasn’t built as a daily workhorse but as a lightweight, performance-driven trainer. That’s why we were happy with the snugger, tighter fit that we felt throughout the entire shoe.

Our first toebox measurement came in at 96.6 mm, which confirmed our initial impression of a more compact design. In our experience, the vertical volume is similarly low, aligning with the streamlined, speed-focused profile of this model.

The heel and midfoot fit on the snug side, while the toebox isn’t especially wide. However, we were pleasantly surprised by the generous room for toe splay, as the toebox doesn’t taper sharply.

Does this make it an ideal choice for those with wide feet? In our view, not quite. It's still a shoe that demands a regular or narrow-sized feet. On top of that, we think it's a great design for women, who often have narrower heels and a slightly wider forefoot region.

Considering it's a speed-training shoe with a narrow landing platform, the Hyperion 2 feels surprisingly stable, especially in the forefoot, though the heel is a bit less supportive.

As with most streamlined shoes, the faster you run, the more stability and support it provides. And the better it feels.

In our view, a key factor enhancing the Hyperion 2’s stability is its well-balanced torsional rigidity. Rated at 3/5, this updated rigidity level marks a change over its predecessor’s 2/5 score, which felt notably easier to twist and bend.

In contrast, the heel counter remains largely unchanged, resembling the structure found in daily trainers with a 3/5 rating. This choice works well for the Hyperion 2, as a touch of heel support helps stabilize rearfoot strikers and minimizes lateral movement—without adding excessive stiffness or requiring a super-thick piece of foam to offset it.

Just a minute ago we mentioned that this shoe is anything but broad. And we’re thrilled about it because the market is already flooded with massive shoes!

We measured a sleek 111.3 mm in the forefoot, reminiscent of classic racing flats from a decade ago, bringing a classic, feedback-rich feel that’s increasingly rare.

The heel is even narrower than the forefoot at just 84.5 mm. For this reason, we recommend the Hyperion 2 only to heel strikers without stability needs.

We confirmed before that the Hyperion 2 lacks a plate, features a moderate stack height, and comes with an outsole full of flexibility-enhancing grooves.

To put a number to its longitudinal flexibility, we secured the Hyperion 2 to our table and pushed it to a 90-degree angle. Impressively, it only required 16.2N of force to achieve this bend!

At 7.44 oz (211g), the original Hyperion was already a feather-light, sub-8-oz running shoe with few rivals in its weight class. But Brooks has taken it further—this second-generation model trims down to an impressive 7.2 oz (203g)...despite packing even more foam underfoot!

And it genuinely feels almost weightless. In our experience, this is one of those shoes where you sometimes forget you’re even wearing it!

Over the past few years, we concluded in the lab that while Brooks may lag behind other brands in cutting-edge foam technology, they’re a front-runner when it comes to uppers. With the Hyperion 2, they’ve once again impressed us.

We found the engineered mesh upper to be exceptionally breathable, delivering cool, airy comfort without compromising durability. In our view, this makes it a superb choice for a performance trainer, and we were quick to award it a perfect 5 out of 5 for ventilation.

Using our LED flashlight, we saw how the Hyperion 2 maintains ventilation from the forefoot through the midfoot, only becoming more structured near the heel—ideal for those hot summer runs.

Under our microscope, we observed that Brooks uses a classic engineered mesh with varied hole sizes in different sections, designed to balance durability and airflow.

While the dark colorway we tested may not look overly breathable, we can confidently say it’s a ventilation winner! We also appreciated the generous heel padding, especially impressive in such a lightweight running shoe.

This engineered mesh upper offers a super-light and breathable experience, though durability is always a concern with lighter materials, which often sacrifice strength under stress. 

However, we tested the Hyperion 2 with the Dremel and were pleased with the results. Scoring a respectable 3/5, it held up on par with thicker daily trainers that typically offer enhanced wear resistance.

On the downside, the heel padding proved disappointing.

We tested it rigorously under the same Dremel specifications as before, but the results were drastically different—earning a dismal 1/5. In our view, Brooks needs to improve this area for the next Hyperion.

After mixed results on upper durability, we shifted focus to the outsole, featuring Brooks' RoadTack rubber—a dependable choice for both dry and wet surfaces.

Brooks chose a softer 72.0 HC rubber, which aligns with the shoe’s purpose as a tempo or interval trainer. In our view, sacrificing a bit of durability for enhanced grip and security makes sense here, as this shoe isn’t designed for heavy daily mileage.

In our latest Dremel test, we adjusted our method to tackle the RoadTack rubber's consistency. We ramped up the tool speed to 10K RPM and extended the duration too.

After testing, we found that the soft RoadTack rubber held up reasonably well under these conditions, although we believe it could still show a bit more resilience. The measured abrasion was around 1.2 mm—adequate, but with room for improvement.

Brooks understands that even as a lightweight running shoe, durability is essential—especially since many runners will rely on it as a versatile workhorse for everything from aerobic runs to 5K or 10K races.

While we would have loved to see less than 2.9 mm of rubber to enhance its lively feel and fun factor, we get why Brooks opted for a more robust outsole.

This shoe brings back nostalgic vibes from the good old days, offering a grounded, non-rockered ride that feels refreshingly classic. In our view, the price tag matches this retro appeal—making it one of the most budget-friendly choices for a performance trainer that can double as a dedicated 5K/10K racer.

One of the few things we didn’t like about the Hyperion 2 is the lack of reflective elements. A small reflective detail on the heel or the Brooks logo on the lateral side would have been a welcome improvement.

In our experience, the tongue on the Hyperion 2 is a substantial improvement over the first-gen Hyperion, nearly doubling in thickness (6.1 mm) for enhanced comfort. It’s cleverly designed with padding only where needed, maintaining a feather-light feel without compromising comfort.

The lockdown is impressive—Brooks kept it simple but nailed the execution. We found that the Hyperion 2 uses punched eyelets for smooth adjustments and slightly textured laces that resemble those on supershoes like the ASICS Metaspeed Sky Paris, offering a high-performance feel at a much more accessible price.

The Hyperion 2 takes again a creative approach to tongue design, setting it apart from the 99% of running shoes that feature a symmetrical gusset on both sides. We love to see some rare, think-outside-the-box design!

Brooks chose a think-outside-the-box approach, securing the tongue only on the medial side and allowing the lateral side to move freely.

We found that Brooks opted not to include a heel tab in the Hyperion 2, similar to recent designs like the Ghost Max 2. However, they introduced a Hoka-inspired, extended heel collar that not only reduces pressure on the Achilles tendon but also makes it easy to slide your foot in.

We had no issues removing the insole, but there’s a catch—it’s quite thin as we proved before, and the room inside the Hyperion 2 is really limited. In our experience, this setup means only ultra-slim footbeds will fit comfortably, as regular ones would likely make the toebox uncomfortably cramped.