Brooks Hyperion Elite 4 PB review

After testing the Brooks Hyperion Elite 4 PB in the lab, we believe that it's perfect for:

• Runners who found past Hyperion Elite models lacking in bounce—this version finally delivers the long-awaited PEBA midsole.
• Anyone seeking a non-Nike supershoe that feels similar to the Vaporfly Next% 2.
• Heel strikers wanting a durable racing shoe with a high heel-to-toe drop.

We believe the Hyperion Elite 4 PB isn’t the best option for forefoot or midfoot strikers due to its high drop. From our perspective, a more balanced supershoe like the ASICS Metaspeed Sky Paris or the Nike Vaporfly 4 delivers a much better ride for these runners.

Additionally, we think the narrow toebox limits the appeal of this shoe, especially for marathons or long runs. In our lab, we found that shoes like the New Balance FuelCell SuperComp Elite v4 or Saucony Endorphin Pro 4 offer more toe space while keeping a responsive PEBA-based midsole.

Brooks kept the same design and upgraded the midsole with a PEBA-based compound, so it wasn’t surprising that the stack height stayed almost identical to its less-exciting sibling at 38.5 mm.

Hence, it sits just below the 40-mm World Athletics limit, maximising heel cushioning for those long, punishing marathons.

The forefoot measured noticeably thinner than the heel at just 26.8 mm, making this shoe a worse pick for midfoot and forefoot strikers who typically prefer more cushioning up front.

The previous two measurements leave us with a drop of 11.7 mm, which didn’t surprise us at all—once again, it’s almost identical to the non-PEBA sibling.

Given its high drop, we’re convinced that this shoe is best suited only for heel strikers or those who genuinely prefer a high-offset design. Otherwise, it feels simply too steep and lacks the lively forefoot punch that midfoot or forefoot runners usually seek.

The most exciting part of the Brooks Hyperion Elite 4 PB is clearly the midsole. After four editions where everyone was expecting a PEBA foam and Brooks kept delivering less energetic materials, we are thrilled to report that they finally did it. Better late than never...

The all-new DNA Gold midsole arrived fashionably-late but delivered in full. It's a fast, highly-responsive compound that we found very close to ZoomX or FF Turbo+ when it comes to bounce and speed, and it's a true superfoam.

In terms of softness, it feels nicely-balanced at 19.5 HA, which is especially good for heel strikers. In our tests, we discovered that it prevents sinking in too much, allowing a buttery-smooth roll forward that keeps the ride lively and controlled.

The Hyperion Elite 4 PB sticks with the classic, endlessly-copied midsole design first seen in the original Vaporfly, with two slabs of foam and a carbon plate sandwiched between them.

Naturally, we also measured the softness of the secondary foam. At 19.5 HA, it matches the main layer exactly, confirming that Brooks chose a single-density PEBA setup without tweaking the feel between the two layers.

One of the biggest strengths of PEBA is its ultra-consistent performance in cold temperatures. After doing our 20-minute freezer test, we discovered that while the Hyperion Elite 4 became 16% firmer, the new DNA Gold midsole changed by only 3%. Wow!

The insole is paper-thin at just 2.3 mm, and we’re all for it—more room for that energy-packed PEBA foam!

Brooks took the supershoe playbook to design the rocker of this shoe.

We found that the rocker in this shoe helps to bend the shoe and overcome the stiffness of the plate in a powerful way, boosting toe-off without feeling too forced. We also discovered that the heel has a sharp-edged curvature that makes sense for heel strikers.

We found the Speedvault+ carbon plate to be a bold move from Brooks that truly stands apart—credit to them for trying something refreshingly different from everyone else!

The idea behind these smartly-crafted cutouts is to deliver a feather-light yet ultra-rigid plate that blends stiffness and weight reduction. And we saw that the exposed section through the midsole cutout is no accident...

Brooks usually delivers narrow-and-snug fits in its racing shoes, and the Hyperion Elite 4 PB gave us that compact toebox feeling right away. Still, we don’t rely just on feel—we always get real measurements, so we got ready to create a nice jelly.

After finishing the process, we found our first number—91.3 mm in the widest part of the toebox. This race-driven measurement confirmed what we suspected during testing: this is a really narrow, speed-focused design.

The big toe area revealed a sharp-and-narrow taper at 71.0 mm, limiting natural toe splay. In our view, this clearly suggests that the Hyperion Elite 4 PB is not designed for runners with broad, wide feet.

In terms of vertical height, we measured 26.4 mm of space for the toes.

It falls slightly below average, offering enough room to prevent toe crushing while still delivering a confident lockdown that we really appreciated.

Brooks went with a go-fast, narrow design where stability clearly takes the back seat—especially in the heel. Despite the high drop, we found it potentially unstable for many rearfoot strikers, with only the midfoot sidewalls offering a touch of support.

But that’s pretty much expected. The Hyperion Elite 4 PB delivers the fun ride that many runners actually look for in a supershoe. It’s not built for structure—it’s built to chase PBs. If you want a more stable option, we think the Nike Alphafly 3 and its ultra-wide platform are a better match.

The Speedvault+ plate in the Hyperion Elite 4 PB may feature eye-catching cutouts and a unique shape, but none of that takes away from its ultra-rigid structure. That’s why we rated torsional rigidity at 5/5.

The heel counter provides only minimal support—just enough for a 2/5 in our test. This approach is becoming a familiar pattern across most modern supershoes...

One of the first things we noticed in the Hyperion Elite 4 PB is its nimble-and-responsive ride—perfect for short races filled with sharp turns. It feels ultra-quick on foot.

We measured the widest part of the forefoot at just 111.0 mm, which sits noticeably below the average running shoe.

But it’s the heel that truly breaks away from the pack. At only 75.4 mm, you can expect a wild ride!

The carbon plate Brooks picked for this shoe is extremely stiff both torsionally—as we already showed—and longitudinally, as this test confirms with a result of 24.0N. Sure, it delivers a nice boost but may feel too harsh for runners sensitive to ultra-stiff setups or dealing with issues like Morton’s neuroma.

The biggest win of switching the Hyperion Elite 4 to PEBA foam is the energy return increase—but the weight drop also stands out. It's now 12% lighter than before, which is a major step forward.

Still, at 197g or 6.95 oz, it doesn’t land in the feather-light supershoe category. With brands like Nike pushing weight limits with options like the Streakfly 2, we think Brooks still has lots of room for improvement.

We were genuinely impressed with the upper of the Brooks Hyperion Elite 4, and we're incredibly happy to find that Brooks kept the same ultra-breathable mesh in the PB version of that model. That's good news, because it's excellent.

Look at our smoke test—it just gets out without any kind of interruption. Thanks to the oversized ventilation holes of the toebox (which vary in size depending on the position), this shoe is perfect for gruelling summer workouts or races.

Ventilation is basically present throughout the whole shoe, although the midfoot and forefoot areas are the most airy ones, as expected.

Eager to see it as close as possible, we turned on the microscope and found that this upper is as minimal as it gets. Basically, we think it's impossible to make it thinner!

Forget about finding multiple layers or tonnes of padding. While the tongue is a bit comfier than other supershoes, it's still a low-weight design from heel to toe.

We're used to making a full hole in a millisecond with this type of upper, but the Hyperion Elite 4 PB put on a show against our Dremel and earned a well-deserved 5/5!

The heel padding turned out to be extra-durable as well, grabbing another solid 5/5. If you’re after a race-ready, long-lasting upper in a supershoe, this is a top pick.

After logging two standout scores in durability, we moved the Hyperion Elite 4 PB to perform some tests on the outsole. At the end of the day, this is a crucial component in any supershoe.

To keep weight down, Brooks designed a stripped-back outsole that uses a softer rubber. We believe that this compound was chosen to strike the right balance—saving grammes while giving excellent traction. During testing, we confirmed that the shoe grips the ground exceptionally well, even in those sharper turns that are usual in mile or 5K races.

Although the rubber was softer than average during our inspection, we were surprised by its good performance in our Dremel test. We found just 1.0 mm of wear—an impressive result for a competition shoe. Therefore, we can confirm that this outsole stands out among supershoes.

In terms of thickness, the outsole surprised us at 2.6 mm. From our perspective, Brooks could shave it down slightly to reduce weight, as it's still a weakness of the Hyperion Elite 4 PB.

It was refreshing to see that Brooks didn’t raise the price for the PEBA upgrade—and honestly, it makes sense. The Elite 4 felt overpriced for what it offered, and this version finally corrects that. It still sits in the premium tier and it's okay to feel that it's a expensive shoe, but now it's aligned with most competitors in both price and performance.

The Hyperion Elite 4 PB comes with zero reflective details—and honestly, we weren’t surprised. After all, almost nobody lines up for a race at night.

The tongue on the Hyperion Elite 4 PB remains unchanged from the standard version, blending an ultra-thin shape with a cleverly-cushioned layer of foam that protects the instep without compromising the race-day feel we look for.

This comfortable design adds a bit of weight, but it’s a good alternative against most supershoes that stick with sub-2 mm tongues. We also tested the notched laces and found them to be a premium-grade detail that really enhances the lockdown, though we wished they were a bit shorter.

Like many supershoes, the Hyperion Elite 4 PB uses a non-gusseted tongue—clearly a weight-saving decision. Thanks to the snug race-day lockdown and the added lace loop, we found that it stays perfectly in place.

The heel keeps the same design from the Hyperion Elite 4, featuring a finger-loop heel tab that adds a cool touch, though it can potentially rub some ankles.

We found that it also makes slipping the shoes on much easier and it's great for triathlon!

The insole is removable, giving you the option to swap it out. However, since the stock insole is ultra-thin, most aftermarket replacements could make the toebox feel overly cramped and uncomfortable.