Whether it is because the Olympics are approaching or because of the particular market trend matters little. Because this is the period when many brands present their proposals for race shoes. And Brooks does it his way.
There had already been talk for some time about the release of a Brooks model dedicated to racing with a carbon propulsion plate, but Brooks, as usual, did things “its own way” because the new models unveiled were born out of talking to runners and listening to their needs. And here came the new Hyperion Elite, dedicated to breaking records in races, and the Hyperion Tempo, lightweight, fast training shoes. But why do I say that Brooks did things “his way”? Because these two new models are very democratic: they do not reset protection, as is the case elsewhere, and they are designed to be used by multiple runners and not just a very small group. The research started in the opposite direction from what might be expected, that is, from the democratization of the fast shoe. As Matt Dodge (Managing Director of EMEA – Brooks) confirmed:
We want to provide a great product offering to anyone who runs, including runners for whom even 10 seconds in the marathon makes a difference.
and goes on to say.
We already have an excellent range of products for runners, and we believe that the “Run Happy” philosophy also includes higher performance runners.
This was the starting point for developing the new Hyperion, two very different shoes that are unique because, in both cases, they are designed to enable runners to Keep their pace as long as possible, correcting those small deviations of the knee-ankle-foot axis that take over as fatigue sets in. In short, greater efficiency of movement added to the great responsiveness of the shoe leads – inevitably – toward greater speed. An equation as simple as it is correct.
Hyperion Elite
Fast fast fast – and cushioned. Thanks to new DNA ZERO cushioning that is extremely lightweight (the shoe weighs 195 grams), the Hyperion Elite go fast while maintaining high comfort. It is precisely the ZERO DNA that is the distinguishing note of the shoe because the midsole compound is not aimed solely at speed but at saving fatigue, thanks to its softness.
A lot of technology, however, does not necessarily mean complexity. In fact, the construction of the shoe is very simple: the stretchy (and very comfortable) upper sits on a DNA ZERO midsole that, at its core, has a carbon fiber propulsion plate that propels you forward and boosts your take-off. End. All here.
And when you put them on your feet, even if it’s just for a couple of laps around the athletic track, you realize it right away.
Release date: March 2020
Price: €250
Drop: 8 mm
Hyperion Time
If the Elites are innovative, Tempo is even more so. In fact, they are not-as one might expect-a “poor” version of the Elite, without a carbon plate. Far from it! For the Hyperion Tempo, Brooks has specially developed a new compound: DNA FLASH.
This brand-new material is born from Brooks DNA and a complicated treatment of nitrogen, which, as it changes from a liquid to a gaseous state, forms millions of microscopic bubbles that are able to return energy without adding weight. DNA FLASH is a midsole filled with densely textured, nitrogen-infused cells that produce lightweight, responsive cushioning.
This process is called “supercritical fluid foaming,” and as soon as I heard it, it sounded like the accessory thought up for a superhero by a crazy inventor.
The Hyperion Tempo are a bit heavier (210 grams) than the Elite but are also designed for training. They, too, reduce the deviation of the knee-ankle-foot axis so that runners perform better for longer.
Release date: July 2020
Price: €150
Drop: 8 mm
One more thing…
And that’s not all. Because at the Brooks Innovation Camp in Amsterdam, the Catamount, the U.S. brand’s new (and beautiful) trail shoes, were also unveiled, and-as if that weren’t enough-the new Levitate 4, Bedlam 3 and Ricochet 2 were also updated. But more on all this later.