The Brooks Hyperion Max 3 is a modern maximalist shoe, designed to offer maximum comfort and protection on long distances, thanks to a soft midsole and a geometry that promotes a smooth, rolling ride.
- Profile: A “super trainer” designed for daily training and long distances.
- Midsole: High stack (46mm at the heel) and dual-density. It combines DNA Gold foam (lightweight, soft, and responsive) with the firmer DNA Flash v2 for a mix of comfort and stability.
- Ride Feel: Extremely soft and protective. The very pronounced rocker makes it a shoe that “rolls” naturally, ideal for maintaining a steady pace without effort.
- Stability: The setup is geared toward comfort, which makes it a bit less stable than a traditional training shoe.
- Fit: The upper wraps the foot securely.
- Ideal Use: Perfect for long runs at a controlled pace and for runners seeking maximum cushioning and fun, even in their everyday training.
A Gran Turismo Engine
There’s the everyday car, reliable and no-frills. And then there’s the Gran Turismo. It’s not made for chasing lap times on a racetrack, but for taking you far, in the greatest possible comfort, making you enjoy the journey and its powerful engine. The Brooks Hyperion Max 3 belongs to this second category. It’s Brooks’ answer to the modern philosophy of super trainers: shoes with maximum cushioning and technology, designed not for the race, but for the training that precedes it—even the faster, quality workouts.
The heart of this design is an almost brazenly thick midsole, the kind that says “look at me!” With its 46 mm stack height at the heel, it completely isolates you from the road surface. The engine is a two-layer system: in contact with the foot is the new DNA Gold foam (PEBA-based), which offers an immediate sensation of softness and a pleasant bounce—along with great lightness. Below, providing the base, we find the denser and more stable DNA Flash v2.
In the middle of this “sandwich” works a nylon plate, the SpeedVault, whose purpose is not to give you an explosive push like carbon plates in race shoes, but to stabilize the foam, increase the fun, and work in harmony with the RapidRoll geometry. The result is an incredibly smooth transition. The shoe invites you to roll through, to let go, almost as if it has engaged an autopilot for your feet. It’s not aggressive and unmanageable; it doesn’t ask you to push. It just asks you to find your rhythm and maintain it, kilometer after kilometer.
A Wraparound Cockpit, A Soft Suspension
A true Gran Turismo cannot do without a comfortable cockpit. The upper of the Hyperion Max 3 is built around this principle. The structure, with its integrated elastic tongue, wraps the midfoot securely and precisely, without pressure points. The foot is locked in, firm, and ready for the journey. Of course, such a luxurious and padded cockpit has two small drawbacks: it tends to be a bit warm on the hottest summer days, and the forefoot area is quite snug, so those with wide feet might find it a bit narrow.
The suspension, as mentioned, is all about comfort. This means the cushioning is soft, and the impact with the ground is always well-filtered. This choice, combined with the considerable height of the midsole and a cutout on the medial side, results in slightly less stability compared to a more traditional training shoe, which, on the other hand, doesn’t have the responsive qualities of the Hyperion Max 3. But be aware: I’m not saying it’s an unstable shoe in an absolute sense, but those with a pronation problem or who are looking for a very “guided” ride might not find it ideal. It’s the classic trade-off of a setup designed to absorb bumps, not to attack curves and unload all its power to the ground.
Who I Recommend It For (and for What)
This isn’t the shoe for doing repeats on the track or for chasing a personal best in the 10k. It wasn’t born for that. Its calling is something else.
The Hyperion Max 3 is the perfect choice if:
- You’re a runner who prioritizes comfort and protection above all else in training. And you also want to have fun while running because you feel your legs “turning over on their own.”
- You’re training for a marathon and need a reliable companion for both your quality workouts and your longest runs, where the pace is controlled and the goal is to accumulate miles with ease.
- You run for the pleasure of it, without obsessing over the stopwatch, and you want a shoe that pampers you with every step.
It’s a matter of choosing the right vehicle for the journey you have in mind. And sometimes, the most beautiful journey isn’t the fastest in absolute terms, but the one you enjoy the most, one kilometer after another.
