Brooks Hyperion Max 4

The Brooks Hyperion Max 4 is the American brand's super trainer (the line between a performance trainer and a lightweight trainer is rather blurred, and segmentation is reaching absurd levels), a segment where Brooks did not make much of an impression until the third generation arrived, although the segment itself is starting to show signs of fatigue. With the fourth, the brand refines the formula: it keeps the PEBA-based DNA Gold foam in the top layer and its super trainer character for long runs and controlled paces. In Brooks' range it sits above the Launch 12 in cushioning and below the Hyperion Elite 6 in racing character, occupying a rather blurred niche that only runners with a deep shoe cupboard, and practically a different model for every specific use, will fill.

The most notable change from the Hyperion Max 3 is in the upper: Brooks introduces a triple jacquard mesh that replaces the sock-like knit of the previous edition, with a separate tongue partially stitched to the sides that allows a better lockdown. The midsole remains almost unchanged: a top layer of DNA Gold PEBA under the foot, a supercritical DNA Flash v2 base in contact with the ground and the SpeedVault polyamide plate in between, all with 1 mm less stack height than the previous generation, although the very high profile is genuinely dizzying. Some runners find the toe box a little narrow and the fit snug, so going up half a size may be advisable.

With a 6 mm drop and RapidRoll geometry, the Hyperion Max 4 offers a firm but smooth-rolling ride, with a fluid transition that rewards runners looking to hold a steady pace on long runs or quality sessions. The cushioning is high but firm, with no excess bounce, ideal for the runner who wants protection and pace in one shoe but likes to sit high up, with no chance whatsoever of "feeling" the ground.