The Brooks Hyperion Elite 4 is probably the most spectacular racing shoe Brooks has launched up to now and an enchancment on the underwhelming Hyperon Elite 3. But it nonetheless suffers as compared with the greatest carbon plate trainers from different manufacturers.
That is principally all the way down to its midsole foam, which lacks the bouncy, propulsive feeling you get from footwear just like the Nike Vaporfly and others. The Hyperion Elite 4 is a quick shoe and extra steady than another super-shoes, but it surely’s not as quick—and it’s too costly contemplating the efficiency it delivers.
Brooks Hyperion Elite 4: Value And Availability
The Brooks Hyperion Elite 4 launched in January 2024 and prices $250 within the US and £220 within the UK. It’s on the cheaper finish of the size for carbon plate racing footwear, however nonetheless costly, and the worth has gone up £30 within the UK in contrast with the Brooks Hyperion Elite 3.
How I Examined This Operating Shoe
I ran 33 miles within the Hyperion Elite 4, utilizing it for 2 development runs and a monitor session throughout my marathon coaching. I’ve examined the previous three variations of the Hyperion Elite, together with virtually all of the carbon plate trainers launched by main manufacturers prior to now few years.
Design And Match
Given the shortcomings of the Hyperion Elite 3, I hoped for a serious replace to the design, together with a brand new midsole foam. Brooks has obliged on the latter, however solely with an up to date model of its nitrogen-infused EVA DNA Flash foam, relatively than bringing in a Peba-based foam like these utilized in most carbon racers.
The DNA Flash v2 foam is lighter and softer than the froth used on earlier variations of the shoe, and the Elite 4 is loads lighter than the Elite 3 basically. The brand new shoe weighs 7.9oz/224g in a UK measurement 8.5, whereas the Elite 3 was 8.8oz/249g in a UK 9.
A few of that drop in weight is because of the new higher. As a substitute of the chunky knit used on the Elite 3, the Elite 4 has a breathable woven higher that holds the foot nicely throughout quick runs. I used a shoe that’s half a measurement smaller than my ordinary UK measurement as a result of I’m typically in between a UK 8.5 and a 9, and Brooks footwear typically come up somewhat lengthy for me. I’d say utilizing your ordinary measurement can be effective for many runners, however when you’re between sizes I’d go for the smaller one.
An Arris carbon plate runs by way of the midsole. This has an open lattice design and provides extra stiffness to the already pretty agency DNA Flash v2 midsole. There’s a massive cut-out on the underside of the midsole to scale back weight. The stack peak is 40mm on the heel and 32mm on the forefoot for a drop of 8mm, which is a 5mm rise in stack peak on the Hyperion Elite 3.
As with most carbon footwear, the outsole protection is minimal to assist hold the load down. Many of the forefoot is roofed, although there are gaps within the rubber. I discovered the shoe gripped nicely in moist circumstances.
Operating Efficiency
Brooks was one of many first manufacturers to launch a carbon plate shoe with its Hyperion Elite, which was agency, a little bit of a catastrophe and shortly adopted by the Hyperion Elite 2. This was an excellent shoe on the time, with its light-weight DNA Flash midsole that delivered a quick journey, and although it didn’t match the Nike Vaporfly it was nonetheless a viable racing possibility.
Since then, nevertheless, virtually each different main model has adopted an analogous model of carbon shoe, with a excessive stack of a springy Peba-based foam. As a substitute of doing this, Brooks simply modified the higher on the Hyperion Elite 3, which made it a heavier and fewer efficient racing shoe than the Elite 2.
The Hyperion Elite 4 is an enchancment, however as a result of Brooks has caught with an nitrogen-infused EVA foam the journey nonetheless lacks the bouncy, propulsive feeling you get from different carbon footwear, in addition to their consolation ranges. By the top of 10-mile runs the journey had began to really feel too agency, and I wouldn’t think about the Elite 4 a marathon racing possibility for most individuals.
It’s a mild and quick shoe, and once I did a monitor session working three units of 2K after which 5 x 400m reps, the Elite 4 felt fairly good. The firmer foam is much less noticeable on a monitor and helps to maintain turning your toes over at quick paces on quick reps. Whereas it’s not going to cease you working quick, the dearth of punch is noticeable in contrast with the very best carbon footwear. Operating within the Hyperion Elite 4 is tougher on the legs than in softer, springier footwear. It additionally feels tougher to maintain quick paces over longer distances. In case you’re spending this sort of cash on a plated super-shoe that helps you run extra effectively, and thus sooner, you merely received’t get the identical stage of profit from the Elite 4 as you’d from different footwear.
One benefit of the firmer foam is that the Hyperion Elite 4 is extra steady than most super-shoes and I’d anticipate it to be extra sturdy. You need to use the Hyperion Elite 4 extra continuously in coaching because of this, and it may be a racing possibility for some who’ve discovered softer super-shoes too wobbly.
Is The Brooks Hyperion Elite 4 Price It?
The Brooks Hyperion Elite 4 is a quick shoe and the greatest Brooks working shoe for racing, but it surely doesn’t attain the requirements set by different manufacturers’ carbon footwear. It’s across the identical worth as glorious racing footwear just like the Nike Vaporfly 3, Saucony Endorphin Professional 4 and Asics Metaspeed Sky Paris, and easily doesn’t ship as quick and propulsive a journey as these footwear.
I charge the Elite 4 extra consistent with the very best super-trainers, just like the Saucony Endorphin Velocity 4 or Adidas Adizero Boston 12. It feels somewhat sooner than them, but it surely’s dearer. Till Brooks updates the midsole foam to make use of a extra dynamic materials, it’s arduous to see the Hyperion Elite line competing with the very best racers.
