Brooks Hyperion Elite 5 Review: Two Steps Forward, One Step… Sideways?

Introduction to the Brooks Hyperion Elite 5

MEAGHAN: The Brooks Hyperion Elite hasn’t precisely had a glowing observe document with our staff. Actually, it’s been fairly harshly criticized previously — keep in mind Thomas’s assessment of the Elite 4? That one positively made the rounds. So, let’s simply say our expectations for the road have traditionally been… modest at greatest.

That began to alter with a quiet however vital replace. Brooks made a rapid pivot and launched PEBA-based foam in a variant of the Elite 4 — renamed the Hyperion Elite 4 PB — launched just some months after the unique. It was a transparent enchancment and a step in the appropriate path.

And now we have now the Hyperion Elite 5, which appears like an entire reset. In accordance with the Brooks staff, Des Linden performed a big position in shaping this model.

The higher now encompasses a light-weight TPU-coated flat knit that’s fairly minimal. Whereas the froth stays Brooks’ new DNA Gold, the midsole geometry has been utterly overhauled. As an alternative of the standard middle cutout seen in most race sneakers (and within the Elite 4 PB) to permit foam displacement, Brooks opted for facet cutouts, orb-shaped cavities alongside the midsole, to offer the froth extra room to compress. The result’s a a lot softer, squishier experience.

The shoe nonetheless makes use of the identical SpeedVault Plus plate, however now it’s cushioned by a larger quantity of froth. Whereas the general stack peak stays the identical (40mm within the heel, 32mm within the forefoot), the discount in outsole rubber makes room for extra DNA Gold underfoot. Talking of the outsole, it now options SpeedTack rubber in a thinner layer, enhancing grip and contributing to the shoe’s light-weight construct. My US W7.5 got here in at 5.7oz.

THOMAS: There was a flicker of hope when Brooks launched the Hyperion Elite 4 PB. Its new DNA Gold PEBA foam was a transparent improve. For a second, it felt like the corporate had lastly discovered its stride for race day. However progress, like GPS instructions, might be misleading. You miss an exit, and for a mile or two, the app insists you’re nonetheless on observe. Brooks could also be in that stretch now — believing they’re headed for the end line, when in truth, they should reroute.

JON: The final time I even thought-about utilizing a pair of Brooks for race day was in 2018. I had a pair of the Brooks Asteria — a racing flat with a touch of stability. The Vaporfly 4% was the one supershoe out, and it was extremely arduous to get, so I acquired the Asteria to see if it may change my common New Stability 1500s. It’s arduous to consider this was once an choice in comparison with what I desire immediately.

After being impressed with what Brooks has been doing the final couple of years, I used to be desirous to strive its newest and biggest race day providing.

What we like concerning the Brooks Hyperion Elite 5

MEAGHAN: The very first thing that stood out to me concerning the Hyperion Elite 5 was its weight, or lack thereof. The knit higher is extremely breathable, with a lot of the forefoot constructed from an open-knit mesh that permits loads of airflow. It’s nice for the recent and humid days in Baltimore.

Match-wise, the Hyperion Elite 5 runs true to dimension and wraps the foot with a safe, performance-oriented really feel. The inside of the heel counter consists of well-placed padding that provides consolation. One factor that basically caught me off guard was the step-in really feel — it’s surprisingly smooth for a race-day shoe. There’s a plushness underfoot that I wasn’t anticipating, and it made for a really nice first impression.

I took the Hyperion Elite 5 via a collection of exercises — intervals, tempo efforts, and a development run and I used to be in a position to hit all my goal paces with out problem. What stunned me most was how deceiving the experience felt. Out on the street, it didn’t give me that pronounced springy or energetic bounce I normally affiliate with quick sneakers. However once I checked my splits post-run, I used to be constantly working quicker than it felt. So I suppose the shoe is environment friendly, even when the feeling underfoot doesn’t scream pace for me.

I’ve additionally logged a number of simple runs within the Hyperion Elite 5, and it dealt with them properly. Race sneakers typically really feel too agency or aggressive for relaxed paces, however this one maintains sufficient softness that I feel it really works. It’s not overly harsh, which makes it nice for exercises with various paces.

THOMAS: The Hyperion Elite 5 caught my eye immediately. The infant blue with orange-red trim feels straight off a Gulf-liveried Porsche 917K — how may you not look down and really feel quick? The higher suits prefer it was made for me. Its open knit breathes properly. The tongue isn’t gusseted, but it surely’s stitched down on the medial facet, so it stays put. Brooks added a properly padded collar across the heel, which finishes the match. My pair, a true-to-size 10.5, is available in at 7.7 ounces, or 220 grams.

I ran intervals and tempos within the Hyperion Elite 5, and the shoe stays gentle via the stride and suits me good. The experience has a contact of nostalgia to it — one thing which may enchantment to runners who keep in mind the texture of flats earlier than the tremendous sneakers got here alongside. Assume old-school, however with a softer touchdown.

JON: Echoing Thomas and Meg, the higher and colorway are top-notch and caught my eye instantly. It’s an awesome callback to what all of us used to race in. It seemed nice and felt like nothing in my palms and on my ft.

The higher breathed fantastically within the depressing, sizzling, and humid days of Maryland summer time. The mesh wrapped comfortable round my foot and was comfortably smooth, whereas the eye to element within the heel collar and lacing gave me an awesome locked-down match. There isn’t a ton of actual property within the toe field, but it surely wasn’t to the purpose of discomfort.

What shone probably the most was the experience and sturdiness of the outsole. The 8 mm drop naturally pushed ahead, having me land and carry off on my forefoot. I used to be in a position to push via a exercise on the observe and a few tempo efforts on the street. I agree with Meg that it didn’t have the propulsive springiness that rivals have, however I used to be hitting the splits I meant to do, and the shoe was enjoyable to run in. The midsole’s building with the plate partially uncovered provided a great stability of squish with some firmness.

The SpeedTack outsole is superb, offering nice traction and management. For the way light-weight this shoe is, I noticed minimal put on, which scored huge factors from me.

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What we don’t like concerning the Brooks Hyperion Elite 5

MEAGHAN: My first run within the Hyperion Elite 5 left me a bit confused. Visually and underfoot, it felt like a totally totally different shoe from the Elite 4 PB, which lastly felt like Brooks was on course. So, experiencing such a dramatic shift with the v5 nearly felt like a reset.

The Elite 4 PB had a firmer really feel. It was gentle and snappy, although it lacked a little bit of the bounce I hoped for. With the Elite 5, it appears like Brooks could have overcorrected. The froth is smooth, nearly too smooth, and affords way more floor really feel than I’d ever need from a racing shoe.

To determine what was bothering me, I wore the Elite 5 on one foot and the Elite 4 PB on the opposite. What I seen is that the v5’s foam compresses way more, which for me results in an excessively squishy experience. Some runners would possibly take pleasure in that floor really feel, however I’m positively not one in every of them.

I additionally bumped into some points with the brand new knit higher, particularly across the collar and heel. I sometimes like a knit higher, however this one lacked construction and didn’t present the ankle help I wanted. It felt unfastened on sharp turns, and I didn’t have the arrogance to push the tempo via corners the best way I usually would.

THOMAS: Meg and I couldn’t agree on the cushioning. I mentioned it felt firmer than the Hyperion Elite 4 PB. She mentioned it was softer. Seems, we had been each proper. I felt extra floor contact as the froth compressed. Meg, who’s lighter, didn’t get that very same suggestions. What we did agree on was this: Neither of us appreciated the way it felt.

My most important problem is the experience. It jogs my memory of an previous racing flat, missing the spark of an excellent shoe. The froth is technically higher, but it surely appears like a slab. There’s slightly power return, however no pleasure within the toe-off, which comes off flat and slightly slappy. On race day, I desire a shoe that responds — a foam that springs, a plate that pushes, or, within the case of the Alphafly, airbags that make each uptick in tempo really feel like a reward. This shoe doesn’t try this.

JON: The collar is only a tad too low profile for me. I used to be in a position to right this through the use of the highest eyelet and incorporating a runner’s loop, however I actually needed to pay shut consideration to how I tied the shoe for the reason that tongue wasn’t lengthy sufficient. If there wasn’t an additional eyelet, I might be far more fearful about ankle stability.

The experience doesn’t actually come near a pair of Alphaflys, and should you don’t need one thing with extra floor really feel, this isn’t the shoe for you. The exercises I did on this one had quick efforts sandwiched between simple miles. It felt nice whether or not I used to be shuffling alongside or choosing up the tempo. That mentioned, this wouldn’t be my decide for a marathon, however I might gladly use it for a half-marathon or shorter.

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Ultimate ideas on the Brooks Hyperion Elite 5

MEAGHAN: Brooks has been making some spectacular strides over the previous couple of years. A couple of of my favourite max-cushioned trainers have come from the model lately, and that gave me hope that their race-day choices had been on the same upward trajectory. I actually needed to fall in love with the Hyperion Elite 5, and whereas there’s quite a bit to love, it in the end didn’t earn a high spot in my rotation.

If I had to decide on between the Hyperion Elite 4 PB and the Hyperion Elite 5, I’d personally keep on with the 4 PB. It simply aligns higher with what I’m on the lookout for on race day. That mentioned, I can completely see the Hyperion Elite 5 resonating with a special kind of runner, particularly those that desire a extra conventional, racing-flat really feel with a better connection to the bottom.

I acquired to see a prototype of the upcoming Hyperion Elite 6, and I’ve to say: I’m very intrigued. It seems like Brooks is continuous to refine the road in a promising path, and I’m excited to see the way it continues to evolve.

THOMAS: As I write this, a Smiths lyric loops in my head: “You simply haven’t earned it but, child.” Brooks has lengthy held its floor in every day trainers, however race-day sneakers are a special sport now — quicker, lighter, extra aggressive — and Brooks is falling behind.

At the moment, there’s a race-day choice for nearly each sort of runner. The quick and environment friendly can decide from the Adidas Adizero Adios Professional 4, Puma Quick-R 3, Nike Alphafly 3, or the Asics Metaspeed Sky and Edge Tokyo. Midpack runners have sturdy decisions too — Saucony’s Endorphin Elite 2, the Hoka Cielo X1 2.0, or New Stability’s SC Elite v5. These are sneakers designed to raise the expertise, whether or not you’re chasing a podium or a private greatest.

The Brooks Hyperion Elite 5 isn’t a foul shoe. It simply doesn’t belong in that high tier. Not but.

JON: I keep in mind speaking to Meg and Thomas after we first acquired this shoe and I hadn’t began testing it but. Once I requested the way it felt, they seemed conflicted, which displays of their verdict. Thomas was fairly stunned after we talked at a gaggle run once I was sporting these, and I informed him how a lot I loved them.

Present-gen tremendous sneakers have been sink or swim for me. The outsole tends to put on down prematurely for me within the heel space on account of my stride, gait, and dimension. I’ve needed to retire sneakers method too early due to this. As soon as the outsole goes, these supercritical foams simply soften away. A pair of the Alphafly 3 will put on down in a fraction of time in comparison with a pair of Alphafly 1s I nonetheless have (with 3 occasions as many miles on them). I’m not blind to the truth that I’m an outlier on account of my dimension, however one thing shifted in the previous few years. Fortunately, this isn’t as a lot of a difficulty with trainers or path sneakers, but it surely’s irritating due to how frequent this has turn into for me within the racing sneakers division.

The Hyperion Elite 5 was a large shock for me. Having one thing that’s quick, light-weight, and sturdy is a dream come true. I appreciated that it has extra of a floor really feel and jogged my memory of what I used to run races in earlier than 2019. This received’t be my first alternative come race day, however it is going to keep in my rotation.

You’ll be able to decide up the Brooks Hyperion Elite 5 for $275 from Operating Warehouse (that includes free transport and 90-day returns) through the use of the button under.

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