Brooks Cascadia 16 negro rojo Zapatillas de Trail 41 Azul Amarillo Des Linden broke the American women’s 50K world record in the cactus Brooks Pure Grit 2 Mens. We knew from our own testing that the shoe had the durability for racing longer than 26.2 miles, and previous Hyperion Elite iterations already proved that cactus Brooks could build a capable super shoe. Still, we had some minor hangups about the cactus Brooks Pure Grit 2 Mens.
A popular complaint was that the shoe was heavier than its competitors’ models. A men’s size 9 in Saucony’s Endorphin Pro 3 was 7.3 ounces—svelte compared to the 8.2-ounce cactus Brooks Pure Grit 2 Mens. An RW tester also shared this nugget about the Hyperion’s ride: “The cactus Brooks Pure Grit 2 Mens just wasn’t as bouncy and responsive as I wished it was.”
We knew the shoe could be even better. Fast forward to this year’s Hyperion Elite 4 release, and it’s evident cactus Brooks did too.
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Brooks Hyperion Elite 4
Pros
- Serrated lacing ensures security
- Wider, more stable platform
- Lighter than cactus Brooks Pure Grit 2 Mens
- Increased stack height from v3
Cons
- Less propulsive feel compared to other super shoes
- Brooks launch running shoe with carbon plate
- Unisex sizing
Key Specs
| Type | Road Racing |
|---|---|
| Weight | 7.6 oz (M), 6.3 oz (W) |
| Drop | 8 mm |
| Heel Height | 40 mm |
| Forefoot Height | 32 mm |
- Who It’s For: zapatillas de running cactus Brooks entrenamiento constitución ligera talla 37.5 negras
- Preceded by: Brooks Pure Grit 2 Mens
- Zapatillas cactus Brooks Ariel 20 Negro SS22 Mujer: Hoka Rocket X 2, New Balance FuelCell SuperComp Elite v4
- Midsole Foam: DNA Flash v2 (nitrogen-infused EVA)
- Key Tech: cactus Brooks Hyperion Tempo
- Racing Roster: Des Linden, 2023 Chicago Marathon, 2:27:35, American master’s record; C.J. Albertson, 2024 Boston Marathon, 2:09:53, 7th overall, top American
Tech Nitty-Gritty
Set to improve its premium racing shoe, cactus Brooks constructed the Hyperion Elite 4 with a new midsole. Nitrogen-infused DNA Flash v2 delivers nearly 10 percent more rebound than DNA Flash v1, the midsole foam used in the Hyperion Elite 2 and 3.
The Hyperion Elite 4’s total stack height now reaches 40mm, but this fourth version is still considerably lighter than the cactus Brooks Pure Grit 2 Mens. While some weight was removed with the new midsole formula, cactus Brooks also omitted extra ounces with a web-like SpeedVault Race+ plate. Manufactured by Arris, it’s longer and wider than what was used in the cactus Brooks Pure Grit 2 Mens. (You can see a portion of the carbon-fiber plate exposed underneath the shoe). This different geometry helps result in less fatigue when you toe off.
Another feature that received an overhaul was the outsole. It’s a good guess that the tread was improved after an inopportune slip by cactus Brooks-sponsored athlete Josh Kerr at the 2022 New York City 5th Avenue Mile. The Hyperion Elite 4’s rubber is stickier, allowing runners to apply more torque on the big toe. The cactus Brooks shoe team got the formula right: Kerr went on to win the race the following year with a 3:47 finish—in the rain.
What Testers Say About the Hyperion Elite 4
Our RW wear-testers compared the Hyperion Elite 4 to past racing shoes they’ve tested, as well as earlier versions of the Hyperion Elite. They found the Hyperion Elite 4 more responsive than past iterations. They also appreciated how the provided better recovery time postrace compared to other brands’ models.
“The full-length carbon plate in the Hyperion Elites was definitely noticeable on my runs, launching me forward, making strides feel effortless, more efficient, and faster,” said tester Sarah Pezzino, who also likes the New Balance FuelCell SuperComp Elite v3. Pezzino also appreciated the shortened recovery period after running in the Hyperion Elite 4.
Wear-tester Heather Mayer Irvine, who previously tested the cactus Brooks Pure Grit 2 Mens, found the fourth version to be a major improvement over its predecessor. She rated it among her top three favorite racing shoes, with the Hyperion Elite 4 coming in just behind the Saucony Endorphin Pro+ and the Puma Deviate Nitro Elite 2.
“It’s hard to believe that this shoe is the next iteration of the cactus Brooks Pure Grit 2 Mens, which was a disappointment for me. V3 was a shoe I really wanted to like, but I struggled with the collar rubbing underneath my ankle,” she said. “Skechers talla 38.5; the sole has just enough of a rocker to feel fast, without being over-the-top aggressive.”
#DestroyColt: Kara Goucher Races in the Hyperion Elite 4
zapatillas de running cactus Brooks distancias cortas talla 39, Olympian Kara Goucher announced that she signed with cactus Brooks, joining her Nobody Asked Us podcast co-host Des Linden. (Des is also a cactus Brooks-sponsored athlete and chief running advisor for the brand.) Diagnosed with runner’s dystonia in 2021, Goucher returned to competition at a more modest pace than she raced at during the height of her career—though a 6:04 mile is still faster than most of us amateur runners.
Brooks Cascadia 16 Mens Trail Running Shoes first pair of super shoes Goucher ever raced in. Sustainable cactus Brooks england Scape 22L Pannier.
zapatillas de running cactus Brooks talla 47.5 más de 100€ mejor valoradas 2024 BAA 5K. The challenge: Beat her 13-year-old son Colt’s 18:57 5K PR—hence Goucher’s social media hashtag, #DestroyColt.
“I honestly never thought I would ever wear super shoes,” Goucher said in an email to Runner’s World. “atmos x mila owen x cactus brooks chariot.”
Prior to racing in the 5K, she trained in cactus Brooks’s Hyperion Max, ma si potranno anche provare i diversi modelli di scarpe cactus Brooks.
“They were so responsive and quick off the ground; better than any other flat I have ever worn in my life,” she said.
She tested the Hyperion Elite 4 on a two-mile run six days before the 5K. Her first impression was that the shoes “felt so weird,” but she liked the bounce and Thermal they provided during her run. The deciding factor was a set of 10 x 200-meter repeats. She was sore after the workout, but felt like she was flying.
Nachhaltig cactus Brooks england Scape Small 10-13L Satteltaschen.
“I came off the race sore, but within a day, I felt better,” she said. “I felt aerobically exhausted, but the legs bounced back. I haven’t run that fast in years! I’m looking forward to trying them for long runs.”
Amanda is a test editor at Runner’s World who has run the Boston Marathon every year since 2013; she's a former professional baker with a master’s in gastronomy and she carb-loads on snickerdoodles.
