Elevate Performance Running Coach and citizen athlete Neyton Tan reviews Brook’s advanced road-racing Super Shoe, the Hyperion Elite 3, in episode 11 of “Sole Mates”
As part of an ongoing collaboration with Singapore's premier running specialty iRun Singapore, SportPlus.sg has teamed up with local running content creators, Key Opinion Leaders and athletes to have them share their thoughts on the latest running footwear.
The Brooks Hyperion Elite 3 is Brooks' attempt at establishing itself as a high-performing, road-racing shoe for runners to get optimal results on race day.
The latest version of the Hyperion Elite series maintains the same upgrade made to the Hyperion Elite 2: the DNA Flash Foam, with the first edition of the Hyperion Elite series utilising DNA Zero Foam technology instead.
Weighing at approximately 229.6g, the pair of shoes is unisex. It incorporates a carbon plate that enhances the running experience as it allows runners to maintain efficient and powerful strides during runs.
Just how effective are these features in the shoe? Do they justify its SGD$359 price point even as a supershoe? Does the pair only suit competitive runners? Read on and watch our episode with Elevate Performance Running Coach and citizen athlete Neyton Tan to find out more!
In this video, Neyton Tan runs through the pros and cons of the Hyperion Elite 3 and provides his honest opinions after personally using the pair for his runs. There are three main features you can look out for to help you decide whether the shoe is the right fit for you. They include improvements to the upper, midsole, heel and collar of the shoe.
The shoe measures at 27mm in the forefoot, and 35mm in the rearfoot. This gives an overall drop of 8mm. Besides this, the Hyperion Elite 3 also serves as a training shoe for runners to maximise their potential leading up to race day. Join Neyton as he summarises the benefits of each feature for you to consider before purchasing the pair!
QuicKnit Technology
One of the biggest updates of the Hyperion Elite 3. The QuicKnit technology is incorporated into the shoe’s upper so that it feels thick yet breathable. QuicKnit is an elastic fabric that has supreme durability qualities and offers just the right amount of support to give you that all-over locked-down feel.
There are also no overlays, which gives the shoe a sleek and clean look aesthetically. I feel that the shoe’s lockdown and aesthetics help it appeal to more runners. Another feature of the upper that I like in the shoe is definitely the laces.
“Laces similar to the Nike Alphafly” says Neyton
The laces of the Hyperion Elite 3 can be compared to one of my other pairs of racing shoes that I own, the Nike Alphafly 2. When I tie my laces, I most likely do not have to re-tie them in the middle of training or even races.
This is one of the most common problems runners can face with their shoes. The serrated edges around the upper of the Hyperion Elite 3 allows you to have a good locked-down fit with absolutely no worries about your laces coming undone!
Comfort From the Get-Go
The Hyperion Elite 3’s design has undergone improvements to ensure a snug fit and increased comfort, particularly in the heel section. The heel of the shoe now features a sturdy and a well-padded construction. This contributes to the comfort you feel upon putting on the shoe.
As mentioned previously, the shoe has an overall drop of 8mm. During my runs, I tried to land on the midfoot and I did not find the pair unstable. I also did not feel any rockiness when I corner during my runs.
Neyton says, “One of the roomier toe boxes I have felt”
One key factor every runner should consider is the shoe’s toe box area. You do not want any hotspots or blisters on your feet. I can safely say that the toe box of the Hyperion Elite 3 is quite roomy. You can even consider going a half-size down for a snug feel as a race shoe. There are no specifications for men’s and women’s versions as it is a unisex shoe and I enjoyed their overall feel on my foot.
This technology is combined with their Running Rapid Roll. DNA Flash Foam is firm and stable so that you get a faster ride with a slightly springier ride. Complemented by the shoe’s carbon plate, the toe-off is supposed to give you a great amount of energy return.
I would like to admit that because of the DNA Flash midsole, it actually feels quite stiff and heavy. It is not as soft and plush as Brooks’ DNA Loft Midsole. This leads you to work harder during your training runs or race day. As such, I would recommend this pair as a training pair for race days instead.
My Personal Running Experience
So far, I have clocked a total distance of 15 km in this pair of shoes. They include 2 types of runs; 1 Interval run on the track, and another easy run. Durability-wise, the shoe is decent. For example, after 6 km of intervals on the track, I did not notice much wear and tear in the base of the shoe. Another difference in Brooks’ Hyperion Elite 3 and Nike’s Alphafly is the toe box area based on my experience.
This is important as runners can notice discomfort in the toe box only after properly breaking into the shoe. For me, I tend to find blisters in the toe box area when I use my Nike Alphafly after some time.
“No need to break-in” says Neyton, when referring to the Hyperion Elite 3.
Comfort-wise it is easy, no hotspots and provides a nice comfy feel for the user. Definitely one of the plus-points of the shoe!
Possible Changes For The Hyperion Elite 4?
For future iterations of the shoe, I hope that Brooks would change the configuration of the carbon plate and the foam of the shoe while maintaining the same stability it already provides. In return, the foam can be made lighter and the carbon plate can provide runners with greater responsiveness in the shoe.
Perhaps, you can consider this pair as a training shoe. The pair requires your legs to work harder as it does not provide too much responsiveness or the added ‘boost’ runners may look for in their shoe. By implementing the changes mentioned above, I believe it will definitely improve the running experience for future users and justify the Hyperion Elite 3’s higher price point better.
Final Thoughts And Ratings
Overall, the shoe would not be ideal for race days despite establishing itself as a racing shoe. The enhanced upper and lacing system are the strongest features of the shoe. However, you would expect greater responsiveness in a super shoe for your races which the Hyperion Elite 3 falls short of.
The Hyperion Elite 3 is still a great shoe for speed training runs and intervals. Elite-level runners would benefit from this shoe for training but may want to consider other options for race day.
With that, here are Neyton final ratings for the Brooks Hyperion Elite 3:
Sole Mates Overall Shoe Rating
Comfort: 5/5
Stability: 5/5
Responsiveness: 1/5
Grippiness: 2/5
Value for Money: 1/5
This would result in an overall rating of 2.8 out of 5 soles for the Hyperion Elite 3!
You can purchase the latest Brooks Hyperion Elite 3 at SGD $359 from any iRun Store or online at iRun.com.
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