I think I may have found my next racing shoe for the marathon! Here are my honest thoughts on the Brooks Hyperion Tempo running shoes.
Over the years of working at a running specialty store, it is always interesting to see the trends of running shoes change. Just within the past couple of years, I’ve seen the lightweight training shoes and racing flats go from very minimal cushion in the midsole to a much thicker piece of foam that can easily add 2-3 inches of stack height to the shoe.
Nike was the first to add more cushion to their racing flats with the Vaporfly series that went from the 4% to the Next% and most recently the Alphafly. I’ve tried them all on in the store I work at, and they are unlike any other shoe I’ve worn.
As the other shoe brands have followed suit with their own increased cushion and stack height, the trend is for them to come out with two shoes that are very similar–one with a carbon-fiber plate for racing and another without the carbon-fiber plate, which they market as their lightweight training shoe.
Brooks came out with their Hyperion Elite and their Hyperion Tempo around the same time. For an extra $100, the Hyperion Elite has a carbon fiber plate, whereas the Hyperion Tempo does not. The Hyperion Elite uses the midsole cushion called DNA Zero while the Hyperion Tempo has DNA Flash in the midsole. There are other differences, but those are some of the big ones.
When I saw Brooks come out with their training shoe the Hyperion Tempo, I had to put it on because I was on the market for a lightweight training shoe I could use for track days and tempo workouts as well as race day. I tend to use a lightweight training shoe for racing as I, personally, haven’t branched into the carbon-fiber plate trend for racing.
When I first slipped my foot into the shoe, I immediately noticed how well it hugged my foot. The upper materials were thin and lightweight and fit my foot like a glove.
I jogged around in it and loved the cushion and how soft it was. At the same time, my foot didn’t sink into the midsole and feel like a memory foam mattress that would leave me feeling weighted down or too plush. Instead it was very responsive and snappy.
I first did an easy run in the shoes to try them out before using them on a faster workout, and I immediately forgot about my shoes, which is always a good sign. (Too often I wear a new pair of shoes, and I am constantly thinking about them and trying to decide if I like them.)
After a couple easy runs, I wore them for a track workout and a race, and I was convinced I found my new marathon racing shoe. They are extremely comfortable, the heel cup is really secure on my feet, the uppers are very flexible, and the cushion is the perfect combination of being soft but not spongy.
I’ve loved the racing flats I’ve worn in the past (New Balance 1400, Adidas Adios, Brooks Hyperion), but inevitably there wasn’t much cushion to absorb the shock and impact of 26.2 miles on my feet, joints, and the pounding my muscles take over 3+ hours. These, on the other hand, provide great cushion but not the extra weight of a traditional training shoe.
Overall, I absolutely love the Brooks Hyperion Tempo for faster workouts (speed, interval, tempo) and for racing. But also, don’t put it past me to wear them for an easy run either because I love them that much.
Brooks Hyperion Tempo
Cushion: neutral
Drop: 8mm
Weight: 6.7oz (women’s)
Experience type: speed
Use: Competition
You do gain an extra ounce of weight when compared to the previous Brooks Hyperion racing flat due to the extra cushion, but I would argue that one single ounce won’t affect your time that much, and if anything you’ll be able to run faster because your legs won’t fatigue as quickly.
As always, take my suggestion with a grain of salt because my feet are shaped differently than yours, and what I like/dislike about a shoe may be different than what you like/dislike.
Nonetheless, this is a high-quality shoe that I think a lot of people will like, but as always, go to your local specialty running store to try out a lot of options before making a purchase.
Greetings Michelle, Have you used the Hyperion for a Marathon or Half Marathon? Do you prefer them over a race day carbon shoe?
I have a pair of the Saucony Endorphin Pro 2’s along with the Brooks Hyperion Tempo. I feel like the Endorphin Pro’s defiantly provide a little boost in speed and maybe even less stress on the legs and has a little more cushion than the Brooks. However, what I like about the Hyperion Tempo is that my gait feels more fluid and natural. Therefore I’m considering compromising potential performance in exchange for good mechanics and stability. The reason being, I’ve struggled with a gait issue over the last year and a half.
I have used the Hyperion Tempo for a half marathon but not for a full marathon. It is hard to beat the boost in performance in a carbon-plated shoe for the marathon! Honestly, if it were me, I’d probably keep looking for a carbon-plated shoe that felt more natural and allowed your gait to feel better. I realize that does require some additional money, so I guess it would depend upon how important that potential performance enhancement is for you.