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Reddit Reviews
I have a pair of Brooks hyperion 2 that I really enjoy running shorter tempo runs in. Love basically everything about it but i would like some more impact protection, but nothing too soft. Something thats a bit more daily runner friendly, for about 4min/km to 6min/km paces. Been looking into the evo sl, novablast and the superblast 2. Ive got a slightly wider toebox and narrower heel, but im also slightly flatfooted, nothing significant. History of some shinsplints but havent had them in a while now. I do have plantar fascia flareups from time to time. Any recommendations or thoughts on the shoes mentioned? Thanks!!
Adios 8 and Noosa Tri are closest IMO - I have both and I like them. Basically, the Adios 8 is low stack and fast with a good outsole but slightly higher drop, while the Noosa Tri has a lower drop but a few more millimeters of stack. If you can get ahold of an Adios 9, that's low stack and a 6mm drop, so it may be the Goldilocks option. Outsole coverage is better but it is thin. The Hyperion Tempo was actually the first shoe that came to mind, but is basically extinct nowadays (the end is coming on my last pair and I'm not ready to let go). Very similar in spirit, just with a higher drop. The Hyperion 2 is a very light and great speed shoe, but is squishy enough that if you want a Kinvara-like ride you may be disappointed.
I can relate to your situation and have been successfully wearing the shoes below. I did a fair amount of research and read reviews to help guide my options. In some cases, I intentionally purchased the prior version of the shoe because it had more cushioning, bounce and weight vs the newer/current model. New Balance FuelCell Rebel v4 - these are my shoes for intervals, tempo runs and races. Absolutely love them and looking to buy another pair. I’ll be wearing them in my upcoming half marathon. Great cushioning, bounce, and super lightweight (6.3 oz). I purchased the v4 after reading a lot of reviews that claimed the v5 wasn’t as cushioned and people preferred the 4. The upper is super breathable and will be great for running in the summer/heat. Brooks Hyperion 2 and Max 2 - both super lightweight and cushioned with good bounce. Reviews have been pretty critical of the v3 in both models which steered me to the 2s. I like them both and use them in rotation with my two New Balance models. The Hyperion model are both speedier than the NB 1080. The non-Max Hyperion 2 is super lightweight and cushioned, but lacks the stack of the Max and NB Rebel, making it great for 400 - 800 intervals sessions. New Balance 1080 v14 - very versatile, cushioned and nice bounce, a little heavier at 8.3 oz. Upper is breathable, but more substantial for winter and cooler weather running vs NB Rebel. I wear these now in rotation with the NB Rebel v4. These feel a little speedier than my old ASICS GT-2000, and are great for peppy long runs.
Topo Cyclone 3, Adidas Adios 9 (if you can find it), Nike Pegasus Plus. Hyperion 2 is a nice choice, probably on sale if you can find it. Hyperion 3 became a bit bulky. Many love the Rebel, though midsole durability is very poor.
Nike Pegasus 42. I use the 41 for days of lifting and running on the treadmill. Yes, my other running shoe are too soft - Novablast, Superblast 3, 1080 v15 all too soft and unstable for lifting. The Pegs are good, 42's better than the 41s. I'll be getting those soon. The other shoe I use is the Brooks Hyperion 2 but getting those are difficult. The 3 is long out and not as good for lifting IMO. If you go heavy leg days, wear proper weight training shoes or cross trainers. The cross trainers I have suck at running though but you can try them and see what you think.
>I’ve been seeing a lot of people mention the MagMax. Are they one of the best Long/Recovery shoes out there? I haven't really tried the competitors in the category, but the broad view among reviewers and others who have used the MagMax seem to be that it is, and I think it does the job very well. >Also, I see both the Hyperion 2 and the Hyperion Max 2 on sale. Is it worth spending the extra 30 for the Max? Haven't tried the Hyperion Max 2, but they're different shoes. I would not regard one as being a premium version of the other. The Hyperion Max 2 has a higher stack and a plate, whereas the regular Hyperion 2 has a relatively lower stack (33mm in the heel seems to count as "low stack" these days) and no plate. There seem to be basically no bad reviews of the Hyperion 2 out there. The role that people single out for the Hyperion 2 tends to be as an interval trainer, but it tends to get credit for being highly versatile well beyond that one role. (I've taken it on easy runs, long runs, etc. and been satisfied with how it performed on those too.) It's an extremely lightweight, natural, nimble-feeling speed trainer, but it's also a solid shoe to run in if you'd like a firmer shoe that would've been moderate-to-high-stacked prior to the market shifting to dramatically raised stack heights across the board. The Hyperion Max 2 seems to have a fanbase of people who really like it, but it also seems to have received more mixed reviews, and those who like it seem to like it specifically for tempo workouts (i.e. steady state/threshold/progression/marathon pace stuff) and often don't regard it as a versatile shoe beyond that. Also worth noting that the Hyperion 3 and the Hyperion Max 3, which are about to release, both appear to be stark departures from their respective predecessors. The Hyperion 3 appears to be going up in stack height some to try to contend as a mainstream "uptempo daily" style of shoe, similar to the direction the New Balance Rebel v5 appears to be taking. The Hyperion Max 3 is also going up in stack significantly, incorporating PEBA above the plate, and seems to be trying to be a versatile supertrainer style of shoe. It's a weird situation, where neither of the niches filled by the 2 models really seem to be filled by either of the 3 models.
I saw your thread the other day, didn't get around to replying. You're probably looking for a flexible, lower-stacked shoe, something which'll ask you to more naturally plantarflex rather than having a more rockered transition. This isn't really Asics's forte (practically all of the forward-looking Asics lines are 40mm+ heel stacks, and most of their trainers are pretty high stack too), you might look at the Noosa Tri if you want an Asics shoe for this. Other options would be the Puma Velocity Nitro 4, the Brooks Hyperion 2 or Ghost 17, the Hoka Mach 6/7, or the Saucony Kinvara 16. More extreme low-stack options might include the Topo Cyclone or the Adidas Adios 9. An intriguing tech solution if you really want to go in on flexibility is the recent Brooks Glycerin Flex. The Brooks Hyperion GTS 2 might also be a really good idea, as a fairly flexible low-stack shoe that also has mild medial stability elements. Most of these are more uptempo shoes, which is kind of a consequence of more relaxed trainers going to higher stacks these days. You could also look for flexible shoes [on RunRepeat](https://runrepeat.com/guides/flexible-vs-stiff-running-shoes), their flexibility testing seems reasonable.
If you can track down the Hyperion 2, that'd be the closest thing to the shoes you're talking about imo. The Hyperion 2 also has pretty good room in the toebox and a slightly offset lacing system which seems to help it accommodate a variety of midfoot volumes. They're also lighter and just generally more exciting than the Launch 11. The EVO SL might be worth a try too. Notorious for a "baggy" higher-volume upper (though for me it's a Cinderella slipper perfect fit for my slightly higher-volume feet), it was the lightweight uptempo hype shoe of the running scene in late 2024 and most of 2025. Stability could be an issue (it registers as firmer to shoe sickos, but it'll be softer than Brooks shoes you've used, and it has a bit of a medial cutout), and if you're looking for midsole platform *width* rather than *volume* then it might not be right for you, so you really should try it on first. But it's absolutely everywhere in stores, and if it works for you then you get to use a pretty exciting shoe.
offering someone with a small child and a tight budget the most expensive shoes on the market for 225 euros is really irresponsible, or just the fanaticism of the local Asics sect. Accepting the fact that it is normal to pay 225 euros for a training shoe is pure nonsense. If you don't have a budget problem, then why not, it's everyone's business, I am quite financially secure, but I simply won't buy training shoes for 225 when there are other options - just as good and for much less money.. So now to the question - instead of one shoe for everything, it's better to get 2 shoes for rotation, your feet and the foam of the shoes will rest, and running will be healthier overall. If you want shoes on a reasonable budget, then for speed training the Hyperion 2 from Brooks are great, they are on sale now for under 100 euros, and for everything else, for example the Saucony Azura, both of these shoes will cost you as much as one Megablast..........the decision is of course up to you
i LOVED the hyperion 2 for speedwork. i have the elite 5 now as a race shoe but have yet to run in them this year. i personally would love to own like ten more pairs of hyperion 2s lol
Rankings by Use Case
Top recommendations from others in the same boat
Best for Achilles tendonitis

Top pick
Brooks - Glycerin GTS 22
Best for Budget-conscious running

Top pick
ADIDAS - Adizero Evo SL
Best for Heavier runners

Top pick
ASICS - SUPERBLAST 2
Best for Long-distance training

Top pick
ASICS - SUPERBLAST 2
Best for Marathon race day

Top pick
ASICS - SUPERBLAST 2
Best for Maximum cushioning and joint protection

Top pick
Nike - Vomero Plus





