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 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.
Top Road Running Shoes on Reddit
1
ASICS
SUPERBLAST 2
71% positive of 805 users
Marathon workhorse, but loud and clunky at slow paces.
Admirable_Emotion718
