Disclaimer: The Run Testers sometimes use affiliate links. This means that we may receive payment if you buy products on our website or YouTube. Our use of affiliates supports the channel and does not affect how we review shoes, tech or gear.
The Brooks Hyperion Elite 5 is the best carbon plate running shoe Brooks has ever made, with a slightly lighter and springier design than the Brooks Hyperion Elite 4 PB.
It establishes Brooks as a true competitor in the racing shoe market once again, and is a great option for events of any distance as well as fast training runs. There are some racers we have ahead of it, however, like the Puma Fast-R Nitro Elite 3, and the high price makes the Hyperion Elite 5 a harder sell than shoes like the Adidas Adizero Adios Pro 4.
Design & Key Stats
- Price: £240/$275
- Weight: 203g/7.2oz (men’s UK 9 / US 10)
- Drop: 8mm
- Upper: Lightweight and open TPU-coated yarn
- Midsole: PEBA DNA Gold foam with Arris carbon plate
- Outsole: Thin layer of Speedtack rubber on forefoot and heel
Brooks Hyperion Elite 5 review
How’s The Fit
Nick, Tom and Kieran tested the Brooks Hyperion Elite 5 for our review and all three had a good fit with the shoe in their normal size. The thin strip of padding at the heel has the potential to rub the Achilles tendon if you’re sensitive in that area, but this problem didn’t arise for us and overall the upper is as lightweight as you want in a racing shoe while still holding the foot securely.
Check out more of the best running shoes
The Run Test: Likes
The Brooks Hyperion Elite 5 builds on the success of the Hyperion Elite 4 PB in offering an even springier and faster ride. The PEBA midsole foam delivers a lot of energy return, and the lightweight design and propulsive plate make the shoe great for races of any distance.
We’ve done 10K and half marathon races in the shoe between us and found it a reliable performer on race day, and the Hyperion Elite 5 is also more natural to run in than more aggressively rockered or bouncy racing shoes.
It’s also fairly stable for such a lightweight racer, with the bubbles in the midsole allowing Brooks to cut out some foam and reduce weight without making the shoe as unstable as racers with full medial side cutouts, like the Hoka Cielo X1 2.0.
Check out more of the best Brooks running shoes
We found that we could use the Hyperion Elite 5 for a range of training runs, whereas some carbon super-shoes are a bit too wobbly and wild for regular use outside of races.
This slightly-friendlier design means it could be one of the best marathon running shoes for those who aren’t use to running in carbon plate shoes, though do still bear in mind it’s not as stable and comfortable as a training shoe.
The Run Test: Dislikes
While the more natural ride of the Hyperion Elite 5 is appreciated at times, it doesn’t quite feels as aggressive and fast as the top racing shoes available, like the Puma Fast-R 3 or Asics Metaspeed Sky Tokyo.
It’s also just a minor upgrade on the Hyperion Elite 4 PB but the price has jumped, and in general the price is quite high when compared to other carbon plate running shoes that deliver an equally good or even better level of performance, including some older models like the Asics Metaspeed Sky Paris that you might find in sales.
Verdict And Alternatives
It’s great to see Brooks competing at the sharp end of racing shoes once again, and the Hyperion Elite 5 will not let you down if you pick it up, but it doesn’t do quite enough to stand out from the crowd for us.
Just like the New Balance SC Elite v5, the Hyperion Elite 5 is a fast, light and propulsive racer that works for any distance, but it doesn’t feel like a level up on the competition, whereas some shoes like the Asics and Puma racers do.
It’s also a little bit pricy, and you can get the Hyperion Elite 4 PB for less without sacrificing too much in terms of performance, and also find excellent racers from other brands for less, like the Puma Deviate Nitro Elite 3 or Adidas Adios Pro 4.
Overall the Hyperion Elite 5 is a great racer, but it wouldn’t be top of our list to check out if you’re shopping for a super-shoe right now.