Brooks Hyperion Max 3 vs Mizuno Neo Vista 3

Ride profile: maximal cushion , firm_responsive feel , high energy return , neutral stability .

• Kofuzi considers the Hyperion Max 3 a pretty good shoe and strongly prefers it over the Max 4, finding it more pliable, less rigid, and more agreeable across a range of paces.

  In their words: "a little bit more pliable and a little bit more agreeable to run in"

  — Kofuzi , source

• Reviewer's favorite of the three Brooks Max shoes — bridges Brooks into the high-performance non-plated conversation alongside the Mizuno Neo Vista and HOKA Mach X.

  Ride:Best in class for non-carbon-plated high-cushion fast training shoes. 18-mile run felt great the whole way; over 100 miles in and it still looks and feels new.

  Fit:Surprisingly wider fit than expected; unique upper that works very well.

  — Run Moore , 100 mi tested , source

• A very different shoe from the Max 2 — now a big, bouncy max-stack super trainer that's great for marathon-pace long runs but lacks the snap for fast sessions and is overpriced given the weight.

  Ride:New DNA Gold + DNA Flash V2 setup is bouncier and more comfortable than the firmer Max 2; excels at marathon-pace cruising and long runs; weight and bulk work against it at faster paces; stability acceptable for the high stack

  Fit:True to size across all four testers; upper is closer and more racy than Max 2; booty-style design with reserved padding around laces and inside heel collar; some found it warm; one tester felt forefoot was unusually roomy

  In their words: "marathon pace, long run potential" · "much more close and hugging" · "I do think it's a limited shoe"

  — The Run Testers , 37 mi tested , source

• A well-built but confusingly heavy max-stack trainer whose bulky upper spoils the DNA Gold midsole; scored 9.1/12 overall, with the reviewer feeling Brooks should have trimmed the upper and weight like they did on the Hyperion Elite 5.

  Ride:Dense, controlling ride with the plate most noticeable in the heel and DNA Gold PEBA more prominent in the forefoot; feels locked into cruising pace and takes effort at half-marathon pace due to weight; stable but not particularly fun or propulsive.

  Fit:Constrictive upper, hard to get into, needs a shoe horn; shallow toe box height; booty-like construction does most of the lockdown; true to size with no need to go up a half size; better suited to normal-to-wide feet rather than narrow.

  In their words: "Hyperion overload rather than max" · "a bit of a Frankenstein model" · "quite a controlling shoe this one"

  — EDDBUD , source

Ride profile: maximal cushion , neutral stability .

• Very comfortable, wide, stable long-run and recovery shoe with a well-balanced Energy NXT foam; the reviewer recommends buying the cheaper v2 over the v3.

  Ride:Over 40mm of stack with balanced Energy NXT foam and a speed-roll-assist geometry.

  Fit:One-piece knit booty upper locks down well despite unnecessarily long laces.

  In their words: "really rolls well with the speed roll"

  — FORDY RUNS , source

• The Run Testers' crew found the Neo Vista 3 a comfortable, distinctly bouncy cushioned daily/easy-day trainer that's an improvement on the v2 but still not as versatile or lively as the original v1, with several testers preferring rivals like the Novablast 6 or Clifton Pro for a more energetic, all-round ride.

  Ride:A soft, sinking, max-cushion ride with a pronounced rocker that feels bouncy and lively when pushed toward marathon pace, but sluggish and wobbly/unstable at slower easy paces; testers wanted more plate-driven snap and control from the foam.

  Fit:Testers generally found a true-to-size fit with a roomy, secure booty-style upper and good midfoot/heel lockdown; one tester preferred going half a size down, and a couple noted the sock-like tongue and rear eyelet placement take some fiddling to lock down.

  In their words: "fit like a glove, basically" · "cushy malleable moving wobbly" · "so close to being a fan"

  — The Run Testers , 31 mi tested , source

• Kofuzi sees the Neo Vista 3 as a worthwhile refinement over the v2 -- a comfortable, big-sweet-spot shoe for easy and long runs -- but feels the redesigned plate and firm EVA base blunt energy return once he tries to pick up the pace, especially as a midfoot/forefoot striker.

  Ride:Big, forgiving sweet spot for heel, midfoot, or forefoot strikers at easy paces thanks to a firm, dense EVA base layer that adds stability and predictability, but energy return and pop fade once he tries to push past moderate effort.

  Fit:True to size; new molded heel cup with a foam bumper pad adds structure and can trap heat/sweat in warm weather, but Kofuzi noted no heel fit issues.

  In their words: "a nice refinement over what" · "a really big sweet spot" · "a lack of pop"

  — Kofuzi , source

• Ben Parkes describes the Neo Vista 3 as a fun, bouncy, marshmallow-soft max-stack shoe that's surprisingly stable thanks to its plate, best suited to recovery jogs and easy miles, with only minor gripes about bulk and lacing irritation.

  Ride:Bouncy, plush, marshmallow-soft ride with a plate that adds stability rather than speed — geared toward chill, easy miles rather than performance.

  Fit:Booty-style upper hugs the foot and is surprisingly breathable for the volume; lacing system caused some minor irritation.

  In their words: "it's bouncy and it's really good fun" · "soft, squishy, marshmallowy type shoe"

  — Ben Parkes , source