Brooks Hyperion Max 4

A surprise pick: a firmer ride than he usually likes but really nice to run in, with a plate giving a propulsive feel underfoot.

Fordy Runs found the Hyperion Max 4 essentially unchanged from the flawed v3 — too heavy, too expensive, and unstable in the heel for heel strikers and pronators — and recommends most buyers skip v4 in favor of a discounted v3 or another super trainer.

Best for: Marathon-pace and tempo efforts for forefoot strikers; not recommended for heel strikers, pronators, or easy-pace running.

A significant step backward from the Hyperion Max 3, the Max 4 feels overly rigid and dense to the point that Kofuzi could not finish a threshold workout in it, and he only tolerates it at easy paces where its rolling geometry can work on its own terms.

Best for: Heel strikers and heavier runners who prefer a rigid, rolling shoe for daily easy runs or marathon racing

A solid update that keeps what made the Hyperion Max 3 great, though the more traditional, slightly heavier upper makes it feel less like a race shoe and more like an everyday tempo performance trainer.

Best for: Tempo and fast training days, doubling as an everyday trainer for putzing-around miles.