Stack to the Future: Brooks Hyperion Max 3

We’re back for round three with the Brooks Hyperion Max, and spoiler alert: this version actually earns its “Max” badge. We’ve covered the first two iterations before, both of which had some solid upsides, but if we had one consistent gripe, it was with the name. “Max” just never felt right when the stack and underfoot feel sat closer to “medium” than anything super-cushy or plush.

But hey, whether Brooks was listening or not (we’re going to pretend they were), they’ve made some serious changes with version three—and we’re into it.

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Brooks Hyperion Max 2: More Stack and No Looking Back

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Looks:

Out of the gate, Brooks is launching the Max 3 in two colorways. We’ve been running in the coral version, which, for what it’s worth, looks way more vivid in-hand than in photos. I don’t hate it, but I don’t love it either. The women’s coral colorway adds a little more visual contrast with a cream heel wrap, and honestly, we might prefer that one slightly more.

In our opinion, the real show-stealer may be the alternate white/green combo—super clean and definitely the one that’ll get the most compliments at the track.

Let’s address the elephant in the room—yes, it’s got a big midsole, but no, it doesn’t feel squishy. If you’re coming in expecting marshmallow softness, you might be a little surprised. Despite the massive stack, the shoe feels more firm than expected, which can largely be chalked up to the embedded plate and that denser Flash foam underneath.

Fit & Feel:

This firmer feel gives it a distinctly different personality than a recovery shoe. The Hyperion Max 3 thrives in up-tempo efforts, longer efforts with steady pacing, and daily miles where you want to keep some pop. It’s not a speed day rocket like the Hyperion Elite, and it’s not a soft cruiser like the Glycerin—it’s somewhere right in between. For my money, it’s a better daily trainer than the v2 ever was.

The added weight (it’s about an ounce heavier than v2, but still sub-10 oz for a Men’s 9) gives it a slightly bulkier ride, though that seems to actually help it feel more planted and supportive at pace. Not a brick by any means—just a bit more shoe underfoot.

That said, if you were a diehard fan of the earlier versions because of their snappy, stripped-down feel, this is going to be a different experience. Not necessarily worse—just different.

And we don’t talk laces much – but we felt we had to here. Brooks ditched the sawtooth laces from the previous version for a plain old standard flat option, and honestly… why? It’s a small detail, but those laces worked, and the new ones are just kinda forgettable. Not a dealbreaker, but we were bummed enough to audibly sigh.

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Midsole:

 

Let’s revisit that midsole now that we’ve got a few runs in. Even with all that foam, the ride doesn’t get sloppy. The DNA Gold layer gives a noticeable bit of bounce, while the plate keeps things responsive. You can feel that energy return kick in during toe-off, and the rocker design helps make turnover feel smooth and efficient.

If you’re walking around in these casually, they do feel a bit unstable just due to how tall they are. But in motion, they’re surprisingly grounded. This is a runner’s running shoe, not a crossover trainer or lifestyle sneaker. So, if you stick to pavement or smooth paths, you’ll be good.

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Outsole:

The outsole coverage is generous and pretty durable. The rubber seems to be holding up nicely after quite a few miles, and grip hasn’t been an issue—even on slightly wet pavement. If you’re a heavier runner (I’m about 200 lbs), this is the kind of outsole you want to see. It’s not overly aggressive, but it gets the job done without feeling clunky.

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Overall:

The Brooks Hyperion Max 3 feels a little like a reboot of the line—and in a good way. It’s not just a tweaked update of v2; it’s a different animal entirely. It finally justifies the “Max” in the name with a true max stack, firmer but faster ride, and a construction that brings it into that super trainer category.

Is it perfect? No. The upper might run a touch warm, and the lace change still stings. But overall, Brooks made an edit most were looking for, and it lands.

If you want a durable, propulsive daily trainer that isn’t overly marshmallowy, the Max 3 should absolutely be on your radar. Just know: it’s less of a subtle update and more of a reinvention. Whether that’s a dealbreaker or a glow-up will depend on what you’re looking for in your rotation.