Brooks Hyperion Elite 5 Review: A Fast, Forgiving Racer

If you’ve run in previous versions of the Brooks Hyperion Elite, you’ll know the line has always been about balancing speed and control, offering that classic super shoe feel, without going overboard.

The Hyperion Elite 5 builds on the Hyperion Elite 4 with a much-improved underfoot feel, softer and snappier DNA Gold foam, and a ride that feels lightweight and 'mostly' efficient at pace.

But while it delivers in so many areas, there’s one key issue that keeps it from being a perfect race-day pick for me.

Here’s my full breakdown after testing it across tempo sessions and faster runs at a threshold pace.

Key Specifications

• Price: $275 at BrooksRunning.com / DSG / Sportsshoes.com (UK)
• Weight: 7.2 oz (204g) for US(M)9
• Drop: 8mm
• Upper: Full TPU pressed mesh upper with silicone lace sheaths and a minimal, race-day fit
• Midsole: DNA Gold PEBA foam (Brooks’ softest and highest energy return yet). Arris® SpeedVault+ carbon plate tuned by shoe size for weight and stiffness balance
• Outsole: Lightweight rubber coverage with midfoot cutout to expose the carbon plate

Sizing and fit

Fit is true to size with a medium width that should work well for most runners.

There’s enough structure through the midfoot for a locked-in feel, but the heel fit is where things start to unravel.

Breathability is excellent, your feet stay cool even during hard sessions, and the lightweight upper disappears on the foot in a really nice way.

There's also plenty of padding on the inside of the collars and heel counter but the tongue is on the short side.

But that heel lock issue definitely affects the overall fit and performance on the run. I'll go into more detail on that, in just a moment.

Performance review

Let’s start with the good news: the underfoot feel is much improved over the previous version.

The new DNA Gold foam finally gives the Hyperion Elite the soft, springy feel you’d expect from a race-day shoe in 2025.