Hyperion 2 vs Hyperion 3

The Hyperion 2 is Brooks at its most versatile: a light, non-plated speed trainer built to make your fast days feel fast without asking you to save it for race morning. At 204g it sits comfortably in lightweight-trainer territory, and the ride is snappy and low to the ground rather than soft and plush. There is no carbon plate here, which is the whole point. You get a natural, flexible foot feel that rewards a quick turnover, so it handles tempo runs, intervals and strides better than it handles slow miles. In our view this is one of the more honest running shoes in its class: it does not pretend to be a marathon super-shoe, and it is better for it. If you want a single pair for structured speed work, or a first proper 5K and 10K racer, the Hyperion 2 earns its place. The newer Hyperion 3 refines the same idea if you want the latest version.

The Brooks Hyperion 3 is a lightweight speed trainer built to add a bit of zip to your faster days without asking you to buy a dedicated racer. It is a neutral road running shoe aimed at tempo runs, intervals and strides, and at 244g it is light enough to feel quick underfoot the moment you pick up the pace. There is no carbon plate here, so you will not get the springboard snap of a super shoe. What you get instead is a simple, honest tempo shoe with a firm, responsive ride and a versatile streak that lets it double as a lighter daily trainer. The 11.3mm drop is on the traditional side and rewards heel strikers. Against the plated crowd it gives up some return, but at £130 it undercuts most of them and asks for less commitment. If you liked the Brooks Hyperion 2, this is a familiar, refined update rather than a reinvention.