Hyperion Elite 4 vs SuperComp Elite 6

The Hyperion Elite 4 is Brooks going all in on the marathon: a carbon racing shoe with one job, and it does it with a surprisingly light touch. At 196g it is not the lightest super shoe on a shelf full of sub-190g rivals, but the balance is where it wins. The nitrogen-infused foam feels bouncy without the top-heavy wobble some race shoes carry, and the carbon plate keeps you rolling forward once you settle into pace. This is a road running shoe built for race day, not your easy miles. It suits a runner who wants a stable, predictable ride they can trust for 26.2 rather than the twitchiest, most aggressive tool in the pack. Against a Nike Vaporfly 4 it trades a little raw pop for a calmer, more planted feel. At £245 it sits right in premium carbon territory, so it earns its place on merit, not price.

New Balance swapped almost everything under the foot for this version, and reviewers noticed. The SC Elite v6 gets a new foam, a reworked carbon plate and a big cut in weight, and most testers called it a clear step up from the SuperComp Elite v5, which one reviewer had found closer to a trainer than a race shoe. It's now a proper carbon racer, light and springy, with a front end that won't bend. Where it works best is less settled. Doctors of Running's two testers graded it A and A-, and one would race it anywhere from 5K to the marathon. RTINGS was cooler on the long stuff, finding the forefoot cushioning only just enough for a full marathon and rating it higher for shorter races. So if you're quick and land on your midfoot, it's a strong marathon shoe. If you land on your heel and want protection in the last few miles, a softer racer will look after your legs better. At £230 RRP it sits with the most expensive racers, so check the price table before you buy.