Brooks Hyperion Elite 4 PB Performance Review

The Brooks Hyperion Elite 4 PB only changes one thing from the Hyperion Elite 4, and it’s arguably the biggest thing Brooks could change – not just on this particular shoe, but across the entire Brooks footwear lineup. 

Finally, Brooks is embracing the most elite running foam available: PEBA. Brooks’ version of PEBA is called DNA GOLD, and it’s a uniquely Brooks flavor of the popular foam.

How does it perform on the roads? Let’s find out.

What is the Brooks Hyperion Elite 4 PB?

According to Brooks, the Hyperion Elite 4 PB is “light, springy, fast”, “checks all the boxes”, and “offers a competitive edge for racing”. Now, that last one is a stretch considering modern road-racing shoes are all in a similar ballpark nowadays. It’s really about which fits best. But the first two assertions are true. Brooks has finally delivered a race-day shoe that indeed “checks all the boxes” and brings the company to parity with the other great marathon and road-racing shoes.

What Changed on the Brooks Hyperion Elite 4 PB?

While the Hyperion Elite 4’s DNA FLASH v2 midsole wasn’t bad, it wasn’t in-line with other racers and sat towards the bottom of our super shoe rankings. Though it was bouncy, it was just too firm to appeal broadly. Some people really liked it, but most didn’t get the weight/responsiveness combo they were looking for in a modern road-racing shoe.

DNA GOLD and its 100% PEBA formulation, delivers a more broadly appealing feel. That Brooks DNA is still present [Editor’s Note: clearly, it’s in the cushion name] because while I wouldn’t call the Hyperion Elite 4 PB firm, it’s not squishy side-to-side like some PEBA midsoles. Instead, the squish only happens in an up/down motion.

The Hyperion Elite 4 PB has a trampoline-like feel that bounces the foot up into the air on every toe-off. It’s the bounciest Brooks shoe ever and really fun during speed workouts or tempo sessions. It’s a shoe that helps me maintain speed as my lungs start to burn towards the end of reps.

I found the midsole made fast running more fun. It’s definitely a shoe I’d use for a 5K, 10K, or half-marathon race. At my size [Editor’s Note: i.e., GIANT], it’s not quite as protective as I would need for a full marathon, but it’d likely get close. I wouldn’t hesitate to use it for long runs either.

But the real cushion headline is this: DNA GOLD is the real deal, and Brooks is now offering cushion technology that’s just as good as its rivals’. And with how good Brooks is at selling shoes, I can’t imagine the other shoe companies are happy about that.

Support

While the Brooks Hyperion Elite 4 PB is a race-day shoe, and the support elements are consequently virtually non-existent on the upper (it’s basically a track spike upper), the DNA GOLD doesn’t squish too much to the sides and thus is dependable when rounding corners or dealing with cobblestone and other uneven surfaces. The support is above-average among race-day options.

Traction

The outsole on the Brooks Hyperion Elite 4 PB is solid for a race-day shoe. There’s plenty of rubber, and it grips well in wet conditions. It’s grippy enough to handle standard race-day conditions without any issues. It’s also thick enough rubber that its durability will be far above average for a long-distance road-racing shoe. If you’re not interested in constantly buying new racing shoes because the rubber wears away quickly, this is the type of shoe that may be perfect for you.

Upper

The Brooks Hyperion Elite 4 PB includes one of the most breathable uppers on the market. It’s like Brooks took one of its track spike uppers and affixed it to a road-shoe midsole. It feels as if there’s nothing above the foot. The barbed laces are also a nice touch. They’re unlikely to untie while running, even without a double knot.

The heel collar is a bit minimal, so not everyone will be able to rock no-show socks with the Hyperion Elite 4 PB…but the trade-off is worth it. A minimal, airy upper curtails water retention or other distractions. That’s exactly what most runners want on race day.

Is the Brooks Hyperion Elite 4 PB wide foot friendly?

The Brooks Hyperion Elite 4 PB is accommodating throughout the shoe. Narrow-footers will get some scrunching of material in the toebox; but, due to the soft knit build, it won’t cause hotspots. Everyone should have sufficient room for toe splay up front.

The Brooks Hyperion Elite 4 PB fits true-to-size, lengthwise.

Is the Brooks Hyperion Elite 4 PB worth $250?

The Brooks Hyperion Elite 4 PB is worth $250, the now-typical rate for a high-performing road-racer. It delivers the weight, squish, bounce, and performance to justify the price.

How to use the Brooks Hyperion Elite 4 PB

The Brooks Hyperion Elite 4 PB is best used as a road-racing shoe (5K to marathon), a long-run shoe, and is a great option for track workouts or other speed-focused running sessions.

Brooks Hyperion Elite 4 PB Summary

The Brooks Hyperion Elite 4 PB finally delivers PEBA to Brooks’ running shoe lineup, and it’s a BIG step in the right direction. The high end of Brooks’ lineup now features performance in-line with the very best long-distance road-racing shoes. If you’re in the market for a race-day shoe and typically run in Brooks’ footwear, consider making the Hyperion Elite 4 PB your super shoe of choice.

How does the Author Run?

Drew Whitcomb (age 43, 6’6″ 200lbs): Runs daily with a once a week rest day. Runs a lot of miles due to testing needs and a growing affinity for long-distance races. Regularly competes in marathons, half-marathons, 10k, and 5k races.

Disclosure

While Brooks did provide a pair of the Hyperion Elite 4 PB to facilitate this review, the company had no involvement in this review, didn’t receive an advance look at it, and has not attempted to influence it.