Brooks Hyperion Tempo, Our Favorite No-Frills Speed Shoe, Is On Sale for $65
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Hot rod marathon shoes like the Nike Alphafly have pioneered a new paradigm for speedy running sneakers: They’re made with lots of lightweight, bouncy cushioning paired with a carbon fiber plate to stabilize your foot and help you wring every last bit of energy return from the shoe’s midsole. These days, every major running shoe brand has its own take on the genre. But Brooks Hyperion Tempo breaks away from the pack: This straightforward shoe calls back to an earlier, simpler era when fast kicks weren’t puffed up with cushioning. With its streamlined design and exceptionally low weight, Hyperion Tempo follows an old-school approach to speed.
Specs
- Weight: 7.3 oz
- Stack Height: 30mm (heel), 22mm (forefoot)
- Price: $150
Overall Impressions
My first impression of Brooks Hyperion Tempo was also my biggest takeaway: These shoes felt feathery light on my feet. That low weight is the shoe’s greatest selling point and definitely makes the model feel fast and lively, even without fancy tech inside the midsole. Shoes with thicker soles often rely on a rocker shape to help you roll smoothly through each stride, but Hyperion Tempo doesn't need it. Its weightlessness makes up for it, and my transitions felt quick at all speeds.
As for cushioning, DNA Flash foam feels relatively firm with just a hint of bounciness. I’m not usually a fan of firm cushioning, but I thought the compound worked well in Hyperion Tempo, as it helped the shoe feel more responsive. In addition, the slight bounce took the edge off impacts and made it easy to jump into faster paces. This is a shoe that wants to bolt. And, because of the shoe’s lack of bulk, the firm cushioning didn’t beat up my feet and legs. Even after a longer eight-mile run, my legs still felt fresh enough to sprint the last block home.
Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
Lightweight | Some traction issues at speed |
Responsive cushioning | |
Stable |
Key Features and Tech
Hyperion Tempo is part of Brooks’ Speed range of shoes, which includes models designed for track workouts, tempo runs, and racing. Within that lineup, Hyperion Tempo is a neutral, moderately cushioned trainer. (More recently, Brooks released Hyperion, which has a redesigned upper, among other small tweaks, and is slightly heavier than the Tempo.)
The main attraction of Brooks Hyperion Tempo comes down to tech. Specifically, its DNA Flash midsole compound. This is an ethylene-vinyl acetate foam that’s infused with nitrogen gas, a process that leaves bubbles within the foam. Those pockets of nitrogen save weight and also give the foam increased energy return, so it bounces back quickly when compressed. Unlike other speed shoes with thick midsoles, Hyperion Tempo’s sole doesn’t have a pronounced rocker shape, where the sole turns up at the front and back, forming a curve). It has a slight rocker at the back and more at the front, but the bottom of the sole is mostly flat.
Brooks Hyperion Tempo is topped with a thin stretch-woven upper, which is scored with air holes at the forefoot for breathability, and has some light padding around the heel and ankle for a more comfortable fit. On the bottom, the shoe wears a generous rubber outsole with plenty of coverage under both the forefoot and heel.
Who It's Best For
Brooks Hyperion Tempo is an excellent choice for speed shoe traditionalists—runners who prize a lightweight, responsive sensation above all else. If you need a shoe for speed training, this model is certainly worth considering, especially if you want to save some money.
While Brooks Hyperion Tempo is designed for speed, I also found it quite comfortable and stable, so it’s also a worthy pick for slower-paced workouts if you like a firm, responsive feel in your shoes.
Finally, Brooks Hyperion Tempo surprised me with its stable ride. The forefoot is spacious and wide; it gave my toes plenty of room to splay and kept me from wobbling on banked sidewalks or uneven pavement. Many speed shoes are quite narrow in order to save weight, and I really appreciated Hyperion Tempo’s roomier platform, which helped me stride with confidence.
But it wasn’t all perfect. One minor gripe: The laces seemed quite long, and I ended up tying them with heel locks just to take up some of the slack. In addition, I noticed the outsole slipped a bit and would audibly squeak when running hard on smooth concrete. I’m guessing the rubber may just need more time to break in, but it was disappointing to feel the shoe falter when pushing the pace. Even so, I only encountered this issue twice during my test runs.
Final Verdict
Though I’m not much of a sprinter, I enjoyed my time with Brooks Hyperion Tempo. This is a classic speed shoe that feels startlingly lightweight and responsive. Most importantly, it’s great for picking up the pace. This is an excellent choice for runners who are looking to go as fast as possible with a slimmed-down shoe.
Our Testing Process
I ran in my test pair of Brooks Hyperion Tempos over the course of a week and covered about 20 miles—most of it on pavement and concrete around Los Angeles, where I live. My routes included hills as well as the usual hazards you encounter in a city: broken sidewalks, curbs, and other people. My test runs took place in dry, sunny weather with temperatures in the 60s and 70s. Since the Hyperion Tempo is a speed shoe, I did a couple sprint workouts to see how it felt when running fast. I also took it on a relaxed eight-mile run to see how it handled a mellower workout.
Why You Should Trust Me
I’ve been testing and reviewing outdoor and fitness gear since 2018 for a variety of publications, including Runner’s World, InsideHook, Gear Patrol, and more. Running shoes are the category I’ve written about most, and I’ve tested dozens of shoes over the years, including several other pairs from Brooks.