Asics Superblast 2 vs Brooks Hyperion Max 3:
Which to Choose

September 20, 2026

Verdict

These are genuinely close relatives — both are neutral, max-cushioned, PEBA-powered super trainers with the half marathon as their sweet spot — so it comes down to ride philosophy, not category. Go with the Superblast 2 if you want the lighter shoe, a more moderate drop, a bit more stability, and a free-flowing foam ride you control yourself; go with the Hyperion Max 3 if you'd rather have a rocker and flexible plate guiding your transitions and prefer a more heel-biased feel. If you're unsure, the lighter, plateless Superblast 2 is the more versatile all-rounder, while the Hyperion Max 3 is the pick when you specifically want that guided, rockered roll.

Asics Superblast 2

149.95 USD

Brooks Hyperion Max 3

114.27 USD

Pace

5 of 6

Cushioning

6 of 6

Responsiveness

5 of 6

Stability

4 of 6

Drop

8 mm

Support

Neutral

Plate

None

Distances

10KHalfMarathon

Pace

5 of 6

Cushioning

6 of 6

Responsiveness

5 of 6

Stability

3 of 6

Drop

11 mm

Support

Neutral

Plate

Composite

Distances

10KHalfMarathon

At a Glance

Asics Superblast 2Brooks Hyperion Max 3

Who Should Choose Each Shoe

Choose

Asics Superblast 2

Choose the Superblast 2 if you want the lightest, liveliest version of a plateless super trainer and prefer to set your own rhythm rather than be steered by a rocker. At roughly 248g on a ~45mm stack with an 8mm drop, it's ideal for runners who push tempo sessions and uptempo long runs, want race-day capability without a carbon plate, and value a slightly wider, more stable base. It's the better pick for heel and midfoot strikers who like a smooth, rolling foam ride and don't mind trading some outsole durability for that weight.

Choose

Brooks Hyperion Max 3

Choose the Hyperion Max 3 if you want a tall PEBA trainer that helps do some of the work for you — the SpeedVault plate and RapidRoll rocker give a more guided, connected turnover that many runners find easier to lock into at tempo. Its noticeably higher, more heel-biased drop (~11mm measured) suits pronounced heel strikers who like that forward-tipping transition, and the plate-plus-rocker combination rewards runners who want a consistent, controlled roll through the gait cycle. It's the stronger option for someone chasing a race-day feel on everyday training runs who prioritizes smoothness over outright lightness.

Head-to-Head

The biggest structural difference is the plate. The Superblast 2 is completely plateless — its energy comes purely from a top layer of FF Turbo Plus PEBA over an FF Blast Plus Eco base, so it compresses generously and rebounds with a soft, springy, rolling feel that you dictate yourself. The Hyperion Max 3 adds a flexible nylon SpeedVault plate and RapidRoll rocker geometry over its DNA Gold PEBA and DNA Flash v2 base; the plate here adds smoothness rather than a hard carbon snap, and the rocker actively nudges you into your next stride once you pick up the pace. That makes the Brooks feel a touch more guided and controlled, while the Asics feels freer and more foam-driven. Weight is the other clear separator: the Superblast 2 comes in around 248g (US men's 9) versus a lab-measured 283g for the Hyperion Max 3, so the Asics is meaningfully lighter for a similarly tall shoe. Both ride on comparable stacks — roughly 45mm on the Superblast 2 and 46mm at the heel on the Hyperion Max 3 — but their offsets differ: the Asics runs a moderate 8mm drop that suits heel and midfoot strikers alike, while the Hyperion Max 3 measures a noticeably more heel-biased ~11mm (Brooks markets it as 6mm). On stability, the Superblast 2 edges ahead thanks to an unusually wide, sculpted base (4/6 versus 3/6), though neither has medial posting and both can feel slightly tippy at a slow shuffle before coming alive at tempo. In short: two neutral, tall, PEBA-based tempo-to-marathon shoes that agree on purpose but differ in delivery — lighter and freer versus heavier, more rockered and guided.