New Balance FuelCell Rebel v4 vs Brooks Hyperion Max 2:
Which to Choose

Start with weight, because it's the clearest gap: the Rebel v4 comes in around 213g (7.5 oz) versus roughly 262g (9.2 oz) for the Hyperion Max 2 — nearly 50 grams, which you feel every time you flick the foot over at speed. The trade for that lightness is stack: the Rebel sits lower at about 28mm heel / 21.5mm forefoot, while the Hyperion lives up to its "Max" name at roughly 33mm heel / 26mm forefoot, giving it more foam underfoot for protection on the longer end of the range. Both shoes rate the same for cushioning, responsiveness, pace and stability, but the character is different: the Rebel's FuelCell PEBA is soft and distinctly bouncy, with a moderately wide, forgiving base, whereas the Hyperion's DNA Flash v2 feels firmer and more controlled and leans on a gentle rocker to roll you forward over a noticeably narrower platform. That geometry shapes who stays planted — the Rebel's wider base is a touch more settled when you dial the pace back, while the Hyperion feels most secure only once you're actually moving and can read as firm and slightly unsteady at a crawl. Neither uses a propulsive plate; the rebound is pure foam in both. One honest caveat on the Rebel: its thin, largely exposed-foam outsole is a deliberate durability trade-off for the low weight, so high-mileage runners should expect it to wear faster than a more conventionally rubbered trainer.