Brooks Hyperion Max 4 vs Saucony Endorphin Trainer
Hyperion Max 4 or Endorphin Trainer? Here’s how they compare on feel, fit, brand specs and price, from the fitting team at The Run House.
The short answer
Want a cushioned, plated trainer for long training runs? Get the Hyperion Max 4.
Want a bouncy, plated trainer for slow long runs and steady efforts? Get the Endorphin Trainer.
Get the Hyperion Max 4 if
- You like a less rigid forefoot
- You prefer a lower drop (6mm vs 8mm)
Get the Endorphin Trainer if
- You want more bounce and energy back
- You like a stiffer, rocker-style forefoot that rolls you forward
- You like a higher heel-to-toe drop (8mm vs 6mm)
- You’d rather spend $65 less
On the run
Hyperion Max 4: Brooks’s plated super trainer. Very soft and protective with good energy return and a nylon SpeedVault plate. Stable for midfoot and forefoot strikers, and a great long-run trainer.
Endorphin Trainer: The ultra-bouncy, plated trainer. Ultra-bouncy incrediRUN foam on a wide, stable base, with a stiff plate that feels snappy for midfoot and forefoot strikers. Ideal for long runs.
Specs side by side
| Hyperion Max 4 | Endorphin Trainer | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $200 | $134.95 |
| Stack height (heel / forefoot) | Not listed by Brooks | 42 / 34mm* |
| Drop | 6mm | 8mm* |
| Weight, men’s | 10.1 oz | 10.1 oz* |
| Weight, women’s | 8.8 oz | Saucony no longer lists it |
| Support | Neutral | Neutral |
| Plate | Nylon plate | Carbon plate |
| Widths | Standard | Standard |
| Built for | Long runs, Tempo & workouts, Easy days | Long runs, Tempo & workouts, Easy days |
| Expected life | 350–450 miles | 400–500 miles |
Stack, drop and weight come from each brand’s own website. Numbers marked * aren’t published by the brand and come from other published specs. Weights are for the size each brand quotes. Expected life is our estimate.
Fit
Hyperion Max 4. True to size with a secure, comfortable upper and excellent midfoot hold. Not for wide feet.
Endorphin Trainer. True to size with a comfortable, breathable upper, but the toebox is narrow.
Try them on
Come try on both at The Run House in Walpole, Needham or Falmouth. Gait analysis is always free.
Shop the Hyperion Max 4 · Shop the Endorphin Trainer · Compare other running shoes