Being a Brooks runner is like being in a bad relationship I constantly hope will get better. Yes, I see the the signs of betrayal, but I wait patiently for the moments of relief when something falls into place and I experience perfect runner's bliss. It began with the Raven long ago. A perfect shoe that became more and more altered until it was unrecognizable. Thus, I moved on and found another perfect shoe. But like cutting off the many heads of a hydra, more and more discarded shoes piled up. Then, the Hyperion Max came along. I fell in love immediately from first run. The Hyperion Max made me forget all the sore spots (those blisters!) from before. It was as if my bad boyfriend was bribing me with an even more enchanting gift. The ultimate, most comfortable, springiest shoe I'd ever run in. I had so many wonderful and never-ending runs in my beloved first generation Hyperion Max shoes. They were springy and flexible, with the perfect amount of cushion. I loved the roller effect as well. But here we are again and I feel like a fool. I've fallen for it again. Brooks delivers the perfect shoe (Hyperion Max!), only to alter it to being unrecognizable. I have many qualms with the Hyperion Max 2. The most notable one is the strange placement of foam that cuts into the inner arch. I felt a blister forming almost immediately. The soles are WAY too clunky and the shoe feels stiff under foot. It's like wearing paddle boards on my feet. This is like the Hyperion Max got a makeover from a serial killer. Why Brooks have you betrayed me?! In seriousness, I do not understand why Brooks continues to alter their shoes. From my observations, the Hyperion Max is one of the most loved shoes on reddit forums and review panels. So if it's not broke, why "fix" it...er butcher it? Why not make an entirely NEW shoe, instead of changing the beloved Hyperion Max? Please, Brooks. Please bring back the first generation of the Hyperion Max. I honestly don't know how people run in these second class Hyperion Max 2's.
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