Brooks Glycerin 23 vs Hyperion Max 4

Which Running Shoe Is Better?

Products

Brooks Glycerin 23
Brooks Hyperion Max 4

Tested using Methodology v0.12

Updated Aug 21, 2026 09:11 PM

SEE PRICE
Amazon

Tested using Methodology v0.15

Updated Jul 24, 2026 02:39 PM

SEE PRICE
Amazon
Brooks Glycerin 23 Picture

Track

Brooks Hyperion Max 4 Picture

Track

  1. Recommended in 1 article:
  2. Brooks

Our Verdict

Brooks Glycerin 23

Brooks Hyperion Max 4

The Brooks Glycerin 23 and Brooks Hyperion Max 4 serve different purposes within a running shoe rotation. The Glycerin 23 is the much more stable, relaxed shoe, which makes it good for daily training and casual wear. The Hyperion Max 4 is a speedy shoe that makes sense for faster workouts, but is too unstable for more relaxed runs.

0 

Variants

  • Glycerin 23 (Atlantic Deep/Greymist/Coconut - (Men - US 9))
  • Glycerin 23 (Black/Black/Ebony - (Men - US 9))
  • Hyperion Max 4 (Coconut/Raisin/Pink - (Women - US 7))
  • Hyperion Max 4 (Grey/Black/Purple Hebe - (Men - US 9))
Read more

Main Differences for
Half/Full Marathon Racing

Threshold 

0.10

Half/Full Marathon Racing 
 

6.3
7.2

Forefoot Compression Energy Return 
 

4.9
7.8

Forefoot Long Run Cushioning 
 

6.3
8.5

Forefoot Bending Energy Return 
 

6.3
8.1

Outsole Arch Width 
 

77 mm (3.0")
56 mm (2.2")

Weight  

4.4
4.8

Full Comparison

Design

Weight  

4.4
4.8

Right Shoe Weight Photo 
 

Compare High-Res
Brooks Glycerin 23 Right Shoe Weight Photo
Compare High-Res
Brooks Hyperion Max 4 Right Shoe Weight Photo

Left Shoe Weight Photo 
 

Compare High-Res
Brooks Glycerin 23 Left Shoe Weight Photo
Compare High-Res
Brooks Hyperion Max 4 Left Shoe Weight Photo

Weight 
 

299.4 g (10.56 oz)
290.2 g (10.23 oz)

Stack Heights 
 

Stack Height Photo 
 

Compare High-Res
Brooks Glycerin 23 Stack Height Photo
Compare High-Res
Brooks Hyperion Max 4 Stack Height Photo

Heel Stack Height 
 

39.9 mm
46.8 mm

Forefoot Stack Height 
 

30.3 mm
38.2 mm

Heel-To-Toe Drop 
 

9.6 mm
8.6 mm

Advertised Heel-To-Toe Drop 
 

8.0 mm
6.0 mm

External Shape 
 

3D Model Full Shoe  

Preview 3D
Brooks Glycerin 23 3D Model Full Shoe
Preview 3D
Brooks Hyperion Max 4 3D Model Full Shoe

Outsole Heel Width 
 

93 mm (3.7")
88 mm (3.5")

Outsole Arch Width 
 

77 mm (3.0")
56 mm (2.2")

Outsole Forefoot Width 
 

113 mm (4.5")
114 mm (4.5")

Heel Width-To-Stack Ratio 
 

2.33
1.88

Forefoot Width-To-Stack Ratio 
 

3.72
2.98

Internal Shape 
 

3D Model Internal  

Preview 3D
Brooks Glycerin 23 3D Model Internal
Preview 3D
Brooks Hyperion Max 4 3D Model Internal

Internal Length 
 

280 mm (11.0")
276 mm (10.9")

Internal Heel Width 
 

65 mm (2.6")
68 mm (2.7")

Internal Forefoot Width 
 

93 mm (3.7")
87 mm (3.4")

Wide Sizing Available 
 

Yes
No

Forefoot Fit: Width 
 

8.2
9.2

Forefoot Width Photo 
 

Compare High-Res
Brooks Glycerin 23 Forefoot Width Photo
Compare High-Res
Brooks Hyperion Max 4 Forefoot Width Photo

Ball-Of-Foot TTS Deviation 
 

5.2 mm (0.206")
-1.5 mm (-0.060")

Toe TTS Deviation 
 

6.9 mm (0.271")
-2.3 mm (-0.091")

Forefoot Fit: Height 
 

10
5.0

Forefoot Height Photo 
 

Compare High-Res
Brooks Glycerin 23 Forefoot Height Photo
Compare High-Res
Brooks Hyperion Max 4 Forefoot Height Photo

Toe TTS Deviation 
 

-0.1 mm (-0.004")
-5.9 mm (-0.231")

Arch Fit: Width 
 

7.6
6.4

Arch Fit Photo 
 

Compare High-Res
Brooks Glycerin 23 Arch Fit Photo
Compare High-Res
Brooks Hyperion Max 4 Arch Fit Photo

Arch Width TTS Deviation 
 

-3.9 mm (-0.154")
-5.3 mm (-0.210")

Length Fit 
 

10
10

Toe Clearance Photo 
 

Compare High-Res
Brooks Glycerin 23 Toe Clearance Photo
Compare High-Res
Brooks Hyperion Max 4 Toe Clearance Photo

Heel Rocker Geometry 
 

6.3
7.4

Heel Rocker Photo 
 

Compare High-Res
Brooks Glycerin 23 Heel Rocker Photo
Compare High-Res
Brooks Hyperion Max 4 Heel Rocker Photo

Heel Spring 
 

20 mm (0.8")
22 mm (0.9")

Heel Apex Position 
 

12.1%
15.0%

Heel Rocker Angle 
 

29.1°
27.1°

Forefoot Rocker Geometry 
 

6.3
7.9

Forefoot Rocker Photo 
 

Compare High-Res
Brooks Glycerin 23 Forefoot Rocker Photo
Compare High-Res
Brooks Hyperion Max 4 Forefoot Rocker Photo

Toe Spring 
 

44 mm (1.7")
56 mm (2.2")

Toe Apex Position 
 

66.3%
63.3%

Forefoot Rocker Angle 
 

23.7°
28.1°

Foam 
 

Primary Foam Picture  

Brooks Hyperion Max 4 Primary Foam Picture

Secondary Foam Picture  

Brooks Hyperion Max 4 Secondary Foam Picture

Primary Foam Name 
 

DNA GOLD

Primary Foam Type 
 

PEBA

Secondary Foam Name 
 

DNA FLASH v2

Secondary Foam Type 
 

EVA

Laces 
 

Laces Picture  

Brooks Hyperion Max 4 Laces Picture

Lace Type 
 

Flat

Width 
 

6.0 mm (0.2")

Thickness 
 

1.7 mm (0.1")

Stretch 
 

21.9%

Other Features  

Other Features Photo 
 

Compare High-Res
Brooks Glycerin 23 Other Features Photo
Compare High-Res
Brooks Hyperion Max 4 Other Features Photo

Tongue Gusset Type 
 

Non-gusseted
Semi-gusseted

Plate 
 

None
Plastic
Performance

Heel Compression Energy Return 
 

2.2
6.9

Heel Compression Video  

Heel Energy Return  

 Preview Graph
Brooks Glycerin 23 Heel Energy Return
 Preview Graph
Brooks Hyperion Max 4 Heel Energy Return

Heel Energy Return 
 

68.3%
75.7%

Forefoot Compression Energy Return 
 

4.9
7.8

Forefoot Compression Video  

Forefoot Energy Return  

 Preview Graph
Brooks Glycerin 23 Forefoot Energy Return
 Preview Graph
Brooks Hyperion Max 4 Forefoot Energy Return

Forefoot Energy Return 
 

71.7%
79.7%

Heel Cushioning 
 

7.7
8.9

Heel Cushioning Picture 
 

Compare High-Res
Brooks Glycerin 23 Heel Cushioning Picture
Compare High-Res
Brooks Hyperion Max 4 Heel Cushioning Picture

Heel Cushioning  

 Preview Graph
Brooks Glycerin 23 Heel Cushioning
 Preview Graph
Brooks Hyperion Max 4 Heel Cushioning

Energy Absorbed At 550N 
 

3.08 J
4.04 J

Energy Absorbed At 1100N 
 

9.86 J
11.15 J

Energy Absorbed At 1900N 
 

17.27 J
19.25 J

Forefoot Cushioning 
 

7.1
9.1

Forefoot Cushioning Picture 
 

Compare High-Res
Brooks Glycerin 23 Forefoot Cushioning Picture
Compare High-Res
Brooks Hyperion Max 4 Forefoot Cushioning Picture

Forefoot Cushioning  

 Preview Graph
Brooks Glycerin 23 Forefoot Cushioning
 Preview Graph
Brooks Hyperion Max 4 Forefoot Cushioning

Energy Absorbed At 800N 
 

4.36 J
5.82 J

Energy Absorbed At 1300N 
 

7.60 J
10.37 J

Energy Absorbed At 2050N 
 

11.21 J
15.55 J

Heel Firmness 
 

8.5
6.5

Heel Firmness Graph  

 Preview Graph
Brooks Glycerin 23 Heel Firmness Graph
 Preview Graph
Brooks Hyperion Max 4 Heel Firmness Graph

Firmness At 550N 
 

53.2 N/mm
39.8 N/mm

Firmness At 1100N 
 

58.0 N/mm
48.2 N/mm

Firmness At 1900N 
 

78.9 N/mm
66.9 N/mm

Forefoot Firmness 
 

8.9
5.4

Forefoot Firmness Graph  

 Preview Graph
Brooks Glycerin 23 Forefoot Firmness Graph
 Preview Graph
Brooks Hyperion Max 4 Forefoot Firmness Graph

Firmness At 800N 
 

64.3 N/mm
48.1 N/mm

Firmness At 1300N 
 

83.3 N/mm
61.6 N/mm

Firmness At 2050N 
 

115 N/mm
84 N/mm

Forefoot Long Run Cushioning 
 

6.3
8.5

Forefoot Long Run Cushioning  

 Preview Graph
Brooks Glycerin 23 Forefoot Long Run Cushioning
 Preview Graph
Brooks Hyperion Max 4 Forefoot Long Run Cushioning

Energy Absorbed At 10km 
 

6.88 J
9.60 J

Energy Absorbed At 20km 
 

6.73 J
9.37 J

Energy Absorbed At 30km 
 

6.66 J
9.23 J

Energy Absorbed At 40km 
 

6.61 J
9.12 J

Rocker Stiffness 
 

5.8
8.2

Forefoot Rocker Stiffness Video  

Forefoot Rocker Stiffness Graph  

 Preview Graph
Brooks Glycerin 23 Forefoot Rocker Stiffness Graph
 Preview Graph
Brooks Hyperion Max 4 Forefoot Rocker Stiffness Graph

Force To Flatten The Rocker 
 

57 N
128 N

Forefoot Bending Energy Return 
 

6.3
8.1

Forefoot Bending Video  

Forefoot Bending Energy Return  

 Preview Graph
Brooks Glycerin 23 Forefoot Bending Energy Return
 Preview Graph
Brooks Hyperion Max 4 Forefoot Bending Energy Return

Forefoot Bending Energy Return 
 

61.4%
72.5%

Forefoot Bending Stiffness 
 

6.5
7.4

Forefoot Bending Resistance Picture 
 

Compare High-Res
Brooks Glycerin 23 Forefoot Bending Resistance Picture
Compare High-Res
Brooks Hyperion Max 4 Forefoot Bending Resistance Picture

Forefoot Bending Resistance  

 Preview Graph
Brooks Glycerin 23 Forefoot Bending Resistance
 Preview Graph
Brooks Hyperion Max 4 Forefoot Bending Resistance

Forefoot Bending Stiffness 
 

11.0 N/mm
13.8 N/mm

Forefoot Bending Force 
 

240 N
289 N

Heel Compression Depth 
 

6.7

Heel Compression Graph  

 Preview Graph
Brooks Hyperion Max 4 Heel Compression Graph

Heel Compression At 550N 
 

13.8 mm

Heel Compression At 1100N 
 

22.8 mm

Heel Compression At 1900N 
 

28.4 mm

Forefoot Compression Depth 
 

7.2

Forefoot Compression Graph  

 Preview Graph
Brooks Hyperion Max 4 Forefoot Compression Graph

Forefoot Compression At 800N 
 

16.6 mm

Forefoot Compression At 1300N 
 

21.1 mm

Forefoot Compression At 2050N 
 

24.3 mm

Brooks Glycerin 23

Brooks Hyperion Max 4

Comments

  1. Comparison

Brooks Glycerin 23 vs Brooks Hyperion Max 4: Main Discussion

What do you think of these products? Let us know below.


Looking for a personalized buying advice from the RTINGS.com experts? Members have direct access to buying advice on our member forum.

PreviewBack to editorFormat guide
No comments yet, refresh to see new ones