ShoeGeometry

Brooks Hyperion Max 4 vs Hoka Mach X 3

Two shoes compared on measured geometry. Each cell carries a provenance badge; open a shoe for sources.

heel boneBrooks Hyperion Max 4: heel 45 mm, forefoot 39 mm (drop 6 mm); toe rocker 36 % of length, radius 43 % of length; heel bevel 13 % of length, 23 mm high at the back, ending about under the heel bone.Brooks Hyperion Max 4: toe rocker 36 % of lengthHoka Mach X 3: heel 46 mm, forefoot 41 mm (drop 5 mm); toe rocker 36 % of length, radius 45 % of length; heel bevel 14 % of length, 28 mm high at the back, ending about under the heel bone.Hoka Mach X 3: toe rocker 36 % of length
  • Brooks Hyperion Max 445/39 mm · toe rocker 36 % · heel bevel 13 %
  • Hoka Mach X 346/41 mm · toe rocker 36 % · heel bevel 14 %
Illustrative profiles, not photographs: drawn from published stack heights and photo estimates of the unloaded shoes on a common length (300 mm), heels aligned, toe to the left; dots mark where each toe rocker starts; the dotted vertical line is under the heel bone (12 % of length), so a heel curve reaching past it is a bevel in front of the heel bone. Dotted lines use typical values where a shoe has no measurement. Exact values are in the table below.

Which suits you

If you wantPickBecause
A smoother roll at toe-offBrooks Hyperion Max 435.7 vs 35.5 % toe rocker; 47.5 vs 42.1 mm toe tip
More cushioning under the heelAbout the same45 vs 46 mm heel stack
More under the forefootHoka Mach X 339 vs 41 mm forefoot stack
A lower dropHoka Mach X 36 vs 5 mm drop
A stiffer, snappier forefootAbout the same58 vs 52 /100 stiffness
A firmer, more stable feelHoka Mach X 315 vs 46 /100 firmness
A wider base under the forefootBrooks Hyperion Max 4119 vs 115.4 mm forefoot base
Less weightAbout the same286 vs 289 g

From the values below, with differences inside measurement noise shown as about the same. This describes the shoes, not what is right for your feet; comfort in the first few runs decides.

MetricBrooks Hyperion Max 4
Tempo · Road
Hoka Mach X 3
Tempo · Road
Heel-to-toe drop6 mmStated5 mmStated
Heel stack45 mmStated46 mmStated
Forefoot stack39 mmStated41 mmStated
Weight286 gStated289 gStated
Toe rocker36 %est.36 %est.
Rocker radius43 %est.45 %est.
Rocker rise angle30 degest.29 degest.
Rocker angle at toe57 degest.57 degest.
Toe tip over ground48 mm*est.42 mm*est.
Visible rocker lift onset75.4 %est.76.6 %est.
Toe spring (relative)20.5 %est.20.3 %est.
Heel bevel length13.2 %est.13.6 %est.
Heel bevel height23 mm*est.28 mm*est.
Midsole width (forefoot)119 mmMeasured115.4 mmMeasured
Midsole width (heel)86.8 mmMeasured89.1 mmMeasured
Toe box shape—75 %est.
Interior forefoot width92.7 mmMeasured91.6 mmMeasured
Toebox width71.7 mmMeasured70.8 mmMeasured
Longitudinal stiffness58Derived52Derived
Midsole firmness15Derived46Derived
PlateNylon platePebax plate
Primary foamDNA Gold (PEBA)PEBA top layer + EVA base
List price$200$190

Key differences

  • Brooks Hyperion Max 4's heel-to-toe drop is 6 mm, 1 mm higher than Hoka Mach X 3's 5 mm.
  • Brooks Hyperion Max 4's heel stack is 45 mm, 1 mm thinner than Hoka Mach X 3's 46 mm.
  • Brooks Hyperion Max 4's forefoot stack is 39 mm, 2 mm thinner than Hoka Mach X 3's 41 mm.
  • Weight is about the same: 286 g for Brooks Hyperion Max 4, 289 g for Hoka Mach X 3.
  • Toe rocker is about the same: 36 % of length for Brooks Hyperion Max 4, 36 % of length for Hoka Mach X 3.

Read more about both shoes

We measure the shape. For how they feel over many miles, and for lab tests of cushioning, grip and fit:

Brooks Hyperion Max 4

Hoka Mach X 3

Independent sites; we are not affiliated with them.

Brooks Hyperion Max 4 details · Hoka Mach X 3 details · Add more shoes