ShoeGeometry

Brooks Hyperion Max 4 vs New Balance FuelCell Rebel v5

Two popular shoes in the same category, 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 lengthNew Balance FuelCell Rebel v5: heel 35 mm, forefoot 29 mm (drop 6 mm); toe rocker 36 % of length, radius 44 % of length; heel bevel 12 % of length, 22 mm high at the back, ending about under the heel bone.New Balance FuelCell Rebel v5: toe rocker 36 % of length
  • Brooks Hyperion Max 445/39 mm · toe rocker 36 % · heel bevel 13 %
  • New Balance FuelCell Rebel v535/29 mm · toe rocker 36 % · heel bevel 12 %
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-offAbout the same35.7 vs 36 % toe rocker
More cushioning under the heelBrooks Hyperion Max 445 vs 35 mm heel stack
More under the forefootBrooks Hyperion Max 439 vs 29 mm forefoot stack
A lower dropAbout the same6 vs 6 mm drop

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
New Balance FuelCell Rebel v5
Tempo · Road
Heel-to-toe drop6 mmStated6 mmStated
Heel stack45 mmStated35 mmStated
Forefoot stack39 mmStated29 mmStated
Weight286 gStated215 gStated
Toe rocker36 %est.36 %est.
Rocker radius43 %est.44 %est.
Rocker rise angle30 degest.30 degest.
Rocker angle at toe57 degest.61 degest.
Toe tip over ground48 mm*est.44 mm*est.
Visible rocker lift onset75.4 %est.72.4 %est.
Toe spring (relative)20.5 %est.19.9 %est.
Heel bevel length13.2 %est.11.5 %est.
Heel bevel height23 mm*est.22 mm*est.
Midsole width (forefoot)119 mmMeasured—
Midsole width (heel)86.8 mmMeasured—
Toe box shape—78 %*est.
Interior forefoot width92.7 mmMeasured—
Toebox width71.7 mmMeasured—
Longitudinal stiffness58Derived—
Midsole firmness15Derived—
PlateNylon plateNo plate
Primary foamDNA Gold (PEBA)FuelCell (PEBA/EVA blend)
List price$200$140

Key differences

  • Heel-to-toe drop is about the same: 6 mm for Brooks Hyperion Max 4, 6 mm for New Balance FuelCell Rebel v5.
  • Brooks Hyperion Max 4's heel stack is 45 mm, 10 mm thicker than New Balance FuelCell Rebel v5's 35 mm.
  • Brooks Hyperion Max 4's forefoot stack is 39 mm, 10 mm thicker than New Balance FuelCell Rebel v5's 29 mm.
  • Brooks Hyperion Max 4's weight is 286 g, 71 g heavier than New Balance FuelCell Rebel v5's 215 g.
  • Toe rocker is about the same: 36 % of length for Brooks Hyperion Max 4, 36 % of length for New Balance FuelCell Rebel v5.

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

New Balance FuelCell Rebel v5

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Brooks Hyperion Max 4 details · New Balance FuelCell Rebel v5 details · Add more shoes