Cloudmonster Hyper vs Hyperion Max 2 vs Endorphin Speed 3- Top Ultra Race Shoes

Stack Height, Drop, Weight and Price

When it comes to stack height, the Brooks Hyperion Max 2 has the lowest, with 34mm / 28mm for a 6mm drop. The Endorphin Speed 3 packs marginally more midsole in the heel with 36mm / 28mm for a higher 8mm drop. Meanwhile the On Cloudmonster Hyper packs a max-stack with 37.5mm / 31.5mm for a 6mm drop.

On the scales, in our US 9.5 test shoe, there’s little to choose between the Brooks Hyperion Max 2 (9.2oz) and the On Cloudmonster Hyper (9.1oz). But the Saucony Endorphin Speed 3 is the lightest at 8.4oz.

Price-wise, the Endorphin Speed 4 is also the cheapest running shoe on test, at $170. The Brooks Hyperion Max 2 is $180. Then there’s a big jump up to the On Cloudmonster Hyper at an eye-watering $220. That puts the Cloudmonster Hyper right up there with the priciest daily trainers like the ASICS Superblast 2.

Design

Midsoles first then and these shoes take slightly different approaches. The Cloudmonster Hyper packs the biggest stack, a wedge of high-energy PEBA in an EVA CloudTec foam cradle. For a so-called super trainer, it’s a bit surprising there’s no plate – not even one of On’s nylon Speedboards.

The Brooks Hyperion Max 2 also eschews a plate and opts for a medium stack of Nitrogen-infused DNA Loft V2 foam with a rocker. Brooks says it’s 10% more responsive than the regular DNA Loft, you find in the Hyperion Max original.

The Saucony Endorphin Speed 3 midsole packs a medium stack of PWRRUN PB Pebax foam, working in tandem with a nylon plate and Saucony’s trademark Speedroll rockered shaping.

Up top, the On Cloudmonster Hyper has excellent engineered woven uppers with medium padded heel collars and tongues. The Hyperion Max 2 has a really lightweight mesh upper that keeps things pretty minimal and almost race-ready. There’s a very airy feel and a roomy, accommodating toe box with medium padded heel collars and gusseted wrapping tongues. The Endorphin Speed 3 has a two-layer mesh upper that’s a bit thicker with more structure for support. The heel collars are medium padded with thin, wrapping gusseted tongues.

Up top, the On Cloudmonster Hyper has excellent engineered woven uppers with medium padded heel collars and tongues. The Hyperion Max 2 has a really lightweight mesh upper that keeps things pretty minimal and almost race-ready. There’s a very airy feel and a roomy, accommodating toe box with medium padded heel collars and gusseted wrapping tongues. The Endorphin Speed 3 has a two-layer mesh upper that’s a bit thicker with more structure for support. The heel collars are medium padded with thin, wrapping gusseted tongues.

The Ultra Test

To test the long-haul ultra and slow marathon credentials of these three shoes, I took on the Berlin Wall 100 Mile Ultra (aka the Berlin Mauerweg). The largely flat route covers a lot of asphalt with sections of hard-packed, groomed forest paths.

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I ran 41 miles in the Brooks Hyperion Max 2 on relatively fresh legs, switched to the Saucony Endorphin Speed 3 for 20 miles and then finished the last 40 miles in the On Cloudmonster Hyper. I ran that last stretch on considerably more tired legs and fatigued feet. Overall, I ran at a pace range that varied from 9 min/miles to 12 min/miles.

The three-shoe strategy worked well. That’s something I’d recommend for anyone thinking about longer ultras. The change in ride underfoot helps to keep things fresh and cuts out some of that repetition that can cause problems.

I got out of this race with my feet almost completely intact. No blisters, no bruised toe nails, no battered toes. The following day my legs felt much fresher than I’ve ever experienced from an ultra. I could’ve run the day after.

All three shoes did a good job at the pace I was moving. I definitely felt like the Brooks Hyperion Max 2 and the On Cloudmonster Hyper performed better than the Saucony Endorphin Speed 3. That’s tough for me to admit.

The Endorphin Speed 3 has a special place in my heart as the shoe I used to run the 67 marathons along the Danube river. But for that middle 20-mile section, I felt a bit more exposed. Despite the bigger stack in the heel and the wider forefoot platform, I felt a bit more road coming up and the foot fatigue was more present. The narrower toe box was also apparent.

The Endorphin Speed 3 was the only shoe I was glad to change out of. That doesn’t make it a bad shoe. I would happily choose it for a marathon but I wouldn’t choose it first out of these three to do a whole 100km or 100 mile ultra.

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The Brooks Hyperion Max 2 surprised me most. It was perhaps a risk going in. I thought it might be too direct, a bit too racy to cope with 6 or 7 hours running. But it did everything I needed. The light, really roomy toe box was excellent but it also delivered control underfoot with reliable landings and smooth transitions.

I appreciated the extra help from the more energetic midsole which adds efficiency without being aggressive. The Hyperion Max 2 almost vanished, letting me cruise in comfort for those first 40 miles and get on with ticking over.

I would’ve happily kept it on and nearly did. I’m a big fan of the shoe generally. It really suits my running. Though some will almost certainly want more cushion from a long-haul shoe.

That’s where the On Cloudmonster Hyper comes in. This shoe has really grown on me since I’ve discovered its potential as an ultra or longer, easy run shoe. I still think it’s over priced as a daily trainer. It lacks the all-out energy to make it a fast training shoe. But having now used it to conquer the Comrades Marathon and a good chunk of the Berlin Wall 100 miler, I think it’s an excellent long hauler with a good balance of cushion that’s not too sinky and sludgy.

It offers good disappearing comfort and plenty of room in the toe box. For ultras you just want a shoe that’s not too heavy and cumbersome. That cradles your feet, taking the edge off the road, sparing the legs a little, delivering a smooth, reliable, consistent stable ride. The Cloudmonster Hyper delivers that.

I’ve since run in the ASICS Superblast 2 and the New Balance SC Trainer V3 and I think they’d also now be in the mix for road ultras. But the On Cloudmonster Hyper is definitely up there for balanced comfort over the longer miles.

My Verdict

If you’re looking for a good, reliable road ultra shoe, or a Steady Eddie marathon shoe for running in comfort over 4.5, 5 or 6 hours, I think the Cloudmonster Hyper can do that job.

If you don’t mind things a little less cushioned, the Brooks Hyperion Max 2 could be an option for a 4-hour marathoner too. Or someone pushing that time who might want a shoe that’ll look after them if things don’t go according to the pacing plan.

The Saucony Endorphin Speed 3 is a great versatile shoe and I’d also back it for steadier marathons up to 4 hours. But I’d choose the Hyperino Max 2 and the On Cloudmonster 2 first, for anything longer.

If I had to pick one shoe to run 100km on the road at a 9-12min/mile pace, I think I’d go for On Cloudmonster Hyper. For anything up to 50km, the Brooks Hyperion Max 2 would be my first choice.