Changes

I love to run in the Hyper Speed, and I think it makes a strong candidate for a light weight, every day trainer. The seventh iteration is a small but worthwhile improvement over the [[Asics Gel Hyper Speed 6]], getting a little lighter and a little better cushioned. It's a great to see this type of incremental improvement on an already excellent shoe like the Hyper Speed 6. The cushioning is not as soft and plush as a Hoka by any means, but it's more than enough cushioning to provide the benefits to [[Running Economy]]. I've rated it as "Best of the Best", fitting The Hyper Speed fits nicely between the ultralight but surprisingly well cushioned [[New Balance RC5000v2| RC5000v2]] and the massively cushioned but surprisingly light weight [[Hoka Clifton]]. The Hyper Speed retails for only $75, which makes it something of a bargain in these days of high priced running shoes. I did rate the Hyper Speed a "Best of the Best", but it's been replaced for that title by the [[Nike Zoom Streak LT]], which doesn't have such a good cushioning-to-weight ratio, but has a shape that's closer to the human foot and it lasts vastly longer. {{H:WhatToLookForInShoes}}

Different runners want different levels of cushioning, so this shoe may not suit everyone. Some runners want a [[MinimaxMaximalist]] shoe when they run a 5K, while others will run a 100 mile race barefoot. Most people find that as the distance increases, they want a little more cushioning to protect their feet from the pounding and to offset a little of the fatigue that sets in over time. You can see from the charts below how the cushioning compares with other shoes I've tested for some comparisons. Remember that a thicker, firmer shoe would have the same cushioning rating as a thinner, softer shoe, but would feel rather different. Personally, I'm happy running in the Hyper Speed for the marathon distance, and I'd use it in a road 50 mile race without hesitation. For longer distances I'd probably use the [[Hoka Clifton]], either for the entire race or for the last portion.

The [[Nike Zoom Streak LT]] is quite similar to the Hyper Speed, and I love them both, but and I used to think in the Hyper Speed is was the better shoe, especially when comparing the third Streak with the seventh Hyper Speed. The Streak is a little lighter, but not as well cushioned. The , so the cushioning-to-weight ratio is far better in the Hyper Speed than the Streak. One noticeable advantage of However, the Streak is that it's almost a designed for a human foot, so and it's one of the few shoes where I don't have to cut open the toe box. Another big advantage of the Streak is that it lasts much, much longer. So cutting the toe box open is less critical.

The [[Saucony Kinvara]] is a popular shoe, and is well worth considering as a transition between a traditional shoe like the [[Asics GT 2000]] and a highly cushioned [[MinimaxMaximalist]] shoe or a light weight optimal shoe like the Hyper Speed. While I like the Kinvara as a transitional shoe, it's heavier, but provides similar levels of cushioning. I find it hard to justify the extra weight of the Kinvara, and I'd put on the Hyper Speed over the Kinvara every time.