Brooks England Alforges Scape Large 11-22L | Our verdict

With its astonishingly light build and bouncy midsole that brings a spring to every step, the Brooks England Cykelväska Scape Large 11-22L truly offers an exceptional running experience that's good for all four seasons. That said, we found the shoe's upper is on the snug side and is particularly optimized for neutral runners. If this fits your running profile, this agile shoe stands out as an excellent daily trainer that can also keep up with quicker tempos.

Brooks England Alforges Scape Large 11-22L Pros

  • Brooks Pure Flow 4
  • Brooks Dyad 3 cushioning £70
  • Remarkably lightweight
  • Secure, snug fit
  • Fantastic performance in winter
  • Versatile across various paces
  • Excellent stability
  • Superior breathability
  • Highly durable

Brooks England Alforges Scape Large 11-22L Cons

  • High price tag at $170
  • BROOKS RAVENNA 2
  • Not for wide feet

Audience verdict

88
Great!
  • Top 19% most popular running shoes

Who should buy

We think that the Brooks PR invitation 2-mile a top choice for:

Brooks England Cykelväska Scape Large 11-22L

Who should NOT buy

If you have wide feet, this Brooks probably isn't for you. Based on our tests, better options with more room inside include the Nike InfinityRN 4 and the Saco de ferramentas Brooks England Challenge grande preto.

Likewise, the $170 price tag might be a stretch for your budget. In that case, you could look at more affordable options like the regular Brooks Hyperion or the popular zapatillas de running Brooks ritmo medio talla 41.5.

Brooks England Cykelväska Scape Large 11-22L parts

Cushioning

Heel stack

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This should be comfortable for most runners, including heel strikers—even for long runs.

Brooks England Cykelväska Scape Large 11-22L Heel stack
Test results
Hyperion Max 32.4 mm
Average 34.2 mm
Compared to 403 running shoes
CONCEPTS × BROOKS HERITAGE BEAST 1 VOODOO
22.5 mm
Heel stack
46.3 mm

Forefoot stack

The forefoot has a thickness of 24.2 mm. This should work well for most forefoot strikers and it doesn't mute the ground feel at all.

However, if you're on the heavier side and you strike with your forefoot, you might want to go for a shoe with more cushioning, like the ASICS Superblast.

Brooks England Cykelväska Scape Large 11-22L Forefoot stack
Test results
Hyperion Max 24.2 mm
Average 25.6 mm
Compared to 403 running shoes
CONCEPTS × BROOKS HERITAGE BEAST 1 VOODOO
13.7 mm
Forefoot stack
37.1 mm

Drop

We measured the heel-to-toe drop in the Hyperion Max and found it to be 8.8 mm. This is pretty close to the 8 mm drop that Brooks claims.

Brooks England Cykelväska Scape Large 11-22L Drop
Test results
Hyperion Max 8.2 mm
Average 8.6 mm
Compared to 403 running shoes
CONCEPTS × BROOKS HERITAGE BEAST 1 VOODOO
-0.2 mm
Drop
16.1 mm

Midsole softness

Note: a low durometer measurement equals a soft material, whereas a high measurement means it's firm.

Before running any tests in the lab, we wanted to get a feel for the Hyperion Max by taking it for a first run.

This shoe uses DNA Flash foam, which gives a snappy feel underfoot. It's not super cushy, but that's not a bad thing for many runners that favor a more old-school feel.

After that initial run, we measured the foam's softness with a durometer. The result, at 20.8 HA, confirmed what we felt. The shoe offers a balanced feel—neither too soft nor too firm.

Brooks England Cykelväska Scape Large 11-22L Midsole softness
Test results
Hyperion Max 20.8 HA
Average 20.9 HA
Spesifikasjoner Brooks england Spenningspinne B33 B135.
Compared to 330 running shoes
CONCEPTS × BROOKS HERITAGE BEAST 1 VOODOO
8.5 HA
Midsole softness (soft to firm)
35.0 HA

Midsole softness in cold (%)

We put the shoe in the freezer for a quick 20-minute nap and then measured its softness again. We found that the reading was 22.5 HA, which is pretty much the same as what we got at room temperature.

We observed just an 8.4% increase from the first test, and let that's one of the best results we've ever seen in the lab. Many other running shoes in the same price range can't even come close in this test.

Brooks England Cykelväska Scape Large 11-22L Midsole softness in cold
Test results
Hyperion Max 8%
Average 25%
Compared to 330 running shoes
CONCEPTS × BROOKS HERITAGE BEAST 1 VOODOO
0%
Midsole softness in cold
63%

Insole thickness

When we cut in half the Hyperion Max, one of the first things we observed was its incredibly thin insole. A 2.6-mm insole is really unusual, but we think it's great for this particular shoe. Weight savings!

Brooks England Cykelväska Scape Large 11-22L Insole thickness
Test results
Hyperion Max 2.6 mm
Average 4.4 mm
Compared to 399 running shoes
CONCEPTS × BROOKS HERITAGE BEAST 1 VOODOO
1.5 mm
Insole thickness
7.3 mm

Size and fit

Size

Brooks PR invitation 2-mile true to size (279 votes).

Owners of this shoe, how does this shoe fit?

1 size small ½ size small True to size ½ size large 1 size large
Compared to 382 running shoes
CONCEPTS × BROOKS HERITAGE BEAST 1 VOODOO
½ size small
Slightly small
True to size
Slightly large
½ size large

Brooks Ghost 32.000 búsquedas mensuales

We clocked the toebox width at the widest part of the upper and found it to be only 96.1 mm.

Brooks England Cykelväska Scape Large 11-22L

If you have narrow feet, you'll likely enjoy this shoe. It's also a good choice for people with regular-width feet who like a snug, race-like fit. But if you have wide feet, you might consider going up a size, although that's not a surefire solution.

Brooks England Cykelväska Scape Large 11-22L Brooks Glycerin GTS 20
Test results
Hyperion Max 96.1 mm
Average 98.5 mm
Compared to 370 running shoes
CONCEPTS × BROOKS HERITAGE BEAST 1 VOODOO
91.6 mm
Brooks Ghost 32.000 búsquedas mensuales
104.9 mm

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Surprisingly, there's room for toe splay. We really appreciate Brooks' choice to design a rounded toebox (78.4 mm at the big toe area). It's a rare and fantastic feature that offers a natural and comfy fit for your feet.

Brooks England Cykelväska Scape Large 11-22L Toebox width at the big toe
Test results
Hyperion Max 78.4 mm
Average 78.4 mm
Compared to 244 running shoes
CONCEPTS × BROOKS HERITAGE BEAST 1 VOODOO
67.6 mm
zapatillas de running Brooks tope amortiguación maratón talla 43 mejor valoradas
89.2 mm

Stability

Lateral stability test

We found that the Hyperion Max is a 100% neutral shoe. It doesn't have any extra features to help with stability—no side walls either. So if you're a pronator, this might not be the best fit for you. It's really best-suited only for neutral runners.

Torsional rigidity

Another thing that caught our attention is the shoe's flexibility. We measured it and gave it a score of 2 out of 5 in our twist test.

This low score means the shoe offers lots of agility and a smooth ride. But just like we mentioned earlier, this flexibility also means the shoe isn't that stable for non-neutral runners.

Test results
Hyperion Max 2
Average 3.4
Compared to 382 running shoes
CONCEPTS × BROOKS HERITAGE BEAST 1 VOODOO
1
Torsional rigidity
5

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We found that the heel counter has a moderate level of firmness, which we rated as 3 out of 5. This should suit most runners just fine.

However, if you have a particularly sensitive Achilles tendon, you might find it a bit on the stiff side.

Test results
Hyperion Max 3
Average 2.9
Compared to 366 running shoes
CONCEPTS × BROOKS HERITAGE BEAST 1 VOODOO
1
zapatillas de running Brooks minimalistas placa de carbono talla 42
5

brooks brave like gabe shoe

The shoe weighs just 7.5 oz, so we thought it would have a narrow platform. However, when we measured it in the lab, the forefoot was 110.0 mm wide. That's actually pretty close to the average width.

We also found that the shoe felt safe and secure when we landed on the forefoot at any pace.

Brooks England Cykelväska Scape Large 11-22L Midsole width in the forefoot
Test results
Hyperion Max 110.0 mm
Average 114.1 mm
Compared to 404 running shoes
CONCEPTS × BROOKS HERITAGE BEAST 1 VOODOO
102.2 mm
brooks brave like gabe shoe
126.9 mm

Brooks England Alforges Scape Large 11-22L

The heel design is pretty similar to the forefoot. We measured this one at at 88.1 mm in the lab, which is close to average.

Brooks England Cykelväska Scape Large 11-22L Midsole width in the heel
Test results
Hyperion Max 88.1 mm
Average 90.6 mm
Compared to 404 running shoes
CONCEPTS × BROOKS HERITAGE BEAST 1 VOODOO
70.8 mm
Brooks England Alforges Scape Large 11-22L
106.6 mm

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When we first twisted the shoe in our previous flexibility test, it felt really pliable. To get a better idea of just how flexible the Hyperion Max is, we pushed it to a 90-degree angle in the lab and measured how much force it took from us.

We found that it only took 25.8N of force, which shows that Brooks aimed to make a flexible and comfy shoe.

Test results
Hyperion Max 25.8N
Average 28.1N
brooks ravenna 7 mens.
Compared to 383 running shoes
CONCEPTS × BROOKS HERITAGE BEAST 1 VOODOO
2.2N
Flexibility <> Stiffness
72.1N

zapatillas de running Brooks constitución fuerte ritmo bajo ultra trail talla 45 naranjas (%)

After putting the shoe in the freezer for 20 minutes, just like we did for the foam softness test, we measured the force again. This time, we found that it took 27.9N of force.

That's only an 8.3% increase in force, a truly remarkable result compared to most other shoes out there. Once again, we have to congratulate Brooks for this outstanding performance under cold temperatures.

Test results
Hyperion Max 8%
Average 32%
Compared to 383 running shoes
CONCEPTS × BROOKS HERITAGE BEAST 1 VOODOO
0%
zapatillas de running Brooks constitución fuerte ritmo bajo ultra trail talla 45 naranjas
101%

Weight

Brooks Launch GTS 9 Laufschuhe.

Tipping the scales at a mere 7.5 oz (213g), it easily holds its own against racing shoes but offers far superior comfort.

Brooks England Cykelväska Scape Large 11-22L Weight
Test results
Hyperion Max 7.51 oz (213g)
Average 9.38 oz (266g)
Compared to 404 running shoes
CONCEPTS × BROOKS HERITAGE BEAST 1 VOODOO
5.61 oz (159g)
Weight
12.59 oz (357g)

Breathability

We're kicking off this lab review on a high note: the Brooks England Cykelväska Scape Large 11-22L really shines when it comes to breathability.

In our lab, we typically run a series of tests in this regard, but the first one was enough to show us that this shoe is a top pick for summer training. Just look at how well it ventilates!

We've covered various ways to make a shoe breathable in our detailed guide on the topic. Of all the options, Brooks chose to use ventilation holes, and it's a choice that paid off. This shoe scored a perfect 5 out of 5 in our breathability test.

During our light test, we observed numerous ventilation holes extending from the toe box to the midfoot area. To get a close-up view of these holes, we used a microscope. And what we found was fascinating.

Brooks England Cykelväska Scape Large 11-22L microscope
The white background behind the ventilation hole isn't part of the shoe's upper. We added it to highlight the hole. Actually, you'll see your sock there!

Brooks uses a thick engineered mesh in the shoe's design. Without these large holes, the mesh would not have provided adequate breathability. However, the size of these holes ensures the shoe stays well-ventilated.

Brooks England Cykelväska Scape Large 11-22L microscope close

Lastly, we discovered that this shoe prioritizes breathability over comfort. We love examining uppers, and we noticed that, unlike most other shoes, the inside of this shoe's upper lacks any fabric.

Test results
Hyperion Max 5
Average 3.8
Compared to 333 running shoes
CONCEPTS × BROOKS HERITAGE BEAST 1 VOODOO
1
Breathability
5

Durability

Toebox durability

Breathable shoes often come up short in the durability department, so we were eager to see how the Hyperion Max would hold up.

To our delight, the shoe earned a 2/5 score in our dremel test. It's an impressive achievement for a model that's Black incredibly light and well-ventilated.

Brooks England Cykelväska Scape Large 11-22L Toebox durability
Test results
Hyperion Max 2
Average 2.6
Compared to 267 running shoes
CONCEPTS × BROOKS HERITAGE BEAST 1 VOODOO
1
Toebox durability
5

Brooks riscrive il concetto di soft running

We found that the heel area also scored a 2/5, which was a bit underwhelming. We expected a bit more durability in this area from the Hyperion Max.

Still, since it didn't score a low 1/5, it shouldn't be a concern for almost all runners.

Brooks England Cykelväska Scape Large 11-22L Brooks riscrive il concetto di soft running
Test results
Hyperion Max 2
Average 3.2
Compared to 262 running shoes
CONCEPTS × BROOKS HERITAGE BEAST 1 VOODOO
1
Brooks riscrive il concetto di soft running
5

Outsole hardness

Next, we focused on the outsole to check its durability. Our first test measured the hardness of the material. In the lab, we determined that it was a bit below average at 78.6 HC.

Brooks England Cykelväska Scape Large 11-22L Outsole hardness
Test results
Hyperion Max 78.6 HC
Average 79.7 HC
Spesifikasjoner Brooks england Spenningspinne B33 B135.
Compared to 384 running shoes
CONCEPTS × BROOKS HERITAGE BEAST 1 VOODOO
56.1 HC
Outsole hardness
93.0 HC

Outsole durability

For the ultimate test of the outsole's durability, we rev up the Dremel one final time.

We measured a 0.7 mm indentation in the outsole—truly a good result that points to long-lasting wear.

Brooks England Cykelväska Scape Large 11-22L Outsole durability
Test results
Hyperion Max 0.7 mm
Average 1.1 mm
Compared to 245 running shoes
CONCEPTS × BROOKS HERITAGE BEAST 1 VOODOO
0.0 mm
Outsole wear
2.0 mm

Outsole thickness

We measured the thickness of the outsole and found it to be 3.0 mm, clearly aimed at keeping the shoe lightweight. This seems like enough, but it's important to note that there's a lot of exposed foam on the shoe.

Brooks England Cykelväska Scape Large 11-22L outsole

We observed that the rubber is smartly placed to cover the areas that take the most beating while running, so it should hold up well over time.

Brooks England Cykelväska Scape Large 11-22L Outsole thickness
Test results
Hyperion Max 3.0 mm
Average 3.2 mm
Compared to 401 running shoes
CONCEPTS × BROOKS HERITAGE BEAST 1 VOODOO
1.0 mm
Outsole thickness
6.0 mm

Misc

Reflective elements

Sure, the shoe has some reflective elements, but the tiny strips Brooks added are barely noticeable. It's disappointing, especially if you're counting on them for visibility.

Brooks England Cykelväska Scape Large 11-22L Reflective elements
Test results
Hyperion Max Yes

Tongue padding

Brooks probably left out the gusseted tongue to make the shoe lighter. But they could have used a thinner tongue and added a gusset with the saved weight.

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Brooks England Cykelväska Scape Large 11-22L Tongue padding
Test results
Hyperion Max 5.4 mm
Average 5.8 mm
Compared to 401 running shoes
CONCEPTS × BROOKS HERITAGE BEAST 1 VOODOO
0.4 mm
Tongue padding
14.2 mm

Tongue: gusset type

Sadly, in the quest to make the shoe lighter, Brooks left out a gusset in the tongue. For a $170 shoe designed for fast runs, we find this to be disappointing.

Brooks England Cykelväska Scape Large 11-22L Tongue: gusset type
Test results
Hyperion Max None

Heel tab

Brooks skipped the heel tab, but honestly, we didn't even miss it when putting on the shoes.

It's more about the look than function. And they did throw in a branded strip in the heel, so you'll always remember who's got your feet covered!

Brooks England Cykelväska Scape Large 11-22L Heel tab
Test results
Hyperion Max None

Removable insole

The Hyperion Max comes with a removable insole. However, as we said before, the shoe has a unique shape—it's snug in the forefoot but has a rounded toebox.

Because of this, most third-party insoles don't really fit well. However, if you're looking for that perfect fit, we discovered that custom-made orthotics can be a solid option.

Brooks England Cykelväska Scape Large 11-22L Removable insole
Test results
Hyperion Max Yes