Article by Matt Kolat
TYR Valkyrie Speedworks ($170)
Introduction
Matt: TYR is a brand that has been on my radar for a while because, as some of you may already know, apart from running I am also a keen gym goer. Apart from running shoes, TYR also makes fitness and weightlifting shoes which I will have the pleasure to test for you in the near future. TYR also outfits the American olympic lifting athletes, crossfitters and triathletes. It is surely one of the top multisports brands out there which made me even more keen to test their running shoes. As always it’s good to welcome a new brand to the Road Trail Run family!
Pros and Cons
Pros:
Very light for its near max stack height platform: Matt
Breathable upper: Matt
Great hold: Matt
Stable despite the high stack and full Pebax midsole: Matt
Competitive price: Mat
Cons:
Initial smell out of the box (goes away quickly): Matt
Insoles are not removable: Matt
Please find the testers full run bios at the end of the article after Comparisons.
Stats
Spec Weight: men's 9US 8.1oz / 229g
Sample Weight: men’s 12US 9.5oz / 269g US12
Stack Height: men’s 39.5mm heel / 33.5mm forefoot ( 6mm drop spec)
Platform Width: 88mm heel / 68mm midfoot / 114mm forefoot (in size US12 men’s)
First Impressions, Fit and Upper
Matt: When I first got the shoes I thought they looked really sleek and lightweight. There is an initial rubbery smell that the shoes give off but that disappears after a few hours of outdoor use so don’t get discouraged.
With regards to the fit the shoe fits me as a perfect true to size lengthwise. I was slightly worried that the midfoot might be a bit narrow for my slightly above average wide feet but actually the fit is fine in that dimension as well.
The upper is almost entirely made of a material called Alphaweave which I would describe as very thin, almost transparent yet relatively firm mesh. It’s very breathable and I am almost kicking myself for not being able to test this model in the summertime.
The tongue is fully gusseted and medium thick, stays out of the way nicely on the run.
The heel counter is semi structured but extended to the midfoot creating a railing like cradle for high level of hold and stability.
The laces are flat and don’t cause any issue, the length is correct as well even after using the additional lace heye to create a runner’s knot - which I always do, as a big runner (82 kg/180 lbs/12.9 stone at 6 foot / 182cm tall) I need that extra hold. The toe box is also reinforced which should contribute to the extension of the lifespan of the shoe. The shape of the toe box is quite anatomical and my slightly wider than average foot did not feel cramped.
Midsole & Platform
Matt: The material used in the midsole is a 100% Pebax® foam called Launch PX. I would describe the compound as a happy medium between the fully soft shoes as in some of the more demanding super trainers and traditional firmer midsoles. The same blend of Launch PX is used throughout the midsole however the shoe feels much softer in the heel than the mid and forefoot areas.
I think this is most likely because the full length nylon plate running through the midsole is noticeably narrower in the heel and therefore reduces the feeling of firmness delivered during the run. This is only a personal preference but I do prefer the heel to be a tad firmer to get a uniform experience during the run between the landing (I am a heel striker) and the toe-off. That said however I believe most runners will enjoy the softer feeling produced by the heel area of the shoe.
Outsole
Matt: After initially weighing the shoe and realising how light it was I was pleasantly surprised to see the amount of outsole rubber on this (notably daily trainer) shoe!
I would estimate the coverage is in the region of 65% which is great, shows the respect TYR has for runners, trying to extend the lifespan of the shoe for as long as possible. In terms of grip , it was excellent on wet pavements - nothing to complain about.
Ride, Conclusions and Recommendations
Matt: As with most shoes I tested the Valkyrie first on the treadmill. In my line of work I often find myself traveling and can’t usually afford, space wise, to pack more than one pair of running shoes. So it’s important to me that running shoes work on the treadmill as often it’s the only way I can wedge a run into my business trip.
The treadmill run was a progressive workout starting at a leisurely 5:45 min/km and ending around 4:30 min/km. I have to say that despite the softer 39.5 mm heel the shoe felt very good in the above range of paces I did not feel any wobble or instability.
I’ve not tested the shoe on any gravel but given how grippy the outsole has been I would not be surprised if it performed well on casual trail runs.
On pavements the midsole behaves in a bouncy yet responsive way without sacrificing too much stability, and I do often run in stability shoes. I often test shoes with my personalised orthotics inserted on top of the midsole after removing the standard insoles. The Speedworks insoles are not removable but worry not, there is ample room in the shoe to fit orthotics on top of them.
Valkyrie Speedworks also feels quite dynamic, the transitions are smooth and ultimately I felt that the shoe feels mostly at home when you speed up and produce a bit more energy while running. While running slower or doing casual daily miles the shoe did not feel sloppy at all but I kept thinking that Valkyrie is not intended for such running. Its naming is for sure a clue!
In terms of recommendations I only have a few. Ideally I would like the insoles to be removable. I can see a few reasons for that - first of all folks who use their own orthotics and have vertically voluminous feet would find the Speedworks more accommodating. Second of all, the geeks amongst us could try other combinations of insoles to find the perfect fit.
With regards to the build of the shoe I think it would benefit from the midfoot and heel being slightly wider than they are at the moment. This is after all a training partner to the racing model - the Valkyrie Elite Carbon and as such it is intended for training runs, which are longer and where our form might decrease, demanding a slightly more inherently stable shoe. Apart from the above, I have nothing else on my wish list. This was a first for me - testing a TYR shoe but hopefully not the last as I’ve really enjoyed running in the Valkyrie Speedworks.
Matt’s Score: 9/10
(-1 deduction for narrow-ish midfoot/heel)
Comparisons
Hoka Mach X (RTR Review)
Mach X (v1) was one of my favourite plated training shoes of all time. The bounce of this shoe was incredible without sacrificing any stability. It was a super fun shoe to run in and a great entry level shoe for runners normally put off by aggressiveness of plated shoes. It could be a great alternative to Speedworks if you prefer a wider base to land on.
Adidas Supernova Prima (RTR Review)
Supernova Prima is not a plated daily trainer per se because it does not have a plate but rather has hardened foam rods. This said I would classify it in the same category as Valkyries Speedworks. If you worry that Speedworks might be a bit too aggressive and oriented towards workouts and not daily training the Prima could be a good alternative. The ride of the Prima is noticeably softer and more plush so will work much better for daily miles and long runs. However that comes at a price as Prima is not a top choice when it comes to faster training runs.
Tester Profile
Maciej 'Matt' Kolat- 39 years old, hailing from Poland but pounding Scottish pavements and trails since 2007. Mainly runs shorter distances on pavement 5-10 km and reserves longer runs for beautiful Scottish Glens. Matt’s opinion sometimes may differ from other RTR testers as he is the slowest of the bunch (5k at 25:38). Matt also uses running as a way to stay healthy having shed 100 lbs so far (and counting).
Europe only: use RTR code RTR5ALL for 5% off all products, even sale products
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