Article by Matt Kolat
TYR CXT-Flow ($120 / £104) and Tyr L-2 Lifters - $225/£196
Introduction
TYR is an American brand focusing its products on three main areas: functional fitness, running and swimming.
At the tail end of 2024, I had the pleasure of testing the Valkyries Speedworks (RTR Review) which are TYRs speedy, carbon plated and neutral running shoes. It was quite a unique proposition and I encourage you to give my review a read if you are in the market for shoes of the above description.
Apart from running I am also a very keen gym goer. As we age, and I am about to commence by 5th decade on earth, retaining muscle mass becomes more and more difficult. Lifting weights, especially those big compound movements like squats, deadlifts or bench press can be very stimulating for your body. That said, I believe lifting weights can be beneficial to runners regardless of their age.
With the above in mind I was very excited to hear that TYR has released two new shoes: the CXT-Flow which is an all-round gym shoe suitable for anything from weight lifting to more dynamic functional movements and the L-2 Lifter which is a more focused proposition perfect for the ‘leg day’. Can a runner benefit from either of those shoes? How did they perform in general? Let’s find out in the article below.
TYR CXT-Flow ($120 / £104)
Pros:
Very universal gym use
Comfortable enough on short runs
Wide stable base
Unique, almost sneaker-like upper design
Cons:
Quite bulky
Extremely long shoelaces
First Impressions, Fit and Upper
When the shoes came in, the first thing I thought was that they did not look like gym shoes at all, but more like sneakers. I think it’s mainly to do with the suede elements in the upper as well as with how bulky the midsole was.
In general, the design of the upper makes me think of the 1990s, which I suspect is no coincidence as the 90s are very much ‘in’ at the moment.
In terms of sizing they definitely run true to size., I’ve opted for a half size smaller than my usual running shoes. This is to allow a more precise fit which adds confidence and securing in the more dynamic movements like box jumps or burpees.
The upper is constructed from so many materials it’s quite hard to get your head around it but here we go.
The main material is an abrasion resistant engineered mesh reinforced with layers of suede overlays with faux leather like material in the heel and medial side (that’s not it!).
The tongue is made from a different, thicker engineered mesh than the rest of the upper , is not gusseted but stays in place very well (that’s not it yet!).
The toe bumper is made from yet another material - to my untrained eye this is the most abrasion resistant part of the upper. Whoa! That is a lot of stuff going on in the upper.
Surprisingly all of the above materials work really well both in terms of comfort and performance. If there was one thing I could wish for it would be a slightly wider midfoot. My feet are ever so slightly wider than average, so if you have average or narrow feet this will not be an issue, however I did feel my midfoot being cradled by the shoe on both sides - it is ever so slightly too narrow.
Midsole & Platform
As mentioned in the previous section, the platform is very wide with the only exception being the midfoot which is slightly on the narrow end.
The midsole is made out of two compounds but if you think you can tell them apart based on their colour - you’re mistaken.
In the colour scheme I was sent, the EVA foam is relatively soft as far as gym/training shoes are concerned and in the picture above it’s the beige part of the midsole, the black coloured bits under the heel counter and the black coloured bits under the toe box.
The black section underneath the midfoot is an upwards extension of the outsole which becomes a part of the midsole both on lateral and medial sides of the shoe adding huge amounts of stability.
This is a very interesting and elegant technical solution which we don’t see very often in running shoes - perhaps this could be a method of implementing stability features for overpronators (TYR running shoe designers - if you are reading this - it might be a good idea for your first stability shoe if you are planning to develop one in the future).
Outsole
The outsole is made out of a compound called Tyrtac and sticks to artificial surfaces very well. I have not tested it outdoors but my guess would be that it would perform without issue on dry pavements.
One of the workouts I did while testing the CXT-Flow was an interval style session which incorporated 400m runs on an assault gym and the outsole stuck to it very well as well. The cutaways in the front of the shoe make the forefoot really flexible and nimble.
Performance, Conclusions and Recommendations
The CXT-Flow are a great offering for both hardcore gym goers and also folks who focus on other sports (like running) and dabble in gym going as an auxiliary sport, to help prevent injuries and keep the muscle mass up.
The main reason for that from my perspective is that they are very approachable. This is not a stripped down shoe where you constantly feel your ankles working, it almost feels casual when you first put them on but performs really well.
I’ve tested the CXT-Flow in two environments - during functional fitness style classes as well as lifting in my local gym. Overall this is a great offering for all of the above, despite my earlier worries about the warm upper it does not actually run very warm.
Despite the big midsole I was comfortable and stable enough to perform lifts with free weights but if you are looking for a more serious offering for squats or olympic style lifting please have a look at the next section of this article where I review the brand new TYR L-2s.
I am also happy to report that after a few weeks of extensive use in the gym the narrow midfoot sensation has disappeared. It must have been the firmness of the midsole in the midfoot that seemed like narrowness and required a little bit of breaking in.
The only real thing I would recommend revisiting would be making the laces shorter by a considerable margin.
Score: 9/10
(slight deduction for style and emergency rope style shoelaces)
Tyr L-2 Lifters - $225/£196
Pros:
Anatomical shape unlike any other lifting shoes
Relatively lightweight for a lifting shoe
Does not require getting used to
Cons:
On the pricy side
First Impressions, Fit and Upper
TYR very kindly also sent me a pair of their brand new L-2 lifting shoes. Now this being a blog primarily focused on running and adventure gear you might be asking yourself, dear reader, what are lifting shoes? Essentially they are shoes with a firm and elevated heel to allow for greater stability and ankle flexion during exercises like squatting and olympic lifting.
Typically at this point people ask - ‘but can I wear them around the gym for other exercises?’. The answer is yes of course. They benefit their users with greater stability in almost every lifting exercise bar maybe the deadlift where having feet parallel to the ground (rather than elevated heels) is more beneficial.
Are L-2s a bit of an overkill for runners who dabble in the gym or can they be beneficial? Let’s have a closer look.
The upper is mainly made out of synthetic, faux leather like material with strategically placed vent mesh. The toe area is covered with an extra layer of rubber to guard the toes and increase the durability.
Apart from traditional laces, the shoe has got two straps which hold your foot firmly in place when lifting weights (or warming up with a resistance band as per picture below).
The shoe definitely fits TTS and has a very unique anatomical shape which users of brands like Altra or Topo will be able to relate to very quickly. This is a very unique proposition as most weightlifting shoes tend to be quite narrow in the mid and forefoot and thus not very accessible to folks with wider feet.
The heel counter is semi-rigid at the upper part but at the bottom it is fully plastic and rigid holding your heel super firmly.
Interestingly, the pull tab is not in the middle of the shoe but on the outer which is super helpful as lifting shoes are normally quite hard to put on - not the case for L-2s.
The attention to detail is something TYR are very proud of - and there is a good reason for it.
Midsole & Platform
The midsole and platform I would describe and as stable as they get. Whether you’re standing or moving in the L-2s you feel like you’re really planted and safe and able to focus on shifting weights. This is a TPU midsole which is rubberised in the front and fully rigid in the back (white portion).
The front of the midsole however is very flexible as per the picture below.
Outsole
The outsole is made out of a proprietary rubber blend called TYRTAC and sticks really well to artificial surfaces. Nothing to complain about if you get exactly what you need.
Performance, Conclusions and Recommendations
If you ever had the pleasure of going hiking in full winter conditions and using crampons you will know the feeling of your shoes sticking to snow. Crampons make you feel like all of a sudden your hiking boots are covered in super glue, you feel empowered and secure enough to reach the iciest and snowiest of peaks. Lifting in the TYR L-2s is a very similar experience. You feel stable, safe and empowered but not weighed down.
The 21mm (yes runners you read that right) drop is very noticeable in squats and achieving full depth, as in the picture below, is significantly easier than in standard gym shoes.
Two notes, firstly here for those not aware, a full depth squat is where you go so low that your bottom is closer to the ground than your knees. Secondly, to me a full range of motion of your joints is much more important than strength. It ensures that our joints are flexible, conditioned and will be less likely to get injured. This in my opinion is the biggest value of weightlifting for runners.
I’ve tested the L-2s mainly during weightlifting sessions, using free weights, dumbbells, barbells, kettlebells and ongym machines. They performed equally well in all scenarios. I did not get a chance to try them in a functional fitness style class but due to the forefoot flexibility they would most likely do a decent job but would not be my first choice due to being heavier than average gym shoes.
The only downside to the L-2s is the price. They are quite expensive but it is important to put that into perspective. Back in the day when I was a crossfitter my lifting shoes were intensely used a few times a week and typically lasted for about two years. I believe that L-2s would last longer not to mention if used, for example once a week in the gym. So yes they do cost over $200 but if you are an occasional gym goer, looking for reliable lifting shoes, they should last you for at least three seasons. That’s nos something we’re used to in the running community as the lifecycle of running shoes are much shorter. Taking that into perspective L-2s are actually good value for money.
My Score: 9.5
slight deduction for the price.
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Tester Profiles
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
3 comments:
What a beautiful gym!
Thank you!
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