Super Shoes Have Long Been Tied to Running. Tyr Just Created One for the Gym

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Typically when speaking about super shoes, you’re discussing tech-loaded running shoes. Tyr is now bringing the super shoe discussion to the gym.

The performance-focused brand has revealed the CXT-2 Elite Carbon Trainer, a look it has touted as the “first-to-market” super trainer. It is replete with technology that Tyr described as “elite,” including a carbon plate added to enhance “overall athlete performance.”

“If you’re an elite level athlete, they will give you that slight edge in the competition, and if you just want to feel what it’s like to have more force production so that you can cycle through cleans more efficiently, you’ll enjoy the shoe as well,”  Tyr chief executive officer Matt DiLorenzo told FN. “If you’re competing, it provides an optimal advantage, but I train in these shoes all the time and by no means am I an elite CrossFit athlete.”

Tyr CXT-2 Elite Carbon Trainer, super shoe
Tyr CXT-2 Elite Carbon Trainer.

Tyr upgraded its TYR CXT-2 trainer, which debuted in June, with its carbon fiber PowerPlate to create the CXT-2 Elite Carbon Trainer. The PowerPlate, according to the brand, will offer the wear an “edge” to “jump higher and recover quicker while increasing efficiency.”

Aside from the PowerPlate, another upgrade added by Tyr to create the CXT-2 Elite Carbon Trainer is the positioning of the 100 percent PEBAX super-critical foam. The brand explained it was distributed to provide cushion in the front of the foot while maximizing stability in the heel.

The shoe was also created with nylon mesh construction uppers, high-density foam at the heel and a stronger TPU stability strap.

Tyr CXT-2 Elite Carbon Trainer, super shoe
Tyr CXT-2 Elite Carbon Trainer.

$225

Buy Now at tyr

What’s more, because shoes like this aren’t common in the marketplace, Tyr said its design team chose to have the CXT-2 Elite Carbon Trainer reviewed in an independent study “to corroborate the technical benefits of the shoe to potential consumers.”

It was tested at the LSU-Shreveport Human Performance Lab against industry market leaders, Tyr explained, and texting revealed an increased force production by 25 percent, “boosting vertical leap, balanced lateral movements and explosive power output.” Also, Tyr said the shoe’s dual-foam midsole, which combines PEBAX supercritical foam and its SurgeNRG compound, reduced fatigue and enhanced overall performance by 29 percent.

“For us, the overall improvement is out of this world,” said Corey Berger, Tyr director of marketing. “If you look at any statistical analysis from a study, you’re not seeing that type of performance improvement coming out of technology, so we were pretty thrilled with the data that came back from those studies.”

The Tyr CXT-2 Elite Carbon Trainer is available now via Tyr.com and at Tyr retail locations. Retail price is $225.

About the Author

Peter Verry is the Senior News and Features Editor for Athletic and Outdoor at Footwear News. He oversees coverage of the two fast-paced and ultracompetitive markets, which includes conducting in-depth interviews with industry leaders and writing stories on sneakers and outdoor shoes. He is a lifelong sneaker addict (and shares his newest purchases via @peterverry on Instagram) and spends most of his free time on a trail. He holds an M.A. in journalism from Hofstra University and can be reached at [email protected].

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