TYR CXT-2 Elite Carbon Trainer Performance Review

In a world where new fitness shoe brands are relentlessly competing to distinguish themselves in a crowded market, few have been as successful as TYR.

While known for their swimwear, the company pivoted to training and running shoes in recent years, earning rave reviews from across the industry – including the team at WearTesters.

After the sensational TYR CXT-2, the sequel to their impressive training shoe from 2023, we didn’t expect to see another iteration of the shoe so quickly – but then again, TYR doesn’t seem interested in wasting their momentum.

The TYR CXT-2 Elite Carbon Trainer is being touted as a “first to market” training shoe with a carbon plate – something we’re more used to in running shoes or in the form of a carbon shank in many of our basketball shoes.

Best Budget Training Shoes?

We’ve got the answer below thanks to the folks at TYR sending us some pairs to test. However, the company had no involvement in this review, didn’t receive an advance look at it, and has not attempted to influence it.

Please note that while TYR sent us pairs of the CXT-2 Elite Carbon Trainer, the company had no involvement in this review, didn’t receive an advance look at it, and has not attempted to influence it.

How do the Authors Train?

Arune Singh (age 43, 5’11”, 210lbs): Trains daily with functional fitness programming provided by Deadboys Fitness, founded by Colby “Seth Rollins” Lopez and Josh Gallegos, along with logging 30-40 miles of running per week. He also has a medical history of Sleep Apnea and Myasthenia Gravis, meaning Arune’s focus is on lean muscle mass.

Drew Whitcomb (age 42, 6’6″ 195lbs): Trains daily with a focus on running, strength training, and mobility. He writes the majority of our running shoe reviews and runs a lot of miles due to testing needs and his growing affinity for long-distance races. He regularly competes in marathons, half-marathons, 10k, and 5k races. His strength training and mobility regimen center around maintaining flexibility and lifting heavy to build power as a counterbalance to all the running he’s doing. His number one focus is staying injury-free so he can keep up the sweet gig of reviewing shoes for a living.

What is the TYR CXT-2 Elite Carbon Trainer?

TYR describes it as:

“The CXT-2 Elite Carbon Trainer is the world’s first super trainer, engineered for peak performance with cutting-edge technology. Featuring a carbon fiber Powerplate and PEBAX® supercritical foam, it delivers unmatched energy efficiency, reducing fatigue and empowering more reps. Built with next-level tech in an ultra-lightweight package, it’s designed to help you train smarter and harder. Lab tested to boost force production and power output by 25%, with a 29% increase in prolonged performance.”

The CXT-2 Elite Carbon has a 4mm drop and no officially listed weight. We expect it to weigh in fairly close to the regular CXT-2.

What’s the Same?

Arune: I’ve been vocal about the TYR CXT-2 being one of – if not THE – best training shoe(s) I’ve ever worn in my life. No pressure here, TYR!

Right out of the box, TYR once again delivers an incredibly clean and stylish aesthetic with the Elite. The white/gum pair we received is absolutely the stuff that Los Angeles gym fits are made of, no cap.

Drew: No cap? LOL, Arune, you sound like an old man. Dear reader, please forgive him; he just turned 43 and is trying to fit in with the youths [Editor’s Note: Thank you for saving me from having to be the one to say it, Drew].

Arune: Wow, happy belated birthday to me, jeez [Editor’s Note: Well, now I feel bad].

As I put my rizz on hold for the next review [Editor’s Note: Nope, never mind. Drew and I were right the first time], I’ll bring us back to our regular programming – namely that the construction of TYR shoes is top – verbal pun intended – tier [Editor’s Note: …🫠…].

The TYRTAC outsole grips with great bite and keeps you in place in a variety of circumstances, while the “secure lacing system” lives up to its very on-the-nose naming.

Given the shoe has a premium price ($225), it’s clear that TYR has spared no expense on the luxury feel of the shoe.

Drew: I mean, the TYR CXT-2 Elite Carbon Trainer does look good. The craftsmanship is also the typical high-end build you’d expect from TYR. But pretty much everything else about this shoe is a mess. If I’m TYR, I’d want a redo on this one.

What’s Different?

Arune: My unusual brevity in the opening was probably a hint that a lot has changed – and…not to my liking.

First, while TYR claims the CXT-2 Elite Carbon has 4mm wider fit than the CXT-1, I’m not quite sure where that comes into play – because it sure isn’t the forefoot, which is snug to the point that my Men’s 9.5 needed wide sizing (an option that doesn’t exist). That means wearing this shoe was a continually painful experience, which is especially surprising for a company like TYR that has excelled with more anatomical fits in their shoes.

That discomfort continues underfoot with the firmness of the carbon “Powerplate” erasing the typically wonderful midsole cushioning experience TYR brings to their training and running shoes. Even with a dual-density setup of supercritical Pebax and SURGENRG foam, all I could feel under my forefoot was an uncomfortable plate that made my feet hurt all day, even after I took off the shoes.

Lifting in these shoes created a surprising amount of instability; the plate interfered with any ground feel, seemingly losing one of the hallmarks that has made the CXT line such a standout. TYR touts increased force production, but I never found that with any explosive movements, nor with more advanced Olympic lifts like snatches and cleans. The shoes felt too rigid for my foot to move into the regular position I expect from incredibly flexible shoes like the Nike Metcon 1 OG – or even relatively flexible shoes like the CXT-2.

That issue extended to cardio, where I thought perhaps the carbon plate would feel a bit more natural. But it made rowing feel completely unnatural with the carbon plate removing the ability for me to toe off properly. More surprisingly, running was a truly awful experience for the same reason: movement in this shoe doesn’t feel natural.

Really, that’s the biggest performance change. The CXT-2 Elite Carbon was wildly uncomfortable for my wide feet that normally love a TYR shoe. Perhaps a wide pair would change my POV, or perhaps I needed to be pushing myself with different training that would be considered “elite.”

That all makes it a tough pill to swallow at a price point of $225 – a full 50% higher than the CXT-2.

And for me, it’s also a significant drop in performance. How about you, Drew?

Drew: Where do I even begin? 

I think the problems with the TYR CXT-2 Elite Carbon Trainer start with the fit. The upper runs a half size small lengthwise and fits narrow despite the claim of a wider fit. I imagine that mostly has to do with the sizing, but the upper’s build also contributes to the problems.

[Editor’s Note: TYR partially acknowledges the fit/sizing woes our testers experienced, as the company notes the following in its site’s product information: “The CXT-2 Elite was designed with a performance last and fits securely. For a more traditional fit, we recommend selecting ½ size up from your normal size.” For what it’s worth, we’re not convinced that would solve the rather extreme width discrepancy, nor does it explain why this didn’t crop up in the previous models on which the Elite is based, but there you have it. Now, back to Drew…]

Drew: The whole mesh upper is unnecessarily wrapped with TPU like an early 2010s basketball shoe. True, it increases stability, but it absolutely kills comfort. Because of this, the CXT-2 Elite Carbon Trainer will take forever to break in, if it ever does. Regardless, the plasticky feel on-foot is just not up to modern standards for upper comfort.

Oh, and the very puffy nylon tongue is a clear downgrade from the tongue on the regular CXT-2. It does round out the completely uncomfortable upper well though. Wouldn’t want the wearer to get too comfortable, you know? [Editor’s Note: Harsh]

The gum rubber outsole does grip like crazy, but the midsole quashes the potential of its tech specs by just feeling stiff and dead underfoot. The toe-off is quicker (like a running shoe with a carbon plate), but that’s only helpful for agility ladder work or jumping rope. And it’s also counteracted by the super stiff heel and lack of ground feel. You’re not that far off the ground; but the disconnect is real, and deadlifts or squats end up feeling annoying.

I like when companies take swings and try something new…but the stuff that went wrong here should have been caught and corrected in internal weartesting. Instead, we got what is likely the most uncomfortable cross trainer on the market.

Which CXT-2 is Best for You?

Arune: I wear the CXT-2 nearly every day of the week, and it’s a shoe I enjoy more each time I wear it, breaking in like a good pair of running shoes that mold to your foot.

By contrast, I couldn’t ever see myself wearing the CXT-2 Elite Carbon again. I’d be interested to try a wide version, but I’m not sure the underfoot experience could be redeemed for me.

Given all the sales that TYR has been running, you can probably grab the CXT-2 at close to $100, and that makes it way too good of a deal not to be my clear recommendation.

Drew: The TYR CXT-2 Elite Carbon Trainer is a mediocre-to-bad cross training shoe. Everyone should just grab the TYR CXT-2 instead. Or, check out our High Top Basketball Shoes and Ankle Support: Can they Prevent Ankle Sprains, best gym shoes, and best weightlifting shoes lists for other options.

TYR CXT-2 Elite Carbon Trainer Final Verdict

Arune: I was really excited for another home run from TYR, but the TYR CXT-2 Elite Carbon is an interesting idea that needs further development to be a trainer I can recommend.

Luckily, the TYR CXT-2 is available in loads of great colors and delivers a truly elite (pun intended) training experience [Editor’s Note: You’ve earned this one after all you and Drew seem to have been through during testing]. Go get the CXT-2, and get ready to enjoy your favorite new training shoe.

Drew: While the TYR CXT-2 Elite Carbon Trainer was an interesting idea, it ultimately fails to achieve any improvements over the tried and true original version of the CXT-2. I hope TYR goes back to the drawing board and reenvisions how to use all the high-tech (and cool) individual components in a package that performs well in and out of the gym.