TYR Shoes

TYR came to lifting shoes from swimming, and the thing it brought with it is the anatomical toe box: a forefoot shaped like a foot rather than a point, so the toes can spread and grip. Every TYR shoe on this page has it. What differs between them is heel height and what the shoe is for.

The three shoes

The L-2 Lifter is the weightlifting shoe: a 21mm heel-to-toe drop, a solid heel, a single midfoot strap and that wide toe box. It is the shoe for squats, cleans and snatches, and it is the answer for lifters who find the Nike Romaleos too narrow. It has become the most popular lifting shoe we sell.

The Dropzero Barefoot Trainer is the flat one: a 0mm heel, a thin TYRTac grip outsole and adjustable midfoot straps that lock the foot down. It is a deadlift and low-bar squat shoe you can also bench, walk and train in, with more structure than a slipper and the same wide forefoot as the L-2.

The CXT-2 Trainer is the cross-training shoe: a low heel, more cushion than the other two, and an upper built for jumping, running and rope climbs as well as lifting. It is the one for CrossFit-style sessions and general gym training where you lift but do not only lift.

Which one

Squats and Olympic lifts: L-2. Deadlifts, low-bar squats and a flat shoe for everything: Dropzero. Mixed training with running and jumping: CXT-2. Powerlifters often end up with an L-2 for squats and a Dropzero for deadlifts.

Sizing

TYR runs true to size in US sizing, and because the toe box is already wide you do not need to size up for width the way you might in a Nike. The L-2 should be snug through the midfoot and heel with the strap done up and have a little room at the toe. The Dropzero fits close; if you are between sizes, take the larger. The CXT-2 fits like a normal trainer. If you are unsure, send us your foot length in centimetres before you order.

Common questions

Are TYR lifting shoes legal in powerlifting competition? Yes. The L-2 and Dropzero are used for squat, bench and deadlift in IPF-affiliated competition; check your federation's current equipment rules if you compete elsewhere.

L-2 or Romaleos? The L-2 is wider in the forefoot and slightly higher in the heel (21mm vs 20mm); the Romaleos is stiffer and narrower. Lifters with wide feet or toes that feel cramped in a Nike are better in the L-2. Both are on our weightlifting shoes page.

Can I deadlift in the L-2? You can, but the heel adds range of motion and pushes you forward at the start of the pull. Change into the Dropzero or a slipper for deadlifts.

Colourways come and go; when a colour is listed in your size it is in stock now.

Every pair ships from our Sydney warehouse, and all three models are in store to try on.