TYR CXT-FLOW Review: Wide and HIIT-Focused Dad Shoe?

1. You have narrow or low-volume feet, you’ll find yourself swimming in these or tripping over the laces from having to tie them tight enough to feel secure.
2. You prefer a lighter more dynamic feeling shoe for dynamic training sessions.
   • Alternatives: Check out the STRIKE MVMNT Haze Trainer or RAD ONE V2
3. You primarily train strength and want something stable with a high ground feel while still giving you enough flexibility and movement to do some cross-training.
   • Alternatives: Check out the Inov8 F-Lite or the Adidas Rapidmove 2
4. You don’t want to spend 2 – 3 weeks breaking in a pair of shoes.

Sizing and Fit Suggestions

About My Feet: I have a normal arch/instep and my feet come in at an E/EE width. The length of my left and right foot are consistent with one another, and I size as a true US 10 for most companies’ sizing charts. 

Fit Breakdown:

• Narrow feet: True to size, but expect a lot of upper volume. 
• Medium width: True to size.
• Wide E and EE: True to size.
• Extra Wide 3E+: Consider going up a half size to hedge your bets.

I went with my usual size 10. TYR says these run true to size, and for the most part, that’s accurate. But the real story here is in the width and upper volume. They are spacious without being too sloppy, unless you have a narrower foot.

This isn’t one of those shoes that feels perfect from day one. In fact, right out of the box, the CXT-FLOW felt stiff, especially through the midsole and around the ankle collar. Word of caution, if you try these on and immediately feel that pressure around your ankle? Trust your gut. That probably won’t go away.

If you’ve got wider and thicker feet, you’re going to love the wide toe box and extra volume through the forefoot. For comparison, the CXT-FLOW has a wider forefoot and more spacious upper than the Nike Free Metcon 6 and Adidas Rapid Move ADV2 I mentioned earlier. There’s room to splay, and you don’t get an aggressive midfoot taper that some other trainers have. That said, if you’re on the narrower side? It’s going to feel roomy. Maybe too roomy.

The shoe does have a bit of a built-in arch, so flat-footed folks, you’ve been warned.

Performance Breakdown

I ran these through all the normal tests. I was especially curious how they performed for cross-training since they are billed as a HIIT shoe.

For the first couple of sessions, I had some discomfort on the medial and lateral sides of the ankle where the material dug into the bone. It’s not a dealbreaker, but it’s definitely noticeable. It took me about two weeks to really break in the midsole. Once I did, they had a much more forgiving and comfortable ride.

Not the Best for Lifting: 6.5-7/10

The midsole here is firm and pretty dense, pretty much what you would expect from a HIIT shoe. You would think that would be a good thing for stability. Eh, kind of. For free weights, I’d cap your loading to 250 lbs and down.

For kettlebell work, dumbbells, and lightweight barbell work, the CXT-FLOW performs well enough. But that high stack height introduces some instability under heavier loads. This was especially noticeable during compound lifts like squats and deadlifts. It’s not a lifting shoe, and it’s not pretending to be.

Keep the barbell light, and this shoe will be fine. Push it heavy, and you’ll probably wish you were in something flatter and more stable.

Pretty Good for Cross-Training: 7.5-8/10

This is where the shoe actually shines. After the break-in period, the midsole becomes very pliable and forgiving. You get enough cushion to move comfortably and enough support to stay locked in during circuits.

The outsole grips turf and rubber flooring well, and the heel bevel helps absorb impact during power movements that have a heel-first impact. The biggest drawback? That ankle collar can still be annoying, especially on lateral moves. And if you don’t have a wide foot, you’ll find yourself pulling the laces as tight as possible to get that secure, locked-in feel.

This shoe really lends itself more to HYROX or metcon-style training than static barbell work.

Decently Capable Interval Runner: 8/10

I wouldn’t choose the CXT-FLOW for a 5K, but for short conditioning efforts or intervals, think 400m repeats up to 1-mile straight runs, it holds up surprisingly well. The midsole isn’t bouncy or plush. And once it’s broken in, it’s stable and absorbent enough for treadmill intervals or brief outdoor runs.

I would definitely keep those runs to a mile or shorter, though. It starts to feel heavy and clunky on longer jaunts. You’ll want something lighter if you’re doing regular running volume.

Comfy AF for Daily Wear: 8.5/10

This is where the CXT-FLOW really finds its niche. I mean, just look at it.

Full day of errands? Casual dog walks around the park? Travel days? Check, check, and check. These are great casual shoes. If you wear them a little looser, they give you that soft, broken-in sneaker feel without too much unnecessary bulk.

And yes, if you’re into that specific aesthetic, it matters here. These hit that New Balance 990 vibe without trying too hard. It’s easy to throw them on with joggers or jeans and go about your day.

Construction Details

My normal size 10 weighs in at 14.3 oz. So yeah, it’s on the heavy side.

It does have a nice removable insole. While it doesn’t do much for increasing ground feel or being of much benefit in training, if you wear custom orthotics, this is a nice bonus. 

The synthetic overlay on the toe adds a nice touch of security and helps prevent spill over if you have an exceptionally wide foot.

The high boot around the ankle sports TYR branding on both the medial and lateral side, and has a heel pull on the back.

The mid foot has 6 lace eyelets and a tongue loop for added security. There’s no gusset on the tongue, but the way it sits, the tongue doesn’t move very much during training. The lack of gusset isn’t a concern here.

It does sport a chunky medium-density midsole throughout the entire foot and a durable rubber outsole. The tread throughout the base boosts its ground grip, and the addition of breaks in the forefoot help with flexibility. The rubber outsole extends up the toe for a bit of extra protection and wraps up the lateral and medial sides for added security during side-to-side movements.

Final Thoughts: Would I Get Them Again?

I asked myself, “Would I buy it again?” And to be honest, probably not. 

At $120, they don’t break the bank, so financially, they won’t kill you. However, if you don’t align with their fit, you’ll likely find that price point a miss.

The heel collar is too bulky for my anatomy and was just uncomfortable enough. I had to really crank the laces just to feel locked in. I also prefer more flexibility and a sock-like fit for HIIT training.

That said, this shoe does a few things really well, and for the right foot and the right use case, it might be perfect. If you’ve got a wider foot and you’re looking for something that works for daily wear while still giving you just enough performance, it could be right up your alley.

It’s not a performance powerhouse. But if you’re looking for that perfect burpees-to-burgers shoe, the CXT-FLOW might just be your guy.