Intro

Ever since 7th grade I’ve dreamed about shoes that make me faster, smarter, and stronger. That pair of purple Puma’s that my mom bought me to help my 440 yard dash times didn’t help as much as I had hoped. But then, I hadn’t put in the work yet. Many years later, I’m still searching for that shoe. This new one comes closest, though I may be giving it too much credit. Hard work is still more important than the shoe. And feet fitted with the gospel of peace are the best shoes ever.

Old Shoes

I used INOV-8’s Fast Lift 335 shoes happily for 5 years. They were my first lifting shoe. I bought weightlifting shoes because my tight ankles, long femurs, and slight kyphosis (hunched back) made it hard for me to go deep in my squat, clean, and snatch without falling backwards. (And yes, I worked on mobility then and still have to today.) I’m envious of people who can squat in zero heel height shoes!

Back then, I favored INOV-8 as a brand because I came to CrossFit from running ultra marathons where they are well known. They are specifically designed for women and they are budget friendly. (And yes, I got them in pink long before the Barbie movie came out.)

These shoes had and still have a great reputation. Total Shape lists these as the 3rd best weightlifting shoes for women in 2023. Powerlifting Technique also includes them in the 7 Best Women’s Powerlifting Shoes.

Why Change

Earlier this year, a friend of mine at the gym, Ana, bought the TYR L-1 Lifter. She was quite happy with them and shared that they allowed her toes more room.

Her feedback was in line with what I had been learning from Dr. Aaron Horschig of Squat University. He advocates for a broader toe box. This feature helps you generate more upward force (power) and more even force across the foot (straighter vertical trajectory). If most of your foot force comes from the toes, your lift pitches forwards. If most of it comes from the heels, your lift pitches backwards. Neither are directions you want.

After I finished my first Crossfit competition in my Fast Lift 335s (more on that later), I decided to reward myself with, you guessed it, a pair of new shoes! 

New Shoes

I bought the TYR L-1 lifter in pink (after the Barbie movie came out.) When I put them on, immediately I felt my last 3 toes on each foot spread out (splay) both sideways and lengthwise. The two securing straps (vs one on the Fast Lift) made my foot feel secure and stable. I have relatively narrow feet so the double straps also help keep the shoe in place.

The broader and more secure base of support increased my stability in receiving the barbell in the Split Jerk and the evenness of my pushoff in the Clean. Right away, I set an eight pound PR in my Clean and Jerk. That’s the kind of return I hoped for on a new shoe investment. However, all the hard work I had been putting in had something to do with it also:)

After a few lifting sessions with this shoe, I wish for more forefoot padding. With all that splay and pressure, my toes really feel the ground, sometimes a bit too much. Also, while the color is pink, the shoe design is unisex. There are separate listings for men and women but the shoe is the same. If you’re looking for something specifically designed for women, this is not that.

Toe Box Comparison

Is it all hype and imaginations run wild or is there really a difference in the shoes? In the profile view below, the left INOV-8 shoe is in front and the left TYR shoe is in back. The outside edge of both shoes are resting on the flat surface of my sewing mat. 

You can see with your own eyes that the L-1s are broader than the Fast Lift 335s.

Who’s TYR?

The L-1’s aren’t on many best of lists yet because TYR is best known for its competitive swimwear. The brand only recently entered the CrossFit space. It’s a bit of a stretch expecting the background in competitive swimwear and water sports to translate into weightlifting shoe expertise and land sports but passion explains it.

TYR got into CrossFit because their CEO, Matt DiLorenzo, tried it in 2020 and loved it. According to Morning Chalk Up he then brought on Corey Berger as TYR Sport’s Head of CrossFit and Fitness in the Spring of 2021 and by Fall of 2022 TYR had signed 12 CrossFit athletes who placed on the podium of various comps in TYR gear. As long as Matt is CEO and the CF market is profitable, TYR is in it to win it.

Summary

Overall, I’m very happy with my L-1 lifters. I found a 30% off coupon on RetailMeNot which helped my purchase happiness as well.

For more granular details about the materials, support, and performance of the TYR L-1 Lifter try this review at Garage Gym Reviews.