TYR Maverick-V1 Runner Review
By Matthew Klein and Andrea Myers
TYR Maverick-V1 RunnerPrice: $150 at TYR
Weight: 7.7 oz, 220 g (men's size 9 / women's 10.5)
Stack Height: 44 mm heel / 36 mm forefoot
Drop: 8 mm
Shoe Purpose: Max Stack Height Rockered Lightweight Trainer
Pros: Rockered and smooth forefoot, wide and anatomic forefoot, extremely light for high stack height, balance cushioning, great for long and steady runs
Cons: Lower volume forefoot can make shoe feel short, not speed versatile, upper a little stiff, bevel in the wrong place, too much lateral heel flare. Low volume forefoot bruised Andrea's foot.
RUNNING SHOE SUMMARY
The TYR Maverick-V1 Runner is a highly rockered lightweight trainer for those who want a shoe with a wide toe box and an efficient ride for long runs. The upper is stiff and secure but provides a rare wide and anatomic toe box in a more moderate drop shoe. The ride is slightly softer but is defined most by extensive lateral sole flare and a huge forefoot rocker that pushes and rolls you forward. A shoe best for those who want a highly rockered shoe that is surprisingly light for its stack height, the TYR Maverick-V1 Runner is a unique shoe at an equally surprising price.
SIMILAR SHOES: Adidas Adizero EVO SL
PAST MODEL: New Model
FIT
(To learn how a shoe should fit, check out our full podcast on fit by Matt Klein.)
Matt: The TYR Maverick-V1 fits me mostly true to size in my normal men's US size 10. There is an anatomic/rounded toe box that has plenty of room but the volume at the very end of the shoe is low. This makes the shoe feel slightly short at first, but this has broken in. Unless you are sensitive at the end of your toes, I would stay true to size. There is plenty of room for toe splay due to the wider forefoot and this is one of the few moderate drop shoes that has a truly anatomic forefoot. This transitions into a more normal width, slightly lower volume midfoot. The tongue is well-gusseted and thin with a little padding in the center. This has almost prevented lace bite, although the instep sits low enough; I had to adjust the tongue. The heel fits normally with a light heel collar padding. There is a stiffer heel counter in the rearfoot that is prominent. It only comes up 2/3 of the way in the heel and while I mostly felt fine during the run, I do notice my heel gets irritated after the run. This has not stopped me from getting a ton of miles on this shoe, but those with heel sensitivities may not do well in this shoe. The inner liner is fairly scratchy, so sockless running is not advised and socks are a must. Although the upper can be a little harsh, the fit is pretty solid with the anatomic toe box with a good pair of socks.
Typical Size: Men's US Size 10
Shoes that have fit Matt well: On Cloudboom Strike, Asics Gel-Nimbus 27, Xero HFS, Topo Cyclone 3, Adidas Adizero Evo SL
Shoes that have fit snug: Hoka Arahi 7, Brooks Launch 11, Diadora Mythos Vigore 3
Shoes that have fit large: Salomon S/Lab Phantasm 2, Adidas Agravic Speed Ultra
Andrea: The TYR Maverick-V1 fits true to size in my usual women's 9.5, with a full thumb's width from the end of my big toe to the front of the shoe. The toe box is wide, but low volume, which in combination with the moderate toe spring, resulted in pressure on both 1st MTP joints. I was aware of the pressure during a couple of 4-5 mile easy runs in the shoe, but I developed a bruise on the plantar surface of my left 1st MTP joint after using the shoe for a 7 mile workout. The midfoot and rearfoot are normal in width and it was easy to secure my foot in the shoe without much lace adjustment. The thin, gusseted tongue stays securely in place thanks to additional reinforcement from a lace loop. Even though the tongue is thin, I did not have any issues with pressure on the dorsum of my foot from the laces. The heel features a smaller, rigid heel counter with a small amount of internal padding. There were times during my runs where I was aware of the stiffness of the collar on the medial aspect of my heels, but I did not get any blisters or redness from the rearfoot design. If the toe box had more volume, I would love the fit of this shoe.
Andrea's Typical Size: Women's US Size 9.5
Shoes that have fit Andrea well: Brooks Hyperion Max 1 and 2, Topo Cyclone 2, Nike Vaporfly 3, ASICS Novablast 4 and 5, PUMA MagMax Nitro
Shoes that have fit snug: Altra Escalante 4 (toe box width and volume), Mizuno Wave Rebellion Pro 2 and 3 (length), Saucony Endorphin Speed and Pro 1-4 (length)
Shoes that have fit large: Adidas Boston 12 (length), Adidas Adios 8 (length)
Doctors of Running Checklist
Is This a Good Shoe for Walking: No
Is This a Good Shoe for Standing: No
Is the Forefoot Flexible: Mildly Flexible
How Flexible is the Shoe: Not Flexible
Is This a Good Heel Bevel: Somewhat
Recommended for Haglunds: No
Is This Shoe Orthotic Friendly: No
Recommended for Sockless: No
Durability Expectation: Average
PERFORMANCE
Matt: The TYR Maverick-V1 Runner is a lightweight trainer. Despite the tall 44 mm / 36 mm stack height, the ride is extremely light at 7.7 oz (men's size 9). This is lighter than most of the shoes at this stack height and taller than most of the shoes in this weight category. The midsole is a supercritical foam (FLIGHTTIME Supercritical Foam) that feels like some kind of EVA mix. It is not super responsive but is slightly soft, well-cushioned foam that feels comfortable underfoot whether you are at mile 1 or 14. There is a large heel bevel but it is facing medially. There is a large amount of sole flare both medially and laterally. At initial contact with the medial heel bevel, this makes for an initially clunky heel transition. However, as the shoe breaks in, this creates a quick transition forward into the midfoot/forefoot. Although a bit abrupt, once you get into a run, it actually pushes you forward.
Once you hit the forefoot, you are immediately rolled forward thanks to the large and prominent forefoot rocker. There is moderate toe spring and the forefoot is mildly flexible. This flexibility has continued to increase with additional miles and now there is mild to moderate flexibility at 80 miles. For that reason, those with toe mobility deficits may not do well long term in this shoe but those who want a highly rockered front will do great. Regardless of mileage, the large forefoot rocker rolls you forward quickly. This makes for an easy transition off the forefoot. With the large rocker and solid cushioning, the Maverick-V1 Runner is great for long runs and uptempo runs but struggles with faster efforts. Despite not being as stable in the midfoot as I usually need, I found this shoe to be excellent for long miles due to the easy ability to hold a rhythm and uptempo/tempo efforts. Where it struggles is trying to go faster than tempo efforts as I don't feel like I can really push through my ankle and calf muscles, which makes sense given the large rocker. Those who have more hip-dominant mechanics may experience this difference.
Outsole traction-wise, this shoe is average. I run in a ton of wet pavement in the rainy Pacific Northwest and found the traction to be fine on dry road and not great or bad on wet pavement. The amount of exposed outsole and smooth bottom make it best for road and track but not trail. I have had several rocks get stuck in the central groove, so staying on human-made surfaces is best. The durability of the midsole is great and the material has held up well over 80 miles. I have begun wearing at the lateral heel outsole and am chewing into but have not ripped off the posterior lateral aspect of the back TYRTAC outsole. For those lighter on their feet, the durability will be great but for most it is fairly in line with the wear of most shoes.
Andrea: I am very impressed by the overall design and performance of the TYR Maverick-V1. My women's size 9.5 weighs in at 7.0 oz, which is incredibly light for a shoe with a 44mm/36mm stack height. Accordingly, the shoe feels light on foot and I really enjoyed using it for shorter, easy miles (with the exception of the pressure on my 1st MTP joints from the low volume toe box). At easy pace, the high stack midsole feels protective and bouncy. Lateral midfoot landings feel natural in this shoe due to the wider midfoot and forefoot platform and large lateral sole flare in the forefoot. The early forefoot rocker provides a nice rolling sensation without making me feel like I was pushing off prematurely. I then tested the shoe in a 7 mile workout which included 3 miles at threshold. To my surprise, the shoe did not respond to the faster pace as well as I thought it would.
The midsole felt like it compressed too much at initial contact and I felt like I was fighting the shoe a bit to increase my turnover. I also was acutely aware of pain on the plantar surface of my left foot, right under my 1st MTP joint. I ended up with a small bruise in that area that was painful for over a week afterwards. This likely occurred due to increased pressure in that area from the lower volume toe box and toe spring, which would result in additional stress on the 1st MTP joint. While I have normal 1st MTP joint extension range of motion, I tend to have issues with shoes with the combination of a low volume toe box and toe spring, likely because my toes are relatively short for my foot length. This results in my 1st MTP joint not being lined up appropriately with the apex of the toe spring, which places more stress on the 1st MTP joint. If I didn't experience this issue, I would definitely enjoy Maverick-V1 for easy runs, but would choose a less compliant shoe for workouts.
I have 20 miles on my pair and there is a small amount of wear on the exposed midsole in the midfoot, but none on the rubber outsole. One of my runs was on wet roads and I could feel the shoe slipping a little, but not terribly.
STABILITY
(Learn more about stability in our full guide)
Matt: The TYR Maverick-V1 Runner is a neutral shoe. There are no traditional methods of stability but there are a few guidance methods present. there is a large amount of sole flare in the heel and forefoot. The heel features a large amount of lateral and medial sole flare, which does keep the rearfoot centered. However, there is more lateral flare, which upon contact pushes the foot forward and medially. The midfoot has more cut out of the medial than lateral side, which combined with the lateral heel flare creates some noticeable medial bias at the midfoot. The forefoot corrects this somewhat with a wider front, but there is more lateral flare up front that also creates a medial push. This works better at the forefoot as it facilitates a good transition off the 1st MTP joint, although those with greater medial forefoot needs may struggle. The quick transition and central groove also help center this shoe, providing mild guide forward. Finally, there are sidewalls in the heel. This overall creates a slightly guided heel, a medially biased midfoot and a medially guided forefoot. Those with medial stability needs will likely not find enough here, but those with lateral stability needs may find a surprisingly good shoe.
Andrea: The TYR Maverick-V1 is a neutral shoe with some guidance features. The early forefoot rocker and moderate toe spring encourage forward motion, but their effects are tempered by the more compliant midsole and moderate flexibility in the forefoot. The shoe features a wide platform and a central midsole cutout that runs the entire length of the shoe, which may help to center the foot from initial contact to push off. The shoe also features large sole flare, which also runs the length of the shoe and is wider on the lateral aspect. This works well for runners like myself who tend to land to far laterally, but may cause issues for those with medial stability needs.
Thoughts as a DPT: What is Flight Time and Reactive Strength Index?
By Matthew Klein
While most of the biomechanics data from TYR is being used for marketing, there is some interesting verbiage that is used that is not common to non-biomechanists. "Flight time" is something that is emphasized as the Maverick-V1 Runner supposedly increases the amount of it. Running gait is broken down into multiple phases, with the two major ones being stance phase (foot on the ground) and flight phase (both feet are off the ground). Running is unique compared to walking as there is a time period where both feet are off the ground, called "flight phase," compared to walking where at least one feet is in contact with the ground at all times.
The flight phase is a result of the more aggressive propulsive phase experienced during the higher speeds of running compared to walking. Elite and faster runners are known to have longer flight times and shorter stance phases to greater elasticity and force production (ie, being able to bounce off the ground faster and with more force). This means that often the greater speed and power mean these athletes are spending more time airborne than on the ground. This relates to another metric that TYR discusses, called reactive strength index. More information is needed on this metric as its measurement has not been standardized by the literature, but it generally measures an athletes ability to utilized fast/explosive reactive movements, or how well the athlete is able to take eccentric (shock absorption) activities and turn them into effective concentric (propulsive) activities. These are related as the stance phase of running is a transition between the leg absorbing the shock from landing and transition those forces into propulsion off the ground. It would make sense that a better ability to transition between those would result in a stronger propulsion and greater flight time. The likely comes from a combination of the geometry of the sole, especially the highly rockered forefoot, causing a faster transition.
We know that a strong forefoot rocker reduces the workload of the calf and emphasizes a quick toe off. We also know that a more rockered shoe emphasizes hip motion. Greater hip movement can greatly extend stride length, so combined with a faster forefoot transition and reduced amount of foot/ankle work holding back the transition, it makes sense that there would be an increase in flight time. A basic understanding of biomechanics make the results of the design of this shoe not surprising, but the ability to get such a tall shoe so light is even more noteworthy. This is a pretty large leap forward to a company this early in their running shoe development, so I say TYR, keep up the good work.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Matt: For a second year of shoe development for the brand, the TYR Maverick-V1 Runner is a solid shoe. The wider anatomic toe box is great and rare in an 8mm drop shoe, the weight is really light, the midsole is tall but not mushy and the rocker is efficient over longer and steady efforts. My recommendations focus on the upper and the geometry of the shoe. While the upper shape is great, I would suggest reducing the stiffness, especially in the forefoot. A little more flexibility up front at the toes may soften the pressure there. The whole upper is quite secure, but a little more softness up front may improve comfort. Geometry-wise, I would love to see the medial midfoot filled in and the lateral/medial sole flare balanced out a bit better. However, this may impact the unique rocker, so care must be taken not to offset that. I would at least suggest filling in the medially midfoot to keep the transition a bit more centered and direct to the forefoot. This could involve keeping the deep midfoot groove but extending the midfoot outsole wall a bit farther medial to keep the weight down.
Andrea: I think the TYR Maverick-V1 is an impressive offering from TYR, mostly due to the shoe's light weight and responsive, rolling ride that is great for easy miles. My big disappointment is the low volume of the toe box. I am so glad that TYR is making shoes with a wider toe box, and I personally love the fit of their L-1 Lifter, which has both a wide and higher volume toe box. However, the low volume fit of the Maverick-V1 makes the shoe painful for me to use for anything longer than a 5 mile easy run, due to bruising on the plantar aspect of my 1st MTP joint. It is particularly important for shoes with a significant amount of toe spring to have sufficient volume for toes that will be pointing upwards due to the toe spring. The Maverick-V1 would probably be my favorite daily trainer of the year if the fit was improved, and I hope it will be in V2.
WHO IS THIS SHOE FOR?
Matt: The TYR Maverick-V1 Runner is those who want lightweight trainer with an anatomic toe box and a unique rockered ride. The fit will do best for those with normal feet but a wider forefoot who are not bothered by a stiffer but secure upper. The ride will do best for those want a highly rockered shoe with a large amount of lateral flare that pushes you forward and medial. This is a great option for wanting a shoe that rolls along nicely at a lighter weight with a great balanced but not super foam. I have run far mores in these than expected despite the fact that they don't fully match my mechanics. TYR has shown they are starting to cook, so I will be keeping a closer eye on what they do in the future.
Andrea: The TYR Maverick-V1 Runner is a lightweight daily trainer that will work best for those with a wider, but lower volume forefoot. The midsole geometry will be best for those with mild lateral stability needs due to the wider lateral sole flare. While I found the midsole too compliant for faster running, others may find the Maverick-V1 to be a versatile lightweight performance trainer, which is increasingly hard to find in 2025. The $150 price tag makes this shoe a great value if the fit and ride work for you.
GRADES
Matt
Fit: B+ (Stiff but secure upper. Awesome anatomic toe box. Heel counter and lower volume a bit harsh at times)
Performance: B+ (Rolling ride that is great for easy, long and uptempo runs but limited versatility into higher speed despite lighter weight. Great for long efforts and potentially marathon efforts for recreational runners)
Stability: B+ [Neutral] (Central groove and quick transition keep some centeredness. More lateral than medial flare creates medial bias that will work well with those with lateral guidance needs. )
Value: A- (A uniquely rockered shoe that has a solid price. $150 is great for a lightweight/performance trainer when many others in this category are $30-70 more)
Personal: B+ (I have really enjoyed this shoe and will keep getting miles on it. I just wish it was more stable medially but it is a great rolling shoe for mileage).
Overall Design: B+
Andrea
Fit: B- (I love everything about the fit, except the low volume toe box that gave me a plantar bruise. It is great to see a brand commit to making wide toe box shoes that are not zero drop, but the volume needs to be there as well.)
Performance: B+ (Light on foot, protective and bouncy ride for easy runs. I found it too compliant for threshold work, but others may feel differently. Could be a nice marathon option for those looking for a non super shoe.)
Stability: [neutral] B+ (a neutral shoe that provides a fair amount of forward guidance and lateral stability thanks to lateral sole flare)
Value: A- ($150 is a good price for a high stack, lightweight shoe like the Maverick-V1.)
Personal: B (I thought this shoe had potential as a great lightweight trainer until it bruised my foot. Despite this, I appreciate its light weight and energetic ride. I have high hopes for a fit improvement in V2.)
Overall Design: B+
SHOP | SUPPORT DORTYR Maverick-V1 RunnerPrice: $150 at TYR
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FURTHER READING
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