TYR Maverick V1 Runner review

Don't underestimate new players like TYR because the brand's Maverick V1 Runner shows some impressive results as a:

• a daily running shoe for various paces and distances
• a lightweight shoe with impossibly high shock absorption
• an accommodating shoe for medium-to-wide feet
• an airy option for running in summer heat

If the brand's product description got you excited for a super-fast ride, you may be disappointed. We found that the Maverick V1 Runner's energy return is no different from that of the average daily trainers. 

If you want a truly propulsive experience with similar cushioning and impact protection, the Adidas Adizero EVO SL and Mizuno Neo Zen proved to be notably springier.

TYR is definitely onto something with the Maverick V1 Runner! Measuring the shoe's shock absorption, we got a whopping 162 SA in the heel and an above-average reading of 120 SA in the forefoot!

The shoe's FLIGHTTIME supercritical foam earned the Maverick V1 an honorable place alongside the most cushioned daily trainers in our catalog. This translates into endless comfort as well as reduced fatigue and overuse injuries, even on the longest runs.

Even though we don't have a single knock on this TYR shoe's impact protection, we were left underwhelmed by its energy return results...

The brand's product description presents rather sensationalist data about the Maverick V1's 'flight time' (the time you spend in the air between the strides), raising our expectations quite a bit. But when we recorded the amount of energy that the shoe's platform rebounded in the heel (53.8%) and forefoot (60.5%), we found that it's no springier than average!

And while it's not a bad result per se, we have tested daily trainers with similar parameters but a significantly higher springback.

We also found a sizable (if not massive!) discrepancy between the stated stack height and our own lab measurements.

Instead of the promised 44 mm in the heel, we got only 39.8 mm at 12% of the shoe's inside length (following the World Athletics standard for measuring stack heights).

We discovered an even greater mismatch in the shoe's forefoot stack, as our caliper showed only 28.3 mm at 75% of its length instead of the claimed 36 mm!

This leaves us with a notable deviation in the Maverick V1's heel-to-toe drop as well. We got 11.5 mm instead of the stated 8 mm.

This higher offset moves the shoe from the grey area of fitting all strike patterns to being exclusively suitable for heel strikers. 

While it's not as plush as some of the other supercritical foams, TYR's FLIGHTTIME compound hits a sweet spot by being moderately soft.

There is no mushiness or sinking feel, and our caliper showed a standard reading of 19.1 HA. This is on par with the category average.

The TYR Maverick V1 Runner features a pronounced rocker geometry with its toe raised quite high for a daily trainer. However, this aligns with the brand's promise of quicker turnover and thus makes the shoe a perfect tempo option as well.

Paired with a prominently curved heel bevel, this shoe encouraged us to go faster, even without a carbon plate.

We are also happy to confirm TYR's promise of a wide toebox with the help of a gel mold.

Measuring the widest part of the mold with a digital caliper, we got an above-average reading of 98.2 mm. This means that the Maverick V1 falls into the wide range of running shoes and can potentially fit folks with wider feet or bunions.

But on the other hand, given the shoe's lack of internal padding, runners with narrower feet might have a problem achieving a one-to-one fit in this TYR shoe. At least the shoe comes with an extra eyelet for a runner's knot.

Our caliper measurements confirmed no tapering in the shoe's toebox either.

With an above-average width of 76.4 mm in the big toe area, the TYR Maverick V1 Runner indeed allows for a natural toe splay. Even for runners with larger foot dimensions.

However, there is a potential caveat for some runners, particularly those with toenail problems and toe deformations.

Our measurements revealed that the shoe's vertical space is lower than average at the tip of the toe (24.5 mm).

Even though the video above reflects the shoe's overall spaciousness in the forefoot, it can feel restrictive under the overlay upfront.

The brand's TYRTAC rubber outsole makes a successful debut in our lab. Testing its limits on a wet slab of concrete, we recorded a solid friction coefficient of 0.47.

This means that you can be confident with the TYR Maverick V1's outsole grip on dry and even moderately wet pavements. However, if you frequent wet and slippery surfaces, we would opt for a shoe with more rubber coverage and a higher friction score. ASICSGRIP or PUMAGRIP have repeatedly shown the strongest traction results in our lab.

TYR clearly prioritises lighter weight in the Maverick V1 Runner as its outsole rubber is shaved to the minimum (as far as daily trainers go).

We can also see deep cutouts throughout the sole, which help to reduce the weight significantly.

Considering its taller stack height, the Maverick surprised us with its decent forefoot flexibility.

Our shoe stiffness tester recorded an even slightly below-average reading of 13.4N! IT implies that this TYR shoe requires a moderate amount of force (N) to bend by 30 degrees.

Ladies and gentlemen, this is where the TYR Maverick V1 Runner deserves a golden medal!

Comparing the shoe to all the other high-stacked daily trainers with a shock absorption of above 150 SA, we discovered that the Maverick is the lightest one yet! Tipping the scale at 7.6 oz (215g) in a men's US size 9, the shoe's cushioning-to-weight ratio is simply out of this world!

According to TYR, the shoe is 30g lighter than the category average. But our extensive data proves it to be a whopping 70g lighter than average as far as max-cushioned daily trainers are concerned!

With its paper-thin upper, you can expect plenty of airflow inside the Maverick V1 Runner.

Our smoke test confirmed that the shoe's toebox mesh allows the air to pass quickly and effortlessly.

But it's not limited only to the toebox–the rest of the shoe's upper is equally transparent all the way to the heel counter.

Our microscopic examination also showed how incredibly thin its threads are and how loose the chain linking is.

All of these findings allowed us to rate the shoe's breathability with the highest possible score - 5 out of 5.

The TYR Maverick V1 Runner is a neutral shoe through and through.

Even though it doesn't feel extremely shaky-wobbly, its towering stack, soft cushioning, loose upper, and the absence of lateral support make it a poor choice for runners with overpronation (even a mild one).

But on the bright side, we see no red flags for runners with neutral pronation.

With no carbon plate or stabilizing components inside the shoe, the Maverick V1 Runner showed a rather moderate resistance to our manual twisting test.

Assessing its torsional rigidity on a 1-5 scale, we gave the shoe a middle-ground score of 3. But even though it's not particularly rigid, it is on par with most other neutral daily trainers we've tested.

The shoe's heel counter also showed moderate stiffness in our manual test, proving to be neither too rigid nor too sloppy.

With a middle-range score of 3, it offers some essential ankle hold and doesn't irritate the Achilles.

The Maverick V1 draws some of its stability from a prominent outrigger in the forefoot. Measuring its width in the broadest area, our caliper returned 120.1 mm.

Although it's wider than average, it's not enough to make the shoe chunky and clunky. In fact, we appreciated the extra millimeters of contact area given this TYR shoe's soft and tall platform.

The heel, on the other hand, proved to be on par with the average at 91.9 mm in the widest part. That's a good landing area for heel strikers.

We didn't really expect any miracles applying our Dremel to the shoe's thin and delicate upper mesh. Sacrifices had to be made to keep the weight of this TYR shoe as light as possible.

Assessing the damage left by our tool's sandpaper tip, we rated the Maverick V1 Runner's toebox durability as 2 out of 5 (not even the worst score!).

The textile lining inside the shoe's collar also showed a decent durability result, earning 3 out of 5.

We also have reservations about the shoe's outsole durability, primarily due to the amount of exposed foam.

And as for the rubber, our Dremel test showed that it should last equally long as most other running shoe rubbers. It sustained regular damage with a dent depth of 1.1 mm.

Its rubber thickness also showed some reassuring results at 2.9 mm.

But if you need a more lasting companion for daily runs and walks, it's better to go for shoes with more rubber on the bottom. The Neo Zem from Mizuno is a more lasting option, for example.

The TYR Maverick V1 Runner features a rather standard insole with a regular thickness of 4.2 mm.

But it's easily removable in case you need to add a custom insert with some added arch support.

Going into the cold season, some runners may be concerned about the shoe's midsole properties in low temperatures.

Having kept the Maverick V1 in the freezer for 20 minutes, we found that its foam firmed up no more than the average running shoe midsole–by a moderate 23%.

Our dark room test didn't reveal any reflective components on the TYR Maverick V1 Runner.

Like the rest of the shoe's upper, its tongue padding turned out to be very minimal at only 3.1 mm.

Although we didn't have any issues with lace bites or pressure, we felt like the shoe's non-padded upper could be harsh against some runners' feet. Perhaps thicker socks could remedy this.

We were glad to find that this TYR shoe's tongue is gusseted (attached to the upper) on both sides. It doesn't shift or slide during the movement and contributes to a secure foot lockdown.

In our opinion, the TYR Maverick V1 Runner is very competitively priced for its category. Even though it's not perfect, the shoe offers abundant shock absorption at a minimal weight! We also found that some of its features even beat the more expensive models.

The shoe doesn't have any pull tabs or finger loops to aid with the on-and-off.