NOBULL Footwear Evaluate (2023)

Once I began CrossFit in 2015, it solely took a few week for me to develop an unhealthy obsession with purchasing for the most effective CrossFit sneakers. Regardless that the NOBULL model launched in that very same yr, I didn’t purchase my first pair of their trainers till 2019. Having put them by tons of of exercises since then, I’m well-equipped to ship this NOBULL sneakers evaluation.

Based mostly on feedback I used to listen to on the field the place I began my CrossFit journey, and from the suggestions I’ve collected from different Breaking Muscle workers members, one factor is evident: NOBULL trainers might be fairly controversial. Under, I’ll discover why that is and talk about the sneakers’ advantages, drawbacks, key options, and who they’re finest fitted to.

Key Takeaways

• The NOBULL trainers retail for round $129 to $149, relying on which colorway you select. 
• The SuperFabric know-how used for the higher is sturdy, however breathability could also be a problem — one thing to contemplate for those who reside and prepare in a scorching local weather.
• NOBULL trainers match true to measurement, although the toe field runs slender.

NOBULL Footwear Execs

• NOBULL sneakers are available in plenty of colours and prints. If you wish to stand out within the health club or like sporting color-coordinated health club apparel, it is best to be capable to discover a colorway that fits your fashion.
• They’re sturdy. I nonetheless have the primary pair of NOBULL trainers I purchased in 2019, and so they don’t look a lot totally different now than once I first took them out of the field.
• The lug-patterned outsole gives a variety of traction whether or not you’re coaching indoors or open air.

NOBULL Footwear Cons

• The trainers aren’t good for operating or plenty of leaping as a result of lack of cushioning, poor arch assist, and minimal forefoot flexibility.
• Whereas their value level of round $129 to $149 is on par with different CrossFit sneakers, different manufacturers often supply gross sales and reductions. NOBULL sneakers are not often on sale, which is usually a disadvantage for budget-conscious CrossFitters.
• The SuperFabric® materials used for the higher might be stiff, and the trainers might take a number of weeks to interrupt in.

NOBULL Footwear Score

At Breaking Muscle, we’ve examined dozens of coaching sneakers, together with the newest fashions of  CrossFit-specific sneakers, just like the Nike Metcons and Reebok Nanos. I personally have additionally purchased and skilled in at the least 20 totally different CrossFit sneakers all through the years. Right here’s how the NOBULL trainers scored after we put them by our proprietary issue methodology system.

NOBULL Footwear Overview

NOBULL sneakers are supposed to be a considerably minimalist, back-to-basics kind of coaching shoe. They’re designed to resist rope climbs, burpees, handstand push-ups, powerlifting actions, Olympic weightlifting actions, and anything your exercise of the day (WOD) has in retailer.

Nonetheless, they are often fairly polarizing. Some CrossFitters declare NOBULL trainers are probably the most comfy sneakers they’ve ever worn. Others declare the sneakers lack design ingenuity and don’t carry out in addition to different well-known sneakers, just like the Nike Metcons.

Whereas NOBULL has launched new shoe fashions over time — as an illustration, the Rec Trainers and the NOBULL runners — the unique trainers haven’t modified a lot. The NOBULL Coach+ got here out in 2022 with some enhancements over the unique coach, which I’ll talk about within the comparability part in a while. However on the whole, NOBULL hasn’t strayed too removed from the design of their unique trainers.

Who Are NOBULL Footwear Good For?

• The general stability of the shoe and the rigidity of the flat sole could make NOBULL trainers good for athletes who focus totally on power coaching.
• In our expertise, NOBULL trainers don’t have an excellent extensive toe field, so they’re extra appropriate for athletes with slender ft.

Who Are NOBULL Footwear Not Good For?

• Due to the onerous backside, lack of arch assist, and minimal cushioning, the NOBULL trainers is probably not appropriate for anybody who needs a cushty sneaker they will put on all day.
• Athletes preferring to put on heeled weightlifting shoes for squats will probably not benefit from the four-millimeter heel-to-toe drop on the NOBULL trainers. (Word, nonetheless, that NOBULL sells weightlifting sneakers with 17.5- and 18.5-millimeter heel-to-toe drops.)

NOBULL Footwear In-Depth Evaluate

Look

The design of the NOBULL trainers is one factor that makes them so controversial. Some folks love the minimalist aesthetic whereas others contemplate it fairly primary and uninspired. I’m a part of the latter camp — I don’t essentially assume that NOBULL has completed something groundbreaking or distinctive with its coach.

Nonetheless, NOBULL makes up for this by providing their sneakers in distinctive colours and prints. For instance, as of this writing, the ladies’s sneakers can be found in enjoyable colorways, reminiscent of neon blue, vivid pink camo, a number of floral patterns, and highlighter yellow. In the event you favor extra understated footwear, you may go for stable colours, like black, grey, or navy.

I don’t like my health club sneakers to be too flashy, however I don’t need them to be too boring, both. Once I purchased my first pair of NOBULL trainers, I selected a grey higher with a blue, pink, and purple patterned sole and matching laces. I like that this colorway has a small pop of coloration that retains them from being too drab with out being so vivid that you could spot me from a mile away once I put on them.

The NOBULL trainers even have one of many largest picks of prints and colours I’ve seen in any health club sneaker, not to mention a CrossFit shoe. You possibly can even get them in excessive tops, much like the Converse Chuck Taylors. They get a stable 4.5 out of 5 stars for aesthetics from this CrossFit shoe junkie.

RELATED: Is CrossFit Bad for You?

Supplies

NOBULL sneakers are made with SuperFabric® know-how. NOBULL takes regular mesh cloth and applies tiny guard plates to it, leading to a fabric that’s extremely proof against abrasions. I’m not at all times light with how I deal with my sneakers, however my NOBULL trainers hardly have any scuff marks or imperfections on them.

Nonetheless, the SuperFabric® materials will not be very breathable. I recognize this within the winter once I’m coaching in my chilly storage as a result of it helps maintain my ft heat. However I don’t significantly benefit from the lack of breathability in the summertime as a result of it makes my ft overly scorching and sweaty. The suede tongue has holes for air flow, however I don’t assume they do a lot.

The fabric can be stiff. I nonetheless must loosen the shoelaces almost all the way in which to get the sneakers on, and I’ve had the trainers for 4 years now. Due to the fabric’s stiffness and minimal breathability, I give it 3.5 out of 5 stars.

Outsole

NOBULL trainers have a flat, secure carbon rubber outsole with a grippy lug sample and a strengthened sidewall. The sneakers don’t slide round simply once I’m lifting on the rubber gym flooring in my storage, and on the uncommon events that I’ve worn them for out of doors runs, I haven’t felt like I used to be going to slide.

The bottoms have much less traction now than once I first obtained the sneakers, however the outsoles haven’t worn down as shortly as a lot of my different cross-training sneakers. I gave the outsole 4.3 out of 5 stars for that reason.

Midsole

The midsole encompasses a light-weight foam materials that doesn’t compress. It is a nice function while you’re lifting heavy weights, as you need your sneakers that will help you really feel balanced and secure. Nonetheless, it’s a disadvantage for sprints, leaping, and different high-impact actions as a result of the midsole isn’t very shock-absorbing or responsive (which means it doesn’t supply a lot power switch when your ft hit the bottom). I solely scored the midsole 3 out of 5 stars as a result of, as I’ll talk about beneath, the shoe’s minimal midsole limits its versatility.

Heel-to-Toe Drop

NOBULL trainers have a four-millimeter heel-to-doe drop. The low heel-to-toe drop makes it preferrred for heavy lifts as a result of it retains you extra balanced and secure. In reality, the NOBULL trainers are my go-to sneakers for days once I’m solely doing power coaching.

I give them 4.2 stars for the heel-to-toe drop, nonetheless, as a result of I favor a heeled lifting shoe for heavy squats. I’m 5’8 and have lengthy legs, and the next heel-to-toe drop makes it simpler for me to squat beneath parallel.

That mentioned, I do assume they’re a very good shoe for lifters preferring squatting in a flatter shoe. They simply don’t work for me for many barbell squat variations.

RELATED: Best Weightlifting Belts

Versatility

Relating to versatility, I solely give NOBULL trainers a 3 out of 5. They’re imagined to be all-purpose sneakers which might be good for operating, leaping, and lifting weights. Nonetheless, in my expertise, they don’t work nicely for something high-impact.

I’ve lengthy since given up on sporting them for any exercises that embrace a variety of operating (even brief distances), field jumps, or double-unders. I solely put on them for my strict power coaching days, when my CrossFit WODs name for largely static actions, or once I’m utilizing a low-impact cardio machine like a rower or train bike. I’ve flat ft and have had a number of foot and ankle accidents. For top-impact actions, I attain for sneakers with extra cushioning and arch assist.

I wouldn’t even suggest sporting the NOBULL trainers for operating errands or strolling round city. I’ve tried sporting them whereas strolling by a shopping center and whereas strolling my canine, and my ft ached for hours afterward. In the event you’re on the lookout for a shoe that may double as a exercise shoe and a leisure, a NOBULL pair of sneakers might not lower it.

Value

NOBULL trainers value between $129 and $149, relying on which fashion and colorway you select. I give them 4 out of 5 stars for the associated fee. Regardless that the worth tag could seem excessive, I don’t fault NOBULL for it an excessive amount of. It’s onerous to search out CrossFit sneakers which might be less expensive until you’re fortunate sufficient to get them on sale.

Sturdiness

The NOBULL trainers get 4 out of 5 stars from me for sturdiness. I’ve had my first pair since 2019, and so they look almost the identical now as they did after they arrived at my doorstep. The one cause I knocked off some extent is that I prepare at residence in a cramped storage health club with a low ceiling and nil empty wall house, so I don’t have room for issues like rope climbs and handstand push-ups. I can’t give the sneakers an ideal rating for sturdiness since I haven’t actually put them by a whole take a look at.

NOBULL Coach Buyer Opinions

The NOBULL ladies’s trainers have over 19,500 critiques on the model’s web site, with nearly all of clients score them 5 out of 5 stars. Consumers reward the trainers for his or her stability, extensive coloration choice, and true-to-size match. Those that left damaging critiques state the sneakers aren’t breathable and take a very long time to interrupt in.

NOBULL Coach vs. NOBULL Coach+

The NOBULL Coach+ boasts a thicker EVA midsole and a extra cushioned heel cup. I haven’t personally examined the NOBULL Coach+, however a Breaking Muscle product tester who wore them mentioned these up to date options might be each good and unhealthy. As an illustration, the thicker midsole and elevated cushioning supply extra shock-absorbing capabilities for operating and leaping however make the sneakers really feel much less secure when lifting heavy weights.

One other new function on the NOBULL Coach+ is the herringbone-patterned outsole. Whereas I by no means had an issue with slippage when sporting the unique coach, the brand new outsole is designed to offer even higher traction. The Coach+ additionally has a bigger toe bumper and a sturdier sidewall guard for enhanced sturdiness. The SuperFabric materials has carried over from the unique coach to the Coach+.

The Coach+ prices round $139 to $149, although some colorways are priced even larger at about $169. You could find some colorways within the unique coach for cheaper, however on the whole, the costs of the 2 variations are about the identical.

NOBULL Trainer+

3.5

• Heel-to-toe drop: 4 millimeters
• Weight: 13.13 ounces (Males’s 9 / Girls’s 10.5)
• Materials: SuperFabric®
• Width: Large

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NOBULL Trainers vs. Nike Metcons

Up till a number of months in the past once I purchased my first pair of TYR CXT-1 trainers, the Nike Metcons have been my go-to sneakers for all of my CrossFit exercises. I haven’t tried the Metcon 8s or 9s — I nonetheless have two pairs of Nike Metcon 6s that I rotate by generally. I additionally used to personal a pair of Metcon 2s and a pair of Nike Metcon Flyknits (which it seems to be like Nike not makes). I just about wore each of them into the bottom as a result of I cherished them a lot. Suffice it to say, I’d typically suggest the Metcons over the NOBULL trainers any day.

Just like the NOBULL trainers, the Nike Metcons have a four-millimeter heel-to-toe drop. They aren’t overly cushioned, so I’m nonetheless in a position to push towards the ground when doing heavy static lifts like squats and deadlifts. Whereas I don’t get pleasure from doing any leaping actions in my NOBULL trainers, I can tolerate them within the Nike Metcons. 

The Nike sneakers aren’t the most effective for operating lengthy distances as a result of the onerous plastic heel might be uncomfortable (particularly for those who heel strike, which I are inclined to do once I get fatigued). However total, I discover the Metcons extra comfy than the NOBULL sneakers.

At round $150, the Metcons value about the identical as or barely greater than the NOBULL trainers (relying on which coloration you get). Nike tends to run gross sales on their sneakers infrequently, although. If value is a figuring out issue for you, it could be worthwhile to maintain an eye fixed out for gross sales and go for a pair of Metcons.

Nike Metcon 8

4.2

• Heel-to-toe drop: 4 millimeters
• Weight: 12.5 ounces (measurement 10)
• Materials: Light-weight mesh with textured overlays
• Width: Impartial to extensive

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NOBULL Trainers vs. Reebok Nano

I’ve by no means actually cherished any of the Reebok Nano’s I’ve tried, however I haven’t hated them, both. I’ve really discovered Nano’s to be extra comfy for operating than the NOBULL trainers. They’re springier and extra responsive and due to this fact additionally higher for field jumps, double-unders, and different high-impact actions.

Nonetheless, I don’t really feel as secure lifting near-maximal hundreds within the Nanos as I do within the NOBULL trainers. I solely attain for my Nanos once I’m lifting at round 70 to 75 p.c of my one-rep maxes or doing CrossFit WODs with a variety of operating or cardio machine work.

The Nano X3s have a seven-millimeter heel-to-toe drop, which is three millimeters greater than the NOBULL trainers. Based mostly on the suggestions I’ve acquired from different Breaking Muscle workers members, the Nano X3s are extra breathable.

The Nano X3s value round $140 to $150, about the identical because the NOBULL trainers. However for those who want a extra cushioned CrossFit shoe, the Nanos could also be a more sensible choice.

Reebok Nano X3

4.0

• Heel-to-toe drop: Seven millimeters
• Weight: 12 ounces (unisex measurement 9)
• Materials: Artificial and textile higher
• Width: Very best for extensive ft

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Remaining Ideas: Are the NOBULL Trainers Value It?

Whether or not you’re a health fanatic or a aggressive CrossFit athlete, the NOBULL trainers might be value it. Perceive, nonetheless, that they could not work for all sorts of workout routines, relying in your foot anatomy and the way a lot assist you want in a cross-training shoe. They are often uncomfortable for high-impact actions on account of their rigidity and minimal cushioning, however they’re preferrred for heavy weightlifting as a result of they provide a secure platform and permit you to nonetheless really feel linked to the bottom.

Earlier than shelling out at the least $129, contemplate the kind of actions you do most frequently in your CrossFit WODs. In the event you do a variety of heavy barbell biking or machine work, the NOBULL trainers could also be a sensible choice. However for those who wish to program a variety of operating, field jumps, and double-unders in your WODs, you could need to contemplate a shoe that will likely be extra comfy for these actions.

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