NOBULL designs its footwear according to one guiding principle: if it’s bullshit, don’t do it. 

Our gym, training and running shoes are simple, minimalist, and comfortable. They'll look the part while you take on every part of your day. But they're designed to thrive during your longest runs and most grueling workouts.  

Whether you’re training at Equinox, Life Time, 24 Hour Fitness, F45 or the YMCA, NOBULL has the best workout shoes for you. 

What we keep hearing is “Which NOBULLs are right for me?” Between this article (and this one: “Expert’s Guide to Gym Shoes”), you’ll get your answer. 

While a few key features overlap, each shoe is designed for specific workouts and gym activities. Below is a rundown of the major players in the NOBULL shoe family and what they can do for you. Let's get it. 

Key Takeaways 

NOBULL Outwork 

NOBULL built its reputation on the Outwork (formerly called Trainer To this day, it's our most-loved shoe.  Whether you need the best shoes for cross-training, bodybuilding/physique training, kettlebells, weightlifting, high-intensity interval training (HIIT), or workout classes, we designed the Outwork to handle it. “It’s our most stable and durable shoe,” says Michael Schaeffer, co-founder of NOBULL and co-designer of our entire shoe line (@michael.is.nobull on Instagram). 

Drop 

A shoe’s drop refers to the difference between the height of its heel and the forefoot. Experts agree that gym shoes should have low drops, as opposed to running shoes which can be 10mm or more. (See our “Expert’s Guide To Gym Shoes” for more.) 

As a cross-trainer, the Outwork has a low drop of four millimeters. It’s ideal for heavy lifting and a good transitional shoe if you’ve gotten used to training in thicker soles or running shoes. Start here before going totally minimalist or barefoot (zero drop, or close to it). 

Toe Box 

The toe box on the Outwork allows your toes room to spread, but it isn’t as spacious as a Vivo Barefoot®. On the other hand (uh, foot?), the Outwork provides a lot more support. You've got a strong heel counter at the back, a dense midsole, and a one-piece outsole. The outsole reaches around both sides of the shoe, helping to absorb twisting forces. You won’t get that from just any shoe.

Upper 

Outwork’s most distinctive feature is its incredibly durable material upper. It's a flexible, breathable mesh that resists scuffs, scrapes, and stains. It’s also water-resistant. So if your workouts take you outside, wet grass and puddles shouldn't scare you. The upper is one solid piece, so there are no seams to split. And printed resin dots give the top of the shoe some traction when climbing a rope, if you’re into that. Go ahead and Google stories about how rope climbs and shoe uppers usually meet. (Hint: not pretty). But it won't happen here. 

In 2025, the editors of Men’s Health named the Outwork the “Most Durable” gym shoe and described the upper material as “practically bulletproof.” 

“We tried to test its durability by dragging our toes on concrete and deliberately kicking the squat rack,” the reviewers write. “The shoe held up perfectly; however, we did get some strange looks from the other gymgoers.” 

The website garagegymreviews.com also rated the Outwork as its “Best Minimalist Lifting Shoe” for 2025. Their content director writes, “When I first put on these trainers, I didn’t like the feel; I’m used to higher heels in my lifting shoes. I really didn’t want to like them, but after doing running, squats, and jumping workouts in them, I’m digging the feel of them. They don’t feel uncomfortable in any of those movements.” She rated the ergonomics 4.5 on a scale of 1 to 5. We'll take it. 

The biggest difference between other NOBULL gym shoes and the Outwork is the amount of cushioning they provide and the styles they offer. 

The NOBULL Bottom Line 

NOBULL Outwork Edge 

The Outwork Edge (formerly called Trainer+ and Impact) features the same durable upper material as the original Outwork but adds more cushioning in the upper and outsole for extra comfort. The tread on the outsole is also different. We went for a herringbone pattern, rather than the circular shape the Outwork uses. It provides better grip for multi-directional movement. Which is way more fun than one-directional movement, if you ask us. 

These changes make the Outwork Edge the best shoe for high-impact workouts, fancy footwork drills, and runs. “If you want more support because you’re doing longer workouts, try the Outwork Edge,” says Schaeffer. 

The editors of GQ voted the Outwork Edge the “Best Workout Shoe for the Gym” in 2024, citing its traction. Their review states: “While some gym rats swear by cheap Converse® for weight training, they’ll get a kick out of how much better their workouts would be if they were to lace up in these." 

The NOBULL Bottom Line  

NOBULL Drive 

Originally conceived as a running shoe, the Drive has more cushion than the Outwork or Edge, but it’s still stable and low enough to the ground (same four-millimeter drop) to be one of the best shoes for gym-training. Pebax® foam delivers the padding. Pebax is very light, but renowned for its ability to resist change in shape, which is why it’s popular in running shoes. 

Weighing just over eight ounces on average, the Drive is NOBULL’s lightest shoe for gym training and lighter than popular competitors like the Nike Metcon and Reebok Nano. This can be beneficial for a running shoe and any other kind of training where your feet leave the floor (toes-to-bar, jumps, etc.). With the Drive, you get full support without feeling weighed down. 

Because of its blend of softness and strength, Schaeffer uses his Drive for occasional trail running. But with that said, Pebax has a styrofoam-like texture and the Drive’s outsole leaves it partly exposed. Schaeffer says that over time he’s seen the Pebax start to disintegrate on a hard trail, but it still offers great support. 

“The Drive is the sweet spot,” says Schaeffer. “If you’re not a heavy lifter and you’re not outside running, go with the Drive. It’s the perfect shoe for cardio, light weightlifting, lateral drills, running around cones, farmer’s carries, box jumps, high-intensity interval training (HIIT), the rower, the TRX®,” and so on. “It’s a workhorse,” says Schaeffer. “A great go-to gym workout shoe.” 

The Drive is available with a mesh or knit upper. The mesh creates a breathable training shoe to keep your feet cool, and the knit a snug, sock-like fit. 

The NOBULL Bottom Line 

NOBULL Allday 

The Allday is our most versatile shoe. You can wear it in the gym, but with a 10mm drop, it’s more similar to a running shoe. Get out there day or night, thanks to reflective details that enhance visibility. There’s a lug pattern on the outsole which lets Allday handle almost any terrain, and a strong medial post for arch support (a good feature for flat-footed wearers). 

Mostly, Allday is for going about your day, hence the name. If your job has you on your feet, or standing a while, you’ll really appreciate the Phylon® foam in the midsole. Its cushioning is more dense and comfy than the rest. 

The uppers come in knit or ripstop, a perforated polyester that makes the shoe extremely durable. 

The NOBULL Bottom Line: 

NOBULL  Recs 

Think of these as something like Vans® but for lifting. They’re flat and stable like the Outwork. But with a little more skate-punk style. And unlike the Outwork, they look and feel great outside the gym, too. Which, unfortunately, is where we are a lot of the time. 

The NOBULL Bottom Line: 

NOBULL Journey 

This is our popular running shoe (walking too), formerly known as the Runner+. They’re neutral, so they’re better suited to people with normal to high arches and don’t provide extra stability for the foot. This makes them lighter than most stability shoes. At the same time, they have plenty of cushion (Pebax foam) for shock absorption. 

There’s also a flexible nylon plate built into the midsole to act as a springboard, so your foot can rebound efficiently from each strike. The uppers are mesh to give your feet some ventilation. 

The NOBULL Bottom Line 

How Long Do NOBULLs Last? 

Most running shoes, including the Journey, last 300–500 miles. Our cross-training shoes are harder to gauge, but the short answer? Years. Since the Drive is a hybrid, Schaeffer estimates it will run out of gas somewhere in between when your other running shoes and gym shoes wear out. 

“We’ve had people send us photos of Outworks they’ve had since 2017,” says Schaeffer. “Some of the dots might have fallen off, but people love them and they’re proud of them.” The longevity of any shoe really depends on what you do in it and how much you abuse the design’s unavoidable weak points: where the toe cap laminates to the upper, and the bond between the outsole and midsole. But Schaeffer says the fabric on the Outwork and Outwork Edge won’t fall apart. 

How Can I Clean My NOBULL Shoes? 

Splashes of mud and crud can be wiped off with a damp towel, but if you want to deep clean your shoes, Schaeffer says you can put any NOBULL in the washing machine for a cold cycle and they should come out looking like new. Just take the sock liners (the removable insoles) out first. Don’t put them in the dryer – heat and shoe-glue don't play nice. Just let them air dry. 

Does NOBULL have the best training shoe? 

NOBULLs are almost identical in price to other gym shoes of similar design from Nike, Reebok, and other top brands. That said, NOBULLs are known for being highly durable, as well as flexible and breathable. Not easy to find all those things at once. 

We are keeping affordability in mind and making an effort to innovate in a way that upholds NOBULL’s standards without unnecessary costs. For example, we are currently experimenting with a new material to replace the existing fabic on the Outwork and Outwork Edge. “It will be more breathable and flexible than SuperFabric and require less break-in time,” says Schaeffer, “but it will be similar in terms of durability.”  

NOBULL vs. Nike® Metcon 

Often compared to the Outwork, the Nike Metcon is a cross-training shoe, has a similar drop (four to six millimeters, depending on the model), and customers speak highly of its sturdiness. The main difference between the Metcon and the Outwork is that the Metcon has more padding in its insole and heel, which makes it more suited to short runs (400–800 meters) and explosive, jumping exercises (e.g. plyometrics) than serious strength training.

A less cushioned, leaner design means Outwork is the better choice for really heavy weight-training. Especially on deadlifts and presses, where you want your feet as rooted into the floor as possible. If you’re going to max out or shoot for PR’s, do it in an Outwork. 

In addition to not offering arch support, the Chuck Taylor binds the ankle due to its high-top design. That’s good for keeping the ankle stable while you’re shuffling up and down a court, but it limits ankle mobility on a squat. (To be fair, Chuck Taylors do come in a low-top model now, though the high tops are still more popular.) 

“Chuck Taylors were popular with low-bar squatters,” says Fleming—that is, lifters who carry the bar low on their shoulders as opposed to higher up on their traps. That style of squat encourages sitting back at the hips and limiting bend at the knees and ankles, so restriction at the ankles doesn’t really matter. But Chucks are a nuisance for Olympic lifters and other squatters who perform a more vertical squat.  

Ex-Converse-wearing powerlifters will also tell you that the side of the upper tends to blow out on exercises that have coaching cues like “spread the floor”, such as squats and sumo deadlifts. Due to its extremely durable upper material, the Outwork doesn’t have that problem. 

The NOBULL Bottom Line 

See our complete “Expert’s Guide To Gym Shoes” for more tips on finding the right pair for your training.