I Kept Seeing CrossFit Friends Wearing Nobull Sneakers

When I first started CrossFit, a good friend of mine was wearing Nobull trainers [1]. I noticed them right away, not only because they were a gorgeous bright red, but because they were so simple and no-nonsense-looking, which I loved. Here's what it says on the brand's website that I just had to share: "Nobull is a footwear, apparel, and accessory brand for people who train hard and don't believe in excuses. If you think gimmicks in your shoes make you a better athlete, Nobull is not for you. Our gear won't make you fitter. The only thing that will make you fitter is you." Hell yeah!

More and more athletes at my gym started lacing up with Nobulls, so I felt compelled to try them for myself. Here's what I thought.

How Do Nobull Sneakers Fit?

When I tried on these Nobull Trainers [3] ($129), which slipped on super easily, they instantly felt snug and stable. I liked the narrow fit, the flexible yet durable outsole, and they were surprisingly supportive and equally comfortable. I was excited to try them out in a few classes, to see how well they performed.

Are Nobull Sneakers Good For Lifting?

The flat sole made these feel great for lifting, whether it was with a barbell, a dumbbell, a kettlebell, or a med ball. They also offered stability for bodyweight exercises. Definitely a fan!

Are Nobull Sneakers Good For Running?

This was the main question I had when trying out the Nobull trainers. The very first day I wore them, I was able to put them to the test when I saw that part of the workout was a timed mile. They were awesome! They felt great to run in, and I didn't have any knee or foot pain afterward, which can sometimes happen when I'm not wearing supportive shoes.

Throughout the next few workouts, they also felt great when doing shorter sprints. I do think that if workouts have longer runs programmed, I'll do what my physical therapist recommends and wear running-specific sneakers, since I have a history of knee pain and plantar fasciitis.