Found: An ‘Everything’ Sneaker That Requires Zero Break-In & Is Great for Fallen Arches

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I’m someone who has a pretty simple workout routine: I do a 30-minute jog on the treadmill, and devote the rest of my hour in the weight room with free weights. On my “recovery” days, I take my two dogs on hour-long brisk walks around the neighborhood, and through the park. My regimen is pretty minimalist, so I generally look for an equally minimalist shoe. What I look for in a shoe is a lightweight, soft but sturdy material, responsive, bouncy soles, and enough arch support for my fallen arches. Do NOBULL running sneakers check all the boxes?

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NOBULL, which launched back in 2015, was originally designed as a solution for CrossFit. According to Fast Company, cofounders Marcus Wilson and Michael Schaeffer noticed CrossFit members weren’t wearing the right shoes to quickly transition from HIIT to weight-lifting—so they designed a sneaker that could withstand the intensity and physical whiplash of a CrossFit class, and then some.

I’ve been testing the NOBULL Journey, which is a running and walking shoe—but have also found it’s great in the weight room floor, too.

NOBULL, Women’s Journey

$149 Buy Now

I ordered these a half-size up and they fit perfectly. It’s generally recommended that you order running shoes a half-size up from what you normally get, but their return policy is easy and generous, so you can always order your size, plus another slightly bigger to see what fits you best.

NOBULL Specs

My Honest Review of NOBULL Journey Sneakers

While NOBULL was originally engineered to be the all-in-one CrossFit shoe (the Outwork Edge sneaker is probably their most well-known), I actually tested their running and walking sneaker, the Journey, over the span of a week (so far).

I was a little bit nervous because at first look and feel, the shoe is very light and no-frills. Which is fine, but the padding is pretty minimal, and the mesh upper is incredibly light (like, you can see my socks through the material). Lo and behold, I was pleasantly surprised when I took them out for a little break-in walk with my 10-month-old in her stroller. My feet felt cushioned, supported, and I didn’t experience any painful friction while my feet got used to the design. This is not a flimsy design.

I’ve since taken my NOBULL sneaks on several walks with my dogs (2-to-3-mile walks) and have loved how comfortable they are. I normally wear HOKAs on recovery days, but these legitimately felt pillow-y and cloud-like—and they’re far lighter than my HOKA Cliftons (love them, but they are on the heavier side!).

Another feature I also worried about was the midsole and rocker design, especially with two 95-pound dogs who pull when they see a squirrel and throw me off balance sometimes. This actually did happen (sigh), but I stayed put and firmly balanced (yay). Plus, because the mesh upper is so breathable, my feet stayed cool in 80-degree weather (with socks!). So far, these truly are a solid walking shoe.

I tested them on the treadmill and on the weight room floor as well, though.

I’ve been slowly getting back into running after having my daughter. I’m taking it, well, slow. I’ve been clocking two-mile runs that vary between 4MPH and 6MPH, with a walking break. While I currently don’t push myself too hard with a fast run, I still notice the difference between a sneaker that supports me and one that doesn’t, and so far, I love how my NOBULLS feel when I jog.

The lightweight material is a standout quality (both for walking outside as well as running indoors): I don’t think I’ve worn a lighter shoe that’s this breathable. Second, the responsiveness and cushioning of the midsole is excellent. My jogging feels bouncy and the shoes do a great job of absorbing impact. I can’t speak to outdoor running, but these are great tread sneaks.

For the second-half of my workout routine, I hit the weight room, where I lift up to 25 pounds and focus on my arms, core, and legs. These kept me balanced through squats and deadlifts.

Who is the Nobull Journey Sneaker Best For?

The NOBULL sneaker is a great gym shoe if you also want to wear it on your recovery walks for a pain-free fit. Basically, it’s a great “everything” shoe that has exactly what you need, and nothing more.

“I wear these 3 days a week for cardio, upper body, and core workouts. My feet never hurt. The shoes are essentially weightless and very breathable. Even the wear on them over the last 3 months has not been bad,” one shopper says.

Another says, “Much to my surprise, these have turned out to be a phenomenal shoe for cardio workouts, weight workouts, kickboxing, tooling around town on the weekends and just standing all day. They are not overly cushioned, they are lightweight and provide great arch support for flat footers like me. And they are extremely well balanced.”

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