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Pitting the NOBULL Outwork against the NOBULL Impact

Don’t let their similar appearance fool you.

Joe Niehaus
Expertise:

Style, Skincare, EDC, Fitness, Shoes

Joe is world traveler and brand fanatic. He's been writing about physical goods and the founders behind them for over four years. Beyond his work for The Adult Man, he's contributed to The Quality Edit, Business Insider, Men's Health, Travel + Leisure, and more. He's been around the block, taking his goods across the world to countries like China, Spain, Italy, Thailand, Dubai, France, and Mexico. Read full bio.


Published: Jul 12, 2024
13 min read

Down to earth control

NOBULL Outwork

The Adult Man Vs Feature Image

The supportive lifting partner

NOBULL Impact

The Adult Man Vs Feature Image

The NOBULL Outwork caters to my major concerns with heavy lifting, but not much in the way strength-endurance hybrid movements. With a low stack height and drop, wobbles and a forward lean while squatting are a non-issue. Impact-heavy excersises like box jumps can be quite uncomfortable with such a thin, hard sole, however.

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Variety is the spice of life, and the NOBULL Impacts can do just about whatever I throw at them. They aren’t tailor-made for serious lifting, but the flat outsole is a clear winner over arched sneakers. A toe flip, herringbone outsole pattern, and mid-top design give the NOBULL Impacts an upper hand over the NOBULL Outworks for any non-stationary exercises.

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Pros:

  • 4mm of drop supports natural squat posture
  • Circular sole-design for multi-directional control
  • Good floor control with 11cm/15cm toe and heel stack height
  • 4 additional millimeters of insole material absorbs shock better than the NOBULL Outwork
  • Mid-top design provides more ankle support
  • Front-facing traction pattern and toe flip adapt to running motions

Cons:

  • High carbon rubber sole lacks enough cushioning for endurance strength workouts
  • SuperFabric upper can be uncomfortable during the break-in period

If you were to look at a graph measuring the simplicity of my athletic routines, it’d look like a bell curve.

I was quite the track-nut during my youth. My middle and high school were rife with two-a-day track practices and Friday-night meets, and I only needed my runners, water bottle, and perhaps a couple energy chews for both.

Even a dedicated gym bag would be overkill.

Senior year of high school closed that chapter in my life. College-aged Joe, on the other hand, realized how easily he packs on muscle. Track sucks for that.

In a total noob move, I laid it on thick with gear—new barbell grips, lifting belt, and a pair of Vans just like all of the other gym rats had on their feet.

Aesthetics have taken the back seat. I crave something that encompasses holistic health. Strength, mobility, and joint health wrapped into one routine—Vans are terrible for the latter two.

I recently reviewed the NOBULL Outwork and NOBULL Impact crossfit trainers. If my pursuit of a strength training shoe rings a bell, allow me to dive into the nuances of both to save you from an arduous (and costly) process of elimination.

Overview

The Adult Man NOBULL Outwork The Adult Man NOBULL Impact
NOBULL Outwork NOBULL Impact
Upper Durable and water-repellent SuperFabric Durable and water-repellent SuperFabric
Sole Phylon (EVA) outsole with circular tread pattern Phylon (EVA) outsole with herringbone tread pattern
Outsole High carbon rubber High carbon rubber
Warranty 1 year 1 year
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NOBULL Outwork

The Adult Man NOBULL OUTWORK Profile 800

The NOBULL Outwork is an iron-clad trainer that can withstand years of intense work thanks to a SuperFabric upper and carbon rubber outsole. With a low drop and circular treads, they deliver superior control and posture optimization compared to other trainers I’ve tested. Opt for the NOBULL Outwork if you’re looking for a dedicated pair of shoes strictly for stationary lifts like squats or overhead presses.

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Pros

  • 4mm drop prioritizes control and squat form
  • Circular sole design adapts to vertical and horizontal pivots
  • SuperFabric upper resists creases and water damage

Cons

  • Relatively minor cushioning and support isn’t ideal for complex footwork
  • SuperFabric upper isn’t as breathable compared to other trainers with mesh panels
NOBULL Outwork

The NOBULL Outwork has an impressive amount of features despite an unassuming exterior. It took longer to break in the SuperFabric upper, but I think a few sessions of tightness for long-term durability is a fair trade. Sidewall guards, circular treads, and an anatomical sole provide valuable control even for my non-stationary workouts.

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NOBULL Impact

The Adult Man NOBULL IMPACT Side View 800

The NOBULL Impact is slightly larger than the NOBULL Outwork because of the thicker sole and higher profile, but it still has that minimalist design I love. The herringbone pattern on the outsole provides excellent traction, and the 4mm thicker midsole offers better cushioning.

Durability is a close tiebreaker between both models, but I’d go with the NOBULL Impact if your routine involves strength excersises that incorporate the whole body or have feet leave the ground.

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Pros

  • A vertical herringbone outsole design and front toe spring promote a natural stride movement
  • The mid-top design provides more ankle support than the NOBULL Outwork’s low-top silhouette
  • Increased stack height and midsole material is more forgiving during high-impact exercises

Cons

  • Increased stack height isn’t as optimized for squat form as the NOBULL Outwork

Features Face to Face

The Upper

The Adult Man NOBULL Upper

Side by side, the NOBULL Outwork and NOBULL Impact share a lot of similarities. Aside from the high-top design and front toe spring of the NOBULL Impact, they almost seem like identical shoes.

The SuperFabric upper is a dead giveaway that these two models are siblings.

I explored NOBULL’s origins as a Crossfit torchbearer in the grand scheme of the athletic shoe industry, and while the SuperFabric upper doesn’t reveal that to the naked eye, it was quickly understood with some use.

The Adult Man NOBULL OUTWORK On Feet Side View 800

It’s the most durable upper material I’ve experienced outside of genuine hiking boots. Granted, it takes a while to break in, but who isn’t willing to go through a few stiff workouts if it means less replacements?

This is less of an issue with the NOBULL Outwork as I find it better suited for strength exercises. With the NOBULL Impact leaning towards cardio, it was borderline uncomfortable for 4-5 sessions.

The crease resistance of SuperFabric doesn’t go unnoticed either.

The SuperFabric upper is also treated with a water-resistant coating, which is something I rarely see other shoe manufacturers bolstering their trainers with. It makes sense, though. With CrossFit often taking place over turf or genuine grass, why wouldn’t NOBULL have it here?

The Adult Man NOBULL IMPACT Both Shoes Stacked 800

All things considered, you might value the SuperFabric moreso on the NOBULL Outwork than the NOBULL Impact.

The thick, durable feel of the upper feels very secure when I’m doing squats, deadlifts, and overhead presses. On the other hand, my feet got hot and sweaty during wind sprints or any sort of cardio that gets my whole body moving.  

The Cushioning

The Adult Man NOBULL OUTWORK Tread 800

With a 4mm heel-to-toe drop, the NOBULL Outwork made no introductions to its flat-footed MO.

This can take a while to get used to if you’re just getting into weightlifting shoes (NOBULL doesn’t explicitly describe them as such, but weightlifting shoes will usually have this).

It certainly did for me. I have high arches, so it took a week for me to acclimate. However, both the NOBULL Outwork and NOBULL Impact feature anatomical footbeds that, at the very least, provide another dimension of stability particularly around the perimeter of my feet.

I know Vans and Converse are the sweethearts of bodybuilding, but they’re nothing more than fabric attached to a flat slab of rubber. Nothing makes me tremor like my feet shifting around the footbed with 40-pound dumbbells over my head. It’s a minor feature, but a welcomed one.

The Adult Man NOBULL IMPACT on Foot Spread 800

The high carbon rubber outsole is hard, dense, and undoubtedly durable—like a tire or one of those dirt-cheap pencil erasers from grade school that would turn your error into a nebulous mess of graphite.

Durability is good for any sort of equipment that takes a beating, but what I like most about the high carbon rubber is that it doesn’t develop “sandwiched” creases that are unavoidable with softer outsoles.

The NOBULL Outwork has a toe/heel stack height of 11mm/15mm compared to the NOBULL Impact’s 15.5mm/19.5mm.

Where do the 4 extra millimeters come from? The phylon midsole. This feature results in the biggest difference cushioning-wise between NOBULL’s two shoes.

The Adult Man NOBULL IMPACT and Outwork Together 800

As I’ve alluded to already, this makes the NOBULL Impact far better for, well, impacts.

I’ve put about ~10 miles on my pair in 1-2 mile chunks. Let me be clear, these aren’t running shoes, but those with strong feet can put a 5k in them without major pain. Longer distances caused shin and ankle pain in my case.

Moving around isn’t NOBULL Outwork’s strong suit. Too stiff, too close to the ground, and no toe spring to top it all off. If you’re keen on doing a brief warmup, they handled box jumps and ~2 minute intervals of jumping rope without noticeable discomfort.

In short, the low drop and minimal stack height of the NOBULL Outwork is ideal for planting your feet  for controlled movements without any worry of posture-related injury. The NOBULL Impact has more cushioning and falls better into the “hybrid” category. I wouldn’t use it for anything beyond moderate strength training because of the added stack height.

Look and Design

The Adult Man NOBULL OUTWORK On Feet Side View 800

As you can probably tell, both the NOBULL Outwork and NOBULL Impact are rather neutral in their design. If a trainer shoe isn’t inherently versatile enough, both options easily go from gym to casual events without a trip. The zero-crease design will keep up appearances wherever they go.

NOBULL has a pretty diverse selection of colorways. In either model, you can find neutrals, earth tones, bright pops of color, and even floral prints. Their marbled outsole variants caught my attention and might soon find themselves in my shopping cart.

Personally, I’m not a big fan of the in-your-face branding, either. Both shoes have a small tongue logo, but the “NOBULL” emblazoned over the rear exterior of the shoe is what gets me. Brands like Nike, Saucony, and Adidas have logos that blend seamlessly into a shoe’s design, but the text sticks out like words on a page.

The Adult Man NOBULL IMPACT Side Logo 800

On the flip side, it’s reflective. Early birds who take their training to the street know that reflective elements are huge for safety purposes. Let’s be real, though, looks aren’t why we’re here. The features are. Each possess a feature that the other lacks—an outsole arch grip on the NOBULL Outwork and a toe flip on the NOBULL Impact.

The outsole arch grip is a textured indentation on the side of the outsole for climbing rope. Honestly, I don’t see this as a relevant feature for most people, as rope climbing takes a ton of strength, and not everyone has access to a rope to begin with. It’s certainly part of NOBULL’s CrossFit ethos, but my gym is ropeless.

The NOBULL Impact’s toe flip is helpful just about every time I wear it. Without it, they wouldn’t be nearly as capable of cardio, especially during sprints, lunges, and any sort of movement where my legs reach peak stride.

Durability

The Adult Man NOBULL IMPACT in Backpack 800

If there’s anything to be said about the NOBULL name, it’s that their materials live up to the no-fillers mantra.

The NOBULL Outwork and NOBULL Impact are made from the same materials, so for the sake of covering durability, you’ll expect the same from both. How you use each might affect how they hold up over the long term.

The NOBULL Impact features a toe flip, vertical herringbone sole pattern, and a high-top design—three attributes that give it an edge over the NOBULL Outwork for more complex movements.

The Adult Man NOBULL IMPACT Bottom and Side View 800

Used accordingly, you can expect the sole to wear down faster than the NOBULL Outwork’s. I haven’t noticed any sloping of the heel or loss of tread, and I don’t expect to as the high carbon rubber feels more resilient than pliable soles found on other trainers, but it’s something to keep in mind.

This durability comes with a tradeoff of feeling hard at first. The high carbon rubber soles did soften after a week or two, but even after a break-in period, they’re harder than every other shoe I’ve worn.

Ultimately, NOBULL’s durability is perhaps the best part about their shoes. I’ve said my piece regarding the soles and SuperFabric upper, but many of the NOBULL Outwork and NOBULL Impact reviews rave about how long the shoes have lasted. This is a brand to watch out for if you want training shoes that endure countless kettlebell swings, rows, and suicide sprints.

Stand Out Features

SuperFabric Upper

The Adult Man NOBULL IMPACT Side View 800

Fixating on the soles can be a big mistake when shopping for a new pair of trainers.

The SuperFabric upper is unlike anything I’ve seen, which is why I’m so inclined to highlight it.

Superfabric is made from a base synthetic fabric overlaid with tiny, dense guard plates that protect the fabric itself from friction that weakens the shoe, both in strength and appearance.

This is major if your training involves shoe-to-surface contact or frequent bending of the toes—rope climbs, split squats, and burpees, for example.

The Adult Man NOBULL OUTWORK Front View 800

I begin every session with a few intervals of pushups, and combined with everything else I’m doing, neither of my NOBULL shoes have any creases or rips across the toe box.

NOBULL trainers with SuperFabric are also water-resistant. They have a water-beading effect that allows water to glide across before soaking into the shoes becomes possible. This is achieved with a coating, so it’s possible that this benefit could be lost with frequent water exposure.

Durability comes at the tradeoff of breathability. A thick material such as SuperFabric simply can’t compete with mesh or a material with less weight. My feet get pretty hot once my heart rate is going, but this is less of an issue if I’m strength training in the NOBULL Outworks.  

Sidewall Guards

The Adult Man NOBULL OUTWORK Side Wall 800

The reinforced sidewalls didn’t make their presence known until I hit the trails for some cardio in my NOBULL Impacts. They’re hidden on the inner walls of the upper.

This feature lends itself to the CrossFit arena that NOBULL competes in. For an activity that involves tons of pivoting, shuffling, and bending of the foot, extra support is a huge benefit.

The Adult Man NOBULL IMPACT Tongue 800

I’ve had countless wipeouts in shoes made of a flimsy fabric upper with nothing more than a stitch binding it to the outsole. It’s a valued enhancement even if I’m not calling on every bit of stability these provide.

The NOBULL Outwork and NOBULL Impact are both fitted with sidewall guards. Like I said, great to have on both, but I don’t use my NOBULL Outworks for workouts involving quick changes in direction, so I think they make more sense as part of the NOBULL Impact’s overall design.

Which Is Best for You?

Opt for the NOBULL Outwork if:

  • You value soles that support the natural posture of the body during squats and deadlifts
  • You’ve considered working towards shoes with a zero-drop sole
  • You already own a pair of dedicated cardio shoes that you’re happy with

Opt for the NOBULL Impact if:

  • You perform a moderate amount of cardio paired alongside lifting
  • You want a training shoe with slightly more ankle support than the NOBULL Outwork’s low-top silhouette
  • You want a low-drop shoe that doesn’t have a minimalist sole

In a marketplace dominated by long-standing champions of athletic gear, I’m impressed with NOBULL’s ability to pierce the defense.

Furthermore, the NOBULL Outwork and NOBULL Impact are quality. That’s a modern-day unicorn when every other brand is dashing neck and neck towards higher margins.

Well-made shoes are hardly controversial. Whether or not shoes are good (whatever that means to you), is.

I didn’t know much about CrossFit other than it’s a pseudo-sport where chiseled demigods try to max out every stat from speed to grip strength. Sounds pretty universal, right? The NOBULL Outwork and NOBULL Impact fall into distinct buckets.

The NOBULL Outwork, in all of its durable glory, is really for the guys who spend 90% of their time in the gym with iron in hand. The low(er) stack height and 4mm of drop is pro-posture with a clear sense of the floor beneath me.

It’s a great shoe for less than $140 if you’re exploring the benefits of low-drop shoes with more features than unconventional workarounds like Vans Slip-Ons or Chuck Taylors.

NOBULL Outwork

The NOBULL Outwork has an impressive amount of features despite an unassuming exterior. It took longer to break in the SuperFabric upper, but I think a few sessions of tightness for long-term durability is a fair trade. Sidewall guards, circular treads, and an anatomical sole provide valuable control even for my non-stationary workouts.

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The NOBULL Impacts are slightly more versatile—and they’re much better for my needs because of it.

I like the dynamic approach NOBULL took. With a relatively low drop and flat outsole, they can keep up under the squat rack. A toe flip, 4 extra millimeters of midsole cushioning, and front-facing traction provide enough utility for easy runs or a class at Barry’s.

NOBULL Impact

Right out of the box, the NOBULL Impacts feel supportive and comfortable. They still required a reasonable break-in period because of the sturdy upper and sole, but the toe flip and increased sole material makes them slightly better for more complex footwork that speeds up this process. Within a few workouts, the shoe adapted to my foot shape, providing a custom-like fit.

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Let me be clear, I’m a casual gym goer that isn’t competing at a high level in bodybuilding or the 100-meter dash. Defined goals require precise tools. I wanted a pair of trainers that are competent in my sampler-platter workout regimen, and that NOBULL Impacts deliver on that front.

Whether or not you resonate with the scenarios each shoe aligns with, NOBULL shoes are undoubtedly well made, thoughtfully designed, and easy to wear in and outside of the gym.

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