NOBULL Drive Ripstop Review | GearJunkie Tested

It’s no secret that CrossFit shoes aren’t great for running. Shoes that simply don’t hurt like hell during the run portion of a WOD are like gold to a CrossFitter. Creating a shoe that feels stable and supportive during a lift, yet pliable and responsive during a run, has always seemed like an impossible task. So, when the NOBULL Drive Ripstop ($150) arrived for me to test, I was understandably skeptical. 

At first glance, it appears more like a running shoe than a CrossFit shoe. The shoe has a noticeably thicker midsole than most CrossFit shoes, resulting in a higher stack height, which typically doesn’t contribute to stability during lifting.

Additionally, the ripstop upper is quite thin, especially when compared to most other CrossFit shoes I’ve worn. But after putting it through some grueling WODs, I think NOBULL might have finally created a CrossFit shoe that feels good during a run. 

In short: The NOBULL Drive Ripstop is a gym shoe that has a thick, responsive midsole, a 4mm heel-to-toe drop, and a lightweight ripstop upper. The result is a shoe that is comfortable during runs and plyometrics movements, yet fairly stable and supportive during lightweight to moderate lifts. In other words, a CrossFit shoe that you actually won’t hate running in. 

Want to see more CrossFit shoes? Check out our Best CrossFit Shoes Buyer’s Guide.

NOBULL Drive Ripstop Review

Brand Background

Two former Reebok executives on a mission to create simple yet tough fitness gear founded NOBULL in 2005 (hence the name). The simple, durable Outwork Shoes that NOBULL initially released quickly gained traction in the CrossFit community. Apparel and various shoe models, including running and golf shoes, soon followed.

How I Tested the NOBULL Drive Ripstop

I used the NOBULL Drive Ripstop for a period of 2 months, training 5 to 6 days a week. These workouts included squatting 450+ pounds, deadlifting 550+ pounds, burpees, box jumps, rope climbs, and every other movement that can pop up in a CrossFit workout. Workouts also included running, ranging from shuttle runs to 200m sprints and runs of up to a mile in length.

The Good 

Nearly every CrossFit shoe I’ve worn has a degree of clunkiness. The stiff sole, which is so useful for weightlifting, gives each shoe an awkward, clompy feel during runs.

If you hang out outside of a CrossFit gym, you’ll eventually hear that slap-slap-slap of an athlete trying to power through the run portion of their workout. I’m really leaning into this point because you need to understand how excited I am that these shoes feel terrific when I run in them.

The main reason is the midsole, a thick layer of Pebax foam that is lightweight, bouncy, and delivers a solid energy return. In other words, it absorbs shock when your foot lands and releases that shock in a responsive bounce when you push off.

It’s not rockered, but there is a slight lift in the outsole at the toe and an even lighter one at the heel. It’s minor, but it’s just enough to prevent the clomp that you get with flatter CrossFit shoes. 

But that sweet, sweet bounce usually means sacrificing stability during lifts. Fortunately, the nearly flat sole worked well for lighter lifts, and it felt amazing during bodyweight movements and plyometrics.

During my testing period, I completed a workout that consisted of five rounds of 20 toes-to-bars, 10 225-pound deadlifts, and a 200m sprint. The lightweight shoes didn’t hinder my toes-to-bars at all, but I could have used a burlier toe bumper when my toes hit the bar.

The deadlifts felt stable with zero rocking from toe to heel, thanks to the flat outsole. There was a slight squish in the midsole (more on that later), but at 225 pounds, it was fairly minimal. The tradeoff was well worth how great it felt on the run.

The same goes for other lifts. During kettlebell swings and dumbbell snatches, some energy was lost to the soft midsole, as I felt my drive from the floor lacked its usual burst. However, any time lost to that was made up during the run. 

Despite the shoes’ light weight, they actually turned out to be pretty tough. The ripstop upper is showing no signs of wear after a few months of use, and the outsole is taking the miles like a champ. Also, it’s worth noting that they’re easy to clean.

The pair NOBULL sent me was brilliant white, which usually looks amazing at the start, but will quickly get scuffed up and blackened from the horse stall mats you find in CrossFit boxes. It turns out that ripstop is really easy to spot-clean, so these shoes can actually stay pretty clean. 

Which brings me to my next point — these could be perfect for travelling. They’re comfortable to walk around all day in; you can run in them, you can WOD in them, and they look good. If you only want to pack one pair of shoes on a trip, these might be the ones. 

The Bad

Usually, with CrossFit shoes, you’re getting great lifters that significantly sacrifice comfort on the run. With the Drive Ripstop, you get a terrific runner that sacrifices just a little bit during your lifts. 

As I mentioned before, the squishy midsole that feels so good on runs and burpees leeches a bit of power out of your drive off the floor during explosive movements. This was most noticeable during clean and jerks, snatches, and kettlebell swings. Instead of driving right off the floor, I could feel a slight compression in the shoe before driving up. It’s small, but it’s noticeable. 

Also, I noticed that the taller stack height forced me to adjust my positioning slightly during deadlifts, since I was slightly higher off the floor. Now, I’m a deadlift snob and generally lift in barefoot shoes, so take that with a grain of salt. But it’s a thing. 

All of these minor issues are the same ones I’ve had with other shoes that are supposed to be better for run WODs (like the Nike Free Metcon). The difference is that the Drive Ripstop is a far superior runner than all those other shoes, which makes the small difference in drive response and stack height feel worthwhile for running WODs. 

It’s worth mentioning that there’s no rope protection on the instep or the outer sidewall, so ropes might burn through the midsole pretty quickly. The ripstop might be okay, but the midsole foam is exposed, so that could be an issue.

NOBULL Drive Ripstop: Final Thoughts

Shuttle runs, 200m to 400m sprints, the dreaded mid-workout mile — all of these felt great in the Drive Ripstop. A pair of dedicated running shoes would have felt better, but they would have been awful for every other part of my workouts. The Drive Ripstop delivered enough stability to get through the lighter lifts and transformed running from the worst to the best parts of my WODs. 

They do sacrifice some drive during explosive movements, and I wouldn’t wear them on a heavy lifting day, but I generally wear lifters or flats on those days. If you’re training for a Hyrox event or your WODs typically require running, the Ripstop Drive is the perfect shoe.