Key Takeaways
- NOBULL Drive is a hybrid shoe for lifting and cardio.
- It's stable, provides energy return, and is very lightweight.
- Drive comes in Knit and Mesh uppers.
- It's lighter than competitors' training shoes and has a wider toe box than most running shoes.
Shopping for training shoes used to be black and white. You picked what you did most of the time—lifting or cardio—and whichever side you chose, the other had to suffer. A good lifting shoe would make running uncomfortable. And a good running shoe would cost you strength and stability on heavy lifts. But that time is long gone.
Nowadays, there are hybrid shoes that serve both functions. And we'd argue that the best shoe for weight training and cardio is the NOBULL Drive.
Read on for an explanation of the Drive's features and benefits. See how it stacks up to its competitors. And find out for yourself why it's a hybrid athlete's dream come true.
What Makes the NOBULL Drive Training Shoe Unique?
NOBULL Drive is a hybrid training shoe. That means it's designed to support you during both strength training and cardiovascular activities. Instead of having to buy two separate styles and change them according to what you're doing, you can get the best of both worlds in an all-in-one model.
But first, let's take a step back. Traditional lifting shoes that cater to heavy weight training are typically low to the ground and minimally cushioned. That helps you root your feet and stabilize your body for stronger lifting. But the lack of padding makes them seriously unsuited for running. Meanwhile, running shoes are thickly cushioned and known to have a high heel lift (the average heel-to-toe drop is 10mm). This is perfect for protecting your heel when you run and reducing the risk of injury. But that extra cushion and height creates an unstable surface when you're lifting, jeopardizing safety and impairing performance.
A hybrid shoe splits the difference between both styles, combining some of the cushion from a running trainer with the low heel of a lifter. The result is a shoe that isn't specialized, true, but it does suit most of us, who want to do multiple types of training—even in the same workout.
How NOBULL Drive Supports Lifting, Running, and HIIT
The Drive offers stability and comfort that make it applicable to a variety of fitness activities, including (but not limited to) cross-training, jogging, lifting weights, high-intensity interval training (HIIT) workouts, and more. Here's why.
Low drop
The Drive has a heel-to-toe drop of only four millimeters. This is equal to the NOBULL Outwork and Outwork Edge, our strength-training shoes, and is considered very low. A shoe that puts your feet close to the floor allows them to stabilize your movement and transfer maximum force into the ground.
Special cushioning
A key feature of NOBULL Drive is its Pebax® foam midsole. It's soft enough to cushion your joints from the impact of running, but firm enough not to change shape or let your feet sink into the midsole when lifting. Pebax is also very light and responsive, which is a big advantage when you're jumping or performing dynamic movements like jumps or running. You wouldn't want bricks tied to your feet. So don't settle for clunky shoes.
Pebax® foam is renowned for its energy return—the ability of a midsole to absorb impact from the ground and help you rebound out of it into your next stride. Think of it like having a literal bounce in your step. The better the energy return of a shoe, the less effort your legs have to put in to move you forward and the more efficiently your body runs. A study in Sports Medicine demonstrated that Pebax® foam midsoles can provide up to 87% greater energy return than traditional EVA (ethylene-vinyl acetate) and TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane) foams.
Room for your toes
Many running shoes have a pointed, triangular toe box. This can help reduce movement inside the shoe, but it can also crowd your toes, even deforming them over time (causing bunions and hammer toes). A narrow toe box is also bad for lifting, as your toes need to be able to spread and grip the floor for stability.
The NOBULL Drive's toe box is wider and more anatomical, like most good lifting shoes. (The toe box is the same size as Outwork and Outwork Edge. But some people find that Drive feels roomier than Outwork due to the difference in the upper materials.)
A double eyelet
It's common to see two holes at the top of a running shoe upper near the ankle, and Drive also has two. "Some people really like to cinch their heel down into the shoe to make sure it doesn't slip," says Michael Schaeffer, co-designer of Drive as well as NOBULL's co-founder and Chief Creative Officer (check his creds on Instagram, @michael.is.nobull). "If you lace the Drive using the lower hole of the two in the eyelet, it will bring your foot further back into the upper for a more secure fit."
If you lace it using the higher hole, it will be more snug around the ankle, which reduces heel slippage, friction, and the risk of blisters. This is known as the "heel lock lacing technique," or "runner's loop."
No extras
Some running shoes have extra arch support built in to help flat-footed runners avoid overpronation. Because Drive is a hybrid shoe that you may use for lifting, we intentionally kept the design as minimal as possible. If you like to run and/or lift and feel you need extra arch support, consider the NOBULL Allday instead. Like the Drive, it's made for lifting and running, but it contains a medial post for motion control. (Read more about the differences between Drive and Allday further down.)
Drive Specifications
To sum up, here's what you get with NOBULL Drive:
- 4mm drop
- 19/23mm stack height (the total thickness of the sole)
- 100% Pebax foam midsole
- 10.5 oz weight for a men's size 9, 8.3 oz for a women's 10.5 (Drive is NOBULL's lightest shoe)
- Wide toe box
- Double upper eyelet
- Neutral design (no medial post or motion control features)
What Exercise Can I Do with the NOBULL Drive?
"Drive is for shorter runs and gym workouts," says Schaeffer. "Many people like to go into the gym and warm up with a treadmill run for 15 minutes or so, and then do weights, and Drive is great for that. You can run outside in it too, but it's really for the treadmill, weights, and functional movements that a running shoe would be too soft for while a lifting shoe would be too hard."
Understand that Drive is a hybrid and therefore a mix of styles. It's not optimized for one specific kind of exercise. If you're really into lifting, performing heavy, technical movements like power cleans, deadlifts, and squats, you may do better with the NOBULL Outwork, which is more minimalist and stable. Likewise, if you take long runs or want to train for a marathon, the NOBULL Journey is a better choice.
But if you do conventional gym workouts, workout classes, sprints, and/or shorter-distance jogs, Drive is perfect. Here are some activities we recommend doing in Drive.
Lifting:
machines, dumbbells, kettlebells, bodyweight, suspension training (such as with a TRX® or gymnastics rings).
Running:
sprints, short to moderate jogs, trail runs.
Athletic movements:
jumps, plyometrics, burpees, cone drills, shuttle runs.
A note about trail running: Drive's outsole has cut-outs that partially expose the Pebax midsole. This was done to reduce the amount of rubber on the outsole and keep the shoe light. "The disadvantage," says Schaeffer, "is that the shoe will wear faster. If you run on a gravel road or trail, you could damage the midsole. However, I've used Drive on that terrain and it's held up well."
The NOBULL Bottom Line:
- Drive is flat like a lifting shoe, but springy like a running shoe.
- The double upper eyelet lets you customize your fit.
- Use Drive for lifting, workout classes, athletic training, and indoor/outdoor running.
What's The Difference Between The NOBULL Drive Knit and Mesh
Drive comes in two choices of upper materials.
Knit
The Drive Knit upper is made of a flexible yarn to provide a snug fit that feels more like a sock than a traditional shoe. You can even put it on like a sock. (Knit doesn't have a tongue.) You may prefer the Knit to the Mesh if you have a wide foot or just want something that's nice and stretchy.
Mesh
The Drive Mesh upper maximizes breathability, but this isn't just for the sake of comfort. A poorly ventilated shoe collects moisture, whether it comes from your own sweat or any water you run into. The result can be foot odor, fungal infection, a loss of performance, and friction that leads to blisters.
A 2025 article in JSM Foot and Ankle explains that low breathability in a shoe causes heat to build up around your feet. The feet then sweat more and, as a result, slip easier, reducing movement efficiency and harming athletic performance. Sensing hot feet, the body has to work harder to regulate its temperature. That adds to overall fatigue, affecting endurance and mental focus.
Or choose a mesh upper shoe. And skip all that.
Which Drive upper should I choose?
Schaeffer says that the best upper for you comes down to personal preference. "It depends on how you want to put your shoes on," he says. "Some people don't like slip-ons, which the Knit is, so in that case go with the Mesh." On the other hand, due to the Mesh's openness, it's possible to see your sock through the upper, and some people don't like that exposed feeling.
Consider what you'll do in the Drive too. "If you run on a straight road, or you do light gym workouts, all styles are equally good," says Schaeffer. "But if you're going to do a conditioning workout, the Mesh offers more support."
What's the Difference Between NOBULL Drive and the NOBULL Allday and NOBULL Journey?
NOBULL Drive, Allday, and Journey are all meant to be worn for cardio, but their specific use cases determine which is the right choice. Allday has a lug pattern on the outsole, which makes it more suited to outdoor runs. EVA foam in the midsole gives it a softer feel (better for longer-distance running) but makes it heavier.
NOBULL Journey is purely a running shoe, intended for anything from a long jog to marathon training. That's further than we would suggest you go in the Drive. But with that thick, springy midsole, you definitely shouldn't wear Journey to lift weights.
So, if you're looking for a shoe that balances strength training stability with cushioned comfort for movement––Drive is the clear winner of the three.
The NOBULL Bottom Line:
- Drive Knit can slip on like a sock. Drive Mesh is more supportive and breathable.
- Drive covers a blend of strength and cardio activities. Allday is for the gym (and for going out), while Journey is purely for long(er) runs.
What Do Reviews Say About the NOBULL Drive?
Drive has scored high with training shoe reviewers since its debut. It swept the 2024 Sneaker Awards of three different top-notch wellness brands—Men's Health, Women's Health, and SELF—with each one naming Drive among the best shoes available.
Men's Health praised the Drive Knit for "moving seamlessly from the treadmill to the power rack and back again," while Women's Health called Drive "the ultimate two-in-one trainer."
WH continued: "[Drive] has the kind of bouncy foam you'd find in a running shoe, but the heel is barely elevated, just like a lifting shoe. That combo allows you to move seamlessly between short bursts on the treadmill and reps banged out on the floor."
At the same time, SELF's Sneaker Awards described Drive as "perfect for classes that incorporate dynamic moves like burpees and box jumps, as well as ones with free weights."
The NOBULL Bottom Line:
- Drive is lighter than leading cross-training shoes, and may offer more toe room.
- Drive has won awards from Men's Health, Women's Health, and SELF.
Find the perfect pair of training shoes from our collection with the help of our guide, "Which NOBULL Shoes Are Right For Me?"
And learn more about how to shop for training shoes with "The Expert's Guide To Gym Shoes."
