Outwork Flex has been out in the wild for a few weeks now. It's been on the feet of NOBULL partners and ambassadors. It's been tested by the locals at Backyard Boston. And even a Calder Memorial Trophy winner — the NHL's Rookie of the Year — picked up a pair for his training sessions. Different-looking days. Same shoe. And that's kind of the point.
We asked the people who've been training in it (before anyone else) to tell us what they really think. Some freebies, but definitely no scripts. Here's what we heard.
Locked In from Rep #1
The one thing everyone says about Outwork Flex is the thing you'd least expect from a strength shoe: it doesn't need to be broken in.
Alec Smith, elite hybrid athlete, has trained in the original Outwork for seven years. That makes him as qualified as anyone to spot what's changed. "The OG's firm, stable, and virtually indestructible," he says. "The Flex just takes everything that made it great — the same flat, locked-in performance — with an updated upper, and a fit system that feels like a hug from rep one. No break-in needed. It's the same shoe I've trusted for seven years, just better in every way."
Michael Schaeffer, NOBULL co-founder, noticed the same thing on his first test run. "What's really different about this one is the lack of a break-in period. Right from the start, you put it on and it's super comfortable. It starts flexing right away."
Even potential skeptics agree. Joel (@AsManyReviewsAsPossible) has seen a lot of training shoes come and go, but he calls it "the update everyone has asked for over the years," pointing to the slimmer, softer midsole and more flexible upper compared to the Edge. His honest verdict: "If you were someone that was a fan of the brand before but got tired of what they were offering, this is a good reason to come back."
Stable Where It Counts. Flexible Everywhere Else.
That's the combo the whole shoe is built around. No surprise it's the thing reviewers keep coming back to.
"What's so important is that they are soft where you want it and they're stable where you need it most," says Doug Mason, actor (and lifeguard). And Miska Sykora — another fitness pro and fellow water-child — agreed from the moment she put them on: "You feel locked in the moment you put these on, secure without being restrictive. They're flexible where you need movement, durable enough to handle anything, and always feeling solid and planted."
Other reviewers got even more specific. For Robin Arzón, Peloton super instructor (and VP of Fitness Programming), Outwork Flex shines when the intensity steps up: "It's flexible enough to never make me question a movement under load, yet stable enough to be my backbone in box jumps, step-ups, and plyometrics. The ground connection is seamless. This shoe is something I can rely on."
Grace Giranda, a trainer over at Life Time, agrees — and breaks down the mechanics, too: "I'm still connected to the floor, working with those weights... I can do my explosive movements and feel confident and strong within them. It doesn't have that weird heel-to-toe imbalance." She continues, "You want that flat shoe so your feet are connected to the ground, not leaning forward or back. Your core is nice and stable, and that all starts with the shoe you're using."
And then there's the live test, featuring hockey's newest super star. Matthew Schaefer sums up the versatility, mid-set: "I can run, I can jump, I can squat, I can do heavy lifting. I mean my legs are shaking right now... but these shoes are keeping them locked in. The stability is off the charts."
One Shoe, Every Kind of Work
The other thing that keeps coming up: people aren't using Outwork Flex for one type of training. They're using it for everything.
For fitness pro Kaitlyn Alexander, that's the whole appeal. "I've been wearing the new Outwork Flex for pretty much everything lately. They feel super locked in when I'm going heavy, but I can still move when I throw in conditioning. I need a shoe that is durable and reliable, but also flexible for my busy schedule and lifestyle. The Outwork Flex has me covered."
Trainer-slash-realtor Sun Greene takes it a step further, pushing back on a common assumption: "It doesn't matter if somebody is experienced in the gym or getting into it for the first time. You want a shoe like this: really flat, really stable... especially when you're loading, putting yourself in positions where you want to feel as steady as possible."
Down at Backyard Boston, the team put that versatility to the test across a full roster of real client sessions. "I loved the look and feel of the new shoes," says Rob Velasquez, Co-Founder and Trainer. "They are impressively lightweight, yet feel much more stable than most other training shoes I've used."
Rob's clients agree, each from their own angle. Lisa felt the connection to the floor: "I liked the cushion and that they were flat enough that I felt connected and stable for lifting heavy AF." Heather appreciates the support where she needs it most: "There's just the right amount of support for lifting, and I like the extra cushion on the tongue and top of the shoe — it helps support my weak ankles."
The "Flex" That Inspired Outwork Flex
The Flex name isn't just about the upper, the midsole, or the fit. It's how you move through every session. And every day.
Last time we caught up with Taylor Rooks, sports journalist and broadcaster, we asked what "flexibility" means to her. Not the shoe. Just the word. She didn't say a word about Outwork, and yet she touched on exactly why Flex exists:
"Flexibility is being okay with change, and understanding that just because things change, it doesn't mean your mentality or attitude has to change," she said. "Change is the one constant in life. You have to be okay to sway with the wind. You have to understand that it's going to be fine." She talked about resisting a cross-country move she didn't want to make, and what she found on the other side of it: "Great things have always been on the other side of being flexible and on the other side of accepting change."
That's what Outwork Flex was built to do. Steady enough to trust under a heavy bar. Versatile enough to move with the next thing any session (or life) throws at you. It's built for work that never looks the same two days in a row. Because for most people, it never does.
No Bull, Pure Outwork
Matthew Schaefer trains for an NHL season that never really ends. Most of us train to live and feel our best. The reps are different. The stakes are (very) different. But what's behind the work is the same. And so is the shoe.
We asked Matthew what gets him through tough days. His answer — "No excuses, no bullshit" — echoing Miska's review of the shoes: "No fuss, no bull. Locked in, ready to go."
Outwork Flex is available now in eight colorways. So go put it to work. Like Matthew says, "It's as easy as that."
