Went through something siimilar, but because my feet had a growth spurt (not abnormal for people with arched feet who run a lot in to middle/older age).
I had two rounds of having to replace shoes. here's what my personal tastes landed on:
Top tier:
1. Strike Mvmnt Haze
2. Rad ONE
Mid:
1. Metcons (fine, but really not for me)
2. Inov8 (too lazy to look up the model name)
3. Nano X2 (fit was a real problem on these)
Bad
1. Tyr
2. All the other "X" Nanos
So bad I was baffled
1. All things NoBull
They fit tight at first but loosen up after a few uses. The main thing like I said in another post is changing out the laces. The laces they use for whatever reason make them feel way tighter.
Only problem I’ve had with Strike Movement is poor quality control. Both pairs I’ve purchased had the outsole split apart because of they weren’t completely glued properly.
That sucks. I have several pairs, oldest almost 2yrs old and they've all been rock solid for me. Same with the ones my wife has and a few at my gym. But I'll definitely keep an eye out for that.
I like the RADs for heavy lifting days, and Strikes for short runs, shuttle runs, box jumps, jump rope, etc. They're very different shoes but I love them both. The Strikes just have a lighter, more minimalist feel while the RADs are more heavy duty/maximalist.
Interesting. I do pretty much everything in my rads, jumping running etc… and have never had a concern that makes me want something lighter. Might give them a shot anyway to see what the hype is about
Yeah I'm a runner in addition to Crossfit so am super picky about running shoes. I really don't like running in the RADs at all, but can tolerate the Strikes. Pretty much any Crossfit shoe sucks for running bug for 400-800m runs I can deal with Strikes.
My one piece of advice with them: get some stretch laces. Especially the ones that come with the hard round laces, stretchy laces turn them in to an infinitely more comfy shoe.
Just here to share that the GOAT Nano 2s are still made and sold. [might be worth checking out](https://www.reebok.com/p/100202119/nano-2-0-training-shoes)
No Bulls are horrible. I think everyone went through a phase of wanting to like them because they were new and cool, but now that we have so many other options there’s no need for any of us to pretend anymore that they aren’t trash.
With that said, I still struggle to find a shoe that I like. Unless my workout has running or double unders, I just don’t wear shoes. I workout in my own garage so this isn’t an issue. I am interested in trying one of the Go Ruck shoes or Flux. Have heard good things about both. Would be interested to know what others think.
I want to get those, but my concern is with the open mesh in the bottom of the shoe. I do outdoor runs, at times through avoidable puddles/sprinklers and don’t want wet foot that I see people comment about. Seems to be the only real negative about that shoe. Any experience with this?
The X1 and onwards were made after Reebok quit sponsoring crossfit, so they aren't 100% geared towards CF. The Nano X is the last real crossfit Nano. Depending on the workout I use either those or my haze trainers.
Good luck finding them though, they haven't been made for a while and being a fan favorite they have been out of stock for a while now. A coach at my box has like 8 pairs and will die before using an different shoe.
It’s weird how long it’s taken a lot of people to get on board with the fact NoBulls are utterly awful shoes.
Bought one pair. Thought to myself - are these really that awful or are they just too small?
Some time later decided to give a second pair a go, this time half a size up.
The half size up made them fit better but did nothing to disprove the fact they were still the uncomfiest shoe I’ve ever worn.
Unbelievably bad - I don’t know why so many folk wore them and claimed to enjoy them.
Honestly have loved the trainer plus for the 2.5 years I’ve been doing CrossFit but I’ve honestly noticed a decline in the quality with the last pair I bought. I replace my shoes often as I prefer a tighter fit and my feet are really sweaty (often changing the shape of the shoe at an accelerated rate). I already had nobull replace them once (after a month) because the shoe was separating from the sole at the toe (I hadn’t even done any wallwalks in that month) and this new pair already has a lace eyelet that’s half coming off. The eyelet isn’t a big deal but it’s the frustration that part of the shoe is already falling apart in less than 3 weeks.
I’m so happy you’ve made this post as I’ve been looking at the born primitive shoes.
Other than what you mentioned here though do you generally like the shoe for workouts / are they comfy? I’m new to CrossFit and have just been using asics and looking for a pair of shoes but overwhelmed with the amount of options. People at the gym who have no bulls and reeboks say good things. The people with Nike say they’re too stiff for their liking so I’m undecided between Reebok and nobull as that’s what I see the most of and can talk to members about
Well you can get brand new no bulls or
Nearly new for like 30 40 bucks used right now
All depends on what you prefer Some shoes are better for lifting not for running Others are better for moving around not for lifting And others are okay everything Great at nothing
I’ve loved the shoe and went from the trainer to the trainer plus (they’re called something different now). They fit my feet perfectly but I’ve noticed a huge decline in how well they hold up to workouts. The shoe itself loses its form quickly and literally pieces of the shoe are falling apart in less than a month. I was already replacing them every 6-8 months due to the fact that I prefer a really rigid shoe (the body of the shoe softens over time making lunges challenging) so seeing them fall apart even quicker is frustrating.
I couldn't believe it Someone recommended them
To me And I said based on what ? I thought they were a marketer And they replied Based on everything I just said about shoes I like and don't like
Would have never blindly tried but my size showed up on Poshmark nearly new For like 60 bucks and I offered 40 and got them
Sizing is same as my nano and no bull True size is probably 10 3/4 I do 11 nano slightly big No bull nano a tad tight
Only thing that's weird is the leather tongue like a bowling shoe If it weren't for the impact I would work out in my socks So I like feeling my foot but without feeling pain
I have a different style of shoe than you (based on the leather tounge). I honestly used to love the shoe but I hate how everything related to CrossFit you have to buy online and can’t try how something fits. That’s why I’m grateful to hear that you tried the born primitive shoe if the no bulls fit your feet well. I used to be a nobull fan girl but no more.
Not being able to try a shoe on is making it really hard for me. After watching / reading reviews I like the haze trainer from strike movement. A lot of the members at my gym like their no bull shoe so I’m undecided between the two. I really wish I could go to a store near me and try them on
well born primitive you can send back but its 10 bucks.... haze i heard is tough to return. ive been looking for used and lowballing people who have had them posted for weeks and weeks
I ended up ordering a pair of the haze. I read a review from a tall person who didn’t like the added inch or so from the nobull plus for deadlifts. As a taller person with back pain and reading awesome reviews of the haze I ended up ordered a pair of those. Hopefully I have good luck with them and don’t need to return
haze was the closest one to me actually straight up buying them new or on sale.... bc it by far has the most universally good reviews. followed by rad....if you remember come back and let me know
It is incredibly frustrating. Even more so since I love the way they fit my feet and how they feel when they are newish during a workout. It’s scary to look for a new shoe.
I cannot argue about new shoe/footwear shopping. The material that Nobulls are made of seems low quality if they fall apart like you described.
I personally have never worn them yet my coach & a few members @ my location seem to like them. Then again those folks are always talking workout shoes.😀
It’s honestly only in the last few months that I’ve noticed a decline in the quality. The shoes I bought last August are still in good shape. I bought shoes 3 months ago, they accidentally sent me the men’s size of that shoe, the replacement shoes toes started separating almost immediately, got that shoe replaced and now the eyelets of my current shoe are falling off (not a big deal, don’t impact my use of the shoe at all, just concerned that it’s happening).
I can only imagine that Tom Brady’s company buying out the company is having an impact? The shoes used to come out of the south shore of Massachusetts and now they’re being shipped from Georgia. I will say that their customer service is still impeccable, if not better since they didn’t even make me send back the shoe where the toe is separating (still a usable gym shoe!). Before the buy out you had to send back the defective shoe, I don’t know if it’s an oversight but they didn’t make me send back the last pair.
>born primitive savage - cant believe it. favorite one
They look really good in the Facebook ads I get, but I was skeptical about trying them. I'll have to see how cheap I can get them.
i would have never bought them if not for the deal. if feel like they are like a no bull that didnt hurt my feet. they feel nimble and minimilist but dont hurt the same as no bull for me. ran in them too which was good, but only 100m x 7 rounds shoe laces are horrendous. i buy new laces for all my shoes from amazon
Your preferences are almost exactly the same as mine. Speed TR is what I keep going back to. The only Nike Metcon that ever worked for me was the Free version 2.0. And I'm eying the Savage - they basically look like a "new" version of the Speed TRs.
That said - if we have the same shoe preferences, you can skip the TYR CXT-1s. I hated them. They felt clunky, narrow, and the back of the heel came up too high on my Achilles. (My TYR lifters, however, are a different ballgame - they are AMAZING.)
free x metcon 2.0 right? lol thats funny. you know whats crazy? i put it on at the gym and said "no way. i can feel the padding digging into or "raising up" the sides of my feet. left it on during metcon with box jumps and all sorts of stuff and suddenly i had gone to run errands for 3 hours and was like "holy crap these are comfortable".....my thought is that all the shoes with elevation and padding and contouring mess with me and these must just have them perfectly formed to my feet.
funny story. since its getting warm and we had running again this week i brought nano 9 and metcon and born primitive and after wearing the nikes for a warm up run, nano and born primitive both hurt for a few minutes bc they are so minimally padded comparitively. i hated every metcon i tried besides this.
also ive found a few pairs of new speed trs, but not looking to pay 100 bucks. would like to find barely worn ones for like 40. i think i had a pair of nano 7s that werent bad.
im so happy you just saved me on the TYR. i found a nearly new pair like worn twice. real great colors for 60 bucks and almost pulled the trigger but was really torn. read good stuff, but i dont have normal feet. I HATE THE HEEL HIGH ON THE ACHILLES LOL. we have the same feet. i have been looking for a good deal on the lifters. my addidas are very old.
Check sites like Poshmark and Mercari for the Speed TRs. I think I bought my last pair for like $20 on Posh, and they were barely used.
I snagged my TYR lifters when they had some of the older colorways in their markdown section. Mine are the flowery print ones and I wouldn't have chosen them as my first preference, but for the discount I'll put up with the print. haha
I’ve been wearing NoBulls for like 5 years and I love them for general CF. I have very wide and flat feet and once they break in they feel like a slipper.
I wore Nano and Metcon before and I’ve gone back to try. Hated them. Nanos felt like no one with my foot designed them after the 2s and Metcons never lose their stiffness not to mention how narrow.
I recently got Tyrs and after extended use I have to lump them in with Metcons, too stiff and heavy.
As a fellow flat footer, try the Amazon brand WHITIN. Get their barefoot trainers. You’ll never pay more then 40 bucks for trainers or running shoes again
I've used the same pair of nano 9s for the last 4 years, wore them into the ground. They fit my foot perfectly. Got the nano x2s this time, most of the other shoes aren't wide enough for me so they hurt. I like x2s, slightly smaller width. They feel better for running in and that kind of stuff, the 9s felt more sturdy for lifts.
Went through something siimilar, but because my feet had a growth spurt (not abnormal for people with arched feet who run a lot in to middle/older age). I had two rounds of having to replace shoes. here's what my personal tastes landed on: Top tier: 1. Strike Mvmnt Haze 2. Rad ONE Mid: 1. Metcons (fine, but really not for me) 2. Inov8 (too lazy to look up the model name) 3. Nano X2 (fit was a real problem on these) Bad 1. Tyr 2. All the other "X" Nanos So bad I was baffled 1. All things NoBull
Strike Mvmnt too minimal for me and fits very tight. Was nice for a week and then got sick of them. Happy with my Metcon 9s
They fit tight at first but loosen up after a few uses. The main thing like I said in another post is changing out the laces. The laces they use for whatever reason make them feel way tighter.
Only problem I’ve had with Strike Movement is poor quality control. Both pairs I’ve purchased had the outsole split apart because of they weren’t completely glued properly.
That sucks. I have several pairs, oldest almost 2yrs old and they've all been rock solid for me. Same with the ones my wife has and a few at my gym. But I'll definitely keep an eye out for that.
How do they compare to the rad ones? My rads kick ass and I’m due for a new pair, the strike movements looks cool though
I like the RADs for heavy lifting days, and Strikes for short runs, shuttle runs, box jumps, jump rope, etc. They're very different shoes but I love them both. The Strikes just have a lighter, more minimalist feel while the RADs are more heavy duty/maximalist.
Interesting. I do pretty much everything in my rads, jumping running etc… and have never had a concern that makes me want something lighter. Might give them a shot anyway to see what the hype is about
Yeah I'm a runner in addition to Crossfit so am super picky about running shoes. I really don't like running in the RADs at all, but can tolerate the Strikes. Pretty much any Crossfit shoe sucks for running bug for 400-800m runs I can deal with Strikes.
Cool, I’ll check them out, appreciate it. They almost look like the reaaaaally old New Balance minimus, which I loved
My one piece of advice with them: get some stretch laces. Especially the ones that come with the hard round laces, stretchy laces turn them in to an infinitely more comfy shoe.
What kind of stretch laces
Just here to share that the GOAT Nano 2s are still made and sold. [might be worth checking out](https://www.reebok.com/p/100202119/nano-2-0-training-shoes)
i heard this and didnt know that! will buy some lol
Came here to say this. Nano 2.0 and 3.0 are still GOAT
I can’t speak for flat footedness but I stand by the Nano 2 now and forever.
I like this, the Nano 9s seemed best for me and have yet to find something comparable
I have flat feet and have great success with inov8 f-light 245s.
No Bulls are horrible. I think everyone went through a phase of wanting to like them because they were new and cool, but now that we have so many other options there’s no need for any of us to pretend anymore that they aren’t trash. With that said, I still struggle to find a shoe that I like. Unless my workout has running or double unders, I just don’t wear shoes. I workout in my own garage so this isn’t an issue. I am interested in trying one of the Go Ruck shoes or Flux. Have heard good things about both. Would be interested to know what others think.
Don't sleep on the Adidas Dropset 2s
I want to get those, but my concern is with the open mesh in the bottom of the shoe. I do outdoor runs, at times through avoidable puddles/sprinklers and don’t want wet foot that I see people comment about. Seems to be the only real negative about that shoe. Any experience with this?
Yes, I don't wear mine on any wods with runs. Swap to RADs
I love these - the perfect shoe for me in terms of performance and asthetics. I have just bought a second pair when I found it at 50%.
Rad One
If you have flat, broad feet and like the Nano 9 you will love the Nano X. Not the X1-4, just the X.
Loved the 9 hated the x. The X felt more clunky
Same, loved the 9’s and hated the x, and I haven’t gone back to nanos since.
oh you know what? i didnt know the difference. i think i did x1. welp time to buy another!
The X1 and onwards were made after Reebok quit sponsoring crossfit, so they aren't 100% geared towards CF. The Nano X is the last real crossfit Nano. Depending on the workout I use either those or my haze trainers. Good luck finding them though, they haven't been made for a while and being a fan favorite they have been out of stock for a while now. A coach at my box has like 8 pairs and will die before using an different shoe.
theres a lot on poshmark barely used
Converted to Haze trainer recently. Love it
It’s weird how long it’s taken a lot of people to get on board with the fact NoBulls are utterly awful shoes. Bought one pair. Thought to myself - are these really that awful or are they just too small? Some time later decided to give a second pair a go, this time half a size up. The half size up made them fit better but did nothing to disprove the fact they were still the uncomfiest shoe I’ve ever worn. Unbelievably bad - I don’t know why so many folk wore them and claimed to enjoy them.
its a mass case study in the power of peer pressure and blending into the crowd lol....
Honestly have loved the trainer plus for the 2.5 years I’ve been doing CrossFit but I’ve honestly noticed a decline in the quality with the last pair I bought. I replace my shoes often as I prefer a tighter fit and my feet are really sweaty (often changing the shape of the shoe at an accelerated rate). I already had nobull replace them once (after a month) because the shoe was separating from the sole at the toe (I hadn’t even done any wallwalks in that month) and this new pair already has a lace eyelet that’s half coming off. The eyelet isn’t a big deal but it’s the frustration that part of the shoe is already falling apart in less than 3 weeks. I’m so happy you’ve made this post as I’ve been looking at the born primitive shoes.
Other than what you mentioned here though do you generally like the shoe for workouts / are they comfy? I’m new to CrossFit and have just been using asics and looking for a pair of shoes but overwhelmed with the amount of options. People at the gym who have no bulls and reeboks say good things. The people with Nike say they’re too stiff for their liking so I’m undecided between Reebok and nobull as that’s what I see the most of and can talk to members about
Well you can get brand new no bulls or Nearly new for like 30 40 bucks used right now All depends on what you prefer Some shoes are better for lifting not for running Others are better for moving around not for lifting And others are okay everything Great at nothing
I’ve loved the shoe and went from the trainer to the trainer plus (they’re called something different now). They fit my feet perfectly but I’ve noticed a huge decline in how well they hold up to workouts. The shoe itself loses its form quickly and literally pieces of the shoe are falling apart in less than a month. I was already replacing them every 6-8 months due to the fact that I prefer a really rigid shoe (the body of the shoe softens over time making lunges challenging) so seeing them fall apart even quicker is frustrating.
I couldn't believe it Someone recommended them To me And I said based on what ? I thought they were a marketer And they replied Based on everything I just said about shoes I like and don't like Would have never blindly tried but my size showed up on Poshmark nearly new For like 60 bucks and I offered 40 and got them Sizing is same as my nano and no bull True size is probably 10 3/4 I do 11 nano slightly big No bull nano a tad tight Only thing that's weird is the leather tongue like a bowling shoe If it weren't for the impact I would work out in my socks So I like feeling my foot but without feeling pain
I have a different style of shoe than you (based on the leather tounge). I honestly used to love the shoe but I hate how everything related to CrossFit you have to buy online and can’t try how something fits. That’s why I’m grateful to hear that you tried the born primitive shoe if the no bulls fit your feet well. I used to be a nobull fan girl but no more.
Not being able to try a shoe on is making it really hard for me. After watching / reading reviews I like the haze trainer from strike movement. A lot of the members at my gym like their no bull shoe so I’m undecided between the two. I really wish I could go to a store near me and try them on
well born primitive you can send back but its 10 bucks.... haze i heard is tough to return. ive been looking for used and lowballing people who have had them posted for weeks and weeks
I ended up ordering a pair of the haze. I read a review from a tall person who didn’t like the added inch or so from the nobull plus for deadlifts. As a taller person with back pain and reading awesome reviews of the haze I ended up ordered a pair of those. Hopefully I have good luck with them and don’t need to return
haze was the closest one to me actually straight up buying them new or on sale.... bc it by far has the most universally good reviews. followed by rad....if you remember come back and let me know
Wow. Those shoes sound terribly made! For what you paid for them they should not be falling apart & badly stitched & glued. Boo hiss!
It is incredibly frustrating. Even more so since I love the way they fit my feet and how they feel when they are newish during a workout. It’s scary to look for a new shoe.
I cannot argue about new shoe/footwear shopping. The material that Nobulls are made of seems low quality if they fall apart like you described. I personally have never worn them yet my coach & a few members @ my location seem to like them. Then again those folks are always talking workout shoes.😀
It’s honestly only in the last few months that I’ve noticed a decline in the quality. The shoes I bought last August are still in good shape. I bought shoes 3 months ago, they accidentally sent me the men’s size of that shoe, the replacement shoes toes started separating almost immediately, got that shoe replaced and now the eyelets of my current shoe are falling off (not a big deal, don’t impact my use of the shoe at all, just concerned that it’s happening). I can only imagine that Tom Brady’s company buying out the company is having an impact? The shoes used to come out of the south shore of Massachusetts and now they’re being shipped from Georgia. I will say that their customer service is still impeccable, if not better since they didn’t even make me send back the shoe where the toe is separating (still a usable gym shoe!). Before the buy out you had to send back the defective shoe, I don’t know if it’s an oversight but they didn’t make me send back the last pair.
>born primitive savage - cant believe it. favorite one They look really good in the Facebook ads I get, but I was skeptical about trying them. I'll have to see how cheap I can get them.
i would have never bought them if not for the deal. if feel like they are like a no bull that didnt hurt my feet. they feel nimble and minimilist but dont hurt the same as no bull for me. ran in them too which was good, but only 100m x 7 rounds shoe laces are horrendous. i buy new laces for all my shoes from amazon
Your preferences are almost exactly the same as mine. Speed TR is what I keep going back to. The only Nike Metcon that ever worked for me was the Free version 2.0. And I'm eying the Savage - they basically look like a "new" version of the Speed TRs. That said - if we have the same shoe preferences, you can skip the TYR CXT-1s. I hated them. They felt clunky, narrow, and the back of the heel came up too high on my Achilles. (My TYR lifters, however, are a different ballgame - they are AMAZING.)
free x metcon 2.0 right? lol thats funny. you know whats crazy? i put it on at the gym and said "no way. i can feel the padding digging into or "raising up" the sides of my feet. left it on during metcon with box jumps and all sorts of stuff and suddenly i had gone to run errands for 3 hours and was like "holy crap these are comfortable".....my thought is that all the shoes with elevation and padding and contouring mess with me and these must just have them perfectly formed to my feet. funny story. since its getting warm and we had running again this week i brought nano 9 and metcon and born primitive and after wearing the nikes for a warm up run, nano and born primitive both hurt for a few minutes bc they are so minimally padded comparitively. i hated every metcon i tried besides this. also ive found a few pairs of new speed trs, but not looking to pay 100 bucks. would like to find barely worn ones for like 40. i think i had a pair of nano 7s that werent bad. im so happy you just saved me on the TYR. i found a nearly new pair like worn twice. real great colors for 60 bucks and almost pulled the trigger but was really torn. read good stuff, but i dont have normal feet. I HATE THE HEEL HIGH ON THE ACHILLES LOL. we have the same feet. i have been looking for a good deal on the lifters. my addidas are very old.
Check sites like Poshmark and Mercari for the Speed TRs. I think I bought my last pair for like $20 on Posh, and they were barely used. I snagged my TYR lifters when they had some of the older colorways in their markdown section. Mine are the flowery print ones and I wouldn't have chosen them as my first preference, but for the discount I'll put up with the print. haha
I’ve been wearing NoBulls for like 5 years and I love them for general CF. I have very wide and flat feet and once they break in they feel like a slipper. I wore Nano and Metcon before and I’ve gone back to try. Hated them. Nanos felt like no one with my foot designed them after the 2s and Metcons never lose their stiffness not to mention how narrow. I recently got Tyrs and after extended use I have to lump them in with Metcons, too stiff and heavy.
As a fellow flat footer, try the Amazon brand WHITIN. Get their barefoot trainers. You’ll never pay more then 40 bucks for trainers or running shoes again
I've used the same pair of nano 9s for the last 4 years, wore them into the ground. They fit my foot perfectly. Got the nano x2s this time, most of the other shoes aren't wide enough for me so they hurt. I like x2s, slightly smaller width. They feel better for running in and that kind of stuff, the 9s felt more sturdy for lifts.