I love working out — and what I wear to the gym matters as much as the workouts that I do.

The right shoes, for example, can either leave me in a ton of pain after or have me feeling like I could take on another HIIT circuit.

I’ve had my favorite sneakers for a while, but they finally gave way a few weeks ago. That’s when I tried the NOBULL Women’s Drive 2 shoes to see if they could effectively replace my old ones.

The NOBULL Women’s Drive 2 are described as lightweight hybrid training shoes, and that description feels pretty spot on. They have a 4mm heel-to-toe drop and compression-molded EVA for a more responsive strike. They also have reinforced mesh for better airflow — a major selling point if your training sessions are long, sweaty or a combo of both.

I wore these shoes to the gym for a 40-minute elliptical workout, a quick core circuit and to lift some weights.

Through it all, the shoes felt supportive and breathable. I tend to get sweaty feet at the gym, even with socks on, but with these sneakers, that was a thing of the past.

Weight: 7.9 ounces | Drop: 4 mm | Stack height: 23 mm heel / 19 mm forefoot | Upper: Engineered mesh | Midsole: High-resilience EVA blend | Outsole: Multi-directional rubber tread | Fit: True to size

The weight balance felt good, too. I tend to lean inward with my sole, but while wearing these shoes, my feet stayed planted on the ground without leaning one way or the other.

I was a little skeptical because at first the sneakers felt quite snug, but once the shoes started to conform to my feet, they felt incredibly comfortable during my long workouts.

My favorite part was the versatility. I could wear these during HIIT workouts or use them for a lengthy core training session the next day. The shoes adapted to everything.

Is it worth it? Final verdict

For a pair of shoes that don’t just look great but feel great, too, the NOBULL Women’s Drive 2 are well worth it. I love the various shades they’re available in and the breathable, lightweight quality, which makes them easy to wear  from your outdoor speed or tempo run to the gym for a lifting session.

How I tested

I wore these shoes to the gym daily to see if they held up against different training sessions. Here is how I tested them:

HIIT training: I wore these to a 45-minute HIIT class where I lifted weights, did jump squats and mountain climbers. During that time, I tried to gauge how responsive the sneakers were. HIIT requires a lot of jumping, and luckily, these sneakers felt like they reduced the impact on both my soles and knees. 

Core training: For this test, I wanted to know if the shoes remained supportive and left enough room in the toe box area, especially for moves that required me to put weight on the front of my foot (think planks and bear crawls). Even after a 30-minute core blast workout, which included holding steady during 60-second planks and weighted crunches, my feet felt supported and ache-free.

Elliptical training: I do a 40-minute aerobic elliptical workout three times a week. During each workout, I judged the cushioning and tried to gauge whether the sneakers’ interior continued to feel plush after multiple wears. I also tested for breathability and support, and found that the shoes held up without straining my feet or making them sweat excessively.

This article was written by Nishka Dhawan, Commerce Reporter for the New York Post. Nishka reports on the latest tech launches, innovations and trends to separate the best new products from the “AI slop.” Taking the latest technology for a spin, Nishka tests home appliances and tech products that actually improve your life, from vacuums to headphones to gaming gadgets and more – all while finding the best deals and lowest prices. Before joining The Post in 2026, her work appeared in Rolling Stone, ABC, NBC Select, Reviewed and Digital Trends.