The numbers
Specifications
A floor, not a figure
Obut states only that the Superinox is harder than 115 kg/mm2 and files it under half-soft. No exact kg/mm2 or HRC value appears on the product page.
Obut calls its half-soft class the most versatile for shooting and pointing on all types of ground, with good resistance to impact marking. Every approved boule must reach at least 35 HRC, which equals 110 kg/mm2.
Honed stainless
Obut lists the steel: solid stainless, honed, quenched and tempered, with a natural stainless satin finish. It credits the honed steel for how well the set shoots and describes an exceptionally soft feel for grip.
Low wear, light care
Obut rates the wear low and promises limited marking on the surface. Its own RCX carries a high wear rating and the Soleil a pronounced one.
Stainless still needs some attention. Obut warns of slight surface oxidation and asks for a little care after each game and at least once a month when the set sits unused.
Pétanque, once a month
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Suitability
Who it is for
Suits you if
- You play every position and want one stainless set for all of them
- You play on pebbly, tarred or slightly gravelly ground
- Your hand fits a 72 to 76 mm boule at 680 to 710 g
- You want a stainless surface that marks slowly
- You prefer a smooth boule to a striated one
Look elsewhere if
- You need a diameter under 72 mm or over 76 mm
- You throw lighter than 680 g or heavier than 710 g
- You want striations for grip or to tell your boules apart
- You shoot nearly every end and want a soft or Impact Absorber+ boule
- You compare boules on an exact kg/mm2 number
In the hand
How it plays
For the pointer
Obut calls the Superinox ideal for half-lob pointing and suitable for roll pointing without spin. Obut’s hardness page says softer boules bounce less on hard ground, so a soft set will stop sooner than this one.
For the shooter
Obut rates it perfect for shooting on the iron and suitable for 4 m rolling shots. The glossary explains carreau and the other shooting terms.
A player who shoots almost every end may prefer a softer set. Obut’s hardness page names soft boules the best choice for a shooter, since they rebound less after a carreau.
On different ground
Obut suits the Superinox to pebbly and tarred ground and above all to slightly gravelly surfaces.
Feel in the hand
Obut describes an exceptionally soft feel for guaranteed grip and a good release from the hand.
With no striations to tell sets apart, engraving is the simplest way to recognize yours.
The balance
Pros and cons
Pros
- Low wear rating from Obut, with limited surface marking
- Stainless steel, so no oiling routine
- Three-year guarantee, the same on all Obut competition sets
- Sold for pointing, all-round play and shooting
- In stock at a US dealer in 72 to 74 mm at 680 or 700 g
- Set includes a jack engraved OBUT and a temporary bag
Cons
- Only 72 to 76 mm and 680 to 710 g, 20 size pairings
- Smooth only, with no striation option
- Hardness stated only in the form over 115 kg/mm2
- US stock covers 72 to 74 mm at 680 or 700 g, other sizes about $348
- No Obut label on the FIPJP list carries the Superinox name
The score
How this review scores it
Alternatives
How it compares
| Specification | Obut Superinox | Obut RCX | Obut Soleil | Obut ATX |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Material | Honed stainless | Special stainless | Stainless | Special stainless |
| Hardness | Over 115 kg/mm2, half-soft | Impact Absorber+, no figure | Over 110 kg/mm2, soft | About 130 kg/mm2, half-soft |
| Diameters | 72 to 76 mm | 72 to 76 mm | 71 to 76 mm | 71 to 76 mm and 80 mm |
| Weights | 680 to 710 g | 680 to 710 g | 650 to 730 g | 650 to 750 g and 800 g |
| Maker wear rating | Low | High | Pronounced | Medium |
| Warranty | 3 years | 3 years | 3 years | 3 years |
| Maker price | 215 euros | 240 euros | 195 euros | 320 euros |
Superinox, RCX or Soleil
All three are Obut stainless with a three-year guarantee. The Obut RCX uses Impact Absorber+ steel for hard, pebbly ground, at 240 euros with a high wear rating.
The Soleil sits in Obut’s soft class, over 110 kg/mm2, at 195 euros with a pronounced wear rating. It covers 71 to 76 mm and 650 to 730 g.
The dearer ATX
The ATX is Obut’s special stainless at about 130 kg/mm2, also half-soft, with a medium wear rating and sizes up to 80 mm and 800 g. It costs 320 euros in France.
Against the STRX Inox
The MS Pétanque STRX Inox is rated 115 kg/mm2 with internal ribs meant to limit rebound, at 202 euros from the maker. It is striated, goes up to 720 g and carries a two-year warranty.
Before you order
Buying advice
Check your size first
The boule selector gives the diameter to look for. Anything outside 72 to 76 mm or 680 to 710 g rules the Superinox out.
Where it is sold
In the United States the Superinox sells from stock for about $265, in 72, 73 and 74 mm at 680 or 700 g. Other pairings are made to order at about $348, air freight from France included, with three to four weeks of lead time.
Obut lists it at 215 euros in France and also sells direct. Compare the landed cost with shipping and duty before ordering from Europe.
Engraving and paperwork
On orders placed with the maker, Obut offers classic or italic engraving for 15 euros and a stylized mark of up to two characters for 19 euros. Stock sets at the US dealer cannot be engraved.
Keep the warranty card on the box flap and the exterior label, which Obut asks for under the three-year guarantee. The equipment page covers the markings every competition boule must carry.
Common questions
Questions about the Obut Superinox
How hard is the Superinox?
Obut gives only a floor of 115 kg/mm2 and files it under half-soft. It publishes no exact kg/mm2 or HRC figure.
Every FIPJP approved boule must reach at least 35 HRC, which equals 110 kg/mm2.
Is the Superinox approved for competition?
Obut says the FIPJP has approved it.
The federation approves labels rather than model names. Its list updated on 15 June 2026 shows no Obut label named Superinox.
What sizes does the Superinox come in?
72 to 76 mm in 1 mm steps and 680 to 710 g in 10 g steps, which makes 20 pairings.
The US dealer stocks 72, 73 and 74 mm at 680 or 700 g and orders the rest from France.
Does stainless mean no maintenance?
Less than carbon, but not none. Obut asks for a little care after each game and at least once a month when the set is not used.
Obut also advises against leaving boules in a car trunk, where condensation can cause oxidation.
Did the Superinox replace the RCX?
No. Obut still sells the new-generation RCX at 240 euros, next to the Superinox at 215 euros.
The RCX is an Impact Absorber+ boule with a high wear rating, the Superinox a half-soft boule with a low one.
Should I buy the Superinox or the Soleil?
The Soleil sits in Obut’s soft class, over 110 kg/mm2, with a wider size range for 20 euros less.
Obut rates its wear pronounced, against low for the Superinox.
