Trail-Running Shoes Buying Guide

Head out for a run on roads and light trails with these Craft running shoes. Their foam midsoles deliver support and smoothness. The rugged outsoles provide traction across different surfaces.
Imported.
View all Craft Men's Trail-Running ShoesBest Use | Trail Running |
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Trail-Running Shoe Type | Light-Trail |
Running Shoe Cushioning | Maximum Cushion |
Heel-to-Toe Drop (mm) | 6 |
Heel Stack Height (mm) | 40 |
Forefoot Stack Height (mm) | 34 |
Footwear Height | Ankle |
Footwear Closure | Lace-up |
Upper | Engineered mesh |
Midsole | CR Foam |
Outsole | Rubber |
Rock Plate | No |
Weight (Pair) | 1 lb. 4.4 oz. |
Gender | Men's |
8 | 8.5 | 9 | 9.5 | 10 | 10.5 | 11 | 11.5 | 12 | 12.5 | 13 | |
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U.S. Men's | 8 | 8.5 | 9 | 9.5 | 10 | 10.5 | 11 | 11.5 | 12 | 12.5 | 13 |
UK | 7 | 7.5 | 8 | 8.5 | 9 | 9.5 | 10 | 10.5 | 11 | 11.5 | 12 |
EU | 40.75 | 41.5 | 42 | 43 | 43.5 | 44 | 44.5 | 45 | 45.75 | 46.5 | 47 |
Foot Length (in.) | 10.2 | 10.4 | 10.6 | 10.8 | 11 | 11.2 | 11.4 | 11.6 | 11.8 | 12 | 12.2 |
Measurements are stated in inches.
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I received this product for free for an unbiased review. These trail-running sneakers from Craft are very comfortable. The ride is responsive and the traction is great. These provided great grip and control navigating through a easy dirt/gravel trail. The soles are very responsive, especially in the midsole. There is a drop (not sure the exact measurement. Maybe 6mm?) that helps keep your energy and momentum moving forward. The uppers is made of mesh and keeps the feet nicely ventilated. The one issue I have personally with these is the lateral control. My feet are on the narrow side, so I had to make sure the laces were tightened well. Even then I did have some hot spots when the trail required more lateral movements. Running uphill and downhill was just fine. In conclusion, these are sneakers are great for long / easier trail days with great traction and ventilation.
Craft Mens Nordlite Ultra Trail-Running Shoes You definitely can't miss seeing these Craft Trail Running Shoes with their bright orange and glow-in-the-dark tongue. But is there more to these shoes other than flash? It might depend on who you ask and how you use them. As for walking and running on the street or paved paths, the ample cushioning takes much of the pressure off your ankles and knees. However, these shoes are labeled as Trail Running shoes. From my experience, I need more arch support and grip when heading off the beaten path. That is where these shoes fail to live up to expectations. My feet slid on loose dirt and rocks while not giving the arch support needed. My arches on both feet were aching after each use on the trail. When I headed back to paved paths or roads, the pain subsided. This explains the three-star rating. Features such as ample cushioning, breathability, and how the shoe fits my foot are desirable. However, when the shoe is advertised as an ultra trail shoe but provides no arch support or grip, it is hard to give a ranking of more than three stars.
Craft’s Nordlite Ultra running shoe is comfortable, stable, and provides a unique feel that I’ve never experienced from a running shoe before. Firstly, the large amount of padding and support on the bottom of the shoe really does give a nice spring feel when pushing off whilst running. It almost feels as if the shoe is doing half the work for me. The sliding in the shoe was very minimal. My heels and top of my foot were locked in securely throughout the run, the only area that felt a little loose was the toe box; but not to the point that it affected my running or made the experience of the shoe unenjoyable. What I really enjoyed about this shoe was how the toe area was significantly raised. This allowed for another really good, spring-like, “boost” feeling as I push off with the ball of my toe. I feel that this feeling was completely unique to this shoe and I haven’t felt it in others.
I’ve been able to complete several runs with these shoes on mostly pavement, but also on some mixed gravel, sand, and I’m both wet and dry. These shoes have a significant cushioning in the heel and mid foot, and a drop at the toe which feels great running but takes some getting used to while walking. My first impression was that these lacked arch support, but I believe part of this is the drop at the toe leading to that impression. The shoe is very stable and cushioned on all terrain, and I have found that they are very comfortable on gravel due to the cushioning and protection in the sole. The upper is very light and breathable, and has been durable so far. The tongue of the shoe does not have padding, which requires being careful when putting them on to prevent pressure points. Also, these are somewhat challenging to put on due to the snug heel fit - not an issue but don’t expect to slip these on.
I used my new Craft Nordlite Ultra Trail Running shoes for fun weekend of tearing up the trails at my nearby state park. Since these trails are my normal stomping grounds, I find that they are a great way for me to really get a sense for how a new shoe will work for me. The Nordlite has some pluses and minuses, and is overall a solid shoe. The first thing I noticed when I put them on is how spongy they felt, and in a good way. They weren't too soft but I could definitely tell the difference from my typical shoe. The mesh upper was also very comfortable and felt like putting on a sock. I like my shoes to be snug, but if you prefer a looser fit, I would suggest going up a half size from what you typically wear. One thing that concerned me initially was how big of an upturn the sole takes at the toes as you can see in one of my attached photos. Walking from my car to the trailhead, I felt like I might trip because of the noticeable difference. But these shoes aren't made for walking. They are meant to be home on the dirt and this feature made a big difference on the trails. Unlike some other shoes I have run in, the upturn at the toes really let me dig in and keep my feet level while going uphill. I felt so much grip, probably because more rubber was able to smear the ground. And speaking of grip, I was surprised at home much grip I felt running over different terrain. The Nordlite has what I would call a patchwork of rubber on the sole as you can see in my other photo. There is a large area where the midsole is exposed. I'm very much a mid foot striker and even when planting on top of fallen trees and other obstacles, I never lost any traction. While the grip was great, one thing that I didn't care for was the amount of stretching of the upper mesh and the sliding of my foot that resulted. While it felt nice and snug when I laced up, most of the steeper down hills and some of the off camber portions of the trail resulted in a lot of foot movement within the shoe. I think if I were to run longer distances (10+ miles), I might end up with some blisters. For anything under that, I don't think that the movement would hinder me too much. Overall, a super comfortable shoe with some great surprising attributes.
I recently purchased the CRAFT Nordlite Ultra Running Shoe, and I am absolutely thrilled with my purchase. These shoes have exceeded my expectations in every way. The comfort level is unparalleled, providing excellent cushioning and support for my running and hiking. Not only do they feel great on my feet, but they also have a stylish design that I appreciate. The durability of these shoes is impressive, as they've held up well during intense workouts and rugged terrain. I've experienced no discomfort, blisters, or any issues whatsoever while wearing these shoes. I wholeheartedly give these shoes a five-star rating!
Great shoe for easy trails. It is just OK on the road but probably still better than most trail shoes on the road. I’m happy with the purchase. Only 4 stars because the sizing is way off (need to buy at least 1/2 size bigger) and the tongue is weird (need to tie loose or it rubs).
fits much smaller than any other brand i have bought through rei, need to send back