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I tried a few craft shoes for the first time. I’ve seen the brand before, but I never pulled the deduction. When the Craft Pure Trail Pro came out, I thought it was time. The shoe looked quick and robust, and I had the perfect test: a 50-mile trail race called Dances with Dirt Gnaw Bone in Nashville, Indiana. This course has over 7,000 feet climbing, river crossings, muddy horse paths and evil hills. If a shoe could handle it, he could do everything.
I ordered the same size that I wear in Hokas, size 13, and the feeling of adaptation from the start I felt. I had enough space in the toe box, and the shoe didn’t feel too tight or too relaxed. My feet felt safe and ready to move.
Fit and comfort
Craft really nailed the heel pass. The heel remained closed on the spot, whether I climbed steep hills, left loose gravel or ran apartments. My foot never slipped. I think the security level is one of the strongest points of the shoe.
The upper material feels hard. It consists of ripstop polyester and is reinforced with TPU in high -stress areas. There is also a protective cap. These characteristics help the shoe handle abuse on rocky or rooty trails. However, the material is not super soft or stretchy. I felt a certain pressure on the outside of my little toe during longer training runs. In addition, the heel strap came a little too high and hit my bone bone in a way that became irritating over time.
Upholstery and driving
The midsole uses Craft’s Cr Foam Pro, an EVA enriched with nitrogen with 15% Peba. This setup gives the shoe a firm but featherless feeling. I noticed solid energy that returned and descents. It’s not as soft as some plush shoes, but it doesn’t feel dead either. There are enough pillows under your feet to master longer miles without beating them up.
With a 36 -mm heel and a 30 -mm forefoot, the shoe has a 6 -mm drop that is a sweet spot for trail running. There is a bit forward in the swing without the feeling of giving myself forward.
My couple size 13 weighed 13.4 ounces, which is not exactly easy. I definitely had the weight for longer runs, especially when I picked up the pace or sliced up.
Traction and stability
The outsole comes from a collaboration with Vittoria, a tire company. The rubber grabs really well, even under wet and muddy conditions. The 5 -mm tapes are deep and aggressive, and the profile pattern does a good job on loose dirt, damp stones, grass and steep slopes.
I tested them on everything, from sand dunes to slippery hills. The handle never let me down. I was confident in technical sections and descents. If the traction is important to you, this shoe delivers.
Performance in training
I trained in this shoe over several 10 to 20 miles runs to prepare for my race. Overall, the performance was solid. I liked the handle and the locked up feeling. I also enjoyed the journey on both technical and smooth paths.
But during this longer runs, two things fell negatively. First, the heel collar irritated my ankle bone. Second, the upper one felt stiff, and that caused a certain pressure on my left little toe. These problems were not displayed on short runs, but they have built up over time. For this reason, I decided not to wear it for my 50-mile race. I just didn’t want to take this risk on my feet with so many hours.
Last thoughts
The Craft Pure Trail Pro is a well-built high-performance trail running shoe. It is characterized by a handle, heel closure and protection. The midsole offers reaction -fast cushion that works well over different surfaces. The Vittoria outsole is an outstanding function that offers an excellent traction under all conditions.
But for me the shoe came comfortably over long distances. The high heel collar and the stiffness of the upper caused some symptoms, especially after the 10-mile Traveller Tale. If you drive shorter trail race or train on robust paths on which grip and protection are most important, this shoe can fit well.
The shoe costs $ 189.99, which brings it in the same area as other high-end trail shoes. It comes in two color options. I went with black and orange and I think it’s great, aggressive and trail-capable. If you are curious or want to try it out, find more information or order a few directly on the official website of Craft or Amazon.com.
