REASONS TO BUY
Comfortable
Supportive
Breathable
REASONS TO AVOID
Dull midsole
Heavy
Expensive
Craft Pure Trail Review
This stylish shoe, despite good fit and planted feel, isn't as responsive as the competition, making its high price hard to justify
The denser foam on the Craft Pure Trail givers good underfoot protection and helps keep the ground feel consistent.
Credit: Matthew Richardson
By Matthew Richardson ⋅ Review Editor ⋅ May 3, 2025
RELATED: Best Trail Running Shoes for Men
Our Verdict
Craft's Pure Trail certainly catches the eye, a testament to the brand's obvious effort in its design. While initial comfort is high, the overall running experience isn't the best for folks pushing higher speeds. It has a dull, relatively unresponsive midsole and is fairly heavy. For slower-paced runners, this shoe does have several redeeming qualities, including a well-designed platform, a secure and comfortable fit, and a firm, planted sensation that contributes to a pleasant neutral ride. Looking ahead, we anticipate future iterations will prioritize a reduction in weight and a more energetic transfer of power to increase the Pure Trail's wider application range.
Compare to Similar Products
 This Product
Craft Pure Trail | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awards |  Best Trail Running Shoe with Ultralight Cushioning | Best Crossover Road-to-Trail Performance |  Best Overall Trail Running Shoe for Men |  Best Value Men's Trail Runners | |
| Price | $170 List $170.00 at Amazon | $140.00 at Backcountry Compare at 2 sellers | $116.25 at Backcountry Compare at 2 sellers | $190 List $159.05 at Amazon | $110.00 at REI Compare at 2 sellers |
Overall Score  |
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| Star Rating | |||||
| Bottom Line | While comfortable, it's hard to justify the price given the dullness of the midsole | With each step you are picking up less than the competition, and for advanced runners the precision and speed are unmatched | Great technical performance with an excellent snug fit | A perfectly fitting, comfortable, and very protective shoe that just begs to be worn on long run days | While great in moderate terrain those in technical or loose may opt for something more rugged |
| Rating Categories | Craft Pure Trail | Nnormal Kjerag | La Sportiva Prodigi... | Salomon S/Lab Ultra 3 | Brooks Divide 5 |
| Comfort and Fit (25%) | |||||
| Traction (20%) | |||||
| Stability (15%) | |||||
| Foot Protection (15%) | |||||
| Weight (15%) | |||||
| Sensitivity (10%) | |||||
| Specifications | Craft Pure Trail | Nnormal Kjerag | La Sportiva Prodigi... | Salomon S/Lab Ultra 3 | Brooks Divide 5 |
| Measured Heel Stack Height | 36 mm | 25 mm | 29 mm | 31 mm | 38 mm |
| Measured Heel-to-Toe Drop | 9 mm | 8 mm | 5 mm | 8 mm | 11 mm |
| Rock Plate | Yes; unknown material | No | No | No | No |
| Measured Lug Depth | 3.9 mm | 3.0 mm | 3.8 mm | 3.5 mm | 2.8 mm |
| Measured Weight | 11.64 oz | 8.05 oz | 9.79 oz | 10.64 oz | 10.55 oz |
| Upper | TPU Mesh | Matryx Jacquard | PES Power Wire | Matryx Jacquard | Mesh |
| Midsole | CR Foam | EExpure midsole | XFlow Speed | Energy Save PU foam with Profeel Film rock protection | Foam |
| Outsole | High traction | Vibram Litebase Megagrip | FriXion XF 2.0 | Salomon Contagrip MA | Rubber |
| Sizes Available | 8 - 13 US regular | 4.5 - 13.5 US regular |
7.5 - 15.5 US regular | 4 - 13 US regular |
7 - 15 US regular |
| Heel Tab Type | None | None | None | None | None |
| Claimed Heel-to-Toe Drop | 6 mm | 6 mm | 6 mm | 8 mm | 8 mm |
Our Analysis and Test Results
The Craft Pure Trail is a great-looking shoe and one that Craft clearly tried to get right. While comfortable, the shoe ultimately falls flat, with the CR Foam midsole feeling dull and unresponsive when trying to pick up the pace. It's also heavy, at 11.64 ounces per shoe (US men's size 10.5), with just “okay” traction that doesn't make it stand out.
The Craft Pure Trail is a comfortable trail model but unfortunately its dull midsole doesn't compete well against others in the market.
Credit: Matthew Richardson
Comfort and Fit
The Pure Trail worked well for a variety of trail distances. On long runs, the upper fit well and was secure — I noticed no hotspots or blisters. The thin upper material is appreciated, but it feels slightly less conforming than the Matryx upper used in other top-performing trail shoes. With ultra-welded seams, there are few friction points, and the whole system works well. The fit is the most dialed aspect of this model, and if the midsole can be made more lively, Craft will have a great competitor on their hands.
The main downside of the Craft Pure Trail, for me, is the damp midsole — elsewhere this shoe shines. This isn't necessarily a bad thing for everyone, and I did enjoy taking this on days where I wanted excellent ground feel over propulsion. On easy days, it can be nice to have that solid connection and really focus on your stride and form. Where the midsole shines is in providing stability and an unencumbered ride.
A comfortable upper and fit is the highlight of the Craft Pure Trail.
Credit: Matthew Richardson
Traction
Our in-house lab team measured the lugs at a depth of 3.9 mm, which is about average in our lineup. This provided both a good grip but also good smooth ground performance. The lugs' large surface area helps create the positive ground feel and makes running on roads and gravel trails feel great. In more technical terrain, there are many grabby lugs that helped me to feel confident. While the shoe may not be a great option for races, it definitely excels at tackling a wide variety of terrain. We could see this being a great option for thru-hikers or those tackling long-distance terrain using less impact through running.
The traction pattern of the Craft Pure Trail works solidly across a wide variety of terrain types.
Credit: Matthew Richardson
Stability
The wider heel and firm midsole provide great stability. Unfortunately, there is a weight penalty for this security, but this could be less of a dealbreaker for those who prioritize joint support. Our in-house team measured the drop at 9 mm, which is 3 mm more than the manufacturer's claim. Regardless, this shoe proved itself impressively stable, supportive, and reliable.
Here our in-house lab team tests the breathability of the thin upper found on the Craft Pure Trail.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Foot Protection
Most of the foot protection comes from underneath, thanks to the firm midsole. This prevents any unwelcome rock strikes from becoming jarring. While the stack is fairly high (36 mm in the heel), it still can be a good option for alpine use thanks to its protection and stability. There isn't much upper protection to speak of, so you'll want to make sure your foot placements are precise in scree and talus. This blend of underfoot protection and a lightweight upper reaffirms our recommendation that this is best for those going long distances at a slower clip. Perfect for thru-hikes, or weekend adventures where you want the freeness of a trail runner but still would like some stability for a pack or heavier loads.
With ample underfoot density you can expect great foot protection that will hold up against long runs and races.
Credit: Matthew Richardson
Weight
A US men's Size 10.5 measured in at 11.64 ounces per shoe. This is one of the heaviest models in our lineup, and it's noticeable when trying to move quickly. The Pure Trail feels heavier throughout my stride, which isn't helped by its damp midsole. Heavy shoes have a place, though, and we found this model worked best moving precisely over more technical terrain and was a great option for blending running and hiking. If Craft can reduce the weight on the next round, we think we could recommend this to more types of runners. But for now, we'd only opt for the model if you are prioritizing stability and upper comfort.
Here we weigh the Craft Pure Trail size 10.5.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Sensitivity
Foot placements with the Craft Pure Trail feel secure and sure-footed, but there isn't a ton of ground sensitivity due to the above-average stack height. Our in-house team measured it at 36 mm under the heel and 27 mm in the forefoot with a drop of 9 mm. This level of sensitivity is great for moving through terrain at a slower speed, but we wouldn't want to race technical terrain in these shoes. Due to their lessened sensitivity, they reduce fatigue on long outings — which is where we recommend this model most.
We cut each shoe in half so we can get stack measurements, here's an internal look at the Craft Pure Trail.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Should You Buy the Craft Pure Trail?
If you're not looking to run fast and prefer a firmer midsole foam, this shoe could be right for you. While we think this model has lots of potential, there are better-priced options that also provide high stability and great ground feel without sacrificing a more responsive midsole for running faster. But if you like the colorways and design of the Pure Trail, and want a stable shoe for slow-and-steady runs, it's still a solid choice.
There are better, more well-rounded shoes on the market for this price, but that doesn't mean the Craft Pure Trail couldn't work for you.
Credit: Matthew Richardson
What Other Men's Trail Running Shoes Should You Consider?
If you prioritize stability and ground feel but want something with a little more pep, check out the Brooks Catamount 4. The Hoka Mafate Speed 4 is a good option for those who want a similarly stable platform but prefer more cushion and better traction. Runners who are mostly sticking to roads and buffed trails and like to run a little quicker sometimes should check out the Asics Trabuco Max 4, which has great stability and is very responsive.
—Matthew Richardson
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