REASONS TO BUY
Comfortable underfoot
Solid sensitivity
Well-tractioned
REASONS TO AVOID
Uninspiring ride
Heavy
Craft Pure Trail - Women's Review
This trail runner offers a solid mix of cushioning and sensitivity, though it falls just short of feeling exceptional
While the Pure Trail offers dependable comfort, grip, and ground feel, it doesn't quite hit the mark in terms of value or standout innovation despite its recent improvements.
Credit: Ally Arcuri
RELATED: Best Trail Running Shoes for Women
Our Verdict
The Craft Pure Trail has seen some solid updates and brings some legit features to the table. But the sum of its parts doesn't quite add up to greatness, holding back that feeling of “shout it from the mountaintop” -ness. However, it combines strong underfoot comfort with plated sensitivity, offering a reliable trail running experience for some runners. If you like a bit of cushion and noticeable sensitivity, the build of this shoe might suit your fancy. Our testers found the forefoot to be a bit snug, but ultimately stated that “the Pure Trail comes highly recommended in terms of underfoot cushion and sensitivity. It lacks some of the pizazz of other shoes, but there isn't a ton to truly criticize here.”
Compare to Similar Products
 This Product
Craft Pure Trail - Women's | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awards |  Best Overall Trail Running Shoe for Women |  Best Wide Toe Box Option | Best for Long Distances on Technical Trails |  Best Bang for Your Buck | |
| Price | $169.95 at Amazon Compare at 2 sellers | $185.00 at REI Compare at 2 sellers | $111.93 at REI Compare at 3 sellers | $190 List $142.46 at Backcountry | $140.00 at REI Compare at 3 sellers |
Overall Score  |
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| Star Rating | |||||
| Bottom Line | Though the forefoot runs slightly narrow, the blend of plate responsiveness and comfort makes this a strong contender | Offering exceptional traction, comfort, and versatility, this shoe combines a nimble build with rugged protection, making it ideal for trail runners of all levels | Though not the most agile, this shoe shines in comfort, traction, and all-day trail durability | A unisex shoe that offers superior performance across the board, boasting a protective yet sensitive ride with a grippy outsole and exceptional durability | With a reliable build, lightened weight, and road-shoe fit, this shoe remains a go-to for trail runners who value consistency over flashy upgrades |
| Rating Categories | Craft Pure Trail -... | Hoka Mafate Speed 4... | Topo MTN Racer 3 -... | Salomon S/Lab Ultra... | Saucony Peregrine 1... |
| Comfort and Fit (25%) | |||||
| Traction (20%) | |||||
| Stability (15%) | |||||
| Foot Protection (15%) | |||||
| Weight (15%) | |||||
| Sensitivity (10%) | |||||
| Specifications | Craft Pure Trail -... | Hoka Mafate Speed 4... | Topo MTN Racer 3 -... | Salomon S/Lab Ultra... | Saucony Peregrine 1... |
| Measured Heel Stack Height | 32 mm | 36 mm | 32 mm | 27 mm | 30 mm |
| Measured Heel-to-Toe Drop | 6 mm | 3 mm | 6 mm | 9 mm | 4 mm |
| Rock Plate | Yes | No | No | Not disclosed | Yes |
| Measured Lug Depth | 3.4 mm | 5.3 mm | 4.3 mm | 3.5 mm | 5.6 mm |
| Measured Weight | 8.60 oz | 7.96 oz | 7.80 oz | 8.05 oz | 7.80 oz |
| Upper | TPU mesh | Jacquard mesh | Mesh | Anti-debris mesh with sockliner | Mesh |
| Midsole | CR Foam | ProFly+ | ZipFoam | Energy Save PU foam with Profeel Film rock protection | PWRRUN foam |
| Outsole | Rubber | Vibram Megagrip with Litebase | Vibram | Salomon Contagrip MA | PWRTRAC |
| Sizes Available | 6 - 10 US regular | 5 - 11 US | 6 - 12 US | 4 - 14 US regular |
5 - 12 US regular, wide, GTX |
| Heel Tab Type | Extended heel pull | Finger loop | Extended heel pull | None | Finger loop |
| Claimed Heel-to-Toe Drop | 6 mm | 4 mm | 5 mm | 8 mm | 4 mm |
Our Analysis and Test Results
Each shoe weighs 8.60 ounces (women's size 6.5) and has a 6 mm drop. Though the Craft Pure Trail has a rock plate that is thin enough that runners seeking a sensitive trail shoe will enjoy running in this well-tractioned shoe.
Runners who enjoy a cushioned yet connected feel may appreciate this option, even if it doesn't quite hit elite status.
Credit: Ally Arcuri
Comfort and Fit
The comfort elements of the Craft Pure Trail are unique in that the landing comfort and underfoot sensation are fantastic, while the upper leaves a bit to be desired. The midsole is soft with a bit of arch support. The CR foam offers a thin softness that is pleasant on difficult runs, though it doesn't provide the pep that similar midsoles do. After about twenty miles running in the Pure Trail, I wrote in my notes, “This shoe isn't totally dead — it delivers underfoot comfort suitable for a beginner, but lacks the responsiveness that a trail veteran might want.”
The upper of the Pure Trail didn't quite hit for me. The forefoot is a bit snug and narrow, though it still falls within the range of “average.” The entire upper is made of TPU mesh, which is breathable and allows water to drain easily, but it feels a bit like plastic. The tongue is thin, uncushioned, and also made of a plastic-feeling textile. The laces and lacebed are subpar, though these elements aren't exactly uncomfortable. While the upper comfort doesn't inspire me to reach for the Pure Trail on daily runs, runners who want its specific cocktail of elements will find that it is far from the least comfortable trail running shoe on the market.
The elements of this shoe are pretty solid - they just don't exactly come together in a way that makes for a real super shoe.
Credit: Ally Arcuri
Traction
Despite not being the highest-scoring shoe overall, Craft's effort in this metric holds its own, delivering dependable grip and durability without standing far above or below the competition. I logged miles along windswept coastal trails with loose rock and rolling bluffside paths with gravelly surfaces in the Craft Pure Trail. The full rubber outsole with 3.4 mm lugs was perfectly equipped for everything I threw at it.
The outsole design is playfully functional and almost retro — like a neon pattern from the 1980s with lightning bolt-shaped lugs zigzagging in every direction. As we well know, multidirectional points grip soft earth well, and the Pure Trail's traction holds true to this trend. The Pure Trail's traction shines on moderately technical trails with softer footing, the kind of terrain that lets you settle into a rhythm as you jam out to your favorite tunes.
With strong traction and a well-rounded fit, the Pure Trail is a solid shoe for runners who want a mellow daily trail runner.
Credit: Ally Arcuri
Stability
The heel cup of the Craft Pure Trail aids in its stability. This is not a shoe that is built to be stable, but its streamlined fit does a decent job. The midfoot lock isn't the best, which can feel a bit squirrely on technical terrain. Ultimately, the Pure Trail offered more comfortable stability than expected without feeling laterally structured.
Though not designed for maximum stability, this shoe delivers a surprisingly steady ride thanks to its streamlined fit and supportive heel cup, despite a slightly loose midfoot lock.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Foot Protection
It's not often that we find trail shoes with rock plates that offer sensitivity. The Pure Trail is a shoe that sits firmly in the middle here — it has a thin rock plate that offers some protection but also doesn't totally dampen the sensations beneath your feet. The functionality of this is twofold. On the one hand, your intrinsic muscles can adapt as you roll over trail features when you can feel them intimately. On the other hand, even though this shoe has a rock plate, its underfoot protection isn't profound.
The outsole extends up the toe of the shoe slightly, but the toecap is soft and flexible, which isn't the most functional choice for runners who tend to kick rocks. The extended heel pull stands tall at the Achilles, and the rest of the heel collar is well contoured. This helps prevent sand and dirt from sneaking in, but the Pure Trail does not provide gaiter traps; if you like to run with ankle gaiters, you'd have to attach your own. The upper mesh is so fine that it truly does prevent physical particles from entering through the upper. However, it is so thin that you can easily feel splashes. Water drains easily from the Pure Trail, making its protection solid for warm and splashy spring running.
This shoe strikes a rare balance with its thin rock plate, offering just enough protection while still allowing ground feel so that muscles can respond to the trail's natural features.
Credit: Ally Arcuri
Weight
At 8.60 ounces per women's size 6.5 shoe, the Craft Pure Trail is a midweight shoe. It isn't the heaviest we've tested, but it is nowhere near the lightest. Despite this shoe's awesome traction and mild-mannered sensitivity, it feels a bit heavy underfoot. While Craft has made some solid updates to keep the Pure Trail relevant, it lacks the razzle-dazzle of some of the more exciting options out there; a huge part of this is because its weight feels dense underfoot. If the upper comfort and fit suit you, the weight isn't going to be a dealbreaker. If you aren't stoked on the comfort, fit, and protection elements, the way the weight of the Pure Trail rides is going to be a negative against it.
The density of this shoe's underfoot chunk certainly adds to its above-average weight.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Sensitivity
Since the rock plate of the Craft Pure Trail isn't the thickest, it allows for bomber sensitivity and trail feel — with some protection. What the rock plate lacks in solid protection (as discussed above), it makes up for in this metric. Runners who like to feel connected to the trail will appreciate how this shoe rides underfoot. The Pure Trail sits comfortably in the middle when it comes to ground feel. Some shoes deliver a closer connection to the trail in a more unified design, while others dial it back even further for a more detached ride. If you like a sensitive trail shoe, the Pure Trail might be worth considering.
Thanks to its thinner rock plate, this shoe delivers sensitivity and ground feel without completely sacrificing protection, making it a solid middle-ground option for runners who want to stay connected to the trail.
Credit: Ally Arcuri
Should You Buy the Craft Pure Trail?
There isn't anything inherently wrong with the Craft Pure Trail, and I hope we've made that clear. The sensitivity, underfoot cushion, and traction are solid, making it a reliable choice that many runners will love. At its price point, it doesn't represent the best value since it lacks some key characteristics. Craft constructed a solid shoe and made some good updates, but we are holding out hope that the next round of updates catapults the Pure Trail into even more powerful territory.
The Pure Trail delivers solid performance in sensitivity, cushioning, and traction, but despite some smart updates, it falls short of offering top-tier value or standout features for its price point.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
What Other Trail Running Shoes Should You Consider?
One of the most comparable trail shoes that we have tested is the Nike Pegasus Trail 5. The Pegasus has a similar feeling midsole that emphasizes ball-of-foot comfort. The Pegasus also offers forefoot sensitivity, though it falls a bit behind the ratings of the Pure Trail in other metrics. The La Sportiva Prodigio Pro is a high-ranking shoe that knocks the socks off other soft-midsole trail running shoes. With prime stability and a bit of responsive bounce, the Prodigio Pro is an easy recommendation for runners who want an agility-centered trail shoe. Finally, the Hoka Mafate Speed 4 is an equally well tractioned powerhouse of a shoe that offers comfort, flexibility, traction, and durability for just a few dollars more.
—Ally Arcuri
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