Review topics: ["fit","feel","grip","issues","performance","shoe","trainer","traction","foam","road","cushion","ride","midsole","miles","tread","trails","runs","toe box","race","rubber","model"].
Reviews
Nordlite Ultra 2 Review
"I really enjoy this shoe as a hybrid road-trail shoe. As a runner in Chicago, there are trails that are runnable from my apartment, but sometimes require more than a typical road shoe. Enter the Nordlite Ultra 2. Amazing grip on light trails and roads, poppy and light midsole and super smooth ride throughout. I would definitely choose other shoes for technical trails, but for long miles on gravel or packed dirt, these are the go to. Fit is perfect, laces stay tight and generally just a very comfortable shoe. Well done Craft! I was provided this product in exchange for my honest feedback and review."
— Alexsander K. (5/5)
9/10!
"The Craft Nordlite Ultra 2 Running Shoes are incredibly comfortable and versatile for gravel, light trails, and mixed-surface running. The cushioning feels great on long runs, the grip is reliable, and they handle uneven terrain really well without feeling bulky. The only reason I wouldn’t rate them higher is that I noticed some pronation while road running, so they may work best with custom insoles or orthotics if you need extra support on pavement. For gravel-focused training though, they’ve been excellent."
— Tyler R. (4/5)
Trail shoe worthy of road miles
"I really enjoyed my miles in the craft nordlite ultra 2. Ive used them on a mixed terrain of gravel, sand, packed dirt and brief time on roads. This shoe feels really balanced and ready to run fast, while feeling really good at casual paces also. The upper took a little bit of time to break in, which I wasnt surprised with due to my previous experience in Craft shoes. Still a bit on the snug side, but overall I was very happy with this shoe, and it will likely stay in my running rotation moving forward"
— Matt b. (4/5)
Responsive, smooth, and great distance trainer
"I have been running ultra distances and mixed trail races in new hampshire for a few years now and this is definitely a awesome long distance training shoe. The cushion is light responsive and propulsive. You can feel what you are stepping on in a way so ur brain knows its there but it doesn’t go through the cushion. Its upper is nice, breathable and light which is is perfect. Not many critiques honestly on this shoe besides maybe it is like 1/3 of a size small fitting for me but not crazy. Ankle lock is good and laces are actually long enough for this which is rare ha . Awesome cruiser and does decent on more techincal stuff! Def recommend this for anyone looking for a great gravel race or trainer for long days!"
— James (5/5)
Great gravel shoe for narrower toe boxes
"Weeks of trail running in these baddies culminated at the frozen Lake of the Angels in the Olympic Mountains. It was a near blue bird day in the 60s and 70s but trail conditions ranged from scree scrambling to post-hole snow up to my knees. My feet dried out and warmed up sunning on a rock at the half way point and we made it back no problem. These shoes were great in every condition except snow obviously but you don’t want trail runners to be waterproof, you want them to have a quick reset button and dry out fast which these did. The Nordlite Ultra 2. 0 are floaty road running shoes with a good tread slapped on and I’m here for it. If you’re in the wide toe box camp these aren’t for you but I’ve been on the fence for a while and may be reconverted. Craft gave me these shoes for free in exchange for my honest review"
— Steven (4/5)
Great Road to Trail shoe!
"After putting on a number of trail miles I find the shoe to be comfortable and stable. I was happy with the performance. They worked great on road as well as trail - I didn't test in any extreme conditions or extremely rugged trails, but they have held up well. The shoes feel light on the feet , which is always a nice feature especially when they maintain that stability. I would recommend to folks that run on gravel roads primarily but they did work great on the my local trails. I recently did a 40 mile run on the Tonto trail in the grand canyon, I do think these should would have been great for this as I am finding that I liked the 6mm drop a lot, as someone who typically goes in 0mm to 3mm range, I have been slightly converted. I received this product for free in exchange for my honest review."
— Weston (4/5)
Excellent shoe most runners will LOVE!!
"I have been wearing the Craft Nordlite Ultra 2. 0’s the past week or so, and put about 30 miles on them. I really loved the foam and found the shoe to be responsive, yet very comfortable. The tongue and heal also provide a very good ankle lock and lots of comfort. I also really love the color and style and think that you look great! I usually run in Altra’s I did find that on most of the runs, my pinky toe felt like it was being pushed in and got a little bit of a hot spot on the side. I never fully got a blister, but the toe box felt slightly narrower than I’m used to which I kind of anticipated since Altra’s have lots of space in the toe box. I think the Nordlite Ultra 2. 0 is a great shoe and for the majority of runners, they would find a fit to be very comfortable. Overall a great shoe!! I did receive the shoes for free for the purpose of testing and this is my honest feedback of them."
— Luke J. (5/5)
Good on Gravel!
"Initially I was confined to road and light trail use with these shoes. I then traveled to some gravel trail runs in a nearby city. I am pleased to say these shoes handled both extremely well! I appreciated how soft these shoes are despite being a trail/gravel shoe with lugs on the bottom for enhanced traction. This product perfectly fits the niche it is targeting. It is a heavy-duty, soft, daily trainer with great grip! I log ALOT of miles, typically 90-105 per week. So after a hundred miles in these shoes, I was surprised to notice how consistent the runs had become despite logging the mileage! The upper has a stretchy feeling, but remains sturdy against any bushes I brushed up against or rocks that popped up and scraped the top of the shoes. While I may not use these everyday due to their loud stomping sound and trail lugs, they are a comfortable trail shoe option that will fit nicely into anyone's shoe running or hiking rotation! Check these out if you are looking for a comfortable trail shoe that can handle a little bit of everything! I received this product for free in exchange for my honest review."
— Brayden (4/5)
A Comfortable Hybrid Shoe
"I was able to test out the Nordlite Ultra 2 from Craft for about two weeks. During that time frame I was able to use them for about 30 to 40 miles on asphalt, single trek trails, sand and scree/gravel terrain. I used it mostly for running but used it for some hiking as well. The Nordlite Ultra 2 features Cr Foam midsole, HyperGrip outsole, woven mesh upper and a 6mm heel drop. The first thing I noticed was how much I liked the HyperGrip outsole. The shoe felt super grippy. I had no problem on running from pavement to loose terrain like sand and soil. It handled well in sharp cuts or turns in said terrain as well. With the foam, I felt cushioned and bouncy on my runs. The shoes also felt stable and I had no issues with my foot sliding or rolling at any time. The shoes also felt very breathable with the woven mesh on top. I was not able to use it during any extended rainy periods but I would warn that mesh is not waterproof. I feel the shoe itself runs true to size. While not performance I will say that I do love its bright color way as a plus. I would recommend this product to any runners who have to perform on multiple terrains during their runs or are unsure of what terrain they will be encountering. This shoe can cover the gambit and perform well doing so. I received this product for free in exchange for my honest review."
— Mark H. (5/5)
Excellent road to trail option.
"Craft redesigned their uppers to fit much better on this model than v1. I was able to get a solid heel lock, decent midfoot lock and had plenty of room for my toes. The overall volume of the upper has been snugged up, but I still feel like the midfoot lockdown could be a bit better. That being said, I have a low volume foot, so most people probably won’t notice this. The upper breathes well, the tongue is comfortable and the laces long enough to lace lock it. The Cr Foam midsole is fantastic. It is firm and responsive, which in a world of marshmallow foams right now, this is a welcome midsole. I can run long miles in this shoe without feeling fatigued. The firm midsole is more noticeable on pavement, but I still like it. It feels stable and supportive, while remaining cushioned enough. The lugs work on road or trails, and really shine on crushed gravel paths. If you will be doing a variety of terrains, this will be an excellent option. Craft’s build quality is excellent, and this shoe should last a long time. I received this shoe at no cost for my honest review."
— Scott L. (4/5)
