Craft Pure Trail X Running Shoe Review

Born in Sweden, the Craft Pure Trail X trail running shoes are the epitome of Swedish design and function. Swedes love nature and it’s in their culture to hike, run and walk on the endless trails found throughout their beautiful country. With durable recycled polyester ripstop uppers, a responsive midsole and aggressive rubber outsoles, the Pure Trail X has been a staple for winter and spring training.

Craft Pure Trail X Trail Running Shoe Features:

• Recycled polyester ripstop uppers with reinforced overlays
• Integrated rock protection plate
• Cr Foam™ midsole
• Proprietary rubber outsoles with aggressive 4mm lugs
• Stack: 38mm heel and 30mm front (with stated 6mm drop — even though the maths don’t work)
• Weight: 12.4 oz (size 11.5, actual)
• MSRP: $169.99

Rugged trails, meet your match

I’ve tested all sorts of trail running shoes and each one has their strengths and weaknesses. Most recently, the Hoka Mafate Speed 4 is comfortable, but a little clunky and the Salomon Thundercross is capable and protective, but a little warm as temperatures rise. Certainly, all of these shoes are built to handle aggressive terrain without batting an eye. I was able to take the Craft Pure Trail X into a variety of conditions (snow, soft dirt, hardback and desert terrain) throughout several months of testing. The fit is immensely better than  both the Craft Endurance Trail and Nordlite Ultra for my feet and we are getting along well.

The polyester ripstop uppers are obviously an important part of the Pure Trail X. While they aren’t waterproof, this durable material does offer added trail protection and provides a seamless feel throughout the uppers. Unlike the previously-mentioned Craft trail runners, the Pure Trail X has normal-volume uppers and I can cinch them down snug without maxing out the laces. The standard laces end eyelets provide a predictable fit without any hot spots or friction.

I’m a huge fan of wide forefoot designs and while these aren’t as wide as a pair of Altra or Topo shoes, my toes are never crammed in there. I have plenty of wiggle room and ability for my toes to splay and adjust to every step. The normal volume also keeps my feet in place without the need of wearing thick socks. I’ve been wearing a variety of lightweight socks from CEP and Swiftwick and they are all great.

You’ll be quick to notice the trapezoidal-shaped heel with these shoes. Unlike the Arc’teryx Sylan GTX, the Craft Pure Trail X enjoys supreme stability with a locked-in feel. Each step is met with stability on even the roughest terrain. Off-camber descents with rock-strewn trails are no problem for these shoes. I’d say stability is their middle name, so if that’s what you need, look no further.

The seamless uppers offer excellent cold-weather protection, but don’t have any DWR. If it’s cold, but not snowing or raining, the Pure Trail X shines. While running in the low 20’s, my feet remained comfortable and warm. I appreciated the traction of the outsole on hardpack and soft snow. As temperatures increased, I have noticed a lack of breathability, but they are performing better than I anticipated. I definitely wouldn’t choose to run in these in the middle of summer, but they could do it.

On paper, the stack height should make these comparable to some of the most comfortable shoes on the market, but the Cr Foam midsole lacks the cushioning and rebound I had expected. They do offer a smooth heel-to-toe stride with excellent toe-off, but they lack the comfort of similar shoes. On the dirt and snow, I don’t notice how firm they are. And, running at a variety of speeds does showcase their nice stride, but the second I hop onto the road, they feel jarring. For me, these are trail-only shoes — I can’t even wear them around town without wishing I was wearing something a little more comfy.

The proprietary outsole rubber and aggressive lug pattern work well for a variety of trail conditions. Each toe-off is met with consistent traction and forward motion. Descending is predictable and consistent as well. No matter the trail conditions, I’ve been impressed with these outsoles and the great trail feel and traction on offer. The entire shoe feels lightweight and doesn’t slow down movements. When the desert trails got dicey, I was able to step from rock-to-rock with control.

Fit: I’m comfortably wearing a size 11.5 — my typical trail running shoe size.

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