Craft makes really good looking shoes, their balance of simplicity of design with material choices really makes them stand out in a great way. The Craft Endurance Trail is a perfect example of this because it is a great looking trail shoe with some really solid specs, but has a couple flaws, and one is pretty major. It is definitely going to be on a person by person basis and shouldn’t take away from the fact it is a well thought out shoe, but it is a tad concerning and would steer us away unless the fit is perfect for you. Let’s see why…
Quick Details, Specs, and Availability
- Weight – 11.8oz or 335g for a US Men’s 9, 10oz or 283g for a US Women’s 7
- Cushion – 34mm of cushion and a 9mm heel/toe drop
- Pricing – $159.99 USD
- Colors – 1 colors
Performance Review
We have never really run in Craft on the true trail side before, lots of what we would call hybrid before, but they have some of the best visual lines going right now. So hopes were high, because we love the way they look, and we’ve had great experiences on the road before. And the Craft Endurance Trail looks great, so really had us excited going in.
However, from the time we got them out of the box, we knew something was going to be up, but let’s get into that in a moment, and focus on the good first. Much like their road shoes, the Craft Endurance trail uses a full one piece of mesh that covers your entire foot. Here, they have added some additional overlays for a little bit of that trail protection you need, but it does function very similarly overall. The laces are very thin and the amount of cushion in the collar and tongue is very slight, again much like its road counterparts.
Their new midsole foam, Px, had us a little worried visually because it does look like an old styrofoam cooler. Sure it’s darker in color, but it definitely looks like a big chunk of that bolted onto the upper. We are happy to report that the performance is totally different than the the visual, because the cushion on here is just right. It’s pretty much the exact stack height we like for the trail, mid 30s, and absorbed most of what we could throw under it without a problem. The lug system leaves a little to be desired, definitely works better on very hard pack or less tactical terrain.
As for the problem area, it is definitely the upper and the overall fit. It is a bit of a mess and it’s not just that the shoe runs a half size small or big, it’s just a lot of excess material. So it feels a little sloppy as there is just so much excess and we are not narrow foot people, so this is not just a case of us coming in a little slimmer. If anything, someone with a narrow foot is going to suffer quite a bit because there will be so much extra. The lacing system is weird as well as they are incredibly long and when you try to tighten things down, the eyelets are almost touching because you have so much excess material.
So again, we reiterate, really solid, material and aesthetic choices, but a real failure from a fit perspective at least in our experience.
Construction and Materials
Upper
The Craft Endurance Trail features a fully engineered one-piece mesh upper that harmoniously interacts with the foot, providing both exceptional comfort and reliable support during every agile stride. Its seamless construction ensures a smooth and adaptable fit, enhancing the overall running experience. This is the Marketing speak, but it’s TOO MUCH material.
Midsole
The Craft Endurance Trail features Px Foam™ as its ultra-lightweight midsole material, showcasing an impressive level of energy return along with shock-resistance and flexibility. It stands out as a green innovation that utilizes a single natural foaming agent in its production, completely avoiding the need for chemical cross-linking agents. This environmentally friendly approach ensures both top-notch performance and a reduced ecological footprint.
Outsole
The Craft Endurance Trail is equipped with a resilient rubber outsole that provides exceptional grip, durability, and traction, allowing you to confidently tackle various terrains with ease.
Overall Conclusion
As we said at the start, the Craft Endurance Trail is a really nice looking shoe. Is simple in its silhouette, and looks great out on the trails, but it does suffer from some fit issues. This isn’t just about sizing, but a bit of narrowness, and a bit of excess material in that upper that leads to a little bit of looseness that runs across the whole shoe. It just doesn’t make them reliable enough for us on the trail. The grip also lend itself better for non-technical terrain, or even mix material runs, so something to keep an eye out for as well.
Learn more on the Craft website
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Check Out Other Reviewers Thoughts
As always, we gather together some of our favorite reviewers so you can get a well-rounded view of the shoe. Here are our favorites.
