Craft clearly has their eyes set on the US market as they have a whole bunch of stuff in mind for this year. After just having reviewed the Endurance Trail, we were definitely interested to see what the new Craft CTM Ultra 3 would look like. It is a bit of a strange category for the states given that it is a road trail hybrid, but that is becoming a category in itself. We actually see using these more on the road more than anywhere else given their high-performance design and lighter weight. However, it does seem to have the exact same fit issues we found with the Endurance Trail. So if it works, it really works, but that upper fit is a bit of a miss… again.
Quick Details, Specs, and Availability
- Weight – 9.3oz or 264g for a US Men’s 9
- Cushion – 40mm of cushion and a 10mm heel/toe drop
- Pricing – $164.99 USD
- Colors – 2 colors
Performance Review
We really do love the look of a Craft shoe. There’s something just so different about it, something European. The simplicity and minimal seams, the color blocking just looks sharp. The CTM Ultra has always perplexed us a bit because I see it visually as a road shoe that just happens to have a decent amount of rubber and lugs on the outsole, a lot like the New Balance RC Elite when it first launched. This apparently makes it a road trail hybrid, but we tend to reserve these only for the road and then trust that if we’ve got to get them a little dirty, well, you know we they can handle it.
First, let’s talk positives, the midsole and the outsole. The Ud foam used in the midsole has a really nice balance of cushion and responsiveness. The CTM Ultra 3 definitely run a bit on the firmer side, but again they feel performant in nature, so we aren’t hating it. It is an up-tempo shoe and almost feels like it could be a racer. The outsole takes grip to the next level. Again, you get a big patch of rubber in the forefoot with decently sized lugs that can grab the ground really well, making these capable of tackling things like gravel and hard pack trail fairly easily, but when the roads get a little nasty, they also are pretty successful there as well. They do run a bit narrow, in terms of that midsole platform, and are probably better targeted at mid and forefoot strikers.
Now to the negative side and that upper. We are just not sure what’s going on here. The shoe fits true to size in terms of length, but the volume of the upper material seems like it was designed for a wide foot. There is so much excess, in fact, that when you lace the shoe up, the eyelets are almost touching on both sides. Additionally, the laces are incredibly long, probably 3 inches or more longer than they need to be and you actually have to get creative with storing them because they can get in the way of the run. The material choice is good, it’s light and breathable, but there is just too much of it. This leads to an inherent feeling of instability for the top of your foot. If you fill it out, then great, but in all our testing, we couldn’t find anyone it really worked for.
Construction and Materials
Upper
The Craft CTM Ultra 3 features a a redesigned upper mesh pattern and an improved internal structure, these running shoes offer superior lock-in and stability. This innovative design ensures that your foot remains securely positioned exactly where it should be throughout each and every stride, enhancing your overall running performance.
Midsole
The Craft CTM Ultra 3 incorporates the revolutionary Ud Foam™ midsole, which sets a new standard in cushioning and responsiveness. Designed to deliver an optimal combination of lightweight comfort and energy return, this innovative midsole technology will keep you going mile after mile with its exceptional performance.
Outsole
The Craft CTM Ultra 3 features a high-quality rubber compound in its outsole, delivering superior traction, durability, and grip for a reliable and confident running experience in a variety of weather.
Overall Conclusion
We just love the Craft brand as we have said many times before, especially the aesthetics, just so solid. However, what we have experienced with these last two shoes, the CTM Ultra 3 and the Endurance Trail, has us a little perplexed. The upper is just a total mess and we aren’t sure why. It is not a sizing issue, instead there’s a volume issue, especially in that one piece wrap they’re using for the upper. There’s just too much of it and so hopefully in the future iterations they will decrease that a bit because it doesn’t work for narrow feet, the midsole platform isn’t great for wider feet, and for regular runners there’s a bunch of excess so you move around a bi so they have to get this resolved. The good news is if they do fix it, then the CTM Ultra 4 is going to be a ton of fun.
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.
