Article by Sam Winebaum
Craft Nordlite Tempo ($160)
Introduction
Craft Sportswear of Sweden, long known for great nordic ski apparel worn by many national teams, in recent years has plunged into running shoes. They were one of the earliest brands focused on “gravel” and thus with more outsole depth and grip than typically seen in road shoes. Their shoes tended to have great midsole foams and awkward, baggy fits with their gravel outsoles not always worth their extra weight and impact on smooth surfaces performance.
In 2025, all of their shoes including the Tempo here will be on a new last (fit). Craft is also now more clearly distinguishing its road, gravel, and trail offerings with two “pure” road models the Kype Pro (RTR Review), a state of the art marathon racer and reviewed here the Nordlite Tempo. Tempo has two foam compounds (15% PEBA plus another unnamed foam) in a supercritical processed blend.
It is a strong tempo shoe. I have concluded that it is also a great all around daily trainer due to its substantial (but not excessive) 40mm heel, 34mm forefoot stack height and stable and smooth rocker based plateless ride.
Pros:
- Strong weight to cushion to price ratio: 40/34 stack height, sub 9 oz / 255g, $160
- Responsive “tempo” and any pace or distance ride: not overly soft or bouncy yet deeply cushioned and stable
- Smooth at all paces: mostly rigid rocker (created by the outsole) runs like a flexible shoe
- Upper: closer to race than cruising/comfort fit and feel and highly breathable
Cons:
Fit and upper will favor lower volume narrower feet
Most comparable shoes
ASICS Noosa Tri 16
Nike Pegasus Plus
New Balance Rebel v4
Adidas SL EVO
Please find the testers full run bios at the end of the article after Comparisons.
Stats
Approx. Weight: men's 8.95 oz / 254g US9
Sample Weight: men’s 8.71 oz / 247g US8.5
Stack Height: men’s 40mm heel / 34 mm forefoot (6 mm spec)
Platform Width: 90mm heel / 80 mm midfoot / 110mm forefoot US8.5
First Impressions, Fit and Upper
Craft always has simple, colorful and elegant visual designs and here is no exception.
The bright orange main upper is highlighted by denser longitudinal woven in support structure.
The gray lace eyelets and gray reflective tongue panel on a yellow tongue tie in well to the yellow soft and thin top of the ankle collar and orange to more yellow fade of colors towards the heel counter.
The design says “tempo” and speed that is for sure! But if you are looking for a substantial daily trainer more than a race shoe don’t turn away quite yet as the Tempo does double duty extremely well and for me is also a top choice as a single training shoe rotation
The Aeromesh upper is a single layer open weave with longitudinal thicker reinforcements. The mesh is thin and non-stretch and moderately pliable.
The rear collars resemble the design and fit of race shoes with a wrap around substantial inner padding bolster and thin knit top edges.
The non padded tongue has a narrow gusset. The lacing stays locked in the gray eyelets with minimal adjustments on the go. Do tie them quite tight initially as the knot stretches a bit.
The front fit is moderately broad with a somewhat pointy toe area. In many ways it resembles a Nike fit, say the Pegasus or Pegasus Plus but with thinner mesh so with some give even if the mesh is non stretch,
The fit is true to size and considerably more secure all over than prior Craft of all types. That new last! Broader feet may struggle more than I did especially at the bunion area due to the non stretch mesh and volume. On try on they felt a bit snug at my bunion but after a run have been fine since.
Lockdown is just right for faster running and comfortable for daily miles. Once underway, and every run, I forgot about the upper. Always a good sign.
Midsole & Platform
The midsole is a supercritical processed blend with 15% PEBA, other foam not disclosed but likely either an EVA or TPU. The feel resembles Puma Nitro, maybe a touch firmer and denser but without Puma’s customary plates, even in trainers, I find the ride slightly more forgiving and certainly more pace versatile.
At 40mm heel / 34mm forefoot and less than 9 oz / 255g we have a substantial shoe at very decently light weight. The cushioning is deep and very vibration absorbing at both the heel and forefoot. In particular transitions at any pace to toe off for a platform which is essentially rigid rocker (if plateless) had me wondering each run if the shoe was now getting more flexible.
The platform width is fairly standard for its category 90mm heel / 80 mm midfoot / 110mm forefoot. Combined with the foam and outsole, the Tempo is very stable, without gimmicks or dual densities for such a decently stacked shoe. Those with mild pronation control needs should definitely consider the Tempo for training and racing.
Tempo it is called, any distance, any pace runs is what it delivers. Lots of versatility with this platform
Outsole
The outsole is called out by Craft as Hypergrip. Grip on wet and dry roads has been great. Even fine crushed granite paths were handled with ease although this is not an outsole for mud or slick snow.
The outsole up front also creates, when the shoe is assembled, the almost but not quite totally rigid rocker and on toe off the response. In a way it is a sort of “external plate”. We have seen this approach effectively executed in the Topo Specter 2 and Cyclone 3 and ASICS Noosa Tri 16. Here, while there is almost no flex the shoe even at slower paces feels flexible. By that I mean toes off are never forced or strained.
Durability needs to be determined but generally such “die cut” rubber outsoles, while thin, have proven very durable.
Ride, Conclusions and Recommendations
Craft names it Tempo and I agree it is a very fine longer tempo runs shoe. To leave its use at that would short change its versatility. It is also a superb daily trainer as it is light, its midsole is protective and stable and its upper while leaning performance and race is comfortable. It is one of the those rare shoes I can easily see being a single shoe rotation with no real compromises for any run except it would great if for racing that it could tip the scales at or below 8.5 oz / 241g. It is a very solid value.
Sam’s Score: 9.5 / 10 😊😊😊😊
Very slight deductions for front of shoe fit width and weight.
7 Comparisons
Sample Weight: men’s 8.71 oz / 247g US8.5
Stack Height: men’s 40mm heel / 34 mm forefoot (6 mm spec)
Price: $160
Topo Specter 2 (RTR Review)
Similar to the Tempo the Specter has an all supercritical foam midsole in its case PEBAX vs the PEBA blend of the Craft. Both share a “die cut” type outsole which helps create their rockers with the Topo’s a bit stiffer and more accentuated. The midsoles are of similar firmness with the beaded foam of the Topo a bit less pulled together in feel.
At 37mm heel / 32 mm forefoot and 8.2 oz / 232g in my US8.5 sample the Topo is somewhat lower stack and lighter. Very similar in ride characteristics, I find the Craft easier to turn over with a somewhat wider pace range especially towards slower paces. Fit is significantly different with the Topo’s broad anatomical toe box favoring wider higher volume feet and for all feet comfort with the Craft lower volume narrower and more performance oriented. I prefer the Craft in this match up.
Diadora Atomo Star (RTR Review)
Sitting on exactly the same stack height of 40/34 and platform width, the Diadora is somewhat heavier due to its truly deluxe and more comfortable everyday runs upper while the Craft’s upper is more dialed in and performance oriented. The Atomo’s midsole and ride is somewhat softer and bouncier while the Craft’s is speedier and quicker reacting in feel. Big price difference here between the Star at $240 and Tempo at $160 with the difference coming from Made in Italy for the Diadora and a clearly more plush and deluxe overall shoe that can move along.
Salomon Aero Glide 3 (RTR Review)
Another competitor at the same stack height and price as the Craft, the Salomon has a bouncier less stable ride with an upper that is for sure not as secure but roomier and fine for lighter form efficient runners while the Tempo is more dialed in, precise fitting and overall is more stable. While the Salomon might be more “fun” the Craft is more practical and versatile.
Watch Sam's Comparison Review of the Nordlite Tempo to Aero Glide 3 and Atomo Star
Nike Pegasus Plus (RTR Review)
Considerably lower stack 35 mm heel / 25 mm forefoot, higher drop at 10mm and slightly lighter 8.42 oz / 239g US8.5, the Pegasus Plus is a more traditional, flexible. agile high drop daily trainer / tempo shoe. With 9mm less forefoot cushion the difference is clearly felt. The Nordlite is clearly more protective up front.
The ZoomX foam is a bit more dated in feel compared to Craft’s CrFoam Pro which is a bit firmer and also springier with better shock absorption (additional stack height of course helping). The Pegasus upper is softer and more pliable than the Craft’s and gets its performance job done just fine, and with more comfort. Both true to size, with the Tempo front of upper is borderline too snug/mesh stiff for my narrow to medium feet. The Nike is a better short tempo shoe, the Craft a better long tempo and daily trainer and a better value at $20 less than the Plus.
Adizero SL EVO (RTR Review)
The SL EVO is about 1 oz lighter at 7.8 oz / 221g with a slightly lower platform and also higher drop. It’s midsole is all top end Lightstrike Pro and is springier and airier than CrFoam Pro but less stable.
It is a shoe more clearly oriented towards fast paces with its midfoot plastic shank making it more rigid overall than the Craft and harder to transition through the midfoot if one heel strikes or at slower paces. Its upper is not nearly as polished or secure, especially around lace up. If you are seeking a fast tempo shoe and have good neutral form the SL EVO, for increased versatility the Craft.
ASICS Noosa Tri 16 (RTR Review)
Very similar in geometry as a rigid rocker type shoe the ASICS has no super foam as the Tempo has but a very light weight of 7.5 oz / 213g (US9) with a very decent stack height of 34.5mm heel / 29.5 mm forefoot. It has EVA blend Flytefoam Blast + foam, ASICS GuideSole rocker geometry and some snappy flex to help propel and all at a reasonable $135 price, $25 less than the Tempo.
The Craft midsole is deeper, more forgiving and more energetic. The ASICS upper is similar in tempo purpose, smoother fitting and a touch less breathable. If a more pure tempo shoe at a reasonable price is what you are seeking the ASICS otherwise the Craft is a more versatile all arounder
ASICS Novablast 5 (RTR Review)
The popular Nova is about the same weight and stack height and is softer and bouncier, more “fun” but.. less stable (narrower heel and midfoot platform and soft foam) with a comfy upper that is less secure. For faster shorter fun runs the ASICS, for all around day in day out utility the Craft. Both true to size with the more minimal stretchier ASICS mesh less supportive but somewhat roomier up front.
New Balance Rebel v4 (RTR Review)
Rebel v4 is lower weight at 7.3 oz US9 and also lower stack at 33/27. It has a broader fitting upper. For most it will be more a faster days tempo shoe with the Nordlite Tempo a more versatile all around daily trainer that can also do tempos so the Craft is more versatile. I also found Rebel's transitions not nearly as smooth unless at fast paces, kind of awkward.Mizuno Neo Zen (RTR Review)
I will say the same for the Neo Zen as the
Novablast in comparison to the Tempo with the Neo Zen somewhat stretchy knit upper clearly more accommodating than the Craft’s for higher volume feet and potentially problematic for lower volume feet. The Mizuno nitrogen infused supercritical foam is softer and bouncier than the Craft’s blend, super fun to run but less stable even if their stack heights and platform widths are essentially indentical. If you have any pronation issues or for longer runs the Tempo is a a better choice.
Index to all RTR reviews: HERE
Tester Profiles
Sam is the Editor and Founder of Road Trail Run. He is in his 60’s with 2025 Sam’s 53th year of running roads and trails. He has a decades old 2:28 marathon PR. These days he runs halves in the just sub 1:40 range if he gets very, very lucky. Sam trains 30-40 miles per week mostly at moderate paces on the roads and trails of New Hampshire and Utah be it on the run, hiking or on nordic skis. He is 5’9” tall and weighs about 160 lbs, if he is not enjoying too many fine New England IPA’s.
Comments and Questions Welcome Below!
Wow! It's really nice!
ReplyDeleteThe color of this pair really makes you stand out.
ReplyDeleteA short comparaison with NB rebel v4 would be appreciated
ReplyDeleteRebel v4 is lower weight at 7.3 oz US9 and also lower stack at 33/27. It has a somewhat broader upper. For most it will be more a faster days tempo shoe with the Nordlite Tempo a more versatile all around daily trainer that can also do longer tempos so more versatile. I also found its transitions not nearly as smooth unless at fast paces, kind of awkward.
ReplyDelete