Article by John Tribbia
Craft Pure Trail Pro ($190)
Introduction
Craft's new Pure Trail Pro is a technical trail running shoe designed for performance and reliability on difficult terrain. This shoe marks a significant update to Craft's trail footwear, emphasizing improved fit, a dynamic running experience, and exceptional traction. Featuring a nitrogen-infused midsole with PEBAX elements and a revised Vittoria rubber outsole, the Pure Trail Pro is intended as a versatile choice for trail runners, suitable for both local trails and challenging mountain races.
Pros:
Lightweight feel (for a protective shoe)
Dynamic and responsive midsole
Excellent traction on downhills
Cons:
$190 price point for the relative versatility
Stats
Approx. Weight: 10.6 oz/ 300g US9
Stack Height: 36mm heel / 30mm forefoot, 6mm drop
First Impressions, Fit and Upper
John: The Craft Pure Trail Pro has a sharp, technical look that clearly signals its trail intentions. The upper is a single-layer seamless mesh designed for lightweight flexibility and durability.
Craft highlights significant updates to the upper fit, including a new last and changes to the heel construction. The goal appears to be achieving excellent lockdown, which is crucial for stability and confidence on uneven and technical trails it is advertised for.
From my initial testing, the new materials contributed to a secure and improved fit compared to my only other Craft review of the CTM Carbon Ultra. The focus on lockdown and the seamless construction provides a comfortable and secure wrap for the foot.
The fit is true to size and my slightly narrow foot is reasonably secure. The lacing is long so I have to tuck the excess in the lower laced part.
In addition, there are protective overlays around the toe box and along the sides to add durability and protection.
Midsole & Platform
John: The Pure Trail Pro's midsole utilizes Craft's Cr Foam™ Pro, a nitrogen-infused supercritical EVA, enhanced with 15% PEBAX blended into 85% Nitrogen EVA. This blend aims to produce a softer and more responsive ride than earlier Craft foams, and I experienced a good energy return and enjoyable running on various surfaces. I found it most performant on sustained downhills in looser terrain. The stack height provides sufficient cushioning and protection for extended distances and uneven terrain, while maintaining a reasonably broad platform for trail stability.
Outsole
John: The Craft Pure Trail Pro features an updated Vittoria rubber outsole with aggressive 5mm lugs and a redesigned tread pattern. Testing on various terrains, including mud, rock, smooth trail, and off-camber grass, demonstrated the Vittoria rubber's excellent grip and traction across diverse conditions. The multi-directional pattern incorporates sharp edges engineered for strong purchase on soft ground and sustained grip on hard surfaces. This emphasis on traction, leveraging Vittoria's reputable rubber compound from their cycling tires, suggests reliable grip. The robust tread pattern also bodes well for good durability on rough terrain.
Ride, Conclusions and Recommendations
John: The Craft Pure Trail Pro excels as a technical trail shoe, offering a dynamic and capable experience. Its nitrogen-infused EVA/PEBAX midsole, paired with a grippy Vittoria outsole, caters to runners needing both protection, stability, and speed across diverse and challenging terrain. The upper's design prioritizes a secure lockdown, necessary for navigating technical sections. With its 6mm drop and the integration of PEBAX in the midsole, you’ll get a fairly lively and responsive ride given the built up nature of the shoe. This shoe stands out as a nice option for runners valuing traction, responsiveness, and a secure fit for technical trails and longer distances. However, its $190 price may be a consideration for some.
John’s Score: 8.3 / 10
Ride: 8.0 - As a personal preference, I like a lighter and less aggressive shoe
Fit: 8.5 - Comfortable and hugging
Value: 8 - This isn’t a shoe that I’m always seeking to wear and feel like the $190 for a mud romper is too steep for me
Style: 9 - It’s eye catching
Traction: 9.5 - Really great
Rock Protection: 8
Smiles 😊😊😊
4 Comparisons
Hoka Torrent 4 (RTR Review)
John: The Torrent 4 features a 4mm drop and an updated EVA midsole with an early-stage MetaRocker. The Pure Trail Pro has a 6mm drop and uses a more advanced Nitrogen EVA/PEBAX blend, offering a more responsive and softer ride underfoot. The Torrent 4's outsole is high abrasion rubber, while the Pure Trail Pro uses Vittoria rubber, specifically highlighted for its grip, which might give it an edge in wet/slippery conditions.
Brooks Catamount 3 (RTR Review)
John: The Catamount 3 is a speed-oriented trail shoe, using Brooks' DNA Flash (nitrogen-infused TPU/EVA blend) and a SkyVault plate. Both are designed for faster efforts and varied terrain. The Catamount 3 has a higher 8mm drop. The Pure Trail Pro's 6mm drop and different foam composition results in a different ride feel, less firm or propulsive than the plated Catamount but more cushioned overall with its higher stack. Outsole rubber and pattern also differ significantly with the Pure being more aggressive.
Salomon S/Lab Pulsar 3 (RTR Review)
John: The Pulsar 3 is a lightweight, low-stack race-focused shoe with a more aggressive rocker and a stiffer, firmer ride aimed at efficiency. The Pure Trail Pro, with its 36/30mm stack, Nitrogen EVA/PEBAX foam, and 6mm drop, is positioned as a more cushioned and protective, albeit heavier (10.5oz vs Pulsar 3's ~7.4oz), option capable of racing but also daily training and longer efforts where comfort and robust protection are needed. The Pure Trail Pro's outsole is also more aggressive for varied technical conditions compared to the Pulsar's more compact lug pattern.
Saucony Peregrine (RTR Review)
John: The Pure Trail Pro offers a more energetic ride with its Cr Foam Pro/PEBAX blend compared to the Peregrine's PWRRUN foam. It also provides greater cushioning due to a higher stack height and particularly at the forefoot. While both shoes have 5mm lugs, their rubber compound and pattern diverge slightly. I find the Peregrine is better able to dig into terrain. The Peregrine is lighter and feels more agile which I personally prefer for trail running.
Tester Profile
John Tribbia (5' 6", 130lbs) is a former sponsored mountain/trail runner who has run with La Sportiva, Brooks/Fleet Feet, Pearl Izumi, and Salomon. Even though he competes less frequently these days, you can still find John enjoying the daily grind of running on any surface, though his favorite terrain is 30-40% grade climbs. He has won races such as America's Uphill, Imogene Pass Run, and the US Skyrunner Vertical Kilometer Series; and he's held several FKTs on several iconic mountains in Boulder, Colorado and Salt Lake City, Utah. If you follow him on Strava, you'll notice he runs at varying paces between 5 minutes/mile to 12 minutes/mile before the break of dawn almost every day.
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