Article by Sam Winebaum
Craft Nodlite Ultra Pro ($190)
Introduction
Craft positions the Ultra Pro as a “Gravel Racer” and I agree. It’s 25% PEBA midsole is dynamic and fun with plenty of it at a stack height of 40.5 mm heel / 34.5mm forefoot. It is light for its stack height and substantial outsole at 9.4 oz / 266g in may US8.5 EU 41.5 sample. Its Vittoria rubber outsole, inspired by the Brazo mountain bike, has plenty of grip. The dense single layer TPU mesh upper and its new fit/last (as all 2025 Craft get) is a vast improvement over prior Craft fits.
Gravel is quite the “thing” these days in running shoes, most often just a more substantial outsole on essentially the road version of the same shoe. Here Craft goes further leaning the Pro more towards trail than road in upper and outsole. A good thing? Too much of a good thing? Let’s dig in!
Pros:
Versatile, fast and light max cushioned gravel and light trails ride
Energetic, deeply cushioned 25% PEBA supercritical midsole
Light at 9.4 oz / 266g US8.5 for its 40mm heel stack height and substantial outsole.
Highly supportive comfortable upper:new effective fit and last.. at long last from Craft
Cons:
A bit blocky and rear unstable on more technical terrain: wish rear platform was wider it tapers rapidly
Outsole lugs could be broader in contact areas for a smoother firm terrain ride
Thin stringy laces stretch and could be broader with the thick tongue thinner
Toe bumper extends too far over the top of the toes and is stiff, requiring some break-in
Stats
Sample Weight: men’s 9.4 oz / 266g US8.5 EU 41.5
Stack Height: 40.5 mm heel / 34.5mm forefoot
Platform Width: 110 mm heel / 75 mm midfoot / 90 mm forefoot
Most comparable shoes
La Sportiva Prodigo Max
Salomon Aero Glide 3 GRVL
First Impressions, Fit and Upper
Of course, the first thing that jumps out are the vibrant cheery colors of the Ultra Pro and its simple and elegant overall visual design. Craft’s visual designs in my view are among the best of any shoe brand. The bright reddish orange says Speed and Fun to me.
The upper is “serious” and leans more trail than door to trail or gravel in nature.
The mesh is thin, dense and pliable but remains breathable. The upper gets its structure from many overlays.
The toe bumper is semi rigid and extensive extending over the toes and to the midfoot. It provides structure, protects the mesh and provides front stability.
Cleverly, there are triangular cut outs in the overlay at the flex point on both sides of the shoe. It took some runs for the front of the shoe to flex with some pressure over the top of the big toe, but it did break in and is fine now.
The fit, while precise and lower volume at the very front, settled into a true to size for my narrower to medium feet after about 15 miles.
The midfoot continues the support picture with a broad laces eyelets panel, and a relatively thick tongue with gusset. The laces are a bit of a miss for me: stringy, thin and somewhat prone to getting tangled. I think a thinner tongue and more substantial laces or krinkle cut laces (and for the price point worth it) might be a good improvement. Nonetheless, the hold at midfoot is very good, again any trail worthy,
The midfoot hold and lockdown is helped by the blue overlay panel extending towards the rear as well as another panel wrapping the ankle collars all the way to the rear where we have a moderately but not ridiculously rigid heel counter. The collars are all well padded with rear lockdown very good.
As hinted at above, this upper is in my view close to any trail worthy and maybe a bit “overbuilt” for exclusive gravel and very light trails use. That’s OK as it allows the Pro to range to trails, at least upper wise.
Midsole & Platform
The Cr Foam Pro™ midsole with its supercritical foaming and addition of 25% PEBA to the EVA is state of the art. The addition of the 25% PEBA makes a significant difference in ride quality giving the ride a noticed quick and friendly rebound and plenty of cushion as we have a 40.5mm heel and 34.5mm forefoot full stack height.
This is a very leg friendly midsole that is fun to run with the toe off very dynamic and it is quite flexible for such a big front stack. Note that there are no plates or additional rock protection and for the gravel uses none are needed. While the midsole (and outsole) conform very nicely to terrain and this shoe loves to climb and fast on more technical terrain, some stabilizing rock protection might be in order from what I felt on rockier terrain.
The platform is relatively narrow for the stack height for a trail shoe but for a gravel shoe is just fine. During my first runs, I felt the rear landings were a bit narrow and unstable at the far rear given the stack height at slower paces. I think this had something to do with the initial stiffness of the shoe but also the tapered rear platform.
After a few runs this high, narrow somewhat blocky feeling was reduced and faster paces sure do help. I do think the far rear landing could be broader as it is in the Xlpor Pro (RTR Review).
Outsole
The outsole by Vittoria is inspired by World Championship mountain bike Barzo tire design. The coverage is in 3 panels: 2 at the rear and a large one up front. Grip from the 3mm lugs has been excellent on loose gravel and on trail but does accumulate mud more than some due to the tight spacing between lugs and even in the big midfoot underside cavity.
The lugs are rectangular and not multi directional with each relatively small in contact area. For hard surfaces and mud clearing, I think broader contact lugs with more gripping angles would improve the firm terrain and road ride while making the forefoot more stable and more rock protected..
Ride, Conclusions and Recommendations
The Ultra Pro does exactly what Craft says it is designed to do, it's a fast highly cushioned max cushioned gravel shoe. The ride is energetic and fast from its excellent PEBA blend midsole. I found they climb exceptionally well due to the flex and foam rebound. It has been super fun to run on Park City's well groomed single tracks and gravel paths.
The upper is highly supportive and overall it is a light shoe for its substance, one whose upper is maybe a bit overbuilt for “pure” gravel, yet is certainly adequate for just about any trail and very decently light. The upper and especially its fit (as with all 2025 Craft) is certainly a vast improvement over prior Craft uppers, be they trail or road, where generally excellent rides were spoiled by sloppy fits.
I think the Ultra Pro could be improved for its stated gravel and easy trails purposes by reconsidering the outsole design and moving to broader contact lugs. This would improve the firmer terrain (and road) ride. For trails, beyond easy ones and for slower paces in general, the far rear landing might be broadened a bit.
At $190, we are up there for a non plated shoe. The quality construction, rugged build and excellent midsole keeps it a decent value which would be improved if it could either range better over to road or alternatively to more technical trails. Either direction would be fine by me!
Sam’s Score: 9.03 /10
Ride (30%): 9.2 Fit (30%): 9.2 Value (10%): 8.5 Style:9.5 (5%) Traction (15%):8.7 Rock Protection (10%): 8.7
😊😊😊 1/2
3 Comparisons
Craft Xplor Pro (RTR Review)
The Xplor Pro is 28g heavier as it has a supercritical expanded TPU beads midsole that is denser in feel if a bit bouncier to the Ultra Pro’s more springy feel. The Xplor has a completely different, broader (+10mm), more rounded and more stable rear landing platform making it more accommodating to slower paces, more technical trails and hiking. The Xplor’s upper is thicker with its gusset extending all the way to the front as a lining and with a more rounded toe box. The Xplor Pro’s outsole as far as I am concerned
La Sportiva Prodigo Max (RTR Review)
Heavier by an ounce (28g) or so slightly lower stack with a 37mm heel the Prodigio Max has a dual foam construction with EVA outer carrier and inner supercritical eTPU core. Its outsole is considerably beefier, any trails worthy and actually plays better on firm than the Craft’s. Its upper is very supportive and worthy of any trail or mountain and is somewhat overbuilt and dense in comparison to the Craft’s. For versatility on any terrain or surface the Sportiva, for fast gravel running the Craft
Salomon Aero Glide 3 GRVL (RTR Review)
Slightly lighter and about the same stack height the GRVL is less actual trails focused than the Craft as its super comfy upper is not nearly as supportive and its while bouncier less stable. For easy park type trails and for comfortable everyday wear the Salomon. The Craft will go further and further afield.
Tester Profile
Sam is the Editor and Founder of Road Trail Run. He is in his 60’s with 2025 Sam’s 54th year of running roads and trails. He has a decades old 2:28 marathon PR. These days he runs halves in the just sub 1:43 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.Europe only: use RTR code RTR5ALL for 5% off all products, even sale products
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