Craft Nordlite Tempo Review: A New Pep in Craft’s Step

Introduction to the Craft Nordlite Tempo

MELISSA: As a dedicated trail runner who’s temporarily traded dirt for pavement to chase unfinished road racing goals, I’ve been exploring shoes that can handle faster efforts without sacrificing comfort. After being impressed by the Craft Pacer — a lightweight, breathable, and cushy trainer — I was excited to lace up my second road shoe from Craft: the Nordlite Tempo.

Designed for advanced road runners, Nordlite Tempo brings a fresh combination of performance features, including Craft’s energetic Cr Foam Pro midsole (enhanced with a 15% Peba mixture), a grippy HyperGrip outsole, and a durable yet breathable AeroMesh upper. With its performance-oriented design and focus on cushioning, energy return, and traction, this shoe had me curious to see how it would stack up during tempo sessions and daily miles.

SAM: I always enjoy getting a Craft shoe in to review. The Nordic brand swings for the fences with each element in their shoe construction, which means that often we get treated to either a dramatic strikeout or an absolute moon shot. Sometimes, we even get both in the same shoe.

Take the Craft Xplor Hybrid, for instance. Craft’s first true road-to-trail shoe had maybe one of the best midsole/outsole combinations we tested last year, and one of the least structured uppers. That upper, however, was good enough to land the Xplor Hybrid a well-deserved spot on our Best In Gear awards. That’s why Craft has always been so interesting to me. When they get it right, they really get it right. And Craft getting it right means a shoe will be a blast underfoot. If running shoe companies were Muppets, the Nordic brand would be Animal: flashy, unpredictable, and always a whirlwind of fun.

The Nordlite Tempo is Craft starting up a drumroll on — you guessed it — a Tempo shoe for fast workouts and potentially race day. Melissa dove into some of the details above, but I’ll also point out that the HyperGrip outsole was designed with Vittoria (of bike tire fame), a collaboration that started with the aforementioned Xplor Hybrid. The upper is what Craft calls “open woven single-layered,” and is TPU reinforced and adorned with embroidery. This is a new last and fit profile for Craft. Here’s the wind-up, and the pitch…

MATT: I would echo much of what Melissa and Sam have said above, but I have become a fan of Craft these past few years, as they seem to take risks and try to do things with their products that other brands aren’t attempting. As Sam said, you might strike out when you swing for the fences, but when you connect, it’s going a long way. The good has outweighed the bad for me, as you can count me as a fan of the Xplor Hybrid, Pacer, Pure Trail, and most recently the Kype Pro (review coming soon).

The Nordlite Tempo seemed logical for Craft as a fast day, workout shoe was missing from their rotation. The Pacer is capable of handling those faster days, but I really think it shines more as an everyday trainer. I have always found the Nordlite Ultra best used on rougher road surfaces and recreation paths due to its beefier outsole construction, so I was intrigued to see how well the Nordlite Tempo could fill that void.

What we like about the Craft Nordlite Tempo

MELISSA: I think the Nordlite Tempo’s overall design and colorways are easy on the eyes, which is always a win. The AeroMesh upper was also both comfortable and secure — something I was curious about after the Xplor Hybrid days. Really, though, the winner for me is Craft’s Cr Foam Pro midsole, which hits that sweet spot of being soft enough for long efforts while maintaining a responsive, energetic ride.

Compared to firmer foams like EVA, this peba-infused blend felt more forgiving without sacrificing performance. Craft’s outsole is good, too, especially on wet roads, which is a rare find in performance-oriented workout shoes. Or, it used to be a rarity, but it seems like everyone is getting a little better these days, so I’m glad Craft is catching up. Add that to the durability of the overall package, and you’ve got a shoe that delivers more than you’d expect at first glance.

SAM: I’ve heard tell from other reviewers that there’s a new Craft in town, one with uppers that have some substance. As much as we’ve loved Craft’s shoes up to this point, they’ve often had little in the way of lockdown or structure. It’s been a drag on many models, but the Nordlite Tempo is my first experience of this new Craft I’d been hearing all about.

I have to say, Craft is truly finding its way out of the wilderness here, not least in the way this upper secures this shoe to your foot. The Nordlite Tempo has a comfortable, secure fit that results from a wide-open TPU reinforced AeroMesh. The mesh itself is a clear white color, but those big holes are sewn through with embroidery that streaks from toe to heel. This is my first time in a shoe with an upper like this, and I’m so impressed by the elaborate (dare we say beautiful?) design that maintains a truly wild breathability. It’s sturdy, comfortable, and it seems to me that design possibilities in this construction are endless.

Spoiler warning, but you’ll see below that Melissa wasn’t a fan of the lacing on the Nordlite Tempo. For me, it was a big positive. I love laces that hold their position while tightening, even if I have to adjust up and down the chain. These laces always lie flat against the tongue due to the narrow rectangular eyelets, so I easily avoided any twisting or pinchy laces, something else small I appreciated.

But really, I’ll definitely echo Melissa in emphasizing that the real star of the show here is the Cr Foam Pro. I really, really like this midsole. It feels soft on step-in, but medium firm with my midfoot strike. On the run, it’s not exactly bouncy, but you experience a crisp, peppy rebound that is very fun and feels very fast.

There is a lot of Cr Foam Pro underfoot at a 34mm to 40mm toe-to-heel stack height, but I did a Looney Toons “aaawhhhaaaaatttt??” style double-take when I first saw those numbers. The Nordlite Tempo runs like a shoe with a much lower stack. It feels stable and quick, and I weirdly felt close to the ground. It’s interesting to run in a shoe that feels like a low stack, short mileage fast day trainer, but that can comfortably be taken to half-marathon distances and beyond.

This HyperGrip outsole puts Craft’s Vittoria collaboration to good use, resulting in a durable sole with plenty of grip in all conditions. Here in Baltimore, there’s a specific bridge on the Johns Hopkins campus coated in a textured grey paint that can be downright treacherous in wet weather with the wrong outsole (if you know, you really know). I use this as my wet-weather baseline, and the HyperGrip outsole on the Nordlite Tempo passed without a wobble.

MATT: The first thing that stood out to me with the Nordlite Tempo was the beautifully constructed upper. If there was a component of Craft’s designs on some previous models that held them back from the top tier, it was their upper. Things were moving in the right direction with the Pacer and Xplor Hybrid as improvements over the original Nordlite Ultra, but they still lacked when compared to the midsole and outsole technology they brought to the table.

The AeroMesh design on the Nordlite Tempo is top-notch, blending a super-light and breathable design with a secure and comfortable lockdown. I had no issues with the tongue and lacing system; in fact, I really liked how the minimally designed tongue provided just the right amount of material to shield my foot from the laces without moving around or feeling bulky.

As both Melissa and Sam highlighted already, the other star of the show is the Cr Foam Pro midsole. I typically lean more towards soft and bouncy, but the midsole feel of the Nordlite Tempo actually felt just right for the purpose of the shoe. It was cushioned enough to feel good underfoot but stiff enough to provide that spring in the toe off you want when pushing faster paces. I think Craft nailed it here, especially considering they opted against a plate in this design, having that right level of rigidity in the midsole is super important.

I also agree with Sam that I was shocked to learn the heel stack was 40mm. It looks much less to the eye and feels less underfoot, and I mean that in a good way. The Nordlite Tempo retains the cushion benefits of the high stack while feeling the quick and snappy turnover of a more minimal shoe.

What we don’t like about the Craft Nordlite Tempo

MELISSA: Honestly, there’s not much to complain about — I really enjoyed the Nordlite Tempo. That said, getting it on was a bit of a struggle, thanks to the flimsy heel collar. A pull tab or loop would go a long way in making this effort smoother. The lacing was also a bit quirky — the laces tend to lock into the eyelets, which is great once you’re running (no mid-run loosening here), but makes adjusting, putting them on, or taking them off all kinds of annoying.

I also found the sizing to run a bit small. I stuck with my usual size, but had to swap in thinner socks to get the right fit (if still a bit snug). While the ride was responsive and enjoyable, I didn’t quite feel the same performance boost I get from plated race-day shoes. Nordlite Tempo is also a touch heavier than some of its direct competitors, which might matter to runners seeking marginal gains on race day.

SAM: Melissa is right. The upper is a little stiff and tight, and the fit edges towards narrow. I didn’t have any issues with getting the shoe on and off or with discomfort, but this probably isn’t the shoe for people with high-volume feet.

The foam in the forefoot is just a little too firm for what I prefer over long efforts. I don’t think this is a true knock against the shoe because I prefer a durometer like this for my daily trainers and definitely for my fast-day shoes. This just isn’t comfortable enough for efforts over 15 or so miles.

Honestly, I felt like pulling a Jeff Dengate and cutting this shoe in two to get a real stack measurement. Are we to believe this REALLY has 40mm of foam in the heel?

I really like the look and construction of the upper — really, I do — but it looks a bit like a bowling shoe, so this could be a negative, depending on how you feel about bowling shoes.

MATT: I had zero fit issues, but I do feel obligated to mention that this shoe is not going to be flying off shelves in The Shire. Apologies to our wide-footed friends, but the upper’s construction is definitely on the narrow side.

This is going to sound really odd based on the experiences of my fellow reviewers, but the only major gripe I had was performance in the rain. I am starting to wonder if this was a fever dream, but I was having some major slippage issues when cornering on a really wet run. I put the Nordlite Tempo to the test during several spring showers, and it felt consistently slick on some of the harbor’s more ambitious surfaces.

The outsole didn’t seem to give Melissa or Sam any issues in the rain, so maybe I’m the outlier, and we can blame my running style or the roads where I live, but I had a few sketchy moments.

Final thoughts on the Craft Nordlite Tempo

MELISSA: The Craft Nordlite Tempo is a solid performance trainer that shines in tempo efforts, speed workouts, and even longer runs, thanks to its comfortable upper, responsive Cr Foam Pro midsole, and grippy outsole. It delivers a smooth, stable ride with just enough bounce to keep it fun. The fit runs slightly snug — I made it work with my usual size by switching to thinner socks, but those in between sizes or with wider feet may want to consider going up a half size. That said, while it’s certainly race and workout-capable, I didn’t quite feel the extra oomph I’ve come to expect from more aggressive, plated race-day shoes. Still, for runners looking for a durable, versatile, and well-priced option for fast training days, or a dependable racer without a plate, this shoe is a strong contender.

SAM: And it’s gone!

Craft packed some of the best technology into a lightweight speed work shoe, and the combination paid off top to bottom. The upper is breathable, durable, and attractive, the foam is peppy and fast, and the grip lives up to its name. The Craft Nordlite Tempo is an excellent choice for tempo and speed days or a plateless, less aggressive race day shoe for 15-18 miles and under.

MATT: I am ready to file the Craft Nodlite Tempo under the winners category. I think it’s the best upper Craft has delivered to date. When paired with a responsive midsole ride and a very reasonable price tag for a shoe capable of base training miles and workouts, you have a really solid shoe.

I’d love for my negative experience in wet conditions to be an outlier, as aside from that issue, I think I really didn’t have much negative feedback.

You can pick up the Craft Nordlite Tempo for $170 from Craft by using the buttons below.