Craft Nordlite Ultra 2.0 Review: A Little Upper Goes A Long Way

Introduction to the Craft Nordlite Ultra 2.0

ALLISON: I was first introduced to Craft through some of the incredible athletes they’ve signed. Names like Tommy Rivs, EmKay Sullivan, and Arlen Glick definitely caught my eye. Seeing a brand invest in real talent and versatile runners made me want to check out what they’re building.

Lately, I’ve been looking for more road-to-trail options — shoes that can handle a bit of both worlds. I don’t always have easy access to mountain trails, but I still want something that lets me veer off pavement when I can. That’s why I think hybrid shoes should be a bigger part of the conversation, especially for those of us balancing urban life with a trail-running mindset.

Enter the Craft Nordlite Ultra 2.0, let’s talk about why this one might just be the sweet spot.

MATT: Over the past couple of years, I have had the pleasure of testing a majority of Craft’s line-up, and I have witnessed firsthand the positive growth the brand has made in terms of design and performance across its running shoe stable. Most recently, I’ve reviewed the Nordlite Tempo and Craft’s newest carbon-plated racer, the Kype Pro. Those reviews should be published very soon, but I will tell you that I had a lot of very good remarks for both.

The Nordlite Ultra’s first version was a bit of a mixed bag for me last year when it was released. I really liked the overall design, and at that point in time, the idea of a gravel/hybrid shoe was still relatively new, so I really appreciated Craft’s vision for embracing that segment of running. The original version fell a bit short for me, primarily due to an upper that felt a bit baggy and sloppy.

There was way more good than bad in that first edition, and I was really happy to see where Craft decided to make changes in the 2.0, as the Nordlite Ultra model really has a lot of potential.

JON: Craft has had my attention for some time, thanks in part to the design and quality of their gear, especially for the colder months. Some of my favorite winter running and cycling outerwear comes from the Scandinavian powerhouse. This was my first foray into their newer shoe lineups with the Nordlite Ultra 2.0.

The idea of a hybrid shoe is becoming more popular these days. People want something that can get you out the door to run to the nearby trailhead, run some miles, and then back home without feeling like you are under- or overprepared on either surface. I was excited to see if my high regard for Craft transcended into their footwear.

What we like about the Craft Nordlite Ultra 2.0

ALLISON: What I really liked about the Craft Nordlite Ultra 2.0 is how it strikes a solid balance between lightweight performance and everyday durability. From the first run, I noticed how light the shoe felt underfoot, which made it easier to pick up the pace without feeling weighed down. Despite that lightness, it didn’t feel flimsy or delicate; there’s a real sense of structure and support that held up well across multiple runs.

One of my favorite features is the breathable mesh in the toe box. During warmer weather, especially in the summer heat, it makes a noticeable difference. My feet stayed much cooler and more comfortable than in some other road shoes I’ve worn, which tend to trap heat. The fit through the upper felt snug but not restrictive, and the ventilation really helped with moisture control.

On the roads and on smooth, non-technical trails, the Nordlite Ultra 2.0 felt smooth, stable, and reliable, making it a great hybrid option for runners like me who split their time between surfaces. Craft is clearly trying to meet the needs of runners who want flexibility without compromising on performance, and this shoe delivers on that front.

MATT: Let’s jump right to the feature I was most curious about with the re-tooling of the Nordlite Ultra 2.0: the upper. I could tell from the unboxing that Craft had overhauled the upper; now I just needed some miles to see if the change was for the better. Spoiler alert, it most definitely was.

This upper features a breathable mesh that, as Allison called out above, really shines on hot Summer runs. The upper no longer feels baggy like in the previous version; there is a really nice balance of secure/stable fit as well as comfort throughout the foot. This fit may be a bit tight for some runners with wider feet, but it felt great for me, especially when running windy and hilly trails where that extra lock-in was appreciated.

The Nordlite Ultra 2.0 backs up its Hybrid classification quite well. The outsole rubber and lugs are just enough to give that extra traction when going off-road, but the shoe is not so aggressive or heavy that it feels out of place when running on the pavement. In my opinion, the Nordlite Ultra 2.0 is best suited for runs on rail trails, recreation paths, packed dirt, or fire roads.

It may be a very specific use case, but we have a rail trail local here in Maryland. The NCR trail is mostly crushed gravel and packed dirt, and when it rains, it can get pretty sloppy and slick in spots. This is sometimes a bit hard to navigate in true road shoes, but wearing trail shoes would be overkill. The Nodlite Ultra 2.0 seems designed exactly for these conditions, so if you have a similar running location in your area, keep that in mind.

JON: The upper is comfortable and resilient, with a bright and bold fiery colorway. It wrapped around my foot nicely and felt quite light. It breathed great, which is a huge plus for a sweaty person who lives on the East Coast.

The Nordlite Ultra 2.0 has a snug fit, but not uncomfortably so. Personally, I didn’t have any issues with it, but I can see it getting annoying if you need more toe box room, as there isn’t a whole lot of real estate. I would go half a size up if you want something roomier. The lacing gives a great locked-down fit with no heel lift issues or hot spots. My only complaint is that the laces are a little too plush and came undone when I was trail running. I had to pay special attention to them when I took it off-road.

The Cr Foam midsole and aggressive tread pattern (for the road) give a firm and stable ride. It’s meant for long slogs on rail trails and dirt paths. Like Matt pointed out, this is perfect for the NCR rail trail, with the C&O canal towpath also being an honorable mention.

What we don’t like about the Craft Nordlite Ultra 2.0

ALLISON: After a few runs in the Craft Nordlite Ultra 2.0, I really appreciated the concept behind the shoe — a lightweight, road-to-trail hybrid that’s built for versatility, which is ideal for runners like me who don’t always have easy access to technical trails. That said, there were a few things that didn’t quite work for me.

I had to size up because my toes were hitting the sides a bit, and I found myself wishing for just a little more cushioning in the midsole, especially on longer road stretches. While performance-wise it holds up, I also wasn’t fully sold on the colorway and would love to see Craft get a bit more creative or refined in the design department. Overall, the potential is definitely there, and I’m excited to see how Craft continues to evolve in the hybrid space.

MATT: I didn’t have any sizing issues like Allison, but the main drawback for me was that the ride underfoot was just too harsh for my legs when running any road segments. The Nordlite Ultra 2.0 felt stable, secure, and pretty comfortable when running on groomed trails, but the transition to roads felt stiff. In addition to the firm ride, the turnover on roads felt heavier than I would have expected, as the shoe is not that heavy on the scale, but the combination of firm midsole and the extra outsole material just didn’t feel great on the pavement.

I honestly have found a similar issue across the genre of Gravel/Hybrid shoes in general, so I’m not singling out Craft here. My perspective is that in a brand’s attempts to design a shoe that can do everything well, the reality is a shoe that does everything okay but doesn’t do anything great.

This wouldn’t have been as obvious years ago, I don’t think, but with the advances in technology and materials over the past few years, runners are being exposed to specialized shoes that are designed to do one thing exceptionally well, whether those are carbon-plated racers, super-foam-equipped trainers, or high-end trail models. This puts some undue scrutiny on Swiss-army knife models like the Nordlite Ultra 2.0.

JON: I will echo Matt’s sentiment that a gravel shoe is going to perform just okay on the far ends of the surface Venn diagram. Rooty and rocky trails? I had to really be careful not to slip or roll an ankle because of how stiff it felt. Roads? You’re going to trip over yourself because of the extra tread. Rail trail or packed dirt? Now we’re talking. The stability and firm ride helped me lock into a pace, stay in control, and keep me from slipping. Anything else, it felt either like overkill or I was underprepared. I did a few runs where I intentionally did road and trail, and it just felt sloppy to me.

My biggest complaint is how loud it is when wet. My home trail, Patapsco Valley State Park, is well, in a valley along the Patapsco River. This means lots of stream crossings where I’m going to regularly be submerged up to my ankles or higher. When the shoe gets wet, it makes squeaking noises for a good 10-15 minutes after. Incredibly annoying to have to hear this, but probably good for people I was coming up behind. I guess not having to say “Coming up behind you,” nonstop on a busy day was nice.

Final thoughts on the Craft Nordlite Ultra 2.0

ALLISON: If you want the best of both worlds, look no further than the Craft Nordlite Ultra 2.0. However, make sure you size up appropriately.

MATT: Craft has definitely made improvements in its second version of the Nordlite Ultra, so the arrow is trending upward. If your main focus is racking up training miles and you want to be able to lace up a single pair of shoes, head out the door and figure out the route from there, the Nordlite Ultra 2.0 will give you the freedom to run the roads, hit some trails, and log some miles on the local rail trail.

I think this kind of versatility is valuable, but I would caution that if you also want to mix in some hard road running, then you may want to lace up another pair of shoes on that particular day.

JON: I enjoyed my first experience with Craft’s growing lineup of footwear. Their attention to detail definitely shone. Once I found the surface that this was meant for, I enjoyed it. If you regularly run on rail trails or packed dirt, the Nordlite Ultra 2 is a great choice. It offers a pleasant package for locking into a comfortable pace to clock miles away.

You can pick up the Craft Nordlite Ultra 2.0 for $180 from Craft Sportswear by using the buttons below.