Craft Pure Trail X Review: Entering a Brave New Wilderness

What You Need To Know

Introduction to the Craft Pure Trail X

TAYLOR: Let’s give credit where it’s due. I honestly thought that Craft was going to be satisfied with its couple of solid hits and ride that donkey ‘til it died. That, or it was going to narrow in on a singular category and become the gravel king. Neither of those scenarios is proving to be true.

From an onlooker’s perspective, it’s full bore into round three from the Scandinavian brand Craft. Craft has shown continued commitment over the past couple of years, winning us over in the door-to-trail category with the Craft Xplor Hybrid and impressing us with the inaugural edition of the Pure Trail line in 2023.

This year, the Craft Pure Trail X is ready to up the ante by losing weight and focusing on fit while keeping the silhouette and ingredients basically the same. It seems as if these changes are exactly what our reviewers would have hoped for. It now enters a category that has some really notable annual players like the Merrell Agility Peak 5, Topo Athletic MTN Racer 3, Hoka Speedgoat 6, and Salomon Genesis. After perusing their thoughts on the Pure Trail and getting miles in the Pure Trail X, I’ll admit I’m a little surprised.

REESE: The name Pure Trail calls to mind only one thing for me. Unfortunately, it has nothing to do with shoes and everything to do with music. It takes me back to 1999, driving around in a hunter-green, four-door Honda Civic with manual windows. A “Pure Moods” CD is in the player. Enya’s voice carries across the sound waves. I wear a cow print bucket hat and an Arabian horse t-shirt unironically. The. Vibes. Are. Palpable.

“Imagine a world where time drifts slowly. A world where music carries you away.” That’s the tone or vibe I expected from the Craft Pure Trail X. Something that would carry me away but leave me feeling connected and grounded, just like the music on the CD. And it did not disappoint.

MATT: The sentiments above from my fellow Dirt Division reviewer fall pretty in line with my views on Craft and the Pure Trail (I’m referring to Taylor). While I can appreciate the vibe that Reese described above, the only things you could hear coming from my car in 1999, a Hyundai Tiburon, were Fast and Furious-worthy modified exhaust and rumbling bass.

Anyway, I’ve made my affection for the Craft brand known of late, as I love what it’s doing with its shoe line, and I have always appreciated the quality of its apparel. I have logged hundreds of miles this year in the Xplor Hybrid and the Pacer, and I actually really liked the first edition of the Pure Trail last year. Sure, I knocked the fit of the original upper, but out of the box, I could see how drastically the Pure Trail X upper had been redesigned. All that was left was to lace it up.

What we like about the Craft Pure Trail X

TAYLOR: Stepping into the Craft Pure Trail X, I quickly had to change my perception of the overall fit. You see, I put a crap ton of miles on the Xplor Hybrid and reviewed the CTM Ultra Carbon 2, and I am used to a light, loose-fitting upper. That was, delightfully, not the case with the Craft Pure Trail X.

This TPU/Ripstop upper doesn’t really have anything that stood out in terms of sensation, but it does have a locked-in fit. It’s on the lighter end and has a very tenacious upper that hugs the foot closely. Overall, I would categorize it as a slimmer fit with a slightly wider toe box. Combined with the heel construction, which is generously padded with the elf-ear tab and is structurally sound, the Pure Trail X surprised me with its ability to romp on a variety of terrain… Like, really surprised me.

Because the heel and midfoot were so secure — and comfortable at that — I felt comfortable simply going for it in just about any scenario. This is a rare kind of fit that we trail folk live for. It’s a similar recipe to the Hoka Speedgoat 6, and it set the stage to access more terrain than I expected.

The underfoot experience proved quite versatile as well. I have to qualify that by saying it’s not exactly as described by Craft (far from it, actually — more on that later). The 36/30mm stack of Cr supercritical foam and rock plate combo was quite firm, honestly. That’s not entirely bad because of the solid levels of protection it gives, thanks to midsole shaping. It creates a unique and aggressive toe spring that lends to a consistent and smooth ride across most terrain. It made transitioning from gravel to singletrack and singletrack technical features really simple and enjoyable. The foam density also allowed for decent stability, but not in an overly controlling or blocky way.

Craft’s full rubber outsole with multidirectional 4 mm lugs finished off the multifaceted package well. These days, pretty much every brand can produce a B+ / A outsole compound, and this one falls right into that category in terms of well-rounded grip and surprisingly good durability.

The Craft Pure Trail X really shined for me on moderately technical, rolling, and soft-ground terrain. My typical playground is alpine, and this shoe performed well in that arena; however, I was able to test the Craft Pure Trail X in the fertile, soft ground of the Minnesota River Valley, too. Here, I was able to shed the thoughts of firmness underfoot and simply run comfortably because of the softer ground underfoot.

REESE: As above, think back many moons ago. Maybe just a decade or so. Remember when barefoot running was taking off? Five-finger shoes. Luna Sandals. The iconic MT110, MT100, and MT101. If you wanted to love the New Balance MT110 because it allowed you to feel the trail and feel truly connected to it but realized you didn’t want to be hurt 99% of the time, this shoe might be for you. It’s simple yet refined. No frills — everything you need, nothing you don’t. It has actual cushioning and a rock plate that protects you slightly from the trail but not so much plushness that you don’t know you’re on a trail.

While it’s not technically a feature, I actually like that it’s just a straightforward trail shoe. There is no wild, crazy lace system or lace garage, no carbon plate, no fancy outer space like foam — just a trail shoe. To that end, it’s not boring, and it does indeed have redeeming qualities.

The outsole is pretty substantial and grippy. Craft says this shoe is for all trails, but I see it excelling on more technical terrain — slippery, rocky, scrambly. It might be overkill for groomers. Another reason why I think it’s best suited for techy trails is that the shoe is stiff as hell. And I don’t mean that in a bad way — quite the opposite. The rigidity provides excellent control and stability, both of which this shoe absolutely delivers.

My foot felt like it sat deep in the shoe, keeping my heel secure and giving me a solid connection — though not quite to the same degree as something like the Five Fingers or the MT101. I’ll dive into the fit more in the next section, but I wanted to note that I wear Spenco lightweight inserts in my shoes, which can sometimes create issues with heel rise since they lift my heel higher than the standard insole. Thankfully, that wasn’t an issue here.

The midfoot fit was also excellent — super secure without being restrictive. The laces locked my foot in nicely without causing any hot spots, which is always a win.

MATT: As I mentioned above, the upper in the original Pure Trail was its weak link, fitting a bit saggy and not offering much protection from the elements. Just like Taylor, I could tell instantly from step-in that Craft had made some major improvements with the upper. I was able to get a tight and secure heel lock, and the materials were now reinforced to provide that extra protection.

I loved how stable and secure I felt underfoot, and as Taylor and Reese commented, the Pure Trail X really seemed to shine the most as I was ripping through some windy, wet single track. The locked-in upper, combined with the stiffness of the midsole and the tackiness of the full rubber outsole, provided one of the most stable and in-tune ground rides I have experienced lately.

While it doesn’t directly impact performance, I have to give a hat tip to the design team at Craft because I think they are putting out some awesome colorways across all their models. The colorway I received in the Pure Trail X was called Creme-Cliff, and it was the perfect combination of muted Autumnal colors to have on your feet while running in the woods and all the leaves changing colors.

What we don’t like about the Craft Pure Trail X

TAYLOR: I feel pretty strongly about weighing my experience in a shoe alongside what the company lays out for the consumer. Craft described their supercritical Cr foam as, and I quote, “Cr Foam is an ultra-lightweight and sustainable midsole foam with excellent energy return that offers a pillow-soft ride and feel in a variety of terrains.” To which I reply, compared to what!?

There’s no way I can bend the truth to say that this foam is cushioned or lively on its own. It’s stiff and protective. As mentioned above, it’s the overall shape that saves the ride — that’s only if you’re okay with a firmer underfoot feel (I am, personally). This is especially felt in the heavier heel. I hoped that more miles would result in a more supple ride. It just never happened.

You also get a similar stiffness through parts of the ankle collar. It rides a little higher than most, which aids in stability, but the height is what allows it to rub on the anterior side just below the malleolus. This was more annoying initially and dissipated as I put more miles in the shoe, but it’s something to note.

Although it didn’t necessarily feel heavy on the run, my US M10.5 was 12.3 ounces! It’s not a make-or-break in this case because of how smoothly it runs, but it might feel pretty heavy for some.

Also, consider sizing up at least a half size. My US M10.5 was close to the edge of my comfort zone. The uniquely shaped forefoot made the Craft Pure Trail X feel stubby. It was fine for a couple of hours of running. If you want a little extra room for longer runs/ultras or to save your sweet little piggies on aggressive downhills, I would size up.

REESE: I think Taylor and I had a similar experience with this shoe and concluded similar things about what could be better. While I liked how my heel felt secure and nestled, the toe box felt oddly tight. My big toe was poking up from the top, and I did feel like my feet were scrunched just a bit too much. I agree with Taylor that perhaps just size up a half size from your normal size, and that could solve the problem.

While I appreciated the shoe’s stiffness for the added stability, it did feel noticeably rigid. Despite its pillow cushioning claims, the Cr foam did not feel very pillowy. I was hoping for a little more responsiveness from the foam, but it just wasn’t there. Unfortunately, the rock plate didn’t provide as much protection as I was hoping for, either. If you love feeling ultra-connected to the trail, this might be right up your alley. I could certainly feel all the little rocks beneath my feet. They weren’t hurting or jabbing my feet, but I did notice the terrain I was running on.

I’m not sure this would be my go-to for a two-hour run. It lacks the compliance and give I typically prefer for longer trail days, making it feel a bit too firm for extended outings.

MATT: Our team isn’t always in agreement when reviewing a shoe, but in this case, we all seemed to share the same thoughts about the stiff, firm durometer of the midsole foam. The firm ride is not a bad thing within itself, as it plays a vital part in providing that locked-in ground feel and the confidence to push the pace in technical and sloppy conditions.

I was a bit disappointed in the firm ride because, based on the description, I had expectations that the foam would be softer and fit into more of the all-day comfort style. I did not find the first version of the Pure Trail to be as firm as the Pure Trail X, so that was my other letdown. Craft seemed to be making strides in addressing the upper but, along the way, may have taken a step backward with the midsole foam.

Final thoughts on the Craft Pure Trail X

TAYLOR: Selfishly, I’m glad to have finally experienced what the Craft Pure Trail line is all about. Based on Craft’s description, I think they missed their target. Think of the “overall score” as a gymnastics comp. You don’t always have to nail the sought-after maneuver to gain points. Craft nailed some of its goals but came up short on others. At the end of the day, it has a really solid all-around offering in its latest model, and it’s worth making some noise about.

The overall ride felt unique and smooth, even though the foam didn’t help much. That said, a very secure fit aided in the Craft Pure Trail X’s versatility. Sure, there were minor discomforts within the package that were eventually sorted out, but the upper feature is what really helps this shoe find space in such a highly competitive category.

I was able to put a variety of miles in this shoe quite comfortably and with confidence. Honestly, as long as you’re okay with a firmer ride, this could be one of the few quite proficient all-mountain shoes on the market.

REESE: I’m impressed with the direction Craft is heading. The last Craft shoe I tested was the road-to-trail Xplor, so the Pure Trail X feels like a complete pivot — and a bold one at that. It’s exciting to see Craft diving into different subdisciplines of trail running and putting serious thought and intention into each design.

For me, the outsole is the standout feature of this shoe. It’s beefy, grippy, and ready to tackle technical terrain. True to its name, the Pure Trail X delivers a raw, connected feel to the trail. The combination of Cr Foam, the shoe’s stiffness, and the rugged outsole creates a super stable yet deliberately unfiltered trail running experience. While there are a lot of great aspects to the Pure Trail X, as I said earlier, I won’t be reaching for it for big runs. A short technical run or hike? Absolutely the right choice.

This shoe feels like it could be that shoe where you go for a hike and, mid-hike, realize that you really don’t like hiking all that much and you’d rather run. Then you glance down, see you’re rocking the Pure Trail X, and take off down the trail, leaving your friends, family, and loved ones to stroll back to the car at their own pace. You start to wonder if your mom still has your cow print bucket hat somewhere. Suddenly, Enya starts playing in your head, and in that moment, you know everything is going to be just fine.

MATT: I think overall, the Craft Pure X is the latest example that it is legit and here to compete against the big dogs. It is a really solid all-around trail runner that will keep you upright in some of the gnarliest terrain. If you prefer a firm ride or you wouldn’t plan to run more than 2 hours or so, then you really might not have a single issue with the shoe, and that’s saying a lot.

The upper improvements are really nice, the outsole is super grippy, and they will look great on your feet. I hope that Craft will continue to retool the Pure Trail model, as it feels like between version 1 and the Pure Trail X, they have the components to mix and match and provide a top-caliber shoe.

You can pick up the Craft Pure Trail X for $169 from Craft Sportswear by using the buttons below.