Craft Xplor Pro Review: Free to Explore and Much, Much More

Introduction to the Craft Xplor Pro

RENEE: The Craft Xplor Pro is my fifth Craft shoe, although it’s the first Craft shoe I’ve reviewed with a decent upper. After reading the review of the Xplor 2, I was pleased to hear that Craft has improved the uppers for its 2025 shoe releases. Needless to say, I had high expectations for the Xplor Pro.

The word Pro in a shoe’s name can bring its own set of high expectations and excitement. Typically faster and lighter, a Pro shoe can be for anyone. You don’t need to be a pro. There’s not much of a market for shoes that are literally and only meant for pro runners who get the shoes for free anyway. Pro is just a word on a shoe. The Xplor Mid-pack-at-best or Xplor Might-DNF-and-that’s-okay aren’t exactly marketable shoe names, even if they reflect a good amount of running shoe consumers.

JOHN: “I am a public eye, a witness, a critic. When you first see a new picture, you don’t want to miss the boat. You have to be very careful. You might be staring at Van Gogh’s ear.” – Basquiat

My first experience with Craft was an interesting one. I was running a local trail race a few years back before I started doing reviews for Believe In The Run, and I saw a buddy of mine in a wild zebra-looking shoe. This is going to sound wild, but I didn’t care what brand it was or how much it was; I was going to get it. So, I looked up what shoe it was, and I was shocked to find that it was the Craft CTM. I knew of Craft clothing, but I didn’t know they made shoes!

The Craft CTM was expensive, I believe over $200, and I didn’t even use a discount. I never do this, but I wanted a pair so badly. It arrived in the mail, and I was instantly drawn to the look and design. I started wearing it on runs, but I couldn’t figure out what to do with the shoe. It felt weird on the road, the trail, and pretty much every surface, too. I forced myself to run a few ultras in it, but I really didn’t feel it. As soon as I thought I had used them enough, I ditched them and felt bitter that I spent that much. They just felt clunky. I didn’t even want to use them as a lifestyle shoe; it was too awkward feeling, and even though I loved the look, I was out.

Believe In The Run has given me a special opportunity here to revisit Craft. I used the Xplor Pro on a 9-mile trail run on local trails where I live, as well as on the entire 4-state challenge, which totaled 44.8 miles. I’m very excited to talk about the Xplor Pro, so let’s jump right in.

What we like about the Craft Xplor Pro

RENEE: What’s to like about the Xplor Pro? A lot. The upper, midsole, ride, and outsole combine to create a great package for rolling gravel terrain.

The upper is so much better than the previous four Craft shoes I’ve reviewed, and while it isn’t a fit I’d prefer for technical terrain, it’s perfect for rolling gravel. The heel is padded just enough, and the tongue is thin with padding in the right places to prevent any lace bite. The underfoot ride is buttery smooth with responsiveness. The midsole is a perfect combination of firm enough to be protective for distance runs, with just enough pep to be fast (fast is runner-specific).

The outsole is as specific to gravel terrain as an outsole can be. Craft’s rubber compound is hardy, the coverage is good, and the lugs are positioned to do what the shoe is meant for: rolling over gravel.

JOHN: My US M11.5 fit perfectly and locked down my foot from easy to extremely rugged trails. I love this shoe’s mesh tongue; it’s extremely comfortable, very thin, and the fabric does not cut into the skin or anything. It’s thin and breathable, just a great design. The combination of PX foam and minimal but versatile lugs gives this shoe an amazing feel on the trail.

I feel like I could run a sub-20 5k in this shoe or run a 100-miler. For my initial run in the Xplor Pro, I only did six miles — trying to rest up for the four-state challenge — but I ran three more that day because I loved the feel of the shoe so much. It’s comfortable, just perfect cushioning, responsive, and not too bouncy.

I had an absolute blast running in the shoe on easy to hard terrain, both uphill and downhill — it was a joy. I’ve never run in a trail shoe that felt as good as road shoes do, but this one did it. It’s just a perfectly balanced shoe. The grip of the shoe feels good on multiple surfaces, but not overpowering on the towpath or road you may encounter. I ran on many rocks on the Maryland section of the AT, and Craft delivered. If you have never found the “just right” trail shoe, check this one out.

This shoe is gorgeous; it looks like something made for social media and is extremely photogenic. (I can’t believe I just said a shoe is photogenic, but it’s so true.) On the Appalachian Trail, I got a lot of compliments and questions. The looks are as good as the functionality. I’ve reviewed a lot of shoes at Believe In The Run, worn many while I worked in run specialty, and while running in general, but after 45 years, I finally found my perfect shoe. It just works for me. I’ve never run in anything quite like it.

What we don’t like about the Craft Xplor Pro

RENEE: The Xplor Pro has a lot to like, and only one thing not to like: it’s a heavy shoe.

As a mediocre (at best) runner on trails or hilly gravel, weight matters for me. My husband, who is literally my better two-thirds in terms of weight, doesn’t notice a shoe’s weight as much as I do. While I might notice the weight, I don’t think a stronger, bigger, and faster runner will consider this a massive negative.

The shoe is a great choice for ultra-distance running, but at some point, I would need to consider whether it’s worth the weight. The heel cup is a bit overbuilt, although that’s only an issue when I get sloppy with my form. The shoe’s wide platform is not suitable for nimble running or single-track trails with roots/rocks. I don’t think that’s a negative, as it works great for gravel roads, even when running over clumpy dirt clogs and ruts. There’s no extra eyelet for a runner’s knot, but I had good enough security without it for moderate terrain.

JOHN: I basically don’t want to wear my other trail shoes again; this shoe is that good. I want to burn all my others because I love this shoe so much. That’s my downside here: it’s too perfect — price, style, functionality.

Final thoughts on the Craft Xplor Pro

RENEE: The Xplor Pro’s one negative is the weight, and I don’t think it’s much of an issue for strong runners. The shoe would be a Goldilocks for gravel ultras otherwise. I’m sure most of the weight is from the outsole, and any attempt to reduce weight would mean reducing the outsole coverage. For rolling gravel hills, the underfoot ride is smooth and comfortable.

If some magical formula could reduce weight, I’d be happy. The gravel shoe game is strong, with a plethora of choices between hybrid, road-to-trail, and trail shoes. The Xplor Pro is my top choice for running on hilly gravel roads compared to other hybrid options, and it’d be perfect if it were an ounce (or more) lighter.

JOHN: My instincts were right about the Craft CTM when I saw it on the trail that day. Craft was still new to making shoes at the time, and I’m extremely thankful to be able to use the Xplor Pro, as I probably wouldn’t have purchased another after that first experience. Craft has really stepped up its game since then, and I am blown away.

This is my favorite trail shoe I’ve ever reviewed at Believe in the Run — the first perfect score I’ve ever given. It’s versatile, functional, and fashionable. Rarely do you get all that and the reasonable price of $170. I spent around 12 hours in this shoe and ran 54 miles in it across easy local trails to hard sections on the Appalachian Trail, uphill, downhill, towpath, and some road, with no blisters. I enjoyed every minute of it. I may even wear this shoe for the JFK 50 this year — yes, all of it. It will work great on the varied surfaces, and I won’t have to swap shoes!

You can pick up the Craft Xplor Pro for $170 at Craft Sportswear by using the buttons below.