Craft Nordlite Ultra 2 Review | Versatile Road to Trail Performance

After putting the Craft Nordlite Ultra 2 through runs on roads, light trails, and for everyday wear, this shoe delivers with versatile performance.

If you’re looking for a reliable shoe that transitions between different terrains without bulkiness, the Craft Nordlite Ultra 2 may be worth a shot.

Craft is a Swedish brand making hiking, biking, running and skiing gear with a commitment to sustainability and recently they’ve been pushing hard in to the running space.

We’re excited to see all the changes coming out in their line up this year. The biggest change is a new shoe last which should help to reduce fit issues.

Let’s find out more about this road to trail running shoe and where it fits in your rotation.

The Nordlite Ultra 2 has an aggressive sounding name for a shoe that’s really meant for road to trail running. It’s got both traction and cushion to hit a lot of needs.

Craft Nordlite Ultra 2 Overview

I tested these shoes across multiple surfaces – on roads and compact gravel, as well as a couple jogs on wet, grassy terrain – and they handled everything well.

The Nordlite Ultra 2 fulfills its promise by being somewhere between a daily trainer and a trail shoe, without the excessive lugs or weight that can make dedicated trail shoes feel clunky on pavement.

I am not a trail runner, but have friends who are – I can see myself joining with these more moderate“runs” on trails. I’d feel much more comfortable handling tree roots and uneven terrain in these than my normal road running shoes.

What impressed me most was how the Cr Foam midsole delivers a responsive ride without feeling overly firm or excessively plush. We’re happy to say that Craft made some tweaks, but didn’t overhaul what was already working for this shoe.

I’m someone who enjoys max cushioned shoes, but doesn’t like a “plush” shoe unless I’m on the treadmill. I find that, by balancing these two aspects, the shoe works for both longer efforts where you want decent cushioning and faster runs where responsiveness matters.

The sustainability aspect is also worth highlighting – Craft has incorporated recycled polyester in the upper mesh.

These shoes surprised me. Maybe I have an outdated assumption about trail shoes, but I always assumed them to be the opposite of “sleek” and “aesthetic”. These shoes have a clean, athletic aesthetic that looks good both on runs and with athleisure.

The colorways are distinctive enough to notice but not overly flashy. I particularly appreciate how they don’t look obviously like “trail shoes” despite their grippy outsole.

Craft Nordlite Ultra 2 Fit

Coach Amanda recommended going up a half size in Craft shoes, and I’d say she’s right. I normally wear a US Women’s 7.5, and after testing these shoes in a US Women’s 8, I’d say these for sure run around half size small.

I did find that I needed to break in these shoes more so than other running shoes. It took a few days for the insole to really feel comfortable and a bit more molded underfoot

The toe box has room in my opinion, but I like a narrower toe box. In fact, this is one area where Craft focsed on making changes because it was too loose in the first iteration.

I’d describe it as a standard width, not particularly narrow, but my coworker commented that they didn’t appear nearly as wide as brands like Altra.

The lacing system felt very traditional with standard laces. One minor critique is that the structure of the eyelets, tongue, and the thickness of the upper material can make it slightly challenging to get that perfect locked-down feel on the first try.

The upper material stood out to me- it feels incredibly durable with what seems like water-resistant properties (they don’t market this, but this is compared to my other running shoes) yet is still very breathable through the shoe’s ventilation.

I feel like this makes it well-suited for variable conditions, though the thicker upper may make it a bit too warm for my North Carolina summers.

Lastly, while the upper was memorable, there was not much, if any, padding on the tongue. The tongue is semi-attached inside, with the attachment to the rest of the shoe starting about halfway down the tongue.

This, along with the lack of padding, did lead to some discomfort on the top of my foot when I tried to get the same “locked in” feeling I enjoy.

Craft Nordlite Ultra 2 Feel

The moment you start running in the Nordlite Ultra 2, you notice the traction and the cushioning.

The HyperGrip outsole provides a good grip across surfaces – I tested on wet pavement, light trails, and grass. This is a great feature if you run across a variety of surfaces.

The Cr Foam midsole is cushioned enough for longer efforts but responsive enough to pick up the pace when needed. I wouldn’t pick these for tempo workouts, but I am not doing my tempo workouts on trails. 

Something I immediately noticed is that the Nordlite Ultra 2 doesn’t have the “rocker feeling” I am used to in my other running shoes like the On Cloud monsters. Given that this is a trail and road shoe, that makes sense and is a reasonable sacrifice.

Similar Shoes to the Craft Nordlite Ultra 2

Not sure if the Craft Nordlite Ultra 2 are the right shoes for you? Here are some alternatives to consider:

• On Cloudsurfer Trail – Great road to trail option that’s also more casual looking
• Hoka Challenger – A little plusher, a little wider fit and still great for multiple uses (A go to for us)
• Nike Pegasus Trail – One of the most popular road shoes given a little extra grip for that moderate cushion

The Craft Nordlite Ultra 2 stands out for its versatility. It has a balance of cushioning and responsiveness, with fantastic traction that works across terrains. If you value flexibility and durability in a lightweight shoe, these shoes deserve serious consideration.

Who Tried It?

​​Hi there, I’m Anna! As someone who works  in tech, is pursuing a graduate degree, and is a passionate runner, I’m always looking for opportunities to get my steps in! Lately, my favorite distances have been the half marathon and 10k. When I’m not working or studying, you can find me exploring new routes and chatting away as a founder of a women-focused run club in Raleigh, NC – Raleigh Girls Run (@RaleighGirlsRunning on IG!)

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