Craft Nord Light Ultra Review: A Supercritical Foam Hybrid for Mixed-Surface Running

Introduction

Craft apparel has long been a favourite for winter running, but its shoes have often felt a touch firm for many runners. That changes with the Nord Light Ultra, a shoe built on a brand-new supercritical EVA foam that Craft has not used before. It promises ultra-light, ultra-high-rebound cushioning through a non-toxic process with no chemicals added to the raw materials, and it brings Craft into a segment where supercritical foams have already produced some of the most enjoyable trainers of recent years.

Who This Shoe Is For

The Nord Light Ultra is best used as a daily trainer for runners who prefer variety in their surfaces. It is genuinely nice for easy running and moderate workouts, and it could plausibly serve as an ultra racing shoe. Craft describes many of its shoes as gravel bikes for running: a bit of road, a bit of off-road, all intended for long endurance activity. This shoe fits that philosophy closely, and it is most at home on soft, road-like surfaces such as well-groomed paths, crushed limestone, and grassy ground.

Main Strengths

The midsole is the headline. You get 40 mm of stack height in the heel with a 6 mm drop, so 34 mm in the forefoot, and the slab is not plain: a contour cut-out in the underside of the midsole gives the foam room to travel and compress underfoot. The feel is not overly squishy; it leans toward the firmer, higher-rebound, bouncy side of supercritical foam, rewarding a bit more force with more energy back. If you have run Puma’s Nitro shoes or Brooks’ DNA Flash, you will have a good idea of the character here.

Step-in comfort is excellent thanks to a thick, soft OrthoLite insole that Craft says offers high rebound for energy return against the foot. The upper is a mono mesh that is light, breathable, and nearly structure-free, with a minimally padded tongue and heel. Fit is true to size and notably roomier than many shoes in this category, which makes it pleasant for all-day wear.

The outsole uses rubber with beefier lugs than most road shoes, supporting the mixed-surface intent. At 10.2 oz (290 g), it sits a little heavy on the road side but right in the sweet spot for a trail-leaning hybrid.

Things to Consider Before Buying

On more technical or sloppy trails, the shoe’s gravel-bike-style limits start to show. For challenging trails, most runners would want something with more substance. The light, unstructured upper also feels slightly disconnected when the foot hits extremes of terrain or angle, though on stable, predictable surfaces that lightness makes for excellent summer running.

It is a genuinely fun workout shoe for strides and fartlek efforts. But for extended fast paces, such as 5K pace or VO2 max work, the weight and heft begin to matter, and faster specialist shoes remain the better pick.

Buying Advice

The Nord Light Ultra retails at $160 in the US. That is a crowded price point for 2023, but it looks competitive against rivals. The Puma ForeverRun Nitro, another tall-stack Nitro foam shoe with an extra soft insert, is softer and more relaxed and costs $150. The Brooks Hyperion Max shares a similar foam feel, with a slightly thicker outsole that handles softer surfaces, though not as capably, and it runs $170.

If you are building a rotation around it, Craft’s CTM Ultra Carbon 2 makes natural sense for racing on mixed surfaces: more aggressive everything, a firmer non-supercritical foam, and a strong rocker up front. On pure road racing, the UltraVanish Carbon pairs well too, with a similar generous toe box, supercritical foam, and a teardrop-shaped carbon plate for snappier pace work.

Conclusion

The Nord Light Ultra is a comfortable, versatile daily trainer that finally gives Craft’s supercritical foam ambitions a showcase. It shines on soft, predictable surfaces, handles easy road and light trail with equal ease, and rewards moderate workouts with a lively, high-rebound ride. Runners seeking a single shoe for mixed-surface mileage will find a lot to like, provided they accept its limits on technical ground and at true racing pace.