Craft Running Shoes 2022: Five Models From Carbon Racers to Trail Beasts

Introduction

Craft’s running range has quietly reached the point where it covers nearly every kind of runner: road racers, daily trainers, ultra-distance specialists, and technical trail runners. The lineup now spans price points from around 150 to about 270, with carbon-plated and non-plated options on both road and trail.

We walked through the key models in the collection, and five stand out for different reasons. Here is how they break down.

Craft CTM Ultra Carbon 2

The CTM Ultra Carbon 2 is Craft’s carbon-plated super shoe, and its defining trait is durability. The UD foam, a blended high-rebound compound, has been tested over 500 miles while still kicking out the same responsiveness, which Craft considers best in class. The trade-off for that durability has historically been weight, so this version trims it down with a more lightweight, breathable, sock-like upper.

Comfort updates include a softer heel area after feedback about irritation at the top of the heel, with much of the TPU removed. The foam has also been re-tuned for a snappier feel while keeping the durability. The Ultra Carbon plate splits at the toe, which makes the shoe comfortable out of the box at a wide range of paces, from six-minute to twelve-minute miles, and it handles varying angles and surfaces well, giving it something of a trail-road crossover character. The SS22 editions arrive in bold all-over color camo graphics, an evolution of the original dazzle-camo design. It is priced at $250, the same as before.

Craft CTM Ultra

The CTM Ultra is the non-carbon-plated version of the Ultra series, and it has become a favorite for ultra-distance racing. Ultra runner David Laney has worn it for ultra-distance races, including a third-place finish at Ultra Boston in Sweden, which says a lot about its durability over long hauls.

It is a genuinely versatile crossover shoe that works well both on road and off-road, with the same UD foam you can clearly feel under the foot. This season’s Lumen variation adds 360 degrees of reflectivity and matches up nicely with Craft’s reflective apparel collection. It also receives all the updates introduced on the Carbon 2, including the lighter upper and the improved heel comfort.

Craft Pro Endure Distance

The Pro Endure Distance is Craft’s new pure road running shoe, and it introduces PX foam, a specially developed TPE elastomer. The feel sits in the same family as other super-foam trainers, and Craft believes it is a little snappier, with strong lab results backing that up. Standing in them all day gives an almost electric feeling under the foot.

It is a lightweight, minimal shoe at about 225 grams in a men’s US size nine, with a one-piece engineered upper and a 3D-printed structure element. Rubber outsole coverage is as broad as the team could manage while keeping the weight down. Unlike the Ultra series, there are no traction elements, so this is strictly a road shoe.

Notably, Craft delayed this shoe from its original SS22 slot because early results were not where they wanted them, going back to the lab to re-tune the foam. That attention to detail fits the brand’s high-quality positioning. It is expected to drop in Q2 at around 140 to 150 euros, making it the most accessible shoe in the range.

Craft CTM Ultra Carbon Trail

The CTM Ultra Carbon Trail brings the Ultra Carbon plate to technical terrain, and it is the most aggressive-looking shoe in the lineup. The full carbon fiber plate is what makes it work on trails: it delivers the same snap as on the road but activates very well at angles, which is exactly what technical running demands.

Inside, there is an Ultra Rebound insole, a PU-EVA mix where the EVA layer lets the PU compress and deliver a snappy feel on top, sitting above the durable UD foam midsole. The upper is a special nylon blend that feels soft but holds up with real durability and washability, with structural support overlays.

The outsole is the headline. Developed with a team in Italy, it uses Vibram Megagrip rubber with six-millimeter lugs that resist mud packing. In the production version, the lugs are slightly offset to improve traction in loose gravel. Craft describes the result simply as a beast, though the added structure pushes the weight above 300 grams in a men’s size, so this is a technical tool rather than a lightweight racer. Season two arrives with four colorways, priced around $260, the most expensive shoe in the range because it simply has more in it than anything else Craft makes.

Craft CTM Ultra Trail

The CTM Ultra Trail drops the carbon plate but keeps the UD foam and adds its own trail-specific kit. The outsole uses an unnamed, specially designed high-carbon-content compound developed in-house. The idea is to solve the classic traction dilemma: softer rubber grips better but wears faster, and this compound aims for a sweet spot of wet-surface traction with long-haul durability. Craft plans to name and trademark the compound once it is fully tuned in future seasons.

Protection is well covered. An ESS rock plate sits in the midfoot zone to shield against difficult terrain and adds a touch of rigidity to the otherwise plate-free build. The upper uses a TPU yarn mesh that feels soft but is very strong, with a toe bumper, a structured heel counter, and additional heel stiffening for stability.

Stack height plays a role too: about 35 millimeters inside the shoe, but the tall foam walls compress roughly 55 millimeters into the midsole at the edges on uneven ground, which creates a planted, stable feel. It launches in autumn/winter 2022 at the same price as the Carbon Trail, around $270.

Buying Advice

With this collection, Craft has reached a genuine critical mass: carbon-plated road and trail racers, a versatile non-plated ultra trainer, a budget-friendly road shoe, and a plated-free trail option. If you race on the road and want a durable super shoe, the CTM Ultra Carbon 2 is the flagship. Ultra-distance and mixed-surface runners get proven versatility in the CTM Ultra. Road runners on a budget should watch for the Pro Endure Distance in Q2. Technical trail runners with a bigger budget get the aggressive CTM Ultra Carbon Trail, and anyone wanting a rugged, protective trail shoe without a plate is well served by the CTM Ultra Trail.

Conclusion

Craft’s running range now covers nearly every discipline with a consistent identity: durable foams, thoughtful uppers, and no shortcuts on quality. Whether you are chasing race-day speed or grinding out long mountain miles, there is a model here that fits the job.