Craft 2025 Fall Shoe Guide

Choosing the right running shoe is crucial for comfort, performance, and injury prevention. As the seasons change, it’s an excellent time to evaluate your current footwear and consider an upgrade. Our team of experienced runners has put the latest models to the test to help you find the perfect pair for your autumn miles.

This guide provides a detailed overview of the top running shoes available this fall. We cover the rigorous testing process our team undertook and explain why investing in quality footwear is one of the best decisions you can make for your running journey. You will find clear, structured information to help you select a shoe that aligns with your specific needs.

Why Invest in a Quality Running Shoe This Fall?

A good pair of running shoes is more than just a piece of gear; it's a vital tool that directly impacts your experience on the road or trail. As temperatures cool and conditions change, having the right shoe becomes even more important. Quality footwear provides essential support, cushioning, and stability, which helps reduce the risk of common running-related injuries.

Furthermore, a well-designed shoe enhances your performance. Modern shoe technology is engineered to improve energy return, promote a natural stride, and provide a comfortable ride, allowing you to run longer and more efficiently. Investing in yourself and your running means equipping your feet with the support they need to carry you through every mile. Your feet will thank you for it.

Why Trust Us?

ACTIVE.com's editorial team relies on the knowledge and experience of fitness and wellness experts, including competitive athletes, coaches, physical therapists, nutritionists, and certified trainers. This helps us ensure that the products we feature are of the highest standard. Collectively, the team has spent countless hours researching equipment, gear, and recovery tools to create the most accurate, authentic content for our readers. Customer satisfaction is also a key part of our review process, which is why we only feature highly rated products.

Asics | Astral | Brooks | CEP | Craft | Diadora | Hoka | Kane | KURU | La Sportiva | Merrell | New Balance | Nike | Reebok | Roll Recovery | Salomon | Saucony | Scarpa | Skechers | Speedland | The North Face | Under Armour | Velous

Craft Nordlit Ultra Pro

The Craft Nordlit Ultra Pro is a high-performance trail shoe designed for ultra-distance runners. Featuring a lightweight yet durable construction, this shoe includes a responsive midsole for long-lasting comfort and a rugged outsole for exceptional grip on technical terrain. The breathable upper ensures ventilation, while the reinforced overlays provide added durability. Whether you're tackling an ultra-marathon or exploring challenging trails, the Nordlit Ultra Pro is built to go the distance.

Cushion? On a trail shoe? These are the ones for you!

First Impressions:

My first impression was that this show has great cushion for a trail shoe. It offers a truly comfortable experience, easing the impact of longer runs without giving up responsiveness. The cushioning also comes with a solid sole, ensuring you don’t feel rocks through the sole. I had good grip on gravel, but the treads were not as aggressive for more technical areas of the trails.

The sizing and fit of the shoe was good over-all, but the did run slightly on the short side.

My first impressions of the Craft Nordlite Ultra Pro M was how good the heel cup felt and the cushion with responsiveness of the sole.

Things We Liked:

My favorite thing about these trail shoes is the cushion - they felt great! Often times, trail shoes are too light on cushion, but these shoes do not skimp! Even with the extra cushion, I did not feel that the shoe sacrificed anything on stability - they were quite responsive when needed.

My favorite thing about the shoe was the amount of cushion that it had, but it didn't sacrifice responsiveness on the trails. This shoe felt comfortable right out of the box and didn't feel much pounding on my body with running on gravel.

Areas for Improvement:

I found the sizing to be slight short and I could feel my toes hitting the end of the shoe. The over-all width and cushion, however, was actually quite comfortable. I also prefer a slightly more aggressive tread on my trail shoes, but these worked well on less technical trails.

One area that I would say Craft could improve on with this shoe is the stiffness of the edge of the toe box. When I was running it felt like my toes were hitting an uncomfortable hard liner.

Final Thoughts

From the moment you lace into the Nordlite Ultra Pro M, you notice its combination of road racer speed with trail grit. The cushioning is plush yet responsive—Craft’s Foam Pro delivers enough spring to make your pace feel lighter, especially on hard surfaces, while still protecting you from the harshness of a gravel trail. The upper uses a lightweight TPU mesh, with reinforcements in the midfoot, a stable heel cup, and padding around the heel and tongue to help lockdown and comfort. The breathability is excellent and the weight manageable, so long as the terrain isn’t too technical.

That said, it’s not perfect for every situation. I would say the shoe might struggle on a more muddy terrain because the lugs aren’t the deepest. The upper, while airy and lightweight, can feel loose in certain foot shapes or during descents unless you work on getting the perfect fit. Finally, sizing seems to run a bit short for some, especially in the forefoot. If you want a versatile hybrid that delivers across roads and light trails, this is a strong contender.

Specs:

• Drop: 6mm
• Weight: 9.1 oz
• Price: $190
• Category: Cushion
• Type: Running Trail
• Fit: Runs abotu 1/2 size small
• Ideal for: Long Distance, Race, Trail

Buy:

Craft Xplor Pro

The Craft Xplor Pro is a versatile trail shoe that combines durability, comfort, and performance. Featuring a grippy outsole for traction on uneven terrain and a cushioned midsole for shock absorption, this shoe is perfect for hiking, trail running, or outdoor adventures. The breathable upper keeps your feet cool, while the reinforced toe cap adds protection against rocks and debris. Whether you're exploring new trails or tackling technical paths, the Xplor Pro is ready for the journey.

First Impressions:

Overall the shoe is very colorful, bouncy, and comfortable out of the box.

Things We Liked:

The grip from the tread on the bottom of the shoe. The Vittoria Traction sole does a fantastic job gripping wet streets and trails, but also an even better job on rocky and muddy terrain.

Areas for Improvement:

The color scheme is very bright and it would be wonderful to see more than one colorway option. Also, the weight of the shoe is fairly

Final Thoughts

The CRAFT XPlor Pro is the daily trainer capable of doing it all. From the bottom Vittoria traction that can grip wet streets or rocky trails, to the bouncy PC foam midsole, to the double layer mesh that allows for solid ventilation as well as clearing water after stream crossings, the XPlor Pro is an all around winner. Not to be outdone by comfort, CRAFT has ensured sustainability in the details by using recycled materials in the mesh upper, laces, and insole. In combination with the roomy toe box, cushioned and fitted tongue, and overall pop from the PC foam midsole, the XPlor Pro is a comfortable and solid all around shoe to transition from road to trail. If you are looking for an all-in-one shoe, the CRAFT XPlor Pro might be the ideal shoe for you.

Specs:

• Drop: 6mm
• Weight: 11.5 oz
• Price: $170
• Category: Neutral
• Type: Running Trail
• Fit:
• Ideal for: Speed, Long Distance, Cross Training, Trail

Buy:

Our Comprehensive Testing Process

To bring you this guide, our expert team, comprised of seasoned runners and footwear specialists, conducted extensive testing on a wide array of shoes. We are committed to providing reliable and unbiased recommendations based on real-world performance.

Each pair of shoes was subjected to a minimum of 20 miles of running across varied terrains, from city pavements to park trails. Our testers meticulously evaluated each shoe based on a set of key criteria to ensure a thorough and balanced assessment.

Key Evaluation Criteria:

• Comfort: We assessed the initial feel and long-run comfort, noting any pressure points or areas of discomfort.
• Fit: Testers evaluated how the shoe conformed to the foot, including the security of the heel, the width of the toebox, and the overall lockdown.
• Weight: We considered the physical weight of the shoe and how it felt during a run—whether it felt light and nimble or heavy and cumbersome.
• Breathability: The upper materials were tested for airflow to determine how well they managed heat and moisture during a run.
• Flexibility: We analyzed the shoe's flexibility in the forefoot and its overall ability to move naturally with the runner's stride.
• Overall Ride: This is a comprehensive assessment of the shoe's performance. It includes the quality of the cushioning, the smoothness of the heel-to-toe transition, and the general feeling of the shoe in motion.

Asics | Astral | Brooks | CEP | Craft | Diadora | Hoka | Kane | KURU | La Sportiva | Merrell | New Balance | Nike | Reebok | Roll Recovery | Salomon | Saucony | Scarpa | Skechers | Speedland | The North Face | Under Armour | Velous