Talking with different people who are slightly familiar with running and different shoe brands, almost all of them say the same thing if I ask them what’s the gold standard running shoe. They either say the Brooks Ghost shoes, or the Hoka Mach line.
However, after trying the Craft Nordlite Ultra Running Shoe 2.0, I think there’s a new standard in town. And I would choose these over the Brooks and Hokas in a heartbeat.
Better than the Competition?
If we just look at the price differences, the Brooks Ghost 17s start at $150, the Hoka Mach 6s are $140, and the Craft Nordlite Ultra 2s are $180. Clearly the Nordlite Ultras are more, which means they need to be quite a bit better.
The Brooks quickly fall out of the running, because of the differences in heel drop.
The Hokas have a 5mm heel-to-toe drop, while the Crafts sit at a similar 6mm drop. Making them feel about the same. However, the Brooks have a 10mm drop which doesn’t agree with my body. (I get constant pain in my calves and the arches of my feet.)
This leaves me no choice but to pass on the Brooks. Plus, the Brooks still have old school fabric material on their uppers that doesn’t hold up or feel as nice to wear.
Craft vs Hoka
Hoka and Craft battle it out from here. The materials are similar, but Craft uses a stronger upper plastic material that breaths just as well as the Mach 6s AND feels like it will last longer. The sacrifice here is a slightly heavier shoe, but I’m okay with it if the shoe will make it to ~300 miles without any tearing or rips.
However, the real differentiators are the three pain points that I have with the Mach 6s that aren’t present in the Crafts.
First, my feet are too tight and cramped in Hoka’s smaller toe box. Making the Crafts infinitely more comfortable whether I’m wearing them on a long distance run or grocery shopping.
Second, the Mach 6s combine a slim footprint and thick midsole. This causes them to feel very disconnected from the ground. Almost like what I imagine wearing high heels is like.
Creating this game of teetertotter balance, so you don’t trip and/or twist an ankle.
And third, the Mach 6s slide around any time they’re not on a clean road. Aka, if even just a little bit of dirt or gravel, they really struggle with traction. Something the Nordlite Ultra 2s never do. Their grip is exponentially better.
So much so that I can wear the Crafts on some light trails and not slip around at all.
What Should You Do?
Obviously, I would prefer to run in the Craft Nordlite Ultra 2s. These shoes are so much more comfortable and capable, whether I’m speed training or running 8+ miles.
And besides some tight calves that I experience while running, that’s the only thing I have to put with. And it’s more than worth it. (I honestly just need to stretch more, and this would probably go away.)
BUT I cannot stress enough that everyone is different. We all have different feet shapes, sizes, arch heights, etc. And because of this, what might feel exceptional to me could feel subpar to you.
So please go to a local running store and try a handful of different shoes to find what feels best for you.
The Nordlite Ultra 2s are brand new, so they won’t likely be on sale for a few months. (Although you can get 15% off your first order if you subscribe to Crafts’ email newsletter.) Meanwhile the Hoka Mach 6s are more than a year old, so it’s not hard to find a pair on sale. (Hoka has discounted some by 30% right now!)
The Recap
The Craft Nordlite Ultra 2.0s have been fantastic for the last 60+ miles. I love that they can seamlessly transition between road, gravel, and trail. We all prefer splurge on different things, and I for me it’s my running and climbing gear.
This helps lower the chances of irritation and injury. Making the higher price an easier pill to swallow.
So, if you’re in the market for the current gold standard running shoe, then the Crafts are it for me. (Or, if you want something similar to the Hokas price, then the Craft Pacers could be good. Although, I haven’t personally run in these yet.)