I wore this for a 100 miler not long ago, and found it to be an 11/10 for protection, but once the midsole compacted around the 100k mark, it got VERY firm. I'd use it again, just with two separate pairs to switch between. About the sizing, for the love of God can we start a movement to make companies tell us the internal length of the shoe so we simply know how long the damn thing is. Width would be great too, and I'd even be willing to go metric for it. I think yall should lead the charge on this. Great vid btw. Thanks guys.
Thanks for watching! Which 100 was it, out of curiosity? I agree, of the dentist can 3d map the inside of my mouth with something the size of a toothbrush, we can figure out the exact dimensions of the inside of a shoe 😂
@@ConversationalPace Exactly. Thanks for understanding 😆 I wore it at the Mogollon Monster in AZ. Sharp golf ball-size rocks the entire way, and didn't feel any of them. I did however have problems twisting my ankles with the stiff, thick midsole. They were better for the few runnable sections of the course rather than the southwest-technical parts. Great for dirt roads. I live next to Acadia in Bar Harbor and it didnt work great for me on the bouldery trails here, but again, it has its purposes I think.
Hi guys, thank you for the review!!! Do you guys have any insight on the "Spartan" version of these?? They're carbon plated, the official name is Spartan by Craft CTM Ultra Carbon Trail. Has anyone had the opportunity to try them out??
5:03 I think Finn is right in his estimate. Craft and Adidas both offer foot length as a reference point in their charts. Craft's US9 is recommended for 27cm foot; whereas 27.1cm foot corresponds to US10 for Adidas. I have Adios 8 in US9 that fits quite well for my 26.3cm foot, so I guess I should size down to US8.5 (26.5cm foot length) for Craft shoes.
Great review, this helped me think about my experience with the CTM Ultra 2 (non-trail, non-carbon). This is the first shoe brand I had issue with the fit for my normal size. I got the 11.5 deeply discounted on RW ($50). As for the fit, the forefoot is too loose and to get a good lockdown, the only place the laces do anything for me is at the tongue. I used it for a (dry, rocky) Trail 50k near Austin, TX and it worked great, but went with something else for Bandera 100k. Right out the box, the first long run felt amazing, mostly on roads as that's my only option running from my front door, and later I used it on mild trails but never in wet conditions. At 165 miles, the energy return isn't quite as good but it's not showing any wear and tear. Overall I like it as a first shoe from Craft, but without being able to go into a store and try an 11, I haven't tried one of their other models despite seeing them heavily discounted online. Not really interested in their carbon models, but the Pro Endur looks interesting for me being a mostly roads person and I like that its a slightly less aggressive 9mm drop.
I think that Craft did about as good as a job as many other 'newer' brands with their first generation of shoes. There is a Pro Endur trail coming out mid 2023 as well. New foam should add a little more zip to the shoe as well. I do think the CTM Ultra Trail will last a bit longer than the Ultra 2, as it feels a smidge firmer even. Longer break in period, but also longer time in the sweet spot for miles
16:33 Very thoughtful feedback! Been on the hunt for a good long mile shoe that can last the entire distance on the runnable buffed semi-techie trail. Some more cushioned shoes really give me issues in the longer distance races. Very interesting shoe. Craft is getting on my radar. I am curious about the 10mm drop in a trail shoe and how responsive the foam is in a long race. Also, I encountered the sizing issue when I tried to get a pair of the ctm ultra. Hopefully they get that ironed out this year's refresh. They have some really nice shoes coming this summer! Great work guys on this super thorough review!
Craft is definitely a fun up and coming brand! The only time I'd say I notice the 10mm drop is on super steep descents, because it pitched me forward just a bit more. Our bodies do a pretty solid job adjusting to whatever is going on underfoot. I have the CTM Ultra 2 in a 10 and it fits about the same length as the CTM Ultra Trail in a 9.5. I have a CTM Ultra Carbon in a 10 and it fit me a little bit longer than a true 10.
I'm trying to make best with what I've got, since this channel is still very much in the hobby stages of its life, but I am learning about how to make this audio better! Mic placement and room acoustics are improving. As for next Hoka, the Challenger 7 is going to be up next, but we definitely have our eye on that Torrent!
Im torn i really want to try this shoe but im lost on the sizing no one carries them in store near me. I have a pair of speedgoats in an eleven and i feel i could size down a half size in that spesific shoe. I have a wider foot. Any tips??
If you have a wider foot, I would personally stay with the same size. I went down to the 9.5 from my usual 10, and it was right on the bubble to being too small, and I have a medium to narrower foot. What intrigues you about this shoe versus the Speedgoat?
@@ConversationalPace I just saw it and was intrigued. Looking to put more miles in and was curious on how the 10mm drop felt I also have a bad knee so yeah idk I'd carbon plates would be good. I guess I'm just curious. Also they make great gear so I'd imagine there shoes might be good.
@@christopherdosh1999 ahh I gotcha. Yeah I didn't love the upper of this shoe. Underfoot, it was massively protective, but almost too much so. Less traction, but their new Nordlite Ultra feels fantastic with their new midsole foam. A shoe that is rugged and was surprisingly roomy up front was the new Nike Wildhorse 8.
@@christopherdosh1999 where I live and run, I don't wear waterproof shoes as it's either raining and I just let my feet get wet (which doesn't happen that often), or it'll be snowing and it takes much longer for my feet to get wet in the snow. I also would rather my feet get wet than them be stuffy and hot due to lack of breathability from the gore-tex material
Interesting thoughts guys! I've had this shoe for 250km now and can relate to a lot of points raised. I'd definitely like a slighter better lock down at the point where you tie the knot. They are tighter in the toe box than the CTM Ultra 2 which I also use. I think that the grip could have been better given the "monster truck" David Laney quote feel of the shoe. The biggest issue I have is that the mesh material over my big toes on both shoes is showing signs of wear already.
Oh that's interesting about the mesh over the big toes. Have you had wear issues like that on other shoes before, or is this CTM Ultra Trail the first time this has happened?
Just stopping by to see if you've any new reviews. Thought I'd promo for potentially my new favorite shoe of 2023 so far. TNF Summit Vectivs, not the PRO (heard the CF wings are problmatic) but the new foam is awesome and massive updates from the Vectiv Flights. They are wider than the flights, laces improved materials improved. Felt good out of the box, which makes me nervous about the foams longevity, but so far really really nice.
Up next is the New Balance Summit v3. Still trying to get our hands on the TNF models. Are you referencing the Summit Vectiv Sky? That model appears to not have the CF wings, but also still have North Face's new foam.
@@ConversationalPace Yes, the Sky... didn't realize that part of the name.. I've worn them on one ten mile run, but was saying a mental 'Wow!' the entire time. Likely will use them for the Peterson Ridge 40 this year. Will have a better opinion of them once I put a few more miles on them... but I haven't liked a shoe out of the box like these in forever.
@@ConversationalPace Update. Took the Sky's through the ringer at Smith yesterday and there is a firm ring of material at the collar that beat the hell out of my ankles on the downhills. Bummed but these shoes will be relegated to relatively low gradient cruisers.
