MATT: Let’s jump right to the feature I was most curious about with the re-tooling of the Nordlite Ultra 2.0: the upper. I could tell from the unboxing that Craft had overhauled the upper; now I just needed some miles to see if the change was for the better. Spoiler alert, it most definitely was.
This upper features a breathable mesh that, as Allison called out above, really shines on hot Summer runs. The upper no longer feels baggy like in the previous version; there is a really nice balance of secure/stable fit as well as comfort throughout the foot. This fit may be a bit tight for some runners with wider feet, but it felt great for me, especially when running windy and hilly trails where that extra lock-in was appreciated.
The Nordlite Ultra 2.0 backs up its Hybrid classification quite well. The outsole rubber and lugs are just enough to give that extra traction when going off-road, but the shoe is not so aggressive or heavy that it feels out of place when running on the pavement. In my opinion, the Nordlite Ultra 2.0 is best suited for runs on rail trails, recreation paths, packed dirt, or fire roads.
It may be a very specific use case, but we have a rail trail local here in Maryland. The NCR trail is mostly crushed gravel and packed dirt, and when it rains, it can get pretty sloppy and slick in spots. This is sometimes a bit hard to navigate in true road shoes, but wearing trail shoes would be overkill. The Nodlite Ultra 2.0 seems designed exactly for these conditions, so if you have a similar running location in your area, keep that in mind.
