Craft Xplor 2 road-to-trail running shoes review

There’s a sweet spot between road running and hitting the trails. Most of us land somewhere in the middle; pavement that flows into gravel paths, fire roads that turn into forest loops, or just ‘hitting the park’.

The Craft Xplor 2 is built for that everyday unpredictability.

It’s soft and smooth on pavement, with just enough grip and structure for light trails. In short, it’s a proper road-to-trail hybrid, and one of the better ones I’ve tested lately.

Craft compares this shoe to gravel bikes, and after a few weeks of running in it, that makes perfect sense.

You don’t have to overthink where you’re going or what you’ll run into. Lace up, head out, and if you see dirt, take it.

Key specs

• Price: $150 at CraftSports.us
• Weight: 11.1oz / 315g (US Men’s 9, my pair)
• Drop / Stack: 6mm (38.5mm heel / 32.5mm forefoot)
• Upper: Dual-layer engineered mesh (50% recycled)
• Midsole: Px Foam™ with soft forefoot cushioning and balanced rebound
• Outsole: Vittoria™ gravel-tire-inspired traction with Sidewall Grip Tech
• Extras: Craft Endurance Fit®, recycled laces and insole foam, gusseted padded tongue

Sizing and fit

The Xplor 2 fits true to size, with a medium-to-slightly-wide fit through the midfoot and a roomy toe box, making them ideal for swelling or wider feet.

The Craft “Endurance Fit” design keeps the midfoot locked in, but still gives your toes room to splay and work, and that’s where a lot of your power comes from when running.

The heel collar, tongue, and counter are generously padded for comfort, and the upper breathes well even on warmer runs.

Performance review

Versatility on road and trail surfaces, is where the Xplor 2 starts to make a whole lot of sense.

On the road, it feels more like a comfortable daily trainer than a trail shoe posing as one.

The Px Foam under the forefoot delivers a soft, quiet, and enjoyable ride, with smooth transitions that don’t interrupt your stride.

When the route shifts to gravel, dirt paths, or park trails, the wide platform adds a stable, predictable feel, and the Vittoria outsole grips loose terrain surprisingly well.

There’s wrap-around grip on the sides, too which is great for off-camber trails or uneven ground.

But it’s not perfect.

Because of its wide footprint and relatively high volume, it doesn’t love tight corners or technical terrain where precise foot placement matters.

On rock gardens or fast descents, I notice some foot shift, and the lockdown isn’t quite strong enough for sharp lateral moves or aggressive braking.

BUT it’s not designed for that type of running, so I’m not marking them down for this.

The high collar walls can also rub a little bit if you have low ankle bones or wear low socks, but this didn’t become a dealbreaker for me.

I appreciate how breathable the upper is too, keeping air temperature down within the shoes, they’ll also drain well if you get them wet.

What this shoe excels at is smooth, flowy mileage.

It’s stable enough to keep you from worrying, soft enough to enjoy, and durable enough to handle daily mixed-surface runs.

The grip performs exceptionally well in light mud and loose gravel, and the comfort never really fades, even after 8+ miles.

That said, if you’re used to lighter road-to-trail shoes, the Xplor 2’s weight may be noticeable on steeper hills, or when you try to pick up the pace.

Final thoughts

The Craft Xplor 2 is a well-cushioned, stable, and smooth hybrid trainer that lives comfortably in the ‘in-between’.

It’s ideal for runners who start on the road and end up on the trail without needing to switch shoes.

It’s not made for speed or technical terrain, but it absolutely nails the comfort, grip, and versatility brief for daily mixed-surface runs.

It’s one of those shoes that fades into the background, in the best possible way, and in my opinion, looks awesome.

I’ve genuinely enjoyed the ride every time I’ve worn them. If your runs start on pavement and end on dirt, this might be exactly what you’re looking for, and you should try them out.