Nike Men's Air Zoom Structure 22 Running Shoes

Product Information

While putting them on and walking around in them, my feet sank down into the soft foam and I immediately knew that this was a completely different beast from previous versions. The highly flexible forefoot results in less snappy, more relaxed ride transitions. The Structure 23 flexes behind the airbag, towards the middle of the sole. Stability is high even though there is no firmer wedge or medial post. This is due to two main reasons: However, the Zoom Structures were average, at best. Yes, I was able to log my miles, but the sole unit was too firm and the upper too washy.

With new technologies, many shoes have become adept at absorbing the impact of your foot striking the ground and returning the energy through bounce on your toe off. Those models run anywhere from 110 to 130, while the Zoom Structure are right in the middle with a price tag of 120.

Nike Air Zoom Structure 23 Sole Unit

There is no unnecessary padding, and the upper has a tailored feel to it. The material also has proven to be breathable while maintaining durability. When I slipped them on for the first time I was surprised by how firm they felt. The upper – recently updated on this model – felt plush with plenty of room for my foot to move.

Forget everything you previously knew about the Structure series because the Structure 23 is unlike any other Structure shoe to date. Another change they made to the upper the location of the laces. They moved them up farther up the shoe. The was done in hopes to allow the forefoot to spread out in a natural way while you run. Partial bootie wraps the foot for a snug, comfortable fit. Notches at the tongue provide easy on and off. The Structure 23 fits true to size and has a deep and spacious forefoot. I found it comfortable enough for super long runs but really warm because of the inner sleeve and all the padding. Nike Air Zoom Structure 23 Conclusion As a stability runner the structure provided by the upper helps hold your foot in place while you stride, and this is important.

Your foot sits inside the midsole and there are lateral side rails which keep your foot centred through transitions. Last year, while testing the Structure 23, I thought that it was only good for slower-paced, easy or recovery runs. This year, I intentionally took the 24 out on faster-paced runs (between 4.30 and 5 minutes per km) and its performance was stellar. The Structure 24 is much more versatile than I thought. The Structure 23 is the Structure series reimagined and I really like the direction that Nike has gone with it. You get thin reflective strips on both sides of the heel and a single strip on the medial side of the toe box for night-time visibility.

The Structure 23 is no longer a traditional stability shoe with a firm ride and a harder medial post. This was an effective change as I noticed how my feet were landing on my stride. The wider than average toebox gives you ample room to spread out. Version 23 was one of the biggest updates in the history of Nike so it makes sense that version 24 is one of the smallest updates. It maintains the same midsole and outsole as last year’s version but it gets a new upper. The next three versions toned down the medial post, making them more comfortable and this broadened the target market. The firm ride still remained.

Nike Air Zoom Structure 24 Upper Unit

When I say breathable, I run in sunny Las Vegas, and I’m telling you, the uppers ventilate nicely on those sweaty runs. Soles that politely grip the road It possesses all the long-distance comfort features that Vomero versions before the 14th version had, such as a plush, well-fitting upper, a super durable outsole and a soft midsole with deep cushioning. After my first run in the Structure 23, I understood why Nike refrained from categorising the shoe as a stability shoe. The Zoom Air bag in the forefoot of the Structure 23 is similar to the setup in the Pegasus 33/34 where you could feel the air bag through the strobel lining and the insole. When you have a classic like the Structure which has been around for 22 versions, it would be silly to just kill off the name and forget it ever existed.

After the Invincible Run, the Structure 24 is the next softest trainer in the Nike performance range. If you find the Invincible Run too unstable, expensive or fragile, the Structure 24 is a great alternative.It’s one of the only Nike trainers to use CMP 010 foam in its midsole which I prefer to the more popular React foam. It’s an EVA foam which feels softer and more spongy than dense, rubbery React foam.