Nike Structure Plus: Stability Meets Super Foam for the Long Run

Product news

The latest addition to the Structure line keeps you running strong.

Last updated: 18 December 2025

7 min read

Nike Structure Plus: Stability Meets Super Foam for the Long Run

For decades, Nike has been at the forefront of running innovation, crafting footwear that empowers every runner—regardless of gait, experience or goals—to run with confidence. Since the launch of the LD-1000 in 1978, Nike has remained committed to supporting runners who need stability footwear, offering purpose-built solutions that minimise injury, assist recovery and make daily miles feel effortless.

The LD-1000 was a game-changer: the first training shoe designed to guide foot placement and consistently absorb impact. Its wide sole helped reduce ankle twists and provided better support for knees and hips, laying the foundation for Nike's stability philosophy. In 1991, this vision evolved into the Nike Air Structure, a shoe specifically engineered for runners who overpronate, a condition where feet roll inward excessively. With a visible Air-Sole unit and a supportive design, the Structure line quickly became a trusted companion for both long-distance and everyday runners.

Over the years, the Structure series has undergone more than 20 iterations, each one refining the balance between support and comfort. While originally designed for stability, the shoe has earned a loyal following among casual runners and elite athletes who appreciate its distinctive style and reliable feel. As Nike's mission affirms, "If you have a body, you are an athlete". The Structure line is built to keep that body healthy and motivated, so you're ready to lace up and hit the road.

Listening to Runners: The Stability Story

The journey to the Nike Structure Plus began with a deep dive into the biomechanics of running. Nike designers obsessively researched the root causes of runner injuries, focusing on stability, frontal knee movement, cushioning and transition needs. Through extensive studies involving hundreds of runners, they uncovered how excessive motion affects the ankle, knee and hips, and how different levels of stability support can mitigate these risks.

Global insights, both from large-scale data analysis and intimate conversations with runners—from beginners to elite athletes—revealed three key consumer types: those seeking proactive protection, those in acute recovery and those managing chronic injuries. Most runners fell into the proactive protection category, identified as individuals who may not be recovering from an injury but recognise potential vulnerabilities, such as pronation, low arches or a history of sprained ankles and shin splints. These runners are looking ahead, seeking footwear that supports their long-term health and performance.

The research highlighted that across a landscape dominated by super foams and max-cushioned shoes, stability runners often feel left out. As one surveyed runner put it, "I need a stability shoe, so unfortunately I never get to try the fun shoes on the wall".

Structure consumers are people who run not just for fitness, but for fulfilment. Running is their escape, their therapy, their passion. But many have experienced the frustration of injury and know the heartbreak of being sidelined. They're looking for a shoe that offers maximum support, trusted stability and soft cushioning, from a gentle jog to a long run.

The Structure Plus is designed to challenge the idea that cautious, stability-seeking runners don't belong in the spotlight.

The Design Challenge: Stability Without Sacrifice

Nike's design team faced a formidable challenge: deliver support and stability without overcontrolling the foot and without compromising comfort. Traditionally, stability shoes have leaned toward stiffness, sacrificing softness for structure. But runners deserve both. The goal was clear: to combine the benefits of max cushioning and stability to deliver a more protective ride for everyday to long miles.

"When I put the Structure Plus on, I feel supported and balanced, but also light," says Nike athlete and Olympic runner Karissa Schweizer. "Physically, it feels really stable under me, and mentally it gives me that confidence to just go out and run without worrying about what surface I'm on or how my legs are going to feel."

At the heart of the Structure Plus is Nike's innovative mid-foot Support System, born from rigorous research and testing. This system wraps the inner arch and outer heel, enhancing stability and helping to keep the foot in a more neutral stance during the run. It's a solution that addresses real runner challenges, without the rigidity.

Introducing the Nike Structure Plus

The Nike Structure Plus is a breakthrough in stability footwear. For the first time, Nike has integrated its best super foam technologies, ZoomX and ReactX, into a stability shoe. ZoomX, typically reserved for racing shoes, delivers high energy return, a lightweight feel and a responsive ride. ReactX adds a firmer layer of support, creating a dual-foam system that balances plushness with control.

As Ashley Campbell, product line manager on Nike's Running Create team, notes, this combination offers a "new experience for the runner while not losing out on the trusted benefits of the Structure". The Structure Plus leans into motion control, measured by Nike Sport Research Lab (NSRL) metrics, including pronation rates and foot angle deceleration. Managing motion can help reduce strain on joints and improve overall running mechanics.

The midfoot support system is the cornerstone of the Structure Plus, locking the foot into the platform to maximise the shoe's benefits. The bold design draws attention to the midsole, where the core technology resides, celebrating innovation without looking overly technical.

Campbell emphasises the excitement behind the launch: "There is opportunity for us to drive energy and excitement into the stability category, delivering our best cushioning technologies in a stable package that allows runners the max support they want with a Nike-only sensation they crave." She adds, "ZoomX is the hero foam technology that we are bringing into this model, and the ReactX comes in as a little firmer, support foam".

The Structure Plus isn't just about technology; it's about trust. Nike's reputation for purpose-built stability footwear spans decades, and this model continues that legacy with modern innovation.

Key features of the Structure include:

Lightweight construction with optimal flexion for a natural stride
Ideal stack height and wide sole for impact absorption and stability
Secure heel fit and enhanced collar and tongue padding for comfort
Internal midfoot fit band connected to the laces for lockdown and customised fit
High-abrasion rubber in the heel for traction and durability

The Structure Plus is designed for runners who prioritise safety but crave the thrill of a responsive, energetic ride. It's a shoe that doesn't ask you to choose between support and fun; it delivers both.

"The Structure Plus is more fun because it feels like it has far more opportunity than any other shoes at the moment," says Nike athlete and two-time national champion runner Cooper Teare. "I know that I will get what I need when I wear the shoe, but I also have the opportunity to get what I want. Running faster, farther or going mentally further is never off the table because I know I am equipped with the ability to do it all when I have the Structure Plus on my feet!"

Final Stride

With the Nike Structure Plus, stability runners finally get their moment in the spotlight. It's a shoe that honours the past, solves for the present and looks toward the future. Whether you're logging daily miles, recovering from injury or proactively protecting your stride, the Structure Plus is built to keep you running strong.

The shoe's ultimate goal is to "deliver max support and be the first to bring super foam technology to the stability silo", says Campbell. The Structure Plus isn't just a shoe; it's a statement. And it's ready to carry you through every mile ahead.