NIKE Men's Air Zoom Structure 21 Running Shoes

Product Information

The 21 is my first experience with the Structure line, so I asked a friend of mine who loved the 18th and 19th models what he thought of the 20. Changing the engineered mesh to a lighter and vented kind leads to a significant weight reduction. The Structure 21 is nearly an ounce lighter than last year (for a size US 10). Minor improvements have been made to the laces (flat instead of round) and the Flywire cord placement. LOWER PRICED ALTERNATIVE? If our memory serves us right, the Zoom Structure 18 was the first Nike running shoe to feature Flymesh. This upper material is made of a single layer of engineered mesh and borrows aesthetics from the Flyknit. I’ve enjoyed running in HOKA’S, but for some reason a higher ride in this Nike never lost its awkward feel.

Structure 21 rides very similarly to the ASICS GT-1000 6, with a bit more flexibility in toebox upper fit; the heel fit also gives a touch more room. So all in all, the fit is closest to ASICS’ GT-2000 series.When I walked around in the Structure 25 for the first time, it was noticeable how much more it felt like a stability trainer than the last 2 versions. There was a prominent arch sensation which wasn’t there since the Structure 19 but it wasn’t painful or uncomfortable. For reasons best known to Nike, the Zoom Structure has rarely had a plushly padded tongue or heel lining. Thankfully, the Structure 20’s tongue quilting is nowhere as bad as the Structure 18.

I found that I could get a very similar fit in my normal size and in the half size up, the difference coming down only to length.The last year’s Structure 20 was an improvement over the 19. Coming to think of it, this should be the case with each update. But given the long lead-times involved in the design and delivery of a shoe, a new model isn’t necessarily an improvement over its older version. The Nike Air Zoom Structure 22 is a running shoe designed for people with flat feet. It helps runners to train with appropriate support. Plantar fasciitis or flat feet problems can be treated by regular stretching but wearing a shoe that supports the arch and heel correctly is a more lasting solution and that's where the Zoom Structure 22 comes in. The product is also a good choice for anyone who trains daily with a view to covering longer distances as it its hard-wearing and offers good support over an extended period of time. Support On Hard Surfaces The rearfoot rides flat because there’s nothing there except for the dual-density foam and the outsole. Though the open foam area below the heel plus the removable insole helps with the cushioning, the rearfoot is noticeably firm. The Structure has a firm ride, so the Lunarepic Low makes a good rotational choice as a softer shoe. The ride is cushioned yet supportive, making the Lunarepic suitable for longer runs. The upper has a narrower feel due to the Flyknit upper.

To spice up a foreboding 800’s workout this morning, I decided to run some of the scheduled repeats in Structure 21 and the rest in my favorite speed shoe, Nike Odyssey 2, to see if the Structure being half an ounce lighter made a difference. There are other subtle changes, all of them for the better. The upper has larger vented areas. The forefoot breathes better, and so does the rearfoot which now gets vented sections over the Flywire cords. When it comes to popularity, the Structure series comes nowhere near the likes of the Pegasus or the Infinity. I personally prefer the Structure to both the Peg and the Infinity because its upper is more padded and the cushioning feels more substantial but I think that most runners still think the Structure is an old school, traditional stability trainer. The rest of the upper fits beautifully. The midfoot fit is far superior to the Flywire-based cinching of the Structure 18 and 19. Ventilation is improved on the 21 due to the new fabric, and the optional widths help you choose the kind of fit you want.My first impression of Structure 21 was that it’s a shoe with a flat insole (I like at least a little more arch) that was otherwise unremarkable (which isn’t always a bad thing). The midfoot upper really snugged up nicely, though—that surprised and impressed me. The laces are now flat instead of round. These flat laces pass better through the strap-based cinching system. The Structure 21 uses a strapping system (or the internal ‘arch-band’ in Nike-speak) which was also used on the 20. The lacing panel and the Flywire areas are now reinforced with a thinner and transparent laminate which also helps reduce weight.