Nike Structure Plus Review: Soft, Yet Stable

Introduction to the Nike Structure Plus

ROBBE: By nature, I’m not a stability guy. Sure, it’s great when it comes to family and radioactive elements, but when it comes to shoes– I’d rather go without. Why more restraints when less can be had? 

I’m not alone here. Over the past decade, the science has become less clear when it comes to corrective footwear. Meaning, there’s not a ton of evidence to support the idea that a stability shoe saves you from injury. We’ve made a circuitous return to the foundational idea of simply running in what feels good and keeps you healthy. As such, shoe companies have quietly dialed back the support elements in their stability models. What used to be heavy cages and clips and medial inserts for the purpose of correcting under- or over-pronation has given way to slight touches of firmer foam and structural design elements within the upper. So yes, these things may help you, but they’re not trying to change who you are.

The result? Instead of shoes that look like the Aluminum Monster, we get a Sweet Dee with a set of braces. Much more palatable.

So it is with the Structure Plus, a max stack version of the standard Structure 26, including a couple deviations that set it apart. The most important distinction is the addition of ZoomX foam within the midsole, the first time we’ve seen it in the Structure line. That ZoomX midsole sits directly underfoot, wrapped in a ReactX carrier for the purposes of mild stability. Both of those foams combine to form a 42 mm height in the midsole; by all metrics, this is a max cushion running shoe. That alone seems antithetical, oxymoronish, and heretical to the stability category. 

But maybe it works. Maybe. Let’s find out in the review.

THOMAS: I’m in the same boat as Robbe when it comes to stability trainers. I usually pass on reviewing them. So when you read this review of the Structure Plus, just know it wouldn’t be my first pick. That said, I was genuinely curious to see Nike’s take on the evolution of the Structure line, so I laced them up myself. Along with this written review, you can also check out our video review of the Structure Plus on YouTube (at the end of this review).

What we like about the Nike Structure Plus

ROBBE: A first look is all about seeing and believing, so when we first saw this shoe at The Running Event in December 2024, we were quite taken aback. This didn’t look like a running shoe. It looked like an evolution of the Air Max 90. And we loved it. 

At the time, we didn’t know this shoe was over a year away from its release, so we kept waiting and waiting and wondering if it would ever come. Well, it has, and we still love the way it looks. For our particular colorway, not so much. But for the alt colorways that are coming, we think it has strong potential to land big within the lifestyle category. The faux air unit with a reverse Dracula drip fang thing is kind of cool even if I can’t explain why. In all, the style is pretty close to the standard Structure 26, just a little more exciting. 

Looks don’t matter if the performance sucks, so let’s get into that a little bit.

If you’re at all concerned about comfort, then allow me to allay your fears. This shoe is incredibly comfortable thanks to that bed of ZoomX and its ReactX carrier. It’s soft, there’s no doubt about it. And yet, it’s not terribly unstable. A bit of arch support provides additional structure, while the overlays on the upper add a touch more. The upper is really nice, with a good amount of padding throughout. I love the fit of Nike shoes and this checks all the boxes. I usually can’t comment on breathability in the winter time, but I can feel the airflow through the shoe, which means this is a surprisingly breathable shoe for how much comfort it provides.

Let’s move on to the ride. I wore this for a couple weeks of running, taking it up to 9 miles with most runs in the 5-6 mile range. Underfoot, it’s definitely comfortable. It’s really soft. So soft that I would put this in the recovery or lifestyle category. The good news is that it’ll save your legs if you’re feeling worn down. The ZoomX does give it enough energy return to keep things moving without feeling like you’re treading in sand. 

Again, it’s surprisingly stable for a high-stack shoe with ZoomX foam. While I don’t need a stability shoe, I think those who do will appreciate having something with this amount of comfort that doesn’t sacrifice their ankles or posterior chain to injury. 

It’s also surprisingly grippy, which was nice.

THOMAS: Robbe already covered the shoe top to bottom, so I’ll focus on what stood out to me most: sturdy, plush cushioning. If you’re into shoes like the New Balance More, Hoka Bondi, or Asics Gel-Nimbus, but want a slightly more solid, planted platform, the Structure Plus makes a lot of sense.

Comfort is the calling card here. In fact, I prefer the Structure Plus as an all-day shoe rather than a pure running trainer. Everything leans cozy– the generously padded tongue and heel collar, thick foam insole, suede-like interior sidewalls, and dual-layer engineered mesh all contribute to a leveled-up, premium feel.

The wide platform does its job, creating a massive landing surface. There’s no traditional medial post, but the midsole is solid under the arch and even rises slightly along the medial side for added support. What’s notably missing, for the better, is the overly rigid heel counter you usually find in support shoes.

The lime-green/dusty purple combo we were seeded with didn’t do it for me, though I do like the overall design of the shoe.

What we don’t like about the Nike Structure Plus

ROBBE: Thanks to its softness and weight, this shoe starts to feel a bit blocky and burdensome after 5 miles. It’s just a lot of shoe and I’m not sure it’s necessary. I actually really enjoyed the Structure 26 and I still prefer that shoe over this one, and it’s $25 less. The Structure 26 has a bit more bite in the toe off and feels a lot more like a real running shoe (even if it does weigh the same as the Structure Plus). This shoe feels like a soft block of brie– tasty in the right circumstances, but not my first choice of cheese. There’s one speed and it never moves past first gear.

This is something I pointed out before, but I feel like there is a bit of overlap between the shoes in the Vomero and Structure silos. The Vomero is definitely the better line (especially the Vomero Plus), but they all feature pretty high stack heights and a blend of the same foams. If you’re in the know then it’s easier to differentiate between all of the shoes, but for someone just browsing Nike’s website it can get awful confusing real fast.

THOMAS: I don’t enjoy running in this shoe. As Robbe mentioned, it feels blocky and heavy. I ended up preferring the Structure 26 over the Plus, and the biggest difference for me came down to toe flexibility. The Plus has almost no forefoot flex, while the Structure 26 stays controlled in the heel but remains flexible up front.

For casual, all-day wear, though, I’d choose the Structure Plus.

Final thoughts on the Nike Structure Plus

ROBBE: Overall this is a good (but not great) shoe. If you are someone who needs stability and you want a max cushion or soft feeling shoe that isn’t highly unstable, then I think this could be a great choice for you. That’s just not a lot of people. I personally would roll with the Structure 26, but if you’re someone who’s looking for an ultra comfortable shoe to wear around for walking or everyday activities, then I think you’ll love this shoe. It’s more stable than the Vomero Plus or Premium but offers a comparable amount of cushion.

We still have yet to see or hear anything on the Structure Premium. Supposedly it’s coming, and we can only imagine it will include an Air Zoom unit of some sort. Very interested to see how that’s still filed under the stability umbrella, but I guess we’ll cross that bridge when we get to it. 

For now, we have the Structure Plus, a big-boned offering for those who want more.

THOMAS: I’ll say it again: stability shoes aren’t my jam. They still aren’t. That said, of the stability shoes I’ve tested, the Structure line is one of the better options out there. I’d put it right up there with something like the Asics Gel-Kayano.

My advice? Run in the Structure 26. Save the Structure Plus for all-day comfort, your walking/running shoe, travel shoe, or kick-around sneaker.

You can pick up the Nike Structure Plus for $170 on February 5 from nike.com by using the buttons below.