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Nike’s New Sleeper Daily Trainer Is a Shoe for the True Purists

Long overshadowed by the Pegasus and Vomero, Nike’s other daily trainer finally looks ready to step into the limelight.

Nike Structure 26Nike

By Jack Seemer

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Some Nike shoes need no introductions. The Structure isn’t one of them.

When it comes to daily trainers, the shoe has long run in the shadows of Pegasus and Vomero.

But if it’s in need of an introduction, how about one from Cole Hocker?

Last year, the former NCAA champ and 2024 Olympic gold medalist told me it’s the “most used shoe” in his rotation — a workhorse for “long runs, easy runs, workouts” and everything in-between.

With a new update on the way, Hocker’s love for the series hasn’t wavered.

“I’m doing most of my running in the Structure 26, and the main reason is because it keeps everything — my ankles, my knees and my whole body — moving in the right direction for optimal runs,” he says.

Nike Structure 26
The Structure 26 will be available from July 3 for $145.
Nike

Comfortable doesn’t mean soft

The Structure 26 is the latest Nike shoe to adopt the brand’s ReactX foam, featured here in a full-length midsole unit.

According to the brand, ReactX is 13 percent more responsive than the original React foam, with a significantly lower carbon footprint, to boot.

Nike Structure 26
The Structure 26 adopts Nike’s ReactX foam introduced in 2023 with the Nike InfinityRN 4.
Nike

That said, the new Structure’s halo feature is an innovative new midfoot support system that wraps around the arch and heel for extra stability.

“Based on consumer insights … we saw an opportunity to improve the heel-to-toe transition of the shoe as well as the step-in feel to deliver support that doesn’t sacrifice comfort,” says Ashley Campbell, the Expert Product Line Manager at Nike Running.

Nike Structure 26
The new Midfoot Support System starts in the arch and wraps around the heel.
Nike

The shoe also features a new mesh upper with increased padding on the tongue and collar, as well as a redesigned outsole with high-abrasion rubber in key impact zones.

The result? Comfort, but not at the expensive of balance and ground feel — two things that are becoming increasingly rare in a world where high-stack shoes rule the roost.

Nike Structure 26
A redesigned outsole provides zonal protection and stability in high-impact areas.
Nike

On that note, while the Structure does feature the series’s largest stack height to date, 38mm, it still pales in comparison to many of today’s daily trainers, representing a firm rebuttal of the notion that comfort means squishy.

“My favorite quality about the Structure 26 is how comfortable it is without being too soft,” Hocker says. “It has a perfect blend of comfort and support to keep me durable throughout my training.”

Nike Structure 26
The Structure 26 has a 38mm stack height with a 10mm drop.
Nike

Price and availability

The Structure 26 will be available from July 3 at Nike’s official website and select retail partners. It will cost $145.

Following Nike’s new template, as revealed last year, it should be followed by the Structure Plus and Structure Premium sometime in the future.

About the Author:

Jack Seemer is the executive editor at Gear Patrol, with over a decade of experience in product journalism. He currently reports on a wide range of topics, including footwear, watches, EDC, cookware and more.

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