Nike Air Zoom Structure 21

Name: Nike Air Zoom Structure 21
Brand: Nike
Rating: 4.2 (14 reviews)

Daily trainer · Stability · Road · 9.5 oz · 10mm drop

Discontinued — we no longer see this shoe in stock. The Nike Air Zoom Structure 22 replaced it

How it ranks

The Nike Air Zoom Structure 21 trails most daily trainers in our data. Looks and durability are its strongest sub-ratings. Comfort scores well below its other sub-ratings. The rating is based on 14 runner reviews and 6 other rated shoes in the Air Zoom Structure product line.

Below average

Overall

Below average 65

Appearance

Good 81

Durability

Decent 74

Value

Below average 66

Cushioning

Below average 63

Comfort

Bottom-tier 55

Confidence

How settled the rating is against every other rated shoe. A shoe can rate high on confidence with relatively few reviews of its own when its product line has a long record and external ratings from retailer sites agree. Confidence is low when we have few ratings or when runners disagree.

See the product line's history

Confidence

93 High

High 93

Based on

The bars show roughly how much each source contributes to this shoe’s rating. Their influence depends on how many reviews we’ve collected, how many earlier versions are in the product line, and the external ratings available.

Product line track record
Our ratings
External ratings

What runners say

“The Structures have lasted beyond that average, but at $120 for a standard shoe, I would never pay full price for them.”

4/5 Full review 60 mpw training for a half marathon came from the Brooks Ravenna 8

“After about 8 months of use, I no longer have PF. Gone.”

3/5 Full review 1 mpw came from the Saucony Triumph ISO 5

“I had to swap the inner soles as the originals caused blisters on longer runs.”

3/5 Full review 10 mpw training for a half marathon came from the Mizuno Wave Inspire 12

“The structures have a nice design and effective support for my overpronation.”

4/5 Full review 50 mpw training for middle distance came from the Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 34

“This shoe is very durable except for mine get worn down very quickly because I have a heel strike and run many miles.”

5/5 Full review 35 mpw training for middle distance came from the Nike Air Zoom Structure 20

“The only complaint about EVA material is it freezes in sub 32 temps.”

4/5 Full review 50 mpw training for a marathon

“It is comfortable and I do not have issues with my heel or any pain in the feet.”

3/5 Full review 1 mpw came from the Saucony Triumph ISO 5

“The cushioning is a little firmer than I would like when running on hard concrete.”

4/5 Full review 50 mpw training for middle distance came from the Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 34

“Heavy trainer that will put in the miles if you don't care about fashionability.”

4/5 Full review 82 mpw training for a half marathon came from the Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 34

“It is not very flexible, due to the dynamic stability feature in the midsole, but for those that wear support shoes, this is no surprise.”

4/5 Full review 70 mpw training for middle distance came from the Nike Air Zoom Structure 20

“After 50-100 miles these shoes really become comfortable.”

4/5 Full review 65 mpw training for a half marathon came from the Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 34

“The shoe has been responsive, light, and pretty durable.”

5/5 Full review 30 mpw training for a half marathon came from the ASICS GT-1000 5

“There is just enough cushioning, although not an overwhelming amount.”

4/5 Full review 70 mpw training for middle distance came from the Nike Air Zoom Structure 20

“Helps with my extreme pronation.”

5/5 Full review 50 mpw training for a half marathon came from the Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 34

“I love the responsiveness and seamless upper.”

5/5 Full review 15 mpw came from the Brooks Ravenna 8

“There is more cushioning in the forefoot than the Structure 20.”

4/5 Full review 70 mpw training for middle distance came from the Nike Air Zoom Structure 20

“I just hate the price tag.”

5/5 Full review 30 mpw training for a half marathon came from the ASICS GT-1000 5

“Nice soft ride and good support.”

3/5 Full review 10 mpw training for a half marathon came from the Mizuno Wave Inspire 12

“Very durable and well built.”

5/5 Full review 50 mpw training for a half marathon came from the Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 34

Prefer this shoe over another

41% 7/17

Where to buy

No offers available

Affiliate links included. They never affect our ratings.

Prices updated daily. Last checked Oct 22.

Pros

Durability averages 4.4 out of 5 across fourteen reviews, and three reviewers call it durable, one of them wearing Structures since 1998.
Three reviewers who overpronate say the stability works for them.
Appearance averages 4.4 out of 5, and three reviewers like the looks and the seamless upper.

Cons

Three reviewers say $120 is too much, and value averages 4.1 out of 5, the lowest of its dimensions.
One reviewer swapped the insoles to stop blisters on longer runs, and another needed 50 to 100 miles of break-in.
One reviewer finds the cushioning firmer than they would like on hard concrete.

Air Zoom Structure 21 rates 65. This shoe has high confidence. See how we rate shoes.

Better Shoes Rating of prior versions of the Nike Air Zoom Structure

Each dot is one version of the Air Zoom Structure, placed by its rating and release year. The gold dot is this shoe.

Rating

40 60 80 100

64 2016 73 2016 63 2016 65 2017 72 2018 72 2023 77 2021

Release year

We use the reviews of past versions to inform this shoe’s rating. See why.

Air Zoom Structure 24

2021 · 4 reviews

77 Decent

83 Confidence
Air Zoom Structure 23

2023 · 6 reviews

72 Decent

79 Confidence
Air Zoom Structure 22

2018 · 21 reviews

72 Decent

95 Confidence
Air Zoom Structure 21 This shoe

2017 · 14 reviews

65 Below average

93 Confidence
Air Zoom Structure 20

2016 · 9 reviews

63 Below average

84 Confidence
Air Zoom Structure 19

2016 · 8 reviews

73 Decent

88 Confidence
Air Zoom Structure 18

2016 · 28 reviews

64 Below average

98 Confidence

Runner Ratings

14 ratings

5/5 5

4/5 7

3/5 2

2/5 0

1/5 0

See written reviews Write a review

Specs & fit

Sizing and ride details at a glance.

Weight: 9.5 oz
Men's / women's: Men's 10.4 oz · Women's 8.5 oz
Release: 2017 Q3
MSRP: $120
Drop: 10mm

Runner reviews

Write a review

Okay shoe

3/5

Overall

So I used to run for awhile but stopped for a few years. Fast forward, I am 20 lbs heavier and decided to take up running again. I started slow and after a year or two came a bit into form. Problem was that I no longer had the shoe that I used to run in (Nike Equalon-a god of a shoe which I loved). So foolishly I tried to change my brand and got Saucony. Horrible mistake-developed Plantar Fasciitis. Tried Addidas, nope same issues. So I went back to Nike and am using the Structure 21. After about 8 months of use, I no longer have PF. Gone. It is comfortable and I do not have issues with my heel or any pain in the feet. I do get slight pain in the knees but that is more me than the shoe. This shoe has greatly helped banishing my PF which had become pretty bad, especially first thing in the morning. I am 150lbs, 5.4 female. I walk 5 miles now with this shoe and I am quite happy with it

Anonymous runner · Sep 29, 2018

1 mpw came from the Saucony Triumph ISO 5

Comfort: 4/5
Cushioning: 3/5
Durability: 4/5
Appearance: 3/5
Value: 3/5

Nike Zoom Structure 21 Review by Steak Sauce

5/5

Overall

I love these shoes a lot. I used to wear a pair of saucony guide 9s, but couldn’t get over how ugly they were. Everybody called them my dad shoes because i looked like a white dad when i wore them to cross country practice. These nike’s are very stylish and also very comfortable. They feel so nice to wear at practice after a long day of wearing sneakers at school. This shoe is very durable except for mine get worn down very quickly because i have a heel strike and i run many many miles. I highly suggest these shoes for those who want a comfortable, good-looking shoe, that you can pound the pavement in.

SteakSauce · Jul 15, 2018

35 mpw training for middle distance came from the Nike Air Zoom Structure 20

Comfort: 5/5
Cushioning: 5/5
Durability: 4/5
Appearance: 4/5
Value: 5/5

Nike Structure 21v36

4/5

Overall

I started wearing structures in 1998. The shoe has evolved into the most durable shoe I’ve ever worn. The evolution in cushioning has improved with every version. The only complaint about EVA material is it freezes in sub 32 temps. For a long run my go to is boost vs. EVA.

Anonymous runner · Jul 12, 2018

50 mpw training for a marathon

Comfort: 4/5
Cushioning: 4/5
Durability: 5/5
Appearance: 5/5
Value: 5/5

5/5

Overall

Anonymous runner · Feb 13, 2018

50 mpw training for a half marathon

Comfort: 5/5
Cushioning: 5/5
Durability: 5/5
Appearance: 5/5
Value: 4/5

Good support, cushioning firmer than comparable shoes

4/5

Overall

The structures have a nice design and effective support for my overpronation. I especially like that nike reduced the heel drop 2mm for this model. Only caveat is that the cushioning is a little firmer than i would like when running on hard concrete.

Anonymous runner · Feb 7, 2018

50 mpw training for middle distance came from the Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 34