Abstract: Articles of footwear, including athletic footwear, include: (A) an upper; (B) a rear heel strap member engaged with or integrally formed with the upper and including: (i) a rear heel element, (ii) a lateral side strap element, and (iii) a medial side strap element; (C) a first strap member extending along the medial side of the upper, wherein the first strap member includes at least one structure for engaging a lace; (D) a second strap member extending along the lateral side of the upper, wherein the second strap member includes at least two structures for engaging the lace; (E) a tensioning system for engaging the medial side strap element with the first strap member; (F) another tensioning system for engaging the lateral side strap element with the second strap member; and (G) a sole structure.

Abstract: Articles of footwear, including athletic footwear, include: (A) an upper; (B) a rear heel strap member engaged with or integrally formed with the upper and including: (i) a rear heel element, (ii) a lateral side strap element, and (iii) a medial side strap element; (C) a first strap member extending along the medial side of the upper, wherein the first strap member includes at least one structure for engaging a lace; (D) a second strap member extending along the lateral side of the upper, wherein the second strap member includes at least two structures for engaging the lace; (E) a tensioning system for engaging the medial side strap element with the first strap member; (F) another tensioning system for engaging the lateral side strap element with the second strap member; and (G) a sole structure.

Abstract: Articles of footwear, including athletic footwear, include cleat structures, strapping systems, sole structures, and/or improved natural motion characteristics are described. Also, methods for making such articles of footwear (and particularly sole structures for articles of footwear) are described.