An article of footwear has an upper (200) and a sole structure (300). The upper has a foot portion for receiving a foot and a leg portion for receiving at least a portion of a leg, and the sole structure is secured to a lower area of the foot portion. The footwear includes at least one of a plate system (210), a hinge system, and a sole structure formed from materials of different hardness, stiffness, or density. The plate system includes a plate that extends over a medial side of the footwear and may (a) be formed of materials of different hardness or (b) extend onto the sole structure and into an indentation (311) in the sole structure. The hinge system includes a chassis (220) secured to the foot portion and a beam (230) secured to the leg portion, with a hinge (240) rotatably-joining the chassis and beam.