An upper may include a plurality of knit elements linked together by a molded thermoplastic polymer element comprising a thermoplastic polymer, each of the knit elements being discrete, where each of the knit elements comprises a border that is at least partially surrounded by the molded thermoplastic polymer element. Further, an article of footwear may include a plurality of knit elements linked together by a molded thermoplastic polymer element comprising a thermoplastic polymer, each of the knit elements being discrete, where each of the knit elements comprises a border that is at least partially surrounded by the molded thermoplastic polymer element.

An upper may include a plurality of knit elements linked together by a molded thermoplastic polymer element comprising a thermoplastic polymer, each of the knit elements being discrete, where each of the knit elements comprises a border that is at least partially surrounded by the molded thermoplastic polymer element. Further, an article of footwear may include a plurality of knit elements linked together by a molded thermoplastic polymer element comprising a thermoplastic polymer, each of the knit elements being discrete, where each of the knit elements comprises a border that is at least partially surrounded by the molded thermoplastic polymer element.

An article of footwear includes an integrally-knitted footwear upper and sole, the sole including reflowed polymeric material of a grip yarn. The ground contact surface of the sole may include the reflowed polymeric material. The footwear upper and the sole are a one-piece, unitary knit construction. A method of manufacturing an article of footwear includes integrally knitting a footwear upper and a sole of an article of footwear, the sole including a grip yarn. The method further includes thermoforming the grip yarn such that the sole includes reflowed polymeric material of the grip yarn.

A knitted article having a first layer and a second layer is described. The first layer is formed from a first yarn having a first shrinkage rate and the second layer is formed by a second yarn having a second shrinkage rate. The shrinkage rate of the first yarn is greater than the shrinkage rate of the second yarn when subjected to heat. Upon heat exposure, the second layer forms a raised structure. The raised structures have a length that is generally perpendicular to the lateral-to-medial course-wise direction of the knitted article.

A knitted article having a first layer and a second layer is described. The first layer is formed from a first yarn having a first shrinkage rate and the second layer is formed by a second yarn having a second shrinkage rate. The shrinkage rate of the first yarn is greater than the shrinkage rate of the second yarn when subjected to heat. Upon heat exposure, the second layer forms a raised structure. The raised structures have a length that is generally perpendicular to the lateral-to-medial course-wise direction of the knitted article.

A bladder for an article of footwear includes a first barrier layer, a second barrier layer coupled to the first barrier layer at a peripheral seam, a chamber defined between the first barrier layer and the second barrier layer and defining an interior void, and a knit infill material disposed within the interior void of the chamber between the first barrier layer and the second barrier layer and including a first material and a second material, the first material comprising a fusible yarn.

A bladder for an article of footwear includes a first barrier layer, a second barrier layer coupled to the first barrier layer at a peripheral seam, a chamber defined between the first barrier layer and the second barrier layer and defining an interior void, and a knit infill material disposed within the interior void of the chamber between the first barrier layer and the second barrier layer and including a first material and a second material, the first material comprising a fusible yarn.

An upper for an article of footwear may include a first area located on at least one of a lateral and a medial side of the upper and a second area located adjacent to the first area. The first area may include first knit courses, at least a majority of which are at least partially formed by a first yarn, and the second area may include a plurality of second knit courses, at least a majority of which are formed by a second yarn. In some aspects, a third yarn forms one or more loop structures in the second area. In some aspects, the first area extends from a biteline of the upper to the second area. In some aspects, a third yarn extends into the second area from an edge between the first area and the second area.

An upper for an article of footwear may include a first area located on at least one of a lateral and a medial side of the upper and a second area located adjacent to the first area. The first area may include first knit courses, at least a majority of which are at least partially formed by a first yarn, and the second area may include a plurality of second knit courses, at least a majority of which are formed by a second yarn. In some aspects, a third yarn forms one or more loop structures in the second area. In some aspects, the first area extends from a biteline of the upper to the second area. In some aspects, a third yarn extends into the second area from an edge between the first area and the second area.

An article of footwear includes an upper and a sole structure having a midsole and an outsole. The upper is attached to the sole structure and defines an interior cavity. The midsole is arranged in a forefoot region, a midfoot region, and a heel region of the footwear. The midsole is an anisotropic foam structure having a density in a portion of the forefoot region that is different from a density in a portion of the heel region. The anisotropic foam structure is formed as a single, unitary component by a supercritical foaming process.