Sole structures and articles of footwear having a lightweight midsole with segmented protective elements

A sole structure for an article of footwear, comprising:

• a foam midsole component having a density of less than 0.25 g/cm3 extending continuously from a rear heel region to a front forefoot region;
• a rear heel cage component distinct from the foam midsole component and covering side and bottom regions of a rear heel area of the foam midsole component, wherein the rear heel cage component extends from a lateral side to a medial side of the sole structure, wherein the rear heel cage component is formed at least in part from a foam material having a higher density than the density of the foam midsole component;
• a forward heel cage component distinct from the foam midsole component and covering side and bottom regions of a forward heel area of the foam midsole component, wherein the forward heel cage component extends from the lateral side to the medial side of the sole structure, wherein a first space exists between the rear heel cage component and the forward heel cage component, wherein an exterior surface of the foam midsole component is exposed at the first space, and wherein the forward heel cage component is formed at least in part from a foam material having a higher density than the density of the foam midsole component;
• a midfoot cage component distinct from the foam midsole component and covering side and bottom regions of a midfoot area of the foam midsole component, wherein the midfoot cage component extends from the lateral side to the medial side of the sole structure, wherein a second space exists between the forward heel cage component and the midfoot cage component, wherein the exterior surface of the foam midsole component is exposed at the second space, and wherein the midfoot cage component is formed at least in part from a foam material having a higher density than the density of the foam midsole component;
• and
• a forefoot cage component distinct from the foam midsole component and covering side and bottom regions of a forefoot area of the foam midsole component, wherein the forefoot cage component extends from the lateral side to the medial side of the sole structure, wherein a third space exists between the midfoot cage component and the forefoot cage component, wherein the exterior surface of the foam midsole component is exposed at the third space, and wherein the forefoot cage component is formed at least in part from a foam material having a higher density than the density of the foam midsole component.