An article of footwear comprising: an upper including a side portion that has a first material composition at an exterior surface of the side portion ; and a sole structure secured to the upper and having a side wall , the side wall having an exterior surface that directly underlies the exterior surface of the side portion of the upper , the sole structure having a second material composition at the exterior surface of the side wall , the second material composition being different from the first material composition of the upper ; the upper has a forefoot region that includes a toe box region and a vamp region contiguous with the toe box region ; the toe box region is adjacent to the sole structure and between the sole structure and the vamp region ; the toe box region has a first thickness; the vamp region has a second thickness less than the first thickness; the upper includes an outer unit that has a forefoot region, a midfoot region, a heel region and the side portion with the exterior surface; and the outer unit is a one-piece, unitary component, wherein the outer unit of the upper includes an outer layer and an inner layer , the outer layer including the side portion with the exterior surface ; the exterior surface of the side portion is in the toe box region ; and the exterior surface of the side portion is contiguous with an exterior surface of the vamp region ; wherein the article of footwear further comprises: tensioning cables secured to the sole structure and disposed between the outer unit and an inner unit disposed inward of the outer unit and defining a foot-receiving cavity ; wherein the outer unit has eyelet openings ; and wherein the tensioning cables form loops remote from the sole structure and configured to be disposed adjacent to the eyelet openings . an upper including a side portion that has a first material composition at an exterior surface of the side portion ; and a sole structure secured to the upper and having a side wall , the side wall having an exterior surface that directly underlies the exterior surface of the side portion of the upper , the sole structure having a second material composition at the exterior surface of the side wall , the second material composition being different from the first material composition of the upper ; the upper has a forefoot region that includes a toe box region and a vamp region contiguous with the toe box region ; the toe box region is adjacent to the sole structure and between the sole structure and the vamp region ; the toe box region has a first thickness; the vamp region has a second thickness less than the first thickness; the upper includes an outer unit that has a forefoot region, a midfoot region, a heel region and the side portion with the exterior surface; and the outer unit is a one-piece, unitary component, wherein the outer unit of the upper includes an outer layer and an inner layer , the outer layer including the side portion with the exterior surface ; the exterior surface of the side portion is in the toe box region ; and the exterior surface of the side portion is contiguous with an exterior surface of the vamp region ; wherein the article of footwear further comprises: tensioning cables secured to the sole structure and disposed between the outer unit and an inner unit disposed inward of the outer unit and defining a foot-receiving cavity ; wherein the outer unit has eyelet openings ; and wherein the tensioning cables form loops remote from the sole structure and configured to be disposed adjacent to the eyelet openings . tensioning cables secured to the sole structure and disposed between the outer unit and an inner unit disposed inward of the outer unit and defining a foot-receiving cavity ; wherein the outer unit has eyelet openings ; and wherein the tensioning cables form loops remote from the sole structure and configured to be disposed adjacent to the eyelet openings . <EOS>