Sole structures for footwear are constructed to provide excellent air exchange, ventilation, and breathability. Sole plates used in these sole structures may include plural rib elements extending across the sole to define plural slat openings in the sole plate. By providing these slat openings adjacent openings in the midsole member, excellent gas flow communication to/from the footwear interior may be provided. Slat vented sole plates and sole structures containing such sole plates may be included in articles of footwear or other foot-receiving devices, and advantageously in athletic footwear and other articles of footwear in which venting and breathability are important.