you should review the kobe 1,4,5,6,8,9,11s. you would get a ton of views for sure. i guarantee it. we all wanna know a scientific breakdown of kobe’s especially the 4,5,6 and 8
FACTS!! Especially protros vs OGs if you can find any still playable 🙏🏾🙏🏾. I support this movement. Your breakdowns and detail depth are informative in ways that nobody else can match. You’re cornering the market🤌🏾
Probably because he was sick of the bulky design of his older shoes. I do remember that he liked the Nike total 90 enough to put some the features in his shoes.
Nike Kobe’s are actually great hoop shoes because a lot of thought and innovation were put into them. They are no nonsense performers which make then reliable. In my opinion, the Kobe 6 has a very advanced design. It doesn’t look out of place when compared to modern shoes today. A lot of modern shoes and signature lines take inspiration from Nike Kobe’s like the Kyrie’s, PG’s, Freak’s, Ja 1’s, Sabrina 1’s, early Kd’s and the Kd 15 & 16, as well as the LeBron 20 & 21.
That is because Kobe was trying to build a better BBall shoe than Jordan. He never would have said it because Jordan was his hero, but he knew BBall afficianados would get it, and some day players would as well.
I played in the Nike Kobe 4, 5, 7, 11, AD NXT. And recently after the accident and it being so difficult to get Kobe shoes, I was finally able to get the Protros of Kobe 4 and 6. Hands down the best basketball shoes and probably even for other sports. Kobe really paid attention to detail, was actually involved in the creation of his shoes and always aimed for the best performance shoes, not just fashion and using his name. As a massive Kobe, I also tried the old bulky Adidas Kobe's but they're certainly nowhere near as good. Mamba Forever ❤
Kobe 9 wearer since 2012. I started wearing them sparingly to preserve its life. They changed my whole court feel and ankle stability. Have recently gotten the Protro 6 so I’m happy :)
my first Kobe was the 5. I instantly fell in love with the minimalist fuse and cushion set up. 7’s, 8’s, 9’s, and 11’s are the best drop in midsole shoes ever made. We’d love to see the line actually cut like the Kobe 6
The Nike KB Mentality 2 were my first kobes, used them until they broke apart and threw them out. Shortly after that, he passed away. I still think about how much him and those shoes helped me improve my game.
I love the 360 nxt. They aren't the most durable. I've gone through 3 pairs. There's not a lot of spring, but I make a lot of cuts and zig zags. They feel quick and light. I currently play in Lebron 20s which are similar in feel for quickness, but have a bit more cushion and spring. Had to move to them because my physical therapist told me no more old Kobes.
I play in kobe reps due to them being impossible to get on my country, but from the reps ive used, which are 4-5-6, and an actual original pair of 11's for me preformance wise, 6 is the best, aesthetics wise are the 4's, more well rounded are the 5's, and best courtfeel 11's
I got a pair of rep 6s with more “tech” in them with forefoot and heel zoom units. They play great and look pretty close to retails. But Nike needs to do a constant restock of even basic CWs for hoopers to be able to get them.
Kobe 8 is my favorite basketball shoe of all time. Lightweight & snug around the foot, so cutting/changing direction & shooting motion follow through just feel great!
Kobe has to be the GOAT shoes. I had the 4 which hurt my feet but looked awesome. Got the 8's all black custom. Took a second to break in but used it almost daily until they started falling apart from over use. I think the 8's were my favorite ones. I got the 9 Low Tops and 10s Blues Lagoons. Even the Kobe AD was probably the last I bought. They were all the basketball shoes I would buy for a long time.
My first Kobe shoes was the OG Kobe 6 Avatars, it was by far the most reliable and comfortable in all shoes lineup that I bought, nothing came as close to it. The 1 on 1 fit, zoom air setup, weight, traction, even the color way is superbly cool. Tight budget has switched my purchase sight away from Kobe line, but boy I do miss that perfect basketball shoe. Lace it and forget about it （Drop the mic)
Exactly what you said at the end. I believe that Kobe’s have now become the Jordan’s in the basketball community. When players wore Jordan’s 15 years ago they were honoring their game to MJ, now that kobe is gone just about every sneaker coming out now has inspiration from his best (kobe 9) shoe.
Playing basketball throughout high school, college, after college and coaching career. I always wore a rendition of the Kobe’s. Lightweight and incredibly stable.
I personally wore the 5s the most during my playing days, but the 4s will always be iconic for me and for kobe as the first low top basketball shoe - truly ahead of its time
I never wore kobe, but I LOVED 2010-2014 hyperdunks. They were the only shoes I played in and it might have been placebo, but having hightops definitely contributed to less rolled ankles. And extra support if I did. One weekend i switched to some air max or something and it felt like i had blocky heels on. I rolled my ankles like 4 times in 20 mimutes of basketball lol. These were the years kobes were pretty close close to hyperdunks so I guess he and the Nike team around him deserve credit for hyperdunks. I really, wish they would bring those back.
for me the 5s are the best as far s as performance shoes goes but my favorite are the 8s as far as complete package with aesthetics and comfort at the top of mind
As a distance runner, theres a lot of knowledge transfer on Point 1 and Point 2, especially regarding the ability of Kobes to maximize foot strength potential versus a cushy ride that offsets core lower leg development
I remember reading an interview of Eric Avar where Kobe mentioned he wanted a soccer-cleat type of low-cut shoe. And he really had to work so hard to get it done for him and that was how the Kobe 4 was designed. Honestly, he's done a great job keeping things consistent. I'm honestly not surprised people play in Kobes to this day. There's not really any shoe line in the past 10 years that has retained its identity as much as the Kobe line did. You knew what you were getting performance-wise as a baseline. Decent amount of court feel. Pretty consistent fit model-to-model (exception being the Kobe 7, probably because they had the tongue as part of the drop-in midsole. My favourite definitely has to be the Kobe 8 though. The 5s are a close 2nd.
Zach, I've had many Kobe's but the 6's were my fav...I'm currently playing in LeBron 21's but they are hot and traction sucks on dusty court. I bought some AG4's based on your review but can't wear them do to the thin tongue which pains my foot. Do you want to buy them? they are size 12:)
Hi Doc, thanks so much for your vids. I was wondering which Kobes would you recommend for people suffering from Plantar Fasciitis? And other than Kobes if you had other recommendations because I have tried many kicks but I am looking for a real recommandation from a doc playing ball. Thanks a lot.
My top 5 Kobe's: 1. Kobe IX Elite Low 2. Kobe 6 3. Kobe IX 4. Kobe XI 5. Kobe 8 Elite Fortunate enough to grab them in-store and use them in college (was a student athlete) and later on, unlike the market now.
Kobe 9 is my favorite model out of his line. I didn’t start really getting into his line till the 6 and wish I would have payed more attention to his stuff and purchased more og’s when they released
Kobe 6s are by far my favorite, that shoe was built for my foot, it's just a phenomenal shoe all around. The best basketball shoe ever made imo (at least for me)!
This didn't go quite as far as I'd like, but I enjoyed my Kobe's immensly. I ruptured my achilles shortly after he did, and I needed a shoe that would accomodate that injury and its repair. His shoes were far and above better than any shoe I had worn before or since and well worth the $180 price tag at the time. For me, it was about accomodating the achilles repair area and the interior grip of the shoe. The textured insole was something new for me. The exterior construction allowed my foot to stay planted and transfer the movement of my body to the court. At 6'10" and 250lbs, I still move quite nimbly and these shoes allowed me to do so. I'm not Hakeem Olajuwon, but I like to think my game is similar to his in footwork and movement. These shoes allowed me to play at my potential, and I wish they existed while I was in college and the pros so I could have taken advantage of them. On a side note, Dr. Zach needs to work on his footwork. Get your shooting hand foot further forward on your shot to creat more energy in the jump and release. 🙂
I'm a 5"11 pg, my first kobe was the V. I wore nothing but kobe's for the next 15 years. My favourite shoe ever, the 6 8 9-11 were good too but not a fan of the 7. The position of the carbon plate did not suit my foot at all. Thanks, Doc Zac, for explaining how kobes really come to life when putting extreme forces of movement on them. I felt like I could drive, change direction and stop just that little bit better
I am a huge Kobe fan and I only wear Kobe’s signature and mentality to hoops since Kobe 8 came out years ago and most of ppl were laughing about low cut basketball shoes. Even I bought Kobe 1 on StockX for less than 100dollar. After the goat passed away suddenly everyone saying Kobe shoes are the best on performance and resell price went up like rocket 🚀 so now I couldn’t get more kobes to hoops with retail price like used to😢
I would love to see Nike “perfect” the Kobe line, or come as close as possible. The 2s, 3s (MVP YEAR), 7s & 10s flaws could easily be fixed. 7s are 1 of if not the dopest aesthetic looking Kobe Eric Avar & the Mamba created, there’s a lot that can be done with the 11 shoes in his line.
I had the original 1, 3, 4, 8, 9 & 10 elite. The 10 elite had great court feel but the traction was unfortunately not good. I remember coming up on the 3 Asia edition at a Marshall’s back in the day for $30, and they were one of the best shoes I’ve ever played in. The 1s were a bit of a tank to play in but they were beastly. I loved the 4 & 8 because they were on NikeiD (mind blowing to think about now). The 9 had hall of fame traction. Smh I hope Kobe’s become widely-enough available in the future that even the resellers can’t snag them all up.
The Kobe IV's and VI's are the greatest basketball shoes ever made. They were essentially the Kyries before Kyries, with incredible traction and more comfortable than Jordans, that could be worn for other sports like tennis and indoor soccer if you really wanted to.
Kobe 9 ES peaches and cream were my first. The lunarlon was sick and it was the most stable low top I ever wore. Lunarlon did delete some spring though.
Hey Zach! How would you go about restoring a hardened up sole of a kobe 9 elite high? Kinda wanna play in my old ones but they're slippery :( Tried sandpaper lightly and it worked for a bit but I want to know of a better way to do it!
It's crazy how ahead of their time the Kobe line has been. I feel like OG Jordans while he was playing hit immediately when they went on sale because they changed the game. But when Kobe went to nike and switched to lows, it changed a lot of opinions of what was a great shoe for NBA players. I feel like what happened to the Kobe line during Kobe's career is what is Happening to Curry line now. Especially more recent models like 8,9... Have really changed the game with lighter, more grippy shoes... It's slowly but constantly growing as people get it.
Hi Zach I'm a really big fan of your content from Chile. I really like it because you put some of the science world in to the sneakers review content. I got a cuestion Did you got the measurement of the thickness of the zoom turbo unit in some Kobe protro 5 or 6?
Kobe 9 is still my favorite. Still have Bruce Lees, plus red and black pair. I’m a 14-15. But my Kobe’s are 14.5. Still in phenomenal condition due to only wearing them in the gym.
My first Kobe's were the Kobe 8's when they first came out like 10+ years ago. After all this time, they are still my most favorite hooping shoes I ever had. I wish I could get my hands on a protro version for retail. Since I loved those so much, I also bought the Kobe 9 high top versions. I was not feeling those at all, they had no breathability & left my feet drenched in sweat. Ended up selling them after hooping in them one time. Shoes that I've hooped in since then, are Kyrie 1s, Kyrie 2s, Harden Vol. 1s, Giannis 1s, Giannis 2s, & Giannis 3s. None of them compare to the Kobe 8s.
My most favorite Kobes are the 4s and 1s. Everyone is saying Kobe 5s and 6s but Kyrie 5, 6, 7 basically have the same setup as the Kobe 5 and 6. I prefer those Kyries more over the Kobe 5 and 6 because of the longevity of the foam in the heel portion + price factors.
What’s better for pg, 182cm, 70kg: nxxt gens, ja 1, freak 5, sabrina 1 or gt cut academy? I need an awesome traction, light weight and solid jumping (cushion), because I’m training dunking. Actually, I have kd 15 and want to have better and more performance shoes Or u can advice another better kicks for my option? (under 150$)
I begged my mom to buy me the crazy 1 when it came out . I wore everyday to the ground . I kept the box and years later I bought another pair on eBay. For me that’s were it all started so that’s my favourite
As a foot doctor, would you recommend Kobe shoes or high cut shoes to avoid or at least withstand ankle injuries? I've been playing hoops the majority of my life. I used to wear high cut shoes in the 80s when playing but nowadays I prefer mid cut shoes. I'm a sneakerhead (and yes, almost half of my collection are Kobes) and a hiker myself. There's a good reason why hikers would prefer wearing high cut hiking shoes. In the NBA, I noticed that ankle injuries for the past 10 yrs or so are becoming more and more because players are wearing low-cut shoes. Do you think these low-cut shoes (especially Kobes) are not much protecting the players from ankle injuries?
The Kobes were the shoes I always wanted while I was playing in the 90s. I always hated how restricted my feet felt in hoop shoes, and when the Kobes dropped it was like someone finally understood. I’m just getting back into playing again now in my mid 40s and I’m struggling to find shoes that match the feel of the Kobes. I have the Sabrina 2s coming next week and hoping those do the trick. As an aside - I wonder if Kobe’s love of soccer influenced his approach to his shoe designs? Soccer cleats need to have good foot feel so maybe that gave him an understanding of how important that is for bball as well?
@@Artemis-v8i I initially picked up size 12.5 but they were just a bit too long. I sent them back for size 12, but haven’t played in them yet as I then needed to get new laces (the laces that come with them were too short for me). I did play once in the 12.5s though and loved them.
had my kobe ad nxt 360s reglued with a new outsole from a donor. cost me essentially as much as a new shoe, but i have no regrets. playable kobes outperform anything out right now imo
Court feel , comfort , grip , stability . They were just great performers . Many newer shoes arnt as good and are very stiff even the later Kobe line got stiff . Old Kobe and kyrie even the older durants are were fantastic
Hey Foot Doctor Zach, I just wanted to give you some feedback on your outsole durability tests in your reviews. I recently purchased the Two WXY V4 based on your recommendation that it was good for outdoors, but after playing on a concrete court just once, I noticed that the rubber outsole was already showing signs of wear. I also heard from others that the Way of Wade 10 is not suitable for outdoor use because of the carbon fiber plate cracking and the rubber wearing down quickly. It might be worth considering upgrading the outsole durability test in your reviews to provide more accurate and helpful information to your viewers. Thank you for all the great content you continue to provide, and keep up the good work! I'm also starting to get now why the kobes are not overrated lol. Wished they were durable tho! For you, what shoe/s do you think exceeds kobes?
That also could be manufacturing issues with a run of them- hard to capture every scenerio that could happen with a upload schedule that i'm kept to- but i'm always open to ideas- the shank score even was first ideated by a member in a comment so i'm always looking at new ideas
I’m in no way an expert, but just have an opinion. I played on Kobe’s starting with the very first Kobe1 when they first came out, and mainly played in gyms. I’ve played with 1s, 2s, 4s, 5s, 6s. Then I stopped playing as much after that, but still continued to buy Kobes. Out of the five shoes I’ve mentioned, my favorite was the Kobe 5s. Definitely the 4s was a game changer, mainly because they were low and I’ve mainly played on mids and high cut shoes. Playing on 4s felt liberating, like I just had so much more movement on my feet. Then the 5s took it up another notch.
Here is my review as a 4 year professional basketball player, 6’2 Guard.. Kobe 9 fav traction, Kobe 5 fav cushion, Kobe 6 fav support, Kobe 4/8 fav looks I would say my favorite shoe to play in a game is the Kobe 5. I feel unstoppable in those, the next shoe being a kobe 9. GT cut 1 played like a Kobe to me as well.
I do not have a favorite because I can't buy them... In my crappy country the 6 Proto came in very few units and they sold out quickly, even being crazy overpriced. Same thing happened with the 8 Protro, so I will always just be curious to find out how they feel to hoop and probably never fulfill this curiosity. BTW I've always been a loyal Nike customer for basketball shoes, but I've stopped buying things from the brand because of this artificial lack of stock. Unless I am wrong? Why Nike doesn't make more shoes available for us to buy?
Kobe Bryant is mostly responsible for the fall of high top basketball sneakers. Raised in Italy, Kobe noticed that soccer players play in a fairly similar way to basketball player. Kobe told Nike point-blank, 'I want the lowest, lightest-weight basketball shoe ever’.
My first pair of Kobe's are the high top 1s which is why I got so hyped when they protro'd the pair. Bought the protro 1 and been playing with it since release. Gone through a couple of reglues due to wear and tear I dunno I just feel much more comfortable playing in high tops than the lows guessing due to bad ankles? Lmao. 😅
I have been dying to see some midsole teardowns of classic Kobes (especially the 9s, 10s, 11s, and AD NXT 360s), any chance you would do a video showing the actual measurements on these shoes? I am assuming the teardowns shown in this video are not from previous reviews on your channel. And I don't mind if you only cut up already worn-out sneakers.
FREE Orthotic Fit and Wear Guide: www.footdoctorzach.com/free-orthotic-fit-and-wear-guide
I want a real shoe
I miss kobe😊❤❤❤
I like the kobe fast fit
I like kobe x😊
Thanks😊
you should review the kobe 1,4,5,6,8,9,11s. you would get a ton of views for sure. i guarantee it. we all wanna know a scientific breakdown of kobe’s especially the 4,5,6 and 8
FACTS!! Especially protros vs OGs if you can find any still playable 🙏🏾🙏🏾. I support this movement. Your breakdowns and detail depth are informative in ways that nobody else can match. You’re cornering the market🤌🏾
Check out @nightwing2303
We'd have to set up a gofundme for him to afford all of them 😂
Totally agree tho
Check out wear testers review from the Kobe 4 to modern day.
I agree with @jrandomx8548, I think lots of people would watch those vids 👍
If I recall correctly, Bryant wanted the design language of his signature shoes to be closer to football (soccer) cleats than anything else.
Probably because he was sick of the bulky design of his older shoes. I do remember that he liked the Nike total 90 enough to put some the features in his shoes.
If you look up the Nike total 90 iii indoor shoes and the Kobe 4-6 you could see similarities between them in the midsoles.
I agree with you... however ppl out here acting like Steve Nash wasn't going crazy in low tops
@@bobheyotue9850 nike gatos were nice too, wish adidas would upgrade the samba classic just a tad and i think they be elite
I agree I remember this too
I'm a volleyball players and I think the most popoular volleyball shoes - Asics Sky Elite FF2 took inspiration from Kobe 6 too.
those arent the most popular only in like japan
Nike Kobe’s are actually great hoop shoes because a lot of thought and innovation were put into them. They are no nonsense performers which make then reliable. In my opinion, the Kobe 6 has a very advanced design. It doesn’t look out of place when compared to modern shoes today.
A lot of modern shoes and signature lines take inspiration from Nike Kobe’s like the Kyrie’s, PG’s, Freak’s, Ja 1’s, Sabrina 1’s, early Kd’s and the Kd 15 & 16, as well as the LeBron 20 & 21.
That is because Kobe was trying to build a better BBall shoe than Jordan. He never would have said it because Jordan was his hero, but he knew BBall afficianados would get it, and some day players would as well.
This history and breakdown makes me appreciate Kobe and his shoe a whole lot more
I played in the Nike Kobe 4, 5, 7, 11, AD NXT. And recently after the accident and it being so difficult to get Kobe shoes, I was finally able to get the Protros of Kobe 4 and 6. Hands down the best basketball shoes and probably even for other sports. Kobe really paid attention to detail, was actually involved in the creation of his shoes and always aimed for the best performance shoes, not just fashion and using his name. As a massive Kobe, I also tried the old bulky Adidas Kobe's but they're certainly nowhere near as good. Mamba Forever ❤
Kobe 9 wearer since 2012. I started wearing them sparingly to preserve its life. They changed my whole court feel and ankle stability. Have recently gotten the Protro 6 so I’m happy :)
Love the 6 protro play in the reverse grinches
my first Kobe was the 5. I instantly fell in love with the minimalist fuse and cushion set up. 7’s, 8’s, 9’s, and 11’s are the best drop in midsole shoes ever made. We’d love to see the line actually cut like the Kobe 6
Funny, the 10’s were my favorite
The Nike KB Mentality 2 were my first kobes, used them until they broke apart and threw them out. Shortly after that, he passed away. I still think about how much him and those shoes helped me improve my game.
Kobe 8s are really similar if you can get your hands on them.
I love the 360 nxt. They aren't the most durable. I've gone through 3 pairs. There's not a lot of spring, but I make a lot of cuts and zig zags. They feel quick and light. I currently play in Lebron 20s which are similar in feel for quickness, but have a bit more cushion and spring. Had to move to them because my physical therapist told me no more old Kobes.
I play in kobe reps due to them being impossible to get on my country, but from the reps ive used, which are 4-5-6, and an actual original pair of 11's for me preformance wise, 6 is the best, aesthetics wise are the 4's, more well rounded are the 5's, and best courtfeel 11's
I got a pair of rep 6s with more “tech” in them with forefoot and heel zoom units. They play great and look pretty close to retails. But Nike needs to do a constant restock of even basic CWs for hoopers to be able to get them.
Best courtfeel is 8s
Kobe 8 is my favorite basketball shoe of all time. Lightweight & snug around the foot, so cutting/changing direction & shooting motion follow through just feel great!
Facts!! Said the same thing. Only shoe I waited in line for on release and got most colors.
I saw my favorite shoe, the puma clyde all pro as a mimic of Kobe's now that I saw this video. This video made me smile!
The kobe line kinna made low top basketball shoes popular
Kobe has to be the GOAT shoes. I had the 4 which hurt my feet but looked awesome. Got the 8's all black custom. Took a second to break in but used it almost daily until they started falling apart from over use. I think the 8's were my favorite ones. I got the 9 Low Tops and 10s Blues Lagoons. Even the Kobe AD was probably the last I bought. They were all the basketball shoes I would buy for a long time.
My first Kobe shoes was the OG Kobe 6 Avatars, it was by far the most reliable and comfortable in all shoes lineup that I bought, nothing came as close to it. The 1 on 1 fit, zoom air setup, weight, traction, even the color way is superbly cool. Tight budget has switched my purchase sight away from Kobe line, but boy I do miss that perfect basketball shoe. Lace it and forget about it （Drop the mic)
I have the mamba fury also and even his take down model's are elite!
Exactly what you said at the end. I believe that Kobe’s have now become the Jordan’s in the basketball community. When players wore Jordan’s 15 years ago they were honoring their game to MJ, now that kobe is gone just about every sneaker coming out now has inspiration from his best (kobe 9) shoe.
Kobe VI and VI protro are the best basketball shoes I've ever worn outside of the 2k4 Huarache
Clicking on this, seeing the Suns and ASU banners..I wasn’t expecting to see the Dublin Rec center! That court brings back a lot of memories
that limitless selection tends to dwindle down pretty quick when you have a bigger shoe size
Very true
The Zoom Kobe IV is the greatest sneaker I have ever owned.
Playing basketball throughout high school, college, after college and coaching career. I always wore a rendition of the Kobe’s. Lightweight and incredibly stable.
I love the look of the kobe 5's, I had a pair and wore them into the ground, love love loved those shoes
Outstanding video Dr Zach
I personally wore the 5s the most during my playing days, but the 4s will always be iconic for me and for kobe as the first low top basketball shoe - truly ahead of its time
Kobe's legacy in hoop shoes is so great that there are high quality replicas just like Jordans
I never wore kobe, but I LOVED 2010-2014 hyperdunks. They were the only shoes I played in and it might have been placebo, but having hightops definitely contributed to less rolled ankles. And extra support if I did. One weekend i switched to some air max or something and it felt like i had blocky heels on. I rolled my ankles like 4 times in 20 mimutes of basketball lol. These were the years kobes were pretty close close to hyperdunks so I guess he and the Nike team around him deserve credit for hyperdunks.
I really, wish they would bring those back.
The Kobe Venomonom 5 had such amazing traction and they were so comfortable. I miss mine so much. I wish I could get another pair.
I ruptured my achilles in the past and love the heel reinforcement of the shoe. I use them to play tennis in.
my fav to play in and all my biggest games have come in Kobe 4's but i have a deep passion for the kobe 3's severely underrated shoe!!!!
Thank you so much, I think you fully captured the reasons that players still wear his shoes, great video 😁👍
I use Kobe 6 and 4 when I was athlete in college until now still use them even I graduated for 4 years
for me the 5s are the best as far s as performance shoes goes but my favorite are the 8s as far as complete package with aesthetics and comfort at the top of mind
As a distance runner, theres a lot of knowledge transfer on Point 1 and Point 2, especially regarding the ability of Kobes to maximize foot strength potential versus a cushy ride that offsets core lower leg development
Ironically Ive always felt that the running space is always 2-3 steps ahead of the court space in terms of trends and tech
The Kobe 5, 8, and 9’s were my favorite to play in.
I remember reading an interview of Eric Avar where Kobe mentioned he wanted a soccer-cleat type of low-cut shoe. And he really had to work so hard to get it done for him and that was how the Kobe 4 was designed.
Honestly, he's done a great job keeping things consistent. I'm honestly not surprised people play in Kobes to this day. There's not really any shoe line in the past 10 years that has retained its identity as much as the Kobe line did. You knew what you were getting performance-wise as a baseline. Decent amount of court feel. Pretty consistent fit model-to-model (exception being the Kobe 7, probably because they had the tongue as part of the drop-in midsole.
My favourite definitely has to be the Kobe 8 though. The 5s are a close 2nd.
Hey doc! Are there any wide foot 🏀 sneakers that would work well with someone that’s used to barefoot style shoes?
Luv the KB 4/5/6. Best shoes I hv worn playing, hands down
Zach, I've had many Kobe's but the 6's were my fav...I'm currently playing in LeBron 21's but they are hot and traction sucks on dusty court. I bought some AG4's based on your review but can't wear them do to the thin tongue which pains my foot. Do you want to buy them? they are size 12:)
Hi Doc, thanks so much for your vids. I was wondering which Kobes would you recommend for people suffering from Plantar Fasciitis? And other than Kobes if you had other recommendations because I have tried many kicks but I am looking for a real recommandation from a doc playing ball. Thanks a lot.
My top 5 Kobe's:
1. Kobe IX Elite Low
2. Kobe 6
3. Kobe IX
4. Kobe XI
5. Kobe 8 Elite
Fortunate enough to grab them in-store and use them in college (was a student athlete) and later on, unlike the market now.
Kobe 9 is my favorite model out of his line. I didn’t start really getting into his line till the 6 and wish I would have payed more attention to his stuff and purchased more og’s when they released
Kobe 6s are by far my favorite, that shoe was built for my foot, it's just a phenomenal shoe all around. The best basketball shoe ever made imo (at least for me)!
This didn't go quite as far as I'd like, but I enjoyed my Kobe's immensly. I ruptured my achilles shortly after he did, and I needed a shoe that would accomodate that injury and its repair. His shoes were far and above better than any shoe I had worn before or since and well worth the $180 price tag at the time. For me, it was about accomodating the achilles repair area and the interior grip of the shoe. The textured insole was something new for me. The exterior construction allowed my foot to stay planted and transfer the movement of my body to the court. At 6'10" and 250lbs, I still move quite nimbly and these shoes allowed me to do so. I'm not Hakeem Olajuwon, but I like to think my game is similar to his in footwork and movement. These shoes allowed me to play at my potential, and I wish they existed while I was in college and the pros so I could have taken advantage of them.
On a side note, Dr. Zach needs to work on his footwork. Get your shooting hand foot further forward on your shot to creat more energy in the jump and release. 🙂
I'm a 5"11 pg, my first kobe was the V. I wore nothing but kobe's for the next 15 years. My favourite shoe ever, the 6 8 9-11 were good too but not a fan of the 7. The position of the carbon plate did not suit my foot at all. Thanks, Doc Zac, for explaining how kobes really come to life when putting extreme forces of movement on them. I felt like I could drive, change direction and stop just that little bit better
I am a huge Kobe fan and I only wear Kobe’s signature and mentality to hoops since Kobe 8 came out years ago and most of ppl were laughing about low cut basketball shoes. Even I bought Kobe 1 on StockX for less than 100dollar. After the goat passed away suddenly everyone saying Kobe shoes are the best on performance and resell price went up like rocket 🚀 so now I couldn’t get more kobes to hoops with retail price like used to😢
Aesthetic design and performance 🔥💯
I've wanted to know the answer to that, too. Great video idea!
Many thanks for this video ! Which one is the best for impact protection between Kobe 4 Protro and Kobe 5 Protro according to you ? 🙏🏼🙂
I would love to see Nike “perfect” the Kobe line, or come as close as possible. The 2s, 3s (MVP YEAR), 7s & 10s flaws could easily be fixed. 7s are 1 of if not the dopest aesthetic looking Kobe Eric Avar & the Mamba created, there’s a lot that can be done with the 11 shoes in his line.
I had the original 1, 3, 4, 8, 9 & 10 elite. The 10 elite had great court feel but the traction was unfortunately not good. I remember coming up on the 3 Asia edition at a Marshall’s back in the day for $30, and they were one of the best shoes I’ve ever played in. The 1s were a bit of a tank to play in but they were beastly. I loved the 4 & 8 because they were on NikeiD (mind blowing to think about now). The 9 had hall of fame traction. Smh I hope Kobe’s become widely-enough available in the future that even the resellers can’t snag them all up.
Kobe VI, the ASG East LA color way to be specific, since high school
The Kobe IV's and VI's are the greatest basketball shoes ever made. They were essentially the Kyries before Kyries, with incredible traction and more comfortable than Jordans, that could be worn for other sports like tennis and indoor soccer if you really wanted to.
The 9s are my favorite. The had the best traction in any shoe I ever hooped in.
Kobe 9 ES peaches and cream were my first. The lunarlon was sick and it was the most stable low top I ever wore. Lunarlon did delete some spring though.
Listen I’m 6’3 350 & Kobe’s are the best shoes I’ve ever worn
Hey Zach! How would you go about restoring a hardened up sole of a kobe 9 elite high? Kinda wanna play in my old ones but they're slippery :( Tried sandpaper lightly and it worked for a bit but I want to know of a better way to do it!
It's crazy how ahead of their time the Kobe line has been. I feel like OG Jordans while he was playing hit immediately when they went on sale because they changed the game. But when Kobe went to nike and switched to lows, it changed a lot of opinions of what was a great shoe for NBA players. I feel like what happened to the Kobe line during Kobe's career is what is Happening to Curry line now. Especially more recent models like 8,9... Have really changed the game with lighter, more grippy shoes... It's slowly but constantly growing as people get it.
Hi Zach I'm a really big fan of your content from Chile. I really like it because you put some of the science world in to the sneakers review content. I got a cuestion
Did you got the measurement of the thickness of the zoom turbo unit in some Kobe protro 5 or 6?
Have you tried anta shockwave 5 pro and compared it to regular anta shockwave 5s?
Kobe 9 is still my favorite. Still have Bruce Lees, plus red and black pair. I’m a 14-15. But my Kobe’s are 14.5.
Still in phenomenal condition due to only wearing them in the gym.
What r the first pair he shows on the display at 0:41 secs called? The high tops
Nike Kobe 9 Elite Premium 'What The Kobe'
Thanks
My first Kobe's were the Kobe 8's when they first came out like 10+ years ago. After all this time, they are still my most favorite hooping shoes I ever had. I wish I could get my hands on a protro version for retail. Since I loved those so much, I also bought the Kobe 9 high top versions. I was not feeling those at all, they had no breathability & left my feet drenched in sweat. Ended up selling them after hooping in them one time. Shoes that I've hooped in since then, are Kyrie 1s, Kyrie 2s, Harden Vol. 1s, Giannis 1s, Giannis 2s, & Giannis 3s. None of them compare to the Kobe 8s.
Hey, doc! Nice video! Can you review the serious player only 1 plus shoe? Thanks in advance 😁
Kobe 11 low elite: the best ever
My most favorite Kobes are the 4s and 1s. Everyone is saying Kobe 5s and 6s but Kyrie 5, 6, 7 basically have the same setup as the Kobe 5 and 6. I prefer those Kyries more over the Kobe 5 and 6 because of the longevity of the foam in the heel portion + price factors.
The kobe 9 is the goated kobe shoe.
6*
What’s better for pg, 182cm, 70kg: nxxt gens, ja 1, freak 5, sabrina 1 or gt cut academy? I need an awesome traction, light weight and solid jumping (cushion), because I’m training dunking. Actually, I have kd 15 and want to have better and more performance shoes
Or u can advice another better kicks for my option? (under 150$)
I really like the Kobe 9 lows they are my favorite Kobe for sure
Ex juco player here and avid mens league player.. well was lol kobe 8s were the best basketball shoe ever made.. light and comfortable.
I begged my mom to buy me the crazy 1 when it came out . I wore everyday to the ground . I kept the box and years later I bought another pair on eBay. For me that’s were it all started so that’s my favourite
Funny, I'm reading the mamba mentality book right now... @8:00
Guys, Where the hell do I find those NBA long socks? I can't seem to find them anywhere
As a foot doctor, would you recommend Kobe shoes or high cut shoes to avoid or at least withstand ankle injuries? I've been playing hoops the majority of my life. I used to wear high cut shoes in the 80s when playing but nowadays I prefer mid cut shoes. I'm a sneakerhead (and yes, almost half of my collection are Kobes) and a hiker myself. There's a good reason why hikers would prefer wearing high cut hiking shoes. In the NBA, I noticed that ankle injuries for the past 10 yrs or so are becoming more and more because players are wearing low-cut shoes. Do you think these low-cut shoes (especially Kobes) are not much protecting the players from ankle injuries?
It’s just basketball in general. As a contact + vertical sport, it’s bound to happen
Kobe XI Elite Easter grey and mango were my jam
Zoom 4 Kobe by far the most comfortable! That's where the magic started. After that from 5 to 10 also great!
The Kobes were the shoes I always wanted while I was playing in the 90s. I always hated how restricted my feet felt in hoop shoes, and when the Kobes dropped it was like someone finally understood. I’m just getting back into playing again now in my mid 40s and I’m struggling to find shoes that match the feel of the Kobes. I have the Sabrina 2s coming next week and hoping those do the trick.
As an aside - I wonder if Kobe’s love of soccer influenced his approach to his shoe designs? Soccer cleats need to have good foot feel so maybe that gave him an understanding of how important that is for bball as well?
How did the Sabrina 2’s go
@@Artemis-v8i I initially picked up size 12.5 but they were just a bit too long. I sent them back for size 12, but haven’t played in them yet as I then needed to get new laces (the laces that come with them were too short for me). I did play once in the 12.5s though and loved them.
it's fascinating how the midsole of book 1s is so similar to the midsole of the kobe 4 4:47
Can you review the Andiem Pivot 1.0?
You should review the Judah 1’s
Hi, new subscriber here. Can you suggest low tops with good traction with heel support for a guard position. Any model will definitely take a look. :)
had my kobe ad nxt 360s reglued with a new outsole from a donor. cost me essentially as much as a new shoe, but i have no regrets. playable kobes outperform anything out right now imo
Court feel , comfort , grip , stability . They were just great performers . Many newer shoes arnt as good and are very stiff even the later Kobe line got stiff . Old Kobe and kyrie even the older durants are were fantastic
Hey Foot Doctor Zach,
I just wanted to give you some feedback on your outsole durability tests in your reviews. I recently purchased the Two WXY V4 based on your recommendation that it was good for outdoors, but after playing on a concrete court just once, I noticed that the rubber outsole was already showing signs of wear.
I also heard from others that the Way of Wade 10 is not suitable for outdoor use because of the carbon fiber plate cracking and the rubber wearing down quickly.
It might be worth considering upgrading the outsole durability test in your reviews to provide more accurate and helpful information to your viewers.
Thank you for all the great content you continue to provide, and keep up the good work!
I'm also starting to get now why the kobes are not overrated lol. Wished they were durable tho! For you, what shoe/s do you think exceeds kobes?
That also could be manufacturing issues with a run of them- hard to capture every scenerio that could happen with a upload schedule that i'm kept to- but i'm always open to ideas- the shank score even was first ideated by a member in a comment so i'm always looking at new ideas
Yea it’s not accurate as a whole because it messed up for YOU. You see how silly that sounds?
I’m in no way an expert, but just have an opinion. I played on Kobe’s starting with the very first Kobe1 when they first came out, and mainly played in gyms. I’ve played with 1s, 2s, 4s, 5s, 6s. Then I stopped playing as much after that, but still continued to buy Kobes. Out of the five shoes I’ve mentioned, my favorite was the Kobe 5s. Definitely the 4s was a game changer, mainly because they were low and I’ve mainly played on mids and high cut shoes. Playing on 4s felt liberating, like I just had so much more movement on my feet. Then the 5s took it up another notch.
Its an innovative shoe that was ahead of its time!
Here is my review as a 4 year professional basketball player, 6’2 Guard..
Kobe 9 fav traction, Kobe 5 fav cushion, Kobe 6 fav support, Kobe 4/8 fav looks
I would say my favorite shoe to play in a game is the Kobe 5. I feel unstoppable in those, the next shoe being a kobe 9.
GT cut 1 played like a Kobe to me as well.
When are you doing the Harden 8 Zach?
The best Kobe FOR MY FOOT AND PLAYSTYLE are the Kobe 5s. I had both the OG and protros and loved each
2:35 Kobe was wearing Cybertrucks?
Please do a review on the new UA SlipSpeed MEGA
I do not have a favorite because I can't buy them... In my crappy country the 6 Proto came in very few units and they sold out quickly, even being crazy overpriced. Same thing happened with the 8 Protro, so I will always just be curious to find out how they feel to hoop and probably never fulfill this curiosity. BTW I've always been a loyal Nike customer for basketball shoes, but I've stopped buying things from the brand because of this artificial lack of stock. Unless I am wrong? Why Nike doesn't make more shoes available for us to buy?
Low supply = high demand
Tatum 2 review coming soon?
Kobe Bryant is mostly responsible for the fall of high top basketball sneakers. Raised in Italy, Kobe noticed that soccer players play in a fairly similar way to basketball player. Kobe told Nike point-blank, 'I want the lowest, lightest-weight basketball shoe ever’.
My first pair of Kobe's are the high top 1s which is why I got so hyped when they protro'd the pair. Bought the protro 1 and been playing with it since release. Gone through a couple of reglues due to wear and tear I dunno I just feel much more comfortable playing in high tops than the lows guessing due to bad ankles? Lmao. 😅
YEEUP!! as a tkd martial artist iLuved How kobes hug and let me be NIMBLE in intrakit situations
**Feeling a lil unsafe in these KD's 😅
I have been dying to see some midsole teardowns of classic Kobes (especially the 9s, 10s, 11s, and AD NXT 360s), any chance you would do a video showing the actual measurements on these shoes? I am assuming the teardowns shown in this video are not from previous reviews on your channel. And I don't mind if you only cut up already worn-out sneakers.
I’ll put them in the members section if you want and I’ll put them in the Google sheet
@@FootDoctorZach That would be great, thanks! I always sort the sheet by lowest heel height, curious where the Kobes will land