The time has come for Kobe Bryant’s 10th signature sneaker to be unveiled.
If you were wondering what all the details and performance features were about then everything you need to know is directly below. Pay attention to the traction section, the rubber composition will be key in the shoes performance under foot. Also, they said that there was a new type of Zoom Air used… doesn’t look new, but who knows.
Check it all out below and share your thoughts in the comment section.
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Superior functionality is often driven by a less-is-more design philosophy where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. The KOBE X blends three essential performance elements crafted into a clean, minimalist form.
A MODERN LOOK FOR THE FUTURE
Designer Eric Avar’s purposeful design philosophy driving Kobe Bryant’s tenth signature shoe comes alive with hybrid cushioning, an advanced traction system and a seamless textile upper. These technical innovations, combined with an inspirational narrative based on transparency, separates the KOBE X from the competition.
“Innovation drives you to new places,” said Bryant. “The KOBE X combines strong design from the past together into a modern look for the future.”
PUSHING THE LIMITS WITH KOBE BRYANT
Working with Bryant for a decade has equipped designer Eric Avar to push the limits and help shape the footwear industry. From his 2008 Hyperdunk design that redefined basketball shoe materials and design, to the 2009 KOBE 4 design that introduced a low silhouette and sparked major debate, to the 2014 KOBE 9 featuring Flyknit technology for the first time in a basketball shoe – these are just a few examples of Avar and Bryant taking design to new and unexpected places.
“The Kobe signature line allows us to think bold with provocative concepts that spark conversation,” said Avar, Nike Creative Director and VP of Innovation. “Kobe’s tenth shoe is a super light, responsive and purposeful look at high performance, high design and high style. The work is exciting and the collective teamwork around the project is contagious.”
HYBRID CUSHIONING ENHANCES NATURAL MOVEMENT
The KOBE X hybrid cushioning combines Lunarlon with Nike Free-inspired siping grooves to enhance natural movement, along with a new Zoom Air unit in the heel. This trio leads to a responsive ride that is a great combination of firm, soft and flexible. 
Both the midsole and outsole are encapsulated in a translucent rubber casing to visually showcase the inner-technology. This transparent approach was also inspired by Bryant’s recent willingness to personally open up and reveal more of himself at deeper levels without reservation.
ADVANCED TRACTION SYSTEM FOR MAXIMUM GRIP
The outsole traction and grip of a basketball shoe can make or break its on-court performance. The KOBE X was developed under Nike’s four-part formula to evaluate the effectiveness of traction: surface type (indoor, outdoor or both), design pattern, surface ratio and rubber composition.
The KOBE X features what could be considered the most effective traction system in the 43-year history of Nike’s basketball shoes.
The outsole features hundreds of “nodules” that grip the court, similar to the intricacy of the treads on performance racecar tires, which grip and splay at high speeds. This new traction system works in tandem with the midsole cushioning to splay, flex and grip the court for zero distractions and maximum grip, similar to tires on a racetrack.
The outsole is finished off with a gold Roman numeral “X,” a hand-drawn design detail from Avar, embedded beneath the Zoom unit; it’s another example of the detailed design obsession brought to each Kobe shoe.
SEAMLESS TEXTILE UPPER OFFERS LIGHTWEIGHT STRENGTH AND BREATHABILITY
Advanced textiles offer lightweight breathability and are more durable and strong than traditional mesh. The KOBE X introduces a new open-weave textile that is inspired by the pattern and strength of sharkskin. 
Inside the shoe a mesh bootie enhances ventilation and provides a comfortable, snug fit. Nubuck fabric on the shoe’s tongue features a mamba-inspired snake scale pattern, while the tongue’s underside features unique graphic prints symbolic of each colorway storyline.
The left heel in each pair features four red lines representing Bryant’s resilient return from injuring his left Achilles tendon. To repair the tendon, doctors used four feet of stitching thread in surgery. The Kobe sheath logo adorns the right heel of each shoe.
STORYTELLING: TAKING INSPIRATION FROM A 5 AM FLIGHT
Each KOBE X colorway reveals something new about Bryant’s drive and determination. The lead colorway, 5 AM Flight, takes inspiration from Bryant’s 40-foot, early morning leap from a diving platform in August 2013 as he recovered from his ACL surgery. The jump is symbolic of Bryant’s perseverance to overcome the odds and face fear head-on. The shoe’s blue palette represents the pool water of Bryant’s 5 AM flight.
KOBE X COLLECTION FEATURING ADVANCED APPAREL TECHNOLOGY
New KOBE X apparel will hook to the hues and graphics of the five footwear colorways. Specifically, the new Kobe HyperElite hoodie features advanced apparel technology: interior stretch-mesh to increase range of motion, Therma-FIT fleece fabric for warmth and a scooped, loose-fit hem for extra movement.
AVAILABILITY
The KOBE X 5 AM Flight and coordinated apparel is available globally at nike.com and select retail locations on Feb. 7. The remaining four colorways of the KOBE X will be introduced over the coming weeks.
Sounds interesting.
“The KOBE X features what could be considered the most effective traction system in the 43-year history of Nike’s basketball shoes.” Nightwing, after reading the article, have your views on the traction changed?
Just before that there was “surface type (indoor, outdoor or both), design pattern, surface ratio and rubber composition.”
You have to break it down into pieces and factors. Pattern, mostly likely proven to work in wear-testing phase. Rubber composition is likely the reason for the pattern to work so effectively… but, surface type isn’t always tested ‘properly’. Indoor/ Outdoor or both, that is tested. Other factors to consider with surface types; dirty/ dusty, refinished or not… level of proper maintenance is just as important as the other two aspects.
So while the rubber compound and pattern might be effective, we do not yet know to what degree when throwing in other, more typical, variables that the normal person will run into more often than not.
Chris please test the kobe 10 on dusty indoor court when you get it
i believe me and most of my friends do not have the access to get to really clean court in my country
We always play in dusty indoor court
thank you very much chris i love you
I was just thinking how Nike pitched the traction to us. Hundreds of nodules that splay and grip to the ground like a performance race car is good and bad. Those tiny little nodules would probably burn out with excessive friction in short time. Think about it, race cars never finish a race with the same set of tires on.
I think the new part of zoom air is saying that the zoom air is “new” as it wasn’t incorporated in the previous 2 models with lunarlon.
That is probably how it was meant.
I’m feeling them. Just not the price.
You can buy the XX9 for 180 after discounts. Easy pass.
ON EBAY, THERE ARE SOME 29S SELLING FOR $160
Cushion looks good, but how thick is the lunarlon midsole? Who knows how traction it’s going to perform.
Not a big fan of lows but the highs look nice!
Looks good for a $130 shoe, not $180
Absolutely, it’s basically the Kobe IV revisited.
they r growing on me… but those xx9s…
In theory that pattern on traction looks good, scared that since the small grooves might give way for dust to clog it. Then again it reminds me a bit of the rose 5 and the diamonds on that shoe was surprisingly good
I agree, but I think it will all come down to how the rubber reacts with dust. I remember the KD 4 & 5 Elite using rubber that looks sticky and hard (like these) but when dust was around it stuck to the rubber causing you to get that ice skate feeling. Hopefully that isnt the case here.
oh no please no
i only can play in dusty indoor court and i buy shoes like once a year
no im prety sure there were no complaints on kd5s traction, or am i wrong?
i think even the elites got 10/10
what highs? it there a high top version?
Sounds too good to be true, but if Nike really means business we could possibly looking at THE BEST traction to date. And I think the Kobe 9 and AJ XX8 are pretty hard to beat.
Aesthetically I loved the 9’s so these are about 1/2 steps back for me. Then again it could also just be this colourway. Technically they seem to have an idea where they want to go, so it’ll be interesting to see how it turns out.
i know its not all about looks, but i wish the design of the kobe and lebron looked more different.
The kobe 1-4 were unique and really different from each other, but since then, they have all looked pretty similar, except maybe the 9. Then the lebrons up to the 7 were all unique, before starting to mellow out and look the same
im really curious about that traction, they said it could be one of the most effective designs in nike basketball history but im not sure how i feel
In my opinion these are great. The lunar (my second fav foam) combined with zoom shoud be comfortable and responsive and the mesh will be a great upper. Traction reminds me of the D-Rose 5. Just scared it will clog
looks nice….is the same designer as Kobe 8?
Kobe’s story.especially 5am, lifts my spirit and touches my heart
Well the LeBron 11 was full length zoom an lunarlon so these should be very good. I very curious about the traction. I like this all blue colorways better than the all stars.
Did anyone notice that Kobe was balling in the Kobe 7 in the video and not the Kobe 10? I was looking forward to see him highlight the shoe in action like they did last year with the Kobe 9 Elite.
I’m surprised that they apparently made no mention of one of the most unique aspects of the shoe: that black lateral forefoot shank/stability clip that wraps up the sidewall from under the foot. Don’t recall ever having seen anything like that, at least not that far toward the front of the shoe (the Penny line comes to mind, but on most of those it was a foam wing located closer to the midfoot; the Kobe 9 had the carbon fiber joints, but, again, it was at the midfoot and heel).
Not wild about how these look aesthetically, but, at the same time, their simple/boring appearance makes me hope that Avar and his team focused mostly on the performance aspect—the components seem to have the potential to cohere as a great shoe to hoop in.
… When I wrote “they apparently made no mention,” I was referring to the official Nike unveiling, not WearTesters or Nightwing—I read about the unveiling on a couple of other sites, and none of them mentioned the stability shank/clip either, so I’m assuming that the Nike statement didn’t include any info about it.
Does that mean that all the kobe x will have translucent soles? (This is what happened with all the Lebron 12s)
I’m wondering this too. It appears that way.
I’m very curious to see if this new upper is stronger than EM, mega fuse or that hyperknit used in the kobe 9 elite
I was wondering if the upper is somewhat similar to some of the material on the nike free 5.0 2014
Can’t wait to try these, just worried about stability (in any shoe really). If that black pair he was wearing at the Bulls vs. Lakers game release, those will be a pair I will likely pick up.
This sort of reminds me of the pods on the traction pattern on j kidds shoes the zoom uptempos those worked fantastically. Combined with herringbone in theory it should really work fine. Cant wait to try these out. Always appreciate this info you post for free nightwing. It really is a generous offer
Recovering from ACL surgery in 2013?!?
Does anyone think the Kobe X’s are better than the Lebron 12’s?
Basically this is a tennis/soccer style shoe hybrid, with a lateral support wing for hoops. Nike has also put everyone on notice that this is indeed a NIKE shoe with this design as well, with the swoosh overwhelming much of the product. Kobe’s branding is in the same position on this shoe as Dame Lil’s, is on his. I wonder who did what first . . .