The season may be over for Kobe Bryant, but his gifts to the game go far beyond him playing on the court. Unveiled officially today, the Nike Kobe X sees the latest chapter in his storied signature series.
Designed by the great Eric Avar, the mastermind behind some of the most memorable models for Kobe, Penny, GP and countless others, the Kobe X is based on transparency and functionality, showcasing a multitude of performance-driven tech in the most minimal of manners.
The model’s midsole features Lunarlon cushioning with Nike Free inspired grooves to aid natural motion. On top of that, a heel Zoom Air unit enhances the responsive ride. This is all visible with a clear outsole that Nike is dubbing as its best traction system yet, denoted by nodules that mimic the treads of performance race car tires.
Continuing to evolve on the upper, the Kobe X debuts an open-weave textile that draws from the pattern and strength of sharkskin. A mesh bootie caters to comfort and ventilation, with nubuck taking to the tongue. Lastly, nods to Kobe’s Achilles injury are denoted on the left heel. This also serves as the muse for the introductory “5 AM Flight” colorway, which corresponds to his Vine of an early morning jump off a 40-foot diving platform, signifying his perseverance and ability to face fears head on.
Check out detailed photos of the Nike Kobe X “5 AM Flight” below and look for this colorway to launch on February 7th.
Nike Kobe X “5 AM Flight”
Release Date: February 7, 2015
