Kobe X Official Thread Elite Series ‘Elite Team’ April 18th, ‘Elevate’ May 15th, ‘Rose Gold’ June 5

[just another pair]

That doesn't stop him from breaking down how the shoe is made, what it's supposed to do, and whether it does it well or not. It's not like he's reviewing dudes' shooting mechanics.

He's reviewing how the shoe performs when he's running, stopping, cutting, putting force on the shoe, changing directions like everyone else.

Most of the guys designing these shoes probably can't shoot either.

QFT!

 

[arabianite3]

I think we are all just a little frustrated with the current state of basketball shoes. It is a fairly unique time compared to when I grew up (I'm 32 now, grew up playing basketball and wearing basketball shoes casually for the most part).

Growing up in the 90's/2000's, things were simpler- the new releases were fashionable to wear, and at the time were the best basketball shoes, tech wise (examples from my time- Jordans 8-14, flightposites, foamposites, other shoes with Zoom which was just getting on the scene). You had the best of both worlds in one purchase. It was tough back then to decide what was going to get designated as your ball shoe- usually you made the choice by what you owned that matched your jersey colors and you were willing to beat up.

Enter the late 2000's to now. Best balling shoes were leaps and bounds better than the ball shoes of yesteryear (latter kobe line, some lebron models, hyperdunks, etc.)
Shoes were lighter, better cushion, better overall. But you couldn't catch me dead rocking a pair of Kobe V or VI off the court, as much as I loved to play in them.

Nowadays I buy shoes to wear casually (a minority of my purchases) and shoes to hoop in (most of my present day purchases). Rarely are there shoes nowadays that fill both needs (but a pleasant surprise when that right model/colorway comes along).

I have given up on the Kobe line being wearable casually and aestetichally, just hoping they perform well. Both looks and peformance, in my opinion, dropped off after the 6.

 

[senorroboto2k5]

First off, big companies wear test the hell out of shoes with separate people and many times the athletes themselves - so the designer comment is a moot point since many go back to the drawing board when issues arise. That's why it was so perplexing as to why the LBJ 11s were such a failure in terms of him never wearing them.

Also, the point is not how someone shoots in the shoes. I agree, to a certain extent, that his info can be useful, but I want someone who wears the hell outta the shoe MORE THAN ME so I know what to expect over a long period of time. If he's just doing the casual pickup game here and there and plays like he did in that video, but when writing a review talks about "hard cuts" and "impact protection," I'm going to now take his reviews with a grain of salt.

I don't think the point is how someone shoots in the shoes. That was the guy's problem above. Your gripes with the review certainly make more sense.

And yes the wear-testing probably makes up for the fact designers themselves might not be good at the game... the only reason I brought that up is because dude was acting like a guy can't have a credible opinion on a shoe's performance if he "sux." So should a guy have input on the design of your shoe if he "sux" or is that not a problem?

 

[tigo0240]

 

[T0INE]

 

Was wondering why this thread jumped today.

 

[sk33termcg33]

Ha not like there's much else to talk about these underwhelming joints until new pictures surface

 

[troyjerby]

The shoe is gonna be **** compared to the kobe 9s performance wise and casual. First off these look like it has first generation mesh and since it's a basketball shoe it needs support. I don't see any type of flywire or a dynamic fit system for mid foot lockdown so the mesh is most likely going to be stiff. The stiffness annoys a lot of people as for me not so much but this is going to cause the shoe to pinch and not being able to conform to your feet like let's say a leather or flyknit, as for the ankle support there is probably an internal TPU shank/cup which helps the foot to stay in place and not move side to side. The traction isn't going to be pleasant either, its gonna be a dust collector as all the color ways released so far have been translucent. The technology on the cushioning is here but I don't think it's used properly. We have a full length lunarlon with a pretty big zoom unit in the heel, the cushioning reminds me of the KD 5 elites or the Melo 9s because it looks like a caged zoom unit. Caged zoom basically feels like max air because it's literally caged this causes it to not compress as much so theres little responsiveness. It's not that bad of a cushion but what worries me is that the caging of the zoom looks like it extends through out the whole shoe this is the first time I've seen of a caged lunarlon but let's hope it changes to a different material after the caged zoom because if it doesn't that would hurt the shoes flexibility making the heel to toe transition feel like a 1 2 rather than smooth ride. Hopefully I'm wrong about this stuff and I may have exaggerated a bit saying that this shoe is **** but coming from the kobe 9 EM to this cheap looking thing... That really pisses me off. I really want to see the Kobe line and basketball technology to progress rather than going back to old tech and making a gimmick then selling it for $150+.

Also what do yo guys think of the highs?
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[ricanmamba]

Dang night wing is getting destroyed in this thread.

 

[GrizzlyAnimal]

 

[Kobekobe]

i'll review this shoe once i get it. i'm not like any of those scrubs in the jordan video

 

[wallysmallz619]

from the store straight to the indoor court for me

 

[mf gooze]

Also what do yo guys think of the highs?

look like such a step backwards from the IX 

 ...aesthetically of course.

 

[theassassin23]

from the store straight to the indoor court for me

100

 

[blacklion23]

look like such a step backwards from the IX   ...aesthetically of course.

It truly is.

 

[tlamora11]

 
Kobe golf shoes or Tiger Woods bball shoes???

Nike trolling with these designs 

 

that pic ruins all hope i had

 

[blastercombo]

That shoe is pretty much spot on

 

[mastralf]

Gotta say the purple lows are pretty the best ive seen so far. Blue lagoons are meh.....the green ones seem ok but I don't mind those ones. Of course im only talking within the Kobe X. Im gonna get a pair at somepoint I already know it but I don't think im gonna go all out like I did with the 9's

 

[sophisticatedg]

I've actually liked all but the green version of the lows...As for the high, I'm completely on the fence...I think some better coloways and people are going to come around on these two models

 

[twinsnyc]

That doesn't stop him from breaking down how the shoe is made, what it's supposed to do, and whether it does it well or not. It's not like he's reviewing dudes' shooting mechanics.

He's reviewing how the shoe performs when he's running, stopping, cutting, putting force on the shoe, changing directions like everyone else.

Most of the guys designing these shoes probably can't shoot either.

You show me in that video where he did any of those things you mentioned? I agree with you but all he did was brick and jog.

 

[cpowell54]

Really looking forward to the id on these where you can change the overlay and basev color of the fuse

 

[eightfivefresh]

 
Kobe golf shoes or Tiger Woods bball shoes???

Nike trolling with these designs 

 

 

[dynasty929]

The blue lagoon gotta be a great heat thou.....definitely cop.

 

[madgame87]

Looking forward to a decent review on these.

IMO for me looks are probably the least important factor. As a guard, it's gotta be lightweight, low to the floor (air max a no?), sticky traction and a lockdown - sock-like fit.

Fuse, flywire, flyknit don't really give a toss what technology it is.

Nike needs to ensure they identify the problem or objective first then supplement with technology, rather than use technology to create a problem that doesn't exist.

FWIW - the lows don't look to bad. A big concern is the flexibility of the upper which at the moment looks stiffer than a pronstar.

 

[Blue Mamba]

I think people are becoming too reliant on basketball shoes looking good rather than for their actual use... to play basketball in them. 

 

[nyc757]

This is NT baby. No ones hooping in shoes here

Its about the fit