What are the Best Kobes for Basketball?
It’s nothing out of the ordinary to find someone who wants to associate with and look like someone else who is pretty much popular. This cuts across all fields, whether it is music, or sports, or in fantasy films.
You probably know someone who knows someone who wants to be like or to associate with someone else, often prominent people who are held in high esteem.
For instance, I have always wanted to look like Kim Kardashian. Her love for fitness and health fascinates me to a great extent.
Likewise, you will find basketball players who usually want to own what has been dubbed ‘signature shoes’ that are linked to particular players who left a legacy in the sport.
Let’s talk about Michael Jordan. Who wouldn’t want to don that glamorous look given by his Air Jordan 5 Retro sneakers? Perhaps, the signature shoes give a sense of confidence to the player besides the class that comes with them.
That now explains why Kobe Bryant was no exception. Having been an excellent NBA baller since 1996, he couldn’t afford to retire without a legacy of his own.
He got his first signature shoe 1997, working with the popular Adidas brand. By the time he was retiring, he had a trail of 19 signature shoes linked to his name.
Do you wish to know some of the best Kobe Bryant signature Basketball shoes? You are in the right place. I have done a review of the top 5 Kobe shoes that you might want to try out.
| ① Nike Kobe Mamba Focus - TOP PICK |  |
|---|---|
| ② Nike Kobe Mamba Instinct |  |
| ③ Nike Kobe 1 Proto/a> |  |
| ④ KOB 5 Mamba Zoom |  |
| ⑤ KOB AD Black Mamba |  |
1. Nike Kobe Mamba Focus
With an Amazon rating of a whopping 4.5 stars, this is one of the best Kobe Shoes in the market. They have been designed in various colors to suit your preference. They are fitted with eyelets made from Thermoplastic Polyurethane, which look like snake eyes.
Mamba Focus is relatively cheaper compared to the other shoe types in this review, and you can get a pair at a price of between 80 and 300 US dollars.
If you want to be in control of your speed in the court, these low tops are the best option. You are sure that they will provide some protection to your ankles in a much as they will be free.
Thanks to their heel cage and the framework that is swoosh-shaped, Mamba Focus is light and perfect for those random movements and dunking. They would work perfectly well with court guards.
On top of that, the shoes have wide soles that provide sufficient stability to the users. According to customer reviews, the shoes have a superior grip, even when used on dirty floors.
Pros
- They are affordable
- They are stable
- The outer soles have a good grip
Cons
- Less breathable
- Too stiff and need some breaking in
2. Nike Kobe Mamba Instinct
Just by looking at the price of this shoe type and the reviews, you can be sure that you are getting quality. Tagged at a price of between 140 to 296 US dollars, this is one of the pretty most expensive Kobe shoes in the market.
To boost your confidence, these shoes have a rating of 4.5 stars in Amazon. First things first, the shoes come in different colors so you get to pick whichever suits your taste.
Do you have problems with your feet becoming uncomfortable when it is too hot? Well, you were considered. Mamba Instinct has a mesh upper construction that allows the sneakers to be highly breathable.
Therefore, you can wear the shoes for long periods without worrying about sweating a lot.
The midsole has been perfectly designed to ensure that it provides cushioning to your feet and to absorb impact from jumping or landing. This is largely due to the drop-in lunarlon foam that has been used.
Finally, the outsole has a perfect micro-tuned tread pattern and therefore offers excellent traction to the user.
Pros
- Has good traction
- They are breathable
- The midsole offers good cushioning to your feet
Cons
- They are a bit expensive
- They have a poor fit
3. Nike Kobe 1 Proto
Have you been wondering which was Bryant Kobe’s first signature Nike basketball shoe? Surprise! I present to you the Nike Kobe 1 Proto shoe for men. This is where his journey began.
With an Amazon rating of 4.5 stars, this is the most, and I mean the most expensive shoe among the top 5 that have been reviewed herein. The shoe comes for 789 US dollars.
Well if you want the best, you have to go deeper into your pockets. On the alternative, you can still get a cheaper pair of sneakers that still serve the purpose perfectly.
These mid top sneakers are the epitome of comfort. For starters, they have been manufactured using a lightweight full-grain leather, and will therefore not exert any unnecessary weight on your feet.
Further, the shoes feature a padded collar which further enhances your comfort by preventing your leg from getting irritated by the grip of the collar.
Their rubber outsole that has been designed with a herringbone tread pattern offers the best traction needed for both indoor and outdoor training. As such, you can move about without having to worry about slipping or losing balance.
The Nike swoosh that has been embedded on their side gives the shoe a complete look of class and style. You can swing into the court with these Kobe shoes and count on them to boost your confidence.
The shoes have a perfect fit. You don’t have to worry about your toe getting pinched or feeling some kind of discomforts when running around in the court.
Pros
- They are comfortable
- They have great traction
- They are classy
Cons
- They are expensive
- They don’t come in different colors
4. KOB 5 Mamba Zoom
If you can’t fish out those hundreds of dollars to buy a pair of high-end Kobe shoes, you can still get cheaper Kobe shoes that have all the features but at a fraction of that huge price.
These KOB 5 Protro Zoom shoes are the answer. The low tops have a rating of 5 stars in Amazon, meaning they are not less than you can expect. After all, customers never lie, or so they say. Right?
The shoes have been manufactured from synthetic leather, meaning they are easy to clean. Further, the outsole has been made from rubber with an intricate tread pattern to ensure that they give you all the traction that you need.
They come with laces to make sure you get that fit that you need to jump and dunk around the basketball court. However, they don’t seem to be having a variety of options or colors from which you can choose.
After placing your order, the shoes will be delivered to you after about 5 to 7 working days.
Pros
- They have a great traction
- They are affordable
- They are easy to clean
Cons
- The leather is synthetic
- Long delivery period
5.KOB AD Black Mamba
These impressive mid tops, dubbed KOB AD black Mamba are relatively cheaper just like the last, and friendly to your pocket. The Kobe shoes come in a great variety of color waves therefore you get to exercise your freedom of choice.
What is more, the shoes are made from a soft material. Therefore, the sneakers remain soft to your feet and comfortable.
Their thick outsole seems to provide great stability and good traction so your steps are assured while moving around the court. At a price of just 135 US dollars, they are both trendy and fashionable yet again perfect for sporting.
On the downside, however, they are not the most durable Kobe shoes that exist in the market. At the top, they have been designed using a thin fabric material that can fall apart at any time.
As such, you don’t want to use a brush or anything hard to clean your shoe as they will easily rip off.
Further, the shoes do not appear to be very breathable. But at their price, they are just a good choice to stick with.
Pros
- They are cheap
- They have good stability
- They are soft on your feet
Cons
- Not very breathable
- They are not durable
How do you get the best pick?
So as Kobe Bryant used to say, you should always be prepared for what you want to do. Let us use the Kobe analogy here.
To ensure he delivered his best, he had no option but to wake up as early as 3 a.m. to hit the gym. To him, hard work was the key. He couldn’t leave things to fate. His hard work and his ‘Mamba mentality’ mantra kept him going.
So then, will you just wake up one day and land the best Kobe sneakers? I highly doubt it. There are 19 of his signature shoes available. You need to know what exactly you want to buy a pair.
Preference
People don’t usually have the same sense of fashion or design. What might be unattractive to one person might be just okay to another.
Some Kobe brand shoes come in different colors to suit your prevalence. Therefore, you have to exercise that particular option and settle for one. Remember, the design of the shoe overtly contribute to how you perform in the court.
If you feel confident enough, you will bring out the best in you. Truth be told, not all Kobe shoes existing are impressive. Whenever you think I’m exaggerating, just remember the Adidas Kobe 2 and remind yourself why Kobe reverted to Nike.
Comfort
I doubt if you are going to be that good basketball player if you are not even comfortable with what you are wearing.
To state the obvious, the Kobe shoes come in different makes. We have low tops, mid tops, and high tops. So what role do you play in the court? There is no way a guard is going to wear some high tops to the game.
The reason is that guards need to be pretty much swift and agile. High tops don’t encourage that. Instead, low tops will work perfectly fine.
Stability and traction
You don’t want to sustain injuries while playing injuries. The easiest way to make sure of this is to check that the shoe you are purchasing has some kind of stability.
Check the outsole of the Kobe shoe and see what it is made from. Rubber would be best. Likewise, check the tread patterns drawn on it. The intricate they get the better. Those will offer you the best traction.
Longevity
Finally, ensure that you are not investing your money in shoes that are bound to fall apart the next way.
Always check the material that has been used to manufacture the shoe. You might want to avoid shoes made from synthetic leather for instance as they are bound to wear off if exposed to the sun.
Shoes made from soft materials as well may rip if cleaned using a hard material like a brush.
Conclusion
Are you still dreaming of owning a pair of Bryant Kobe’s signature basketball sneakers someday? I believe this article will be of great use to guide you through the process, as it has extensive research and insights.
But just to make it even easier for you, I recommend that you consider buying the Nike Kobe Mamba Focus shoes. Here are my reasons why I would go for the shoe if I were you.
As far as the price is concerned, the shoes are relatively affordable as you don’t have to spend more than 300 dollars.
Furthermore, the shoes have been manufactured in a low top design meaning in as much as they will support your ankles, they will not affect your agility while in the court. You will be in full control of your speed and movement.
The Kobe shoes also guarantee you a nice grip and traction while you are playing. That seems to be the most important aspect besides the perfect fit that they offer. Stability is also part of the package.
Grab yourself a pair of Mamba Focus and let’s keep Bryant’s legacy alive.