4 Best Kobe Shoes in 2022

If you are Kobe Bryant, not even retirement or death can stop your shoes from saturating the market. Up to this day, the best Kobe shoes are still being sold like pancakes by both online and offline retailers.
Although Kobe shoes are so hard to get these days, we were able to review some of the most popular models to help you find the best.
How we test basketball shoes
The best Kobe basketball shoes from Nike are assessed using online inputs from experts, basketball enthusiasts, and ordinary buyers. We then come up with each shoe’s CoreScore, and then rank them accordingly.
Best Kobe shoes overall
CoreScore
The Corescore is a score from 0-100 that summarizes opinions from users and experts. Below shows the distribution of scores for all basketball shoes.
This shoe has a 8% penalty on its user ratings because it has fewer than 50 ratings. This is to avoid that shoes with few reviews unjustly receives high scores.
Learn more- Top 16% most popular basketball shoes
Pros
- Amazing traction
- Bounce and responsiveness
- Noticeable impact protection
- Reliable support and lockdown
- Flexible upper materials
- Comfortable tongue
- True to size
- Stylish
Cons
- Break-in needed
- Dust pickup
- Not for outdoor use
Verdict
It’s not uncommon for brands to bring back past models as retro releases. Nike surely did not make a mistake in taking the sixth Kobe out of the shelves again. The Nike Kobe 6 Protro had fans YEARNING; and it did NOT disappoint!
Kobe’s shoes have always been regarded to have great traction; the late Kobe Bryant, after all, was known for his rather sticky foot work. We had high expectations for this bad boy, and we’re happy to share that it has not let us down. Sudden turns with awkward angles? Quick stops? None of these were difficult to execute.
Moving on to the cushion; the Kobe 6 Protro is really expanding its reach. Kobe was a guard, but this doesn’t seem like just a guard shoe for us. With the amount of impact protection that it delivers ALONGSIDE court feel and bounce, even bigger and heavier men could get to enjoy this. Even the great LeBrons don’t have this type of versatility!
As far as support goes, we have one word for this one: amazing! We didn’t experience any issue whatsoever. Like a criminal, the foot felt like it was (comfortably) cuffed to the footbed. It sure ain’t goin’ nowhere, baby!
Still, you might see some people complaining that this shoe isn’t really for outdoor use. We agree. But seriously? This is a Kobe for heaven’s sake! Kobes don’t deserve hard labor. It’s kinda (coughs!) pricey, so it’s best to be played indoors, and only flaunted outdoors!
Kobe shoes with best grip
CoreScore
The Corescore is a score from 0-100 that summarizes opinions from users and experts. Below shows the distribution of scores for all basketball shoes.
This shoe has a 8% penalty on its user ratings because it has fewer than 50 ratings. This is to avoid that shoes with few reviews unjustly receives high scores.
Learn morePros
- Excellent performance
- Durable traction
- Light and minimal
- Reliable outsole grip
- Well-cushioned midsole
- Great support and lockdown
- Comfortable footbed
Cons
- Not for the outdoors
- Traction attracts dust
- Expensive
Verdict
If you judge it by its name, you’d think that the Nike Kobe AD NXT Fastfit is (1) a speed shoe with (2) a really nice fit. Well, you are not wrong. Indeed, this basketball shoe feels really light and minimal. It also has a really explosive midsole that really helps propel us to the basket.
Aside from that, support and lockdown are to die for. We’ve never felt so confident to move around before this. There is no wobbliness in the forefoot. There is also no heel slippage. We even dare say that the FastFit technology that’s used in the upper is better implemented here than in any other shoe.
Yet, the shoe is not yet done surprising us. Hear this: the traction is INSANE. It’s squeakiness gives away the fact that it bites the floor so well; quick stops and swift changes in direction are so easily executed.
While energy return is indeed great with this one, it’s not the only function that its midsole tooling is made for. The hardworking minds at Nike have found a way to incorporate really noticeable impact protection in this guard shoe.
It’s true that the price can drive players (hopefully not you) away from this shoe. But for us, this shoe is dope! So, take our money anytime, Nike!
Kobe shoes with best cushioning
CoreScore
The Corescore is a score from 0-100 that summarizes opinions from users and experts. Below shows the distribution of scores for all basketball shoes.
- Top 7% in basketball shoes
- Top 6% in Nike basketball shoes
Pros
- Beastly traction
- Lightweight and responsive
- Great impact protection
- Solid support and stability
- Satisfactory lockdown
- Durable materials
- Rich colorway options
Cons
- Not for outdoor play
- Lacks ventilation
- Foot moisture buildup
- Needs frequent wiping
Verdict
Kobe’s post-retirement sneakers are true bad boys on the court. The Kobe AD Mid offers a noteworthy cushioning system. We just loved how comfortable it felt underneath our feet; it was as if we stepped on cotton!
Do not get us wrong, though! Just because we said it’s cushy doesn’t really mean that court feel has already been thrown out of the window. We don’t know how Nike did it, but there was just a perfect blend of the two.
Another thing that we truly love about this shoe is the fact that the AD Mid was super supportive even if it only has basic support features. This proves that a shoe doesn’t really have to have flashy techs to be effective on the court.
Aside from that, the AD Mid is also a complete beast when it comes to traction. We can’t tell you enough how sticky the outsole is, especially on fairly clean courts. This shoe is very close to the AD NXT Fastfit, our number 1 for traction.
Because this shoe is also light, really comfortable, and aesthetically pleasing, its usage has gone beyond the court. We didn’t mind wearing this for our gigs after our games. Yep, if you get this one, you get not only a “reliable playmate” but also a “fun friend.”
Best Kobe shoes for outdoor
CoreScore
The Corescore is a score from 0-100 that summarizes opinions from users and experts. Below shows the distribution of scores for all basketball shoes.
This shoe has a 8% penalty on its user ratings because it has fewer than 50 ratings. This is to avoid that shoes with few reviews unjustly receives high scores.
Learn more- Top 30% most popular basketball shoes
Pros
- Strong grip on clean floors
- Plush heel
- Springy forefoot
- Dependable foot containment
- Next-to-skin comfort
- Light
- Stylish
Cons
- Narrow
- Dust-prone outsole
Verdict
Building a protro is not easy, especially if the OG was a sneaker well-loved by many because of both its on-court performance and cultural significance. Yet, The Swoosh hit it right with the Nike Kobe 5 Protro. We dare say it’s a well developed protro: it adapts to modern demands without losing sight of its backstory.
Now, what’s so good about this unshelved Kobe? First and foremost, it is compatible with the blacktop. Given the pandemic, many of us don’t have any other choice but to play outdoors. And we’re telling you: this bad boy right here is a beast even on those rough courts!
Support is also out of this world. The lateral outrigger effectively prevented side rolls. The heel counter successfully prevented slippages. The lacing system kept the whole shoe in its place. There really is absolutely nothing to worry about.
Now that we’ve mentioned a lot of features, you’re probably thinking “Damn! That shoe must be heavy!” But boy, you are so wrong. This is actually the lightest basketball shoe we’ve ever played in. No other sneaker comes close to this when it comes to lightness.
The only thing that will probably stop you from getting this is its price. We get that; but hey, because this shoe looks really fire, you don’t have to spend more dollars for another sneaker. This is two-in-one, my bro! Now, isn’t that a good deal?
Are Kobe shoes right for you?
Nike Kobe shoes are designed to suit the needs of, well, Kobe Bryant. They can be good for those who weigh, stand, and play like him.
Player profile
Tall and relatively slim, Bryant is easily among the league’s most standout players:
Height |
6’6” |
Weight |
205 lbs |
Position Played |
Shooting Guard |
Playing style
Kobe Bryant himself described his playing style this way: “Just mean. Mean. Just very aggressive and very combative and confrontational and cutthroat. And I took a lot of pride in competing that way.”
Anyone can be as mean and confrontational as Bryant if they have his admirable footwork. Kobe shoes are built for this, that’s why they are characterized by the following:
- above average traction
- really pronounced court feel
- considerably lighter
The different Nike Kobe collections
Bryant has at least four Nike signature shoe series available in the United States.
Collection | Description |
Nike Kobe | Kobe Bryant’s main line of Nike signatures. |
Nike Kobe AD | Basically a continuation of the Nike Kobe line; launched after Bryant retired in 2016. |
Nike Kobe Protro | Another of Bryant’s post-retirement lines; they are basically Nike Kobe retros that are retooled with more recent technologies. |
Nike Kobe Venomenon | Bryant’s line of outdoor- and blacktop-ready basketball shoes. |
Nike Kobe Mamba | Bryant’s line of more affordable shoes; usually equipped with proven and tested technologies. |
Aside from the ones listed above, Kobe Bryant also has short-lived lines of signature shoes. A good example is the Nike Kobe Mentality line, which stopped on its second release.
Bryant’s main Nike signatures are often as expensive as the Nike LeBrons and Air Jordan sneakers. While the techs used on them are not exclusive to the line, these techs are more effectively implemented. Because of this, many reviewers use Kobe shoes as their benchmarks.
The aesthetics of the best Kobe shoes
Kobe Bryant signature shoes are as pretty as they are beastly on the court. You can actually use them to look fashionable every day.
Low, mid, or high? Pick what you want.
Bryant was widely credited as the one who popularized low-tops in basketball. In fact, star players like Kyrie Irving and James Harden also produce and wear signature low-tops because they have been inspired by him.
Science says that the height of the collar has very little effect, if at all, on performance. Hence, Kobe shoes are also made available as high- or mid-tops for a wider aesthetic appeal.
Know your color
Given their immense popularity, Nike Kobe shoes are available in hundreds if not thousands of colorways. A few colors stand out, either because they appear regularly, or they were what Bryant was wearing when he made NBA history.
Black Mamba. Kobe Bryant is also referred to as the Black Mamba. Hence, many of his shoes are released in colorways that draw inspiration from the deadly reptile.
Los Angeles Lakers. Bryant had been with the Los Angeles Lakers for the entirety of his career. Unsurprisingly, his shoes almost always appear in Lakers-inspired yellow and purple.
Grinch. The bright green “Grinch” version of the original Kobe 6 gained wide recognition because it was what Bryant wore in a highly popular Yuletide game against LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and the Miami Heat in 2010. This colorway reappeared in 2020 on the Protro version of the Kobe 6.
The future of the best Kobe shoes
Immediately after Kobe Bryant’s death in January 2020, his shoes and other merchandise became extra hot items. Barely three months later, Nike silently dropped the fairly affordable Nike Mamba Fury.
In April 2021, news broke out that Vanessa Bryant and the rest of Bryant’s estate have decided to part ways with Nike. Like Stephen Curry, they intend to start their new brand of Kobe sneakers. This reportedly was what Kobe himself intended to do before his death.
Fans, however, can still expect to get two more Nike signatures before the deal is off.