Left to Right: TV personality Kevin Frazier, Kobe Bryant, Kobe V Design Director Eric Avar, and Nike Researcher Matt Nurse.
This week, Nike launched the Kobe V sneaker in Los Angeles, CA. The V comes on the tail of what was the lightest shoe in basketball, the Kobe IV, but when the new version hits retail on January 16th, it will take the title at 10.6 ounces per shoe. The basketball sneaker utilizes a new type of Flywire and a series of innovations that bring maximum stability with minimum amount of weight to the project. We met with Eric Avar, lead designer on the project, Matt Nurse, head researcher for the Kobe sneaker, and the man himself, Kobe Bryant, to take us through the shoe. Hit the jump for a full technical breakdown of the Kobe V...
Reporting by Ralph Warner. Images courtesy of freshnessmag.com
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Low-cut profile: Designed for free and faced paced cuts on the floor.
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Flywire technology provides support on both sides and center of shoe, without sacrificing weight.
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Toe box: Reinforced and engineered to remain sturdy over time and keep the foot in place.
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Heartbeat traction pattern: Created with the heart and dedication Kobe shows on the court, and gives players a better grasp of the floor when changing direction on cuts.
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The sculpted heel counter was designed with the intention of enhancing ankle security when making cuts.
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Dot Matrix language that can be found on all Kobe products this season.
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