ZOOM KOBE V

Now that I’ve got giving props to the JORDAN 2.5 TEAM out of the way, it’s time to review something a little more current and what better shoe to start things off than the super popular NIKE ZOOM KOBE V? Ever since the Lakers took home the NBA Championship last year, I could only imagine what the designers at Nike would come up with for an encore to the highly successful ZOOM KOBE IV. The ZKIV was not only a commercial success but it also brought back the low top basketball shoe into serious competitive play with some serious shoe technology. With that said, along with the great look, design and not to mention the gazillion colorways of the ZKIV, I was in great anticipation for the release of the ZKV. My contact at my favorite Nike retailer told me the ZKV would be released in late December but to my dismay, the shoe didn’t make it to the display shelf until late February. But after getting over my initial disappointment, along with fighting and shoving my way for a pair in my size and color, the ZKV did very little to disappoint me once I got them on my feet and on the court.

STYLE

If I had to use just one word to describe the ZOOM KOBE V’s design it would be…sleek. Unlike most shoes which have a symmetrical and somewhat mechanical look (ZKIV included) the ZKV has a streamlined, low profile design with curves that seem to want to hug your foot. The look of the shoe is stunning without being too flashy and they look great whether you’re ballin’ in them on the hardwood or chillin’ at your favorite hang out wearing a pair of jeans. The fashionable looks of the shoe may even make you think twice before wearing them on the court since you may not want to get them dirty before a night out on the town with friends or that special someone. But another “cool” factor of the ZKV’s is the fact that the material used on the upper is so easy to clean that even after a competitive session on the court and a quick cleaning with a rag, soap and water (though an old toothbrush would be highly recommended for cleaning any shoe) they look just as if they just came out of the box. And just like its predecessor, the ZKV is not at a loss when it comes to a variety of colorways to suit your style preference. I was particularly drawn to the “Dark Knight” edition (I’m a huge comic book fan) which had a predominantly black and gray motif with “Neptune blue” accents which were complimented by a variety of textures from a “sand paper looking” black at the toe to a shiny metallic to bring out the blue in the shoe. If the available colorways still don’t suit your personality, the ZKV can be customized via NikeID for an additional cost.
Rating: 5 out of 5



PERFORMANCE

The ZOOM KOBE V is loaded with the latest basketball shoe technology from Nike. From the “Flywire” and lightweight phylon midsole to the low profile Zoom Air; this all translates to optimum performance on the basketball court. As soon as you put your feet in the shoe, you can already feel that this isn’t a regular pair of basketball shoes. The one piece upper, “Straight and cross-wired Flywire” and “soccer inspired molded heel” work together to wrap around your foot giving you an idea of what a shoe specifically designed for you might feel like although there was some slight pinching at the front of the foot which was probably due to the one piece design. Aside from that, the technology contributed to unbelievable stability as you made quick cuts and “stop on a dime moves” on the court. Once fully laced, your feet barely move and you can practically play barefoot (though a pair of good socks wouldn’t hurt) in these shoes. After my initial warm-up lap in the ZKV I instantly noticed how light the shoe was and how much easier it was to keep up the pace after 10 minutes of running. I was never a big fan of the HYPERDUNK or HYPERIZE shoes which touted lightweight as a performance feature since I felt the shoes gave up some stability and I always gravitated to the slightly heavier yet more stable mid cut models such as the JORDAN 6 RINGS but the ZKV made me a believer that lighter is better. The cushioning was more than sufficient in reducing the shock to your feet from all the running and jumping one would do during a regular game of basketball. The ZKV is definitely best suited for those who play a shooting guard type of game (which is Kobe Bryant’s position) but I would still recommend this shoe if you’re a versatile big man who can play without the added ankle support of a mid cut shoe. In all honesty, the ZKV is so stable, they rival the stability of a lot of mid cut shoes out in the market today.
Rating: 5 out of 5



OVERALL

To sum it all up, the ZOOM KOBE V is a great shoe…period. Some folks may shy away from the shoe because of its retail price as the ZKV is not cheap but if you can get passed the price one can easily justify spending the dough on a shoe that not only is a stunner on or off the court but has so much advanced technology that it literally helps you become a better basketball player. There have only been a few basketball shoes ever made that seem to possess the “complete package”. The AIR JORDAN XI (which I’ve had the honor of owning two pairs when they were first released in 1995-96) immediately comes to mind and the ZOOM KOBE V may very well be in the same category when all is said and done.
Rating: 5 out of 5