Kobe Vault

Kobe IV

Kobe Bryant and Nike unveiled the Zoom Kobe IV in December of 2008. At the time of release, this was Nike Basketball’s lightest shoe ever and the beginning of Kobe’s vision for a true low-cut shoe.

Kobe gleaned performance insights from sports beyond basketball frequently throughout his playing years. Soccer in particular was brought up as inspiration between him and the Nike product team — soccer players make quick cuts just like basketball players do.

The Kobe IV built on the design innovation of the Nike Hyperdunk. Flywire fibers were incorporated in the upper to support the foot, LunarLite foam was added in the forefoot for energy return, and a full-length Phylon midsole was built with a Zoom Air unit in the heel.

Kobe IV Protro

The Kobe IV returned in Protro form for the first time in February of 2019, led with the 'Draft Day' colorway. Coined by Kobe himself, Protro stands for performance retro and involves enhancing existing silhouettes for the current state of the game.
Re-tooled for a responsive sensation underfoot, the springy foam midsole now houses a wider length Zoom Air in the heel for added bounce and a sleeker design.

Dive into the Kobe IV