Fans of the shoe collaboration between NBA Star Kobe Bryant and international sports brand Nike would have a new thing to watch out for. The 10th Kobe shoe, designed by Nike, is scheduled to come out this February with a new elegant and classic design.
The new Kobe 10 "5AM Flight" is the lead colorway to be released for the 10th signature sneaker of the famous Los Angeles Lakers star.
It was originally tagged as the "Blue Lagoon" given the sneaker's color, said Kicks on Fire. However, the colorway is officially called "5AM Flight" in reference to an early morning dive Bryant did in August 2013.
According to Sneaker Bar Detroit, the "5AM Flight" is inspired by the Black Mamba's 40-feet dive into a pool of water months after he had his ACL surgery. The blue color symbolizes the water he jumped into and also a sign of his perseverance to overcome his injury and get back in the game.
Nike VP of Innovation and Creative Director Eric Avar designed the new sneakers in Bryant's signature shoe collection. He has also partnered with the NBA Star in some of the previous shoes in the Nike-Bryant lineup.
The Kobe 10 has a seamless open-weave textile upper part, which is light and adds to the breathability of the foot inside the shoe.
For Bryant, who plays hard on the court, a hybrid cushioning was added to help him better move and create his game. A new Zoom Air unit in the heel adds softness and flexibility to the shoe, which softens the blow every time a step is made.
Traction "nodules" in the outsole have been added to work better with the midsole in providing cushioning that has a solid grip on the surface -- much like how racecar tires avoid skidding and slipping.
This technology is made transparent as the company opted to encase both the midsole and outsole in a translucent rubber material that gives a peek into the shoe's inner workings, said Nike on its website.
A gold "X" could also be found at the outsole of each shoe, as a mark of the 10th shoe collaboration between the basketball star and Nike.
The sneaker's tongue and lining is made of Nubuck material, which has a snake-like pattern that adds detail to the simple and elegant design of the Kobe X "5AM Flight."
Following his Achilles tendon injury, four lines made from red stitching is found at the back of each pair's left shoe while a signature with the same red stitching is found at the tongue of the sneaker.
Each pair costs $180 for adult sizes. For kids who may also want to purchase their own pair, it is sold at $135 for children's size, $85 for preschool and $60 for infant sizes.
The new Kobe 10 "5AM Flight" would hit Nike retailers and Nike.com on February 7.
