On Oct. 31, 2024, the Kobe 5 Protro “X-ray” is being released for a price of $190. Kobes are considered by millions to be one of the greatest performing basketball shoes of the decade. Examples being the Kobe 6s, Kobes 7s, and Kobe 8s all being remade years after initial release.  

Honoring the highly skilled “Black Mamba”, Nike used an x-ray of his foot and printed it onto their newest release for the Kobe brand. The shoe is composed of an overall mesh material that provides breathability to your feet. It has a carbon fiber plate in the sole which improves bounciness and responsiveness whilst jumping. The shoe being a low top provides great mobility and lightness while still being supportive and strong.  

The Kobe 5 Protro “X-ray” has grooves that are closely packed together which creates more points of contact which gives it traction to the court. They contain a wide outrigger, which is the width of the traction pad that supports the wearer.  On top of the traction, it’s packed with Nike’s “cushlon” foam which provides responsiveness, bounciness and support, all while giving a solid court feel. Moving onto the upper of the shoe, it’s made of breathable but still supportive, mesh material mixed with patented leather to give a shiny, clean look.  

 The Kobe 5 Protros are built to be very durable and have potential to become one of the highest performing basketball shoes in the market.  Given the high price of $190, it’s recommended to be used mainly on indoor courts to make sure they last several years. On a different note, Kobe’s have an x-ray themed color scheme of white, dark blue, and navy to make a visually pleasing shoe. Overall, being produced by a well-known active wear company and a predecessor to its well-known counterparts, these sneakers are a worthy candidate for basketball and sneaker enthusiasts.