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5. Nike Zoom Kobe 6
The Good: Aesthetically, the Nike Kobe 6 was the first massive casual crossover for the Kobe line, birthing the Grinch-inspired “Christmas” colorway and sporting scales in true signature fashion. Zoom Air was carried over from the V, which continued to win in the cushioning department as did Torch padding on the tongue.
The Bad: The collar and eyelet configuration just didn’t work all the way on the Nike Kobe 6. When toggling with the top two eyelets, you always felt like the shoe wasn’t hitting the ankle right and the pressure points were off. This issue even inspired YouTube reviewer Jefferrrson to maneuver a new means of lacing and tying the shoe. Like the V before it, traction was a bit of an issue, as the design opted for more storytelling than true performance. And lastly, while the scales on the upper were a nice visual play, the upper didn’t breathe or bend as well as the previous pair.
