Retroactive Review
Fit: 8.5/10
Cushioning: 8/10
Traction: 9/10
Support: 9/10
Comfort: 8.5/10
Aesthetic: (IMO) 9/10
Overall design: 9.5/10
The Adidas the Kobe 1. A great sneaker by design and performance standards fit for one of the best. Drawing inspiration from the Audi Quattro. THE adidas the Kobe 1 was pushing the edge of what a performance sneaker could be at that time. Coming off of the feet you wear license that focused on a more ergonomic and proportionately accurate outsole/midsole philosophy off mimicking the natural shape of the human foot with Adiprene, Adiprene + cushioning, and torsion technology in the midfoot for rigidity, injury prevention and torque support. Many models later (top 10 2000, KB8 1, 2, & 3, & others) adidas set itself up with a real winner that also translated into Championships.
FIT: 8.5/10
At first glance the Kobe 1 looks like and attempt at a foamposite or “adiposite”, however the approach is much different instead of using molded PU (or EVA) the folks at the 3 stripes used synthetic leather overlays with Eva/foam backing which altogether created a very comfortable and form fitting upper with minimal side to side movement. There was some front to back movement, but that was mostly due to the mostly flat insole. A custom insole or orthotic can remedy that. The solid heel counter, forefoot shell toe (bumper), lacing, and added Cushioning and design of the ankle area provided great support and stability without sacrificing range of motion. A very good job indeed.
Cushioning: 8.5/10
The cushioning wasn’t bad at all for what the company had a bailable at the time Adiprene cushioning in the heel with an Adiprene+ insert I. The forefoot within and EVA type carrier and a cushioned insole. Not perfect, but it was a great combination of light weight, impact protection, responsiveness, court feel and natural movements (without restriction on the court). Overall very good. Boost, bounce, a combination of both or something new would be very good on the retro or protro.
Traction: 9/10
Solid rubber outsole with a varied herringbone pattern. The softness of the rubber also added in the grip of the outsole on the court. Indoor hardwood is recommended at first. Outdoor courts won’t demolish them but indoor hoops is probably the best place to hoop in these.
Support: 9/10
A combination of solid heel counter, midfoot torsion system, forefoot shell toe bumper, fit, and designed made this a great shoe to play in with restricting natural movements.
Comfort: 8.5/10
The Upper, cushioning, backing, extra foam backed ankle collar & fit all contributed to a very comfortable experience on and off of the court. An insole swap/upgrade take these over the top in terms of fit and comfort.
Materials: 8.5/10
The majority of the colorways released are mostly synthetic leather panels with mesh and textile backings/linings. There was a metal/wire mesh upper that he wore in the playoffs of that year, but all in all the materials were quite durable for on court and off court wear.
Aesthetic: (IMO) 9/10
From my perspective I enjoyed the aesthetic of the Kobe 1 as it looked great from a side view and top down view while also seaming futuristic, light weight and ahead of it’s time in teams of what was on the display walls at that time. A little bit of love/hate isn’t a bad thing in terms of aesthetic as it can really be intriguing at first glance while inviting to touch, check out and try on these performance sneakers. Kobe’s Championship runs did hurt either.
Overall design: 9.5/10
I personally like the designs as form follows function and every item within this shoe has a purpose while looking, sleek, streamlined and FUN. It’s always great to have/wear a sneaker that allows to play your game to fullest with getting in the way or restricting your play or movements. I found this sneaker to be great for my taste and even accepted the follow up THE KOBE II as I viewed there furthering of the concept & inspiration while pushing the envelope of what a performance basketball sneaker could. Not for everyone, but eliciting and love or hate emotion isn’t a bad thing in design as it can force you to pay more attention to it, approach the show all, touch it, try them on and ultimately decide if they are going to be the sneaker for you. A beautiful combination of art, science, engineering, math, design & creativity. The adidas Kobe 1 was a great sneaker that was fit for a champion. Find a pair online or at a retail store when they retro/rerelease again.
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