The Kobe 8 Protro May Not Be For You. Performance Review!

[@jorgklatt396]

Feel the same about the 8 Protro (Halo). Cushion is bad, grip and lockdown are awesome. Sometimes I enjoy playing in it, but most of the times I don’t. If the full length zoom midsole from the Zion 3 would fit, it might get awesome

[@북극곰-g8r]

Would u recommend this or gt cut3 or kobe4?

[@ballersofthesix]

same thoughts, with my knees and age creeping up on me - i need more cushioning for my Kobe 8 Protros, have you tried it?

[@hyungwoolee5917]

@@북극곰-g8r I personally loved my original kobe 8's.. but this cushion isn't that great.. I thought it'd get better but nope... GT CUT 3 provides softer cushioning but it sits kinda awkward too.. I recommend KD's or Lebron 21 or Sabrinas over them

[@Doge24t]

@@ballersofthesix sorry im late but i did do it and it feels really good

[@jcole__3]

As someone that wasn’t allowed to get shoes over 100 dollars and no loud colors for my hs team, I absolutely love these. I’m pretty use to React as it’s my Infinity Runs so I don’t think the cushion is a big deal. I think it’s good they went with react cause Lunarlon was great.. for the first 3 times you played in them and then the cushion disappeared. I do think it would’ve benefited from a zoom turbo infused in the heel or forefoot but we all know that wouldn’t happen. I’m overall satisfied and happy with them and glad I was finally able to get both these and the reverses. Love both very much Update: I played in these for the first time yesterday and what I’ll say is they have some of the best traction I’ve had and I’ve played in Lebron 20s, most of the Kyries especially the 2s and 4s, and the harden 7s. These are right up there with the top shoes. The cushion is alright. Definitely gives it that runner foam vibe and bounce back but definitely takes time to warm up and to break in. I love the materials and the fit was great. Unlike the 6s that are a lil tight on my toes these were absolutely perfect. One thing I wish they could do for this shoe and it’s highly unlikely is have other drop insoles available. I remember on Nike they had the 3 choices you can choose from and I think it’d be cool if they did. Have the most expensive one have react ofc, but also a bottom loaded zoom unit in the heel of it and a zoom turbo unit in the forefoot. Next just have reach foam and zoom turbo unit in the forefoot and lastly as the cheap option just have a cushlon drop in. Idk I have a degree in marketing and it’d definitely benefit Nike to do this especially if they want to do more Kobe 8s and most hoopers not vibing with react. Like some companies do, put what people don’t like and mix it with what people, do they’ll buy into it for the most part. Anyways that’s just my thoughts on how they played and how they can better articulate the 8s for the next releases.

[@tylerglenn1683]

Idk bro at 6’3 240 athletic/guard I can’t agree with the cushion description like this shoe feels amazing..bouncy and perfect..I’ve torn both Achilles and these still feel great and a lot of big men I’ve played with loved these too🤷🏾‍♂️

[@Delivee.]

Both Achilles is crazy… just play 2K at that point lol but seriously your goated for getting back out there.

[@louriv3]

Totally agree, I’m also a big guy and this is by far my favorite pair of shoes to hoop in

[@DGHoops]

Glad to hear that, if you like these you probably think the Kobe 6 is crazy 🥵 I talked to a player at the same height but weighs less and he agrees with me on the cushion but everyone is different

[@DGHoops]

Yeah I took the perspective of just comparing to other shoes I’ve used, I still think the cushion is minimal though. Nothing compared to full length Zoom or anything like that IMHO but it’s elite for what the shoe is intended for

[@Delivee.]

Look wise I believe the protros are goated but there are a ton of hoop shoes that perform better. I shot around and did my warm up routine in the reverse 6’s ( my first protro ) and I was not impressed I have no gravitational pull towards them. Although I am curious about the 8’s because I seriously enjoy my cut 1’s and the nxt Kobe ff react drop ins.

[@iuhoosiers14]

The durability, tooling and feel of the original. Kobe’s is just far superior, my protro Del sol 6s straight, separated from the midsole after four runs on the court

[@richard7698]

one trick i did to help with cushion is i took the insoles out of my zions and put them in the kobes helped alot with the forefoot and gave me a little bounce there with the zoom air unit from the zion insole.

[@BochenZhang-i4p]

Jesus is the way the truth and the life Amen❤❤❤✝️✝️✝️🙏🙏🙏

[@carlvicemano]

Yo DG, this doesn’t squeak at all?

[@nicoz8796]

Can you try putting the Zion 3 insole in these?

[@ayothatsgood7424]

Was the line crazy to grab these?

[@jackjack7821]

Did the sizing same as the og one?

[@patriksidiangco3692]

Does the unpadded tounge not hurt your feet?

[@sko3572]

The drop in midsole can be heated up with a hair dryer. Its A LOT softer and better. Think of it as a insole that you can adjust thecushion ing to your liking. Kobe 8 drop in midsole is by far my favorite cushioing after heating it with a hair dryer.

[@s.b6688]

Used to throw mine in the dryer for a bit lol

[@CJelite1]

I put the kobe 11 elite insole in instead , love em , havent even tried the react insole cuz fr felt thin in the front on step in comfort.

[@YamiBC4108]

Played in my men’s league and put up 34 points they feel amazing on a heavy taller player 6’3 240 played them fresh out the box too 😂

[@picknick3]

great review

[@Tylerisdum]

Can you do a Kobe 4 protro philly performance review 🙏🙏

[@konrad108]

kobe 8 or kobe 4 for guard? i can buy 4 or 8s and i dont know which i should take :(

[@jakelyons1007]

8s

[@Moe3times]

I put lebron 11 insoles in mines it made the cushion great

[@jjoshuaoliva]

can i put serious player only explosive midsole in kobe 8s?

[@ballersofthesix]

came here for these as the Kobe 8 Protro midsole has gotten better compared to the OG lunarlon - but with my knees and age creeping up, would need more cushion. Have you tried it?

[@jjoshuaoliva]

@@ballersofthesix yes. i have tried it both venice beach & court purple, it raises your heel abit definitely better than react its too stiff for me but i havent had ankle issues wear i almost sprain my ankle.

[@ballersofthesix]

@@jjoshuaoliva thanks man!

[@nidangditeapang6766]

Can we put the gt cut 2s midsole in it ?

[@TjBuenavides]

Have a wider foot, debating whether to go tts or half zip up. Did it end breaking in pretty well?

[@TjBuenavides]

I'm also using game day pro insoles

[@peupeuguy310]

is the fit like the sweet 16 kobe 8 ? mannn thos are tiiiiight , i have to wear them without a sole and now theyre hella squeaky 😢

[@FairSide1]

Would you swap out the mid soles for the VTKY soles ?

[@1AmTheStig]

This isn't possible, drop in midsoles can't be replaced by a drop in orthotic. The shoe has zero cushion other than the midsole so VKTRYs wouldn't be nearly enough

[@FairSide1]

@@1AmTheStig yeah I tried it by swapping them out and it felt like a church shoe lol.

[@1AmTheStig]

@@FairSide1 I wish I'd replied sooner so you didn't have to experience that haha

[@Saltwaterkilla]

What insole would you recommend that’s not from a shoe and I can just buy

[@nucl3arboNg]

I keep seeing people saying these fit tighter then the 6 Protro can someone confirm? I got the 6's in tts and they fit but tight. I can't wear thick socks with them or my toes get crushed. For only hoops tts or .5 up?

[@rcolls824]

They are very tight but they break in very well

[@SpendingAddiction]

I have both. Reverse grinches and these. I think these are actually tighter straight out if the box. Literally was struggling get the shoe on but once on it feels great, secure and smooth.

[@GrecoMEMOIREMusic]

They are choking my feet and I ordered my TTS for Nike ball shoes. They feel like a 10.5 and I wear 11.5

[@jjoshuaoliva]

i went tts with these, honestly it chokes my feet i even wear ankle braces with these.. just break in the shoe 1-2 weeks gym & wearing it at home but now its 1 to 1 fit

[@doresrules28]

Wore these one time..love the grip and lockdown. The comfort.... terrible. Feels like walking on cement. Im at the age where comfort is more imortant than look. Sold them.

[@zabadooz.9751]

Bro really pulled the "had to go uphill to get these" card! 😂 At least it wasn't both ways and in the snow like in my day!

[@carlogara7818]

nice review

[@syncawesomer3740]

Kobe 8 proto or gt cut 3

[@r3yc089]

This new kobe 8 is better.I have kobe 8 elite superhero size13 and it was snug but for this one,I only went tts size 11

[@Brandon_677]

Could you please help me out I been commenting on a few of your vids now if I’m a size 12.5 on KD 15 will size 12.5 also fit me on KD 16

[@maynardvasquez2369]

for me, 16s is short length-wise and provides a snug fit. I suggest to go half size up or full (if wide foot)

[@Brandon_677]

@@maynardvasquez2369Appreciate the help man

[@Brandon_677]

@@maynardvasquez2369Thanks for the help, and what if you were let’s say size 12.5 or 13 on Kd 16s you would most likely be 12.5 for the 15s right?

[@maynardvasquez2369]

⁠@@Brandon_677yes, since 15s heel lockdown is not very secure for me. For secure fit, I highly recommend go half size up for 16s. Whole size up might be too long. I have a wide feet but kind of short length-wise. At first, i tried whole size up on the 16s and the shoe is very long then return the pairs and change it to my regular size US11. On US11, it feels too damn snug and it choking my feet so i sold the pairs and change it to US11.5

[@kennyle8317]

Book 1 or kobe 8 ?

[@evilyeezy]

Never had the gt cut 3 but from whai ive heard, its probably a better option than those

[@wahidahmad2577]

What's your favorite shoe beside those two? I have both

[@kennyle8317]

@@wahidahmad2577 between KD 14 and Kobe 6

[@kennyle8317]

@@evilyeezy I just saw a sale on the gt cut 3 asw that same price as book 1 so I might think about that

[@Daniel-wt1zs]

Kobe 8

[@SLAPTALK]

The drop-in midsole w/carrier setup isn't for me. But I can say that the Venice Beach colorway is the best of the 8's, in my opinion. 🤔

[@Panda_man..]

For me the “sulfur electric” colorway is my favorite Kobe 8.

[@WilliamBooth-u4r]

What the Kobe's or BHM

[@Malek-b]

Honestly not really a bad colorway for Kobe 8’s. Pit viper 8’s were tough

[@goodcompanyman]

I picked up the Court Purple from resell and while they are very fun to play with, my knees don’t like them like that no more :( It’s not painful, but my knees definitely notice that I played basketball. No problem with them 10 years ago in my 20s when i ran these to the ground I think i will stick to my KDs for now until i get in better shape!

[@ongodddd]

For whatever reason the upper on these specifically where they crease literally digs into my big toe bone so bad that i cant even use them. Only on the right shoe tho so idk what to do with them, ive tried to break them in and ive had og pairs that havent done this. Anyone have this same issue?

[@GrecoMEMOIREMusic]

The fit on these is awful for me too. They feel an entire size too small for me and I have average foot width. Was so excited to get these in hand and on feet and that excitement immediately died once I put them on. I wear 11.5 in everything Nike and size 11 in retros. These are not close in fit.

[@ballersofthesix]

Has anyone tried implementing the Zion 3 SE drop-in midsole or the SeriosPlayerOnly Explosive drop-in midsole to the Kobe 8 Protros? react is good but with age and my kness i would need more cushioning - wanted to see if anyone has tried any of these if it fits, before pulling the trigger to not waste money

[@easyyan6930]

I did. Zion 3 se drop in fits very well, but just a touch too thick to the point your heels are not locked in 100%. The spo explosive doesn’t fit

[@ballersofthesix]

@@easyyan6930 appreciate you!

[@sherwinmalinao200]

IMO colorway is 10/10 Upper crease are so stiff and it hurts my foot!! 2/10 for comfort unfortunately.

[@sharpshooteryoung4713]

200 is a steal

[@oOblistexOo]

Just hooped in them and they were my first pair of 8s. Is it just me or does this curved outsole make the shoe a little bit unstable? I also cant see the point of this outsole style. Maybe I have to get used to it. 😮