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- Jun 7, 2004
I know a few people have already posted detailed reviews of the new Zoom Kobe V, but I thought I should share some of my personal experiences of the width sizing for Kobe IV and V. I've been reading NT for years, but this is my first post so please bear with me.
I have really wide feet, about as wide as they get. Back when the Kobe IVs released, I read the reviews on NT and learned that the IVs ran narrow. I'm a natural size 11.5, but I bought a 12 for the Kobe IVs and they ended up fitting me pretty well. They ran a little long obviously, but overall the fit was good enough for me to ball in those almost exclusively for a year. I love my IVs so I had to cop the Vs. I ordered a size 12 for the Kobe Vs on xmas day, but when I tried them on and walked around my room they felt too long. Felt like I was wearing clown shoes. I ended up picking up another pair of the Vs in my natural size 11.5 and gave those a shot.
First time I balled in the size 11.5 Kobe Vs, they hurt my feet quite a bit (2-3 hour session). They were crushing my feet inwards and not only did I experience pain throughout my playing session, my feet were also sore just walking around the house the next day. I tried them again the next day but I did something different. Usually I lace my shoes as tight as I can before tying them, but this time I just made sure that I tied them tight enough to get a good fit without overdoing it. The shoes felt way better and I was able to appreciate all the things that make this shoe great. Since then, I've played in them about 7 or 8 times (each 2-3 hour sessions) and they are among my favorite playing shoes. They feel totally broken in and have an amazing fit. My suggestion to people with wide feet who want to buy the Vs, go with your natural size not a half size up. The shoes just fit a little differently than the IVs because of the combination of upper material and the build.
Another point I want to make: people with wide feet have to be careful with certain types of shoe materials. We typically need a shoe to stretch out a little on the sides while they break in to get us a more comfortable, proper fit (specifically the pinkie toe area on the outside of your foot). That means sometimes shoes that make heavy use of patent leather will always hurt our feet since it doesn't stretch like synthetic leather/real leather (Jordan XIXs come to mind. Also the Lebron VI is killer with that stupid strap across the toe box), or shoes that use sturdy TPU supports in the toe area like the wraparound thingie on the Jordan XX3 (those things kill my pinkie toe bone even after 10+ wearings). What I'm trying to say is, I was initially worried about the Kobe Vs because they make use of that skinwire material throughout the upper and toe box. I didn't think it would stretch at all to give me a proper fit, but I was wrong, I think it does stretch and give a bit because the more I wear my Vs, the better they fit/feel.
Anyways sorry that ran so long, too much to say. Hope this helps people.
I have really wide feet, about as wide as they get. Back when the Kobe IVs released, I read the reviews on NT and learned that the IVs ran narrow. I'm a natural size 11.5, but I bought a 12 for the Kobe IVs and they ended up fitting me pretty well. They ran a little long obviously, but overall the fit was good enough for me to ball in those almost exclusively for a year. I love my IVs so I had to cop the Vs. I ordered a size 12 for the Kobe Vs on xmas day, but when I tried them on and walked around my room they felt too long. Felt like I was wearing clown shoes. I ended up picking up another pair of the Vs in my natural size 11.5 and gave those a shot.
First time I balled in the size 11.5 Kobe Vs, they hurt my feet quite a bit (2-3 hour session). They were crushing my feet inwards and not only did I experience pain throughout my playing session, my feet were also sore just walking around the house the next day. I tried them again the next day but I did something different. Usually I lace my shoes as tight as I can before tying them, but this time I just made sure that I tied them tight enough to get a good fit without overdoing it. The shoes felt way better and I was able to appreciate all the things that make this shoe great. Since then, I've played in them about 7 or 8 times (each 2-3 hour sessions) and they are among my favorite playing shoes. They feel totally broken in and have an amazing fit. My suggestion to people with wide feet who want to buy the Vs, go with your natural size not a half size up. The shoes just fit a little differently than the IVs because of the combination of upper material and the build.
Another point I want to make: people with wide feet have to be careful with certain types of shoe materials. We typically need a shoe to stretch out a little on the sides while they break in to get us a more comfortable, proper fit (specifically the pinkie toe area on the outside of your foot). That means sometimes shoes that make heavy use of patent leather will always hurt our feet since it doesn't stretch like synthetic leather/real leather (Jordan XIXs come to mind. Also the Lebron VI is killer with that stupid strap across the toe box), or shoes that use sturdy TPU supports in the toe area like the wraparound thingie on the Jordan XX3 (those things kill my pinkie toe bone even after 10+ wearings). What I'm trying to say is, I was initially worried about the Kobe Vs because they make use of that skinwire material throughout the upper and toe box. I didn't think it would stretch at all to give me a proper fit, but I was wrong, I think it does stretch and give a bit because the more I wear my Vs, the better they fit/feel.
Anyways sorry that ran so long, too much to say. Hope this helps people.