Nike Kobe 8 "Year Of The Horse"

Photo via Hypebeast

To say that Kobe Bryant has a huge following in China is an understatement, and Nike knows it. Seriously, the dude's mere presence has been proven to reduce men to tears. So it makes perfect sense for Nike to drop his signatures done up in colorways commemorating Chinese New Year.

I had been following the release info of the shoe since the design hit the net. And with the Year of The Horse being my Chinese astrological sign, I knew I had to pick up a pair, and boy they did not disappoint.

Majority of the Engineered Mesh upper sports a light crimson hue, with a few portions done up in a deeper red. The latter can also be seen on the speckle detailing of the midsoles. The red hues are complemented by vivid blue accents on both the outsole and inner lining. And tying up the colorway are welcome bits of bright citron which really make the laces and swoosh pop even amidst the mix of reds.

In keeping with the Year of The Horse theme, both swoosh logos have been made to look like horse hair. It only sort of feels like it, but it's nonetheless a detail collectors can really appreciate up close.

Here's a top shot that shows the box and a peek at the bright crimson drop-in Lunarlon insole. I have seen that most fake Kobe 8s sport Nike Elite Series branding on the insoles. Dead giveaway. Unless it's an Elite model, plain Lunarlon should come standard on your pair without any dominant branding except for the Kobe icon.

I've only tried this pair on, but for the benefit of people who have yet to pick up a pair, I can confidently say that the on-foot feel of the Kobe 8 is nothing short of amazing. The density of the insole's material does a fine job of straddling between spongey comfort and stable support for both on-court and casual use.

Whether you're a fan of Kobe or not, it's pretty easy to appreciate even the little things that round out this shoe's design, from the speckled laces all the way down to the special horse icon at the back of the tongue. It still has everything I've come to love about the Kobe 8's performance and crossover appeal, and this colorway along with the 2013 Christmas editions are fitting last salvos of this silhouette before the Kobe 9 hits stores next month.

If you're feeling like scooping a pair up, better do so before these horses gallop out of stores entirely. As of this writing, select Nike Stadium stores like ATC, Shangri-La Mall, and MOA have them in stock and are selling them in limited quantities for P8195. No word yet on whether Titan will be carrying this release, but I'll update this post once I hear of anything.

I hope you found my little review helpful. And since it's 2014, expect some changes to come in the way I'll be doing reviews and live looks!

UPDATE: All Titan shops will be carrying the Kobe 8 Year of The Horse starting tomorrow, Jan 8. Webstore release will happen at midnight. 

Like Lightning.

Photo via Nice Kicks

Though Street Fighter the movie was pretty horrible, but somewhere amidst that clusterfuck of a story was a Raul Julia monologue so gloriously over the top I'll never forget it. He spoked of gods and coming down like lightning only to get the bejesus kicked out of him by Jean Claude Van Damme.

Speaking of gods, lightning, kicks, and ugly-beautiful things, on December 5, Titan finally brings the thunder down south! Now normally, I'd be losing my shit to this news, but there's a part of me that's worried of having a Titan store that's a short drive from my house.


And to sweeten the deal, they're making the Nike "What The Kobe 8" available via lottery. Much like what the Street Fighter movie did to its namesake franchise, the What The Kobe 8 takes familiar things and puts them all together into some ugly but strangely compelling creation.They're obnoxious as hell, and yet I still catch myself wanting a pair. Y U DO THIS, TITAN!? WHY!?

Get on Twitter to vie for a lottery slot, and if you're from the south, or just happen to be in the area on a Thursday, swing by the happening at the Molito Commercial Center this Thursday! Doors open at 3pm.

Different Setting, Same Animal - The Nike Kobe 8 NSW Lifestyle "Gorge Green"

If you've known me long enough, you know that I'm a big fan of the Los Angeles Lakers and that Kobe Bryant is my favorite basketball player. I was heartbroken at the end of last season seeing Kobe go down with an achilles injury that set into motion a series of events that resulted in the Lakers getting swept out of the first round of the NBA Playoffs. Kobe's my favorite player because he's the ultimate competitor. Countless times he's proven that adversity fuels his fire. And with that, I think the Los Angeles Lakers are going to come back strong next season.

My love for Kobe and the Lakers just falls under a greater love for the game of basketball. However, I haven't played in years, and to call my game "pretty rusty" is putting it lightly. However, when I heard that "lifestyle" editions of Kobe's eight signature Nike sneakers had released, the thought of copping them popped in my mind faster than it took Reggie Miller to score 8 points against the New York Knicks in 1995.

Kobe 8 NSW Lifestyle LE
(Gorge Green/Black-Sail) 

The Nike Kobe 8 NSW Lifestyle takes the low-cut silhouette of the Kobe 8 and retools it with an offcourt sensibility in mind. Gone are the fancy bits of technology needed to maximize basketball performance. In their place is a comfy cupsole and a stitched midsole in an nod to classic sneaker styling.

This pair retains the "snake" aesthetics which have been a running theme in Kobe's sneaker line. The gorge green "scales" are eye-catching enough without being obnoxious, while more subtle details like the waxed cotton laces and purple soles add to their premium feel. They also come in this sweet, retro Nike Sportswear box.

I got my pair at the Titan flagship store in Bonifacio Global City, where this and another Kobe 8 lifestyle release are exclusively available. If you love basketball (or at least sneakers) and haven't been to Titan, you're missing out! If you want to a cop a pair, or some other awesome sneakers, you know what they say. Don't sleep.

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The Titan Flagship store is located at the ground level of the Two Parkade Building, right beside Bonifacio High Street.