Nike Is Bringing Back the Kobe 8 Protro ‘Venice Beach’ Sneaker for the First Time
A trio of geographically themed Nike Kobe sneakers are all touching down on the same day in April, including a Los Angeles-inspired colorway that deviates from the usual Lakers makeups.
The Nike Kobe 8 Protro “Venice Beach” is being reissued for the first time since its debut (sans Protro) in 2013. A tie-dye-esque pattern in turquoise, red, yellow and grey defines the sneaker’s knit upper and invokes the vibrancy of the Los Angeles neighborhood and its famous streetball scene. Blue then forms the heel stabilizer and midsole while sitting above a translucent grey outsole. Yellow outlines the Swoosh and is hit with dots of red for the laces, and the sockliner appears in red along with Kobe Bryant’s signature on the heel. Rounding out the flourishes is a special version of Bryant’s Nike logo with a snake wrapped around it.
Two additional Kobe sneakers will also make their first-ever return on the same day while representing the East Coast and Europe. The Kobe 4 Protro “Philly” represents the city in which Bryant was born and played high school basketball, while the Kobe 6 Protro “Italian Camo” channels the seven years in which he lived in Italy between those two childhood milestones. Later in May, a brand-new Kobe 4 Protro “Girl Dad” colorway will celebrate the relationship Bryant had with his four daughters with a material switch to suede.
The Nike Kobe 8 Protro “Venice Beach” is scheduled to release April 13 through the Snkrs app and select third-party retailers. Pricing is set at $190.
About the Author:
Ian Servantes is a Senior Trending News Editor for Footwear News specializing in sneaker coverage. He’s previously reported on streetwear and sneakers at Input and Highsnobiety after beginning his career on the pop culture beat. He subscribes to the idea that “ball is life” and doesn’t fuss over his kicks getting dirty.