Kobe's Air Force 1 Protro line just got its most on-the-nose idea yet: a snake. The Kobe Bryant x Nike Air Force 1 Low Protro "Lenticular Snakeskin" (IV4920-001) now has an official image, credited to Nike via House of Heat.
The upper mixes a grey-and-black snakeskin print with a lenticular material, so the pattern shifts depending on the light and the angle you're looking from. The midsole stays tonal black to keep the focus up top, and the Swooshes get a bright lemon outline that cuts through all that scale. Like the other AF1 Protros, it's built with the modern tweaks, including ReactX foam. Sole Retriever lists it at $150 in Black/Multi-Color.
Timing is still loose. Sole Retriever's first look pointed to Holiday 2026, while House of Heat now says to expect it on Nike.com and at select retailers by early 2027. No firm date yet, so we'll update this when Nike sets one.
Our take: Kobe AF1s have mostly played it safe so far, and this is the one that finally sounds like the Black Mamba. A shoe that changes when it moves is a fitting tribute. It's also a pair that will look completely different in every single photo anyone posts, which is either a feature or a nightmare for your camera roll.
At ONENESS: grab a Kobe AF1 while you wait with the Kobe x Nike Air Force 1 Low Protro in White / Safety Orange, or go head to toe with the Nike Kobe Dri-FIT Fleece Pullover Hoodie in Black.
Official Nike image via House of Heat.
Sources: House of Heat (Oct 22, 2026: Early Look, IV4920-001, grey-and-black snakeskin with lenticular material, tonal midsole, icy lemon Swoosh outline, ReactX; expected via Nike.com and select retailers by early 2027; image via Nike). Sole Retriever (Oct 21, 2026: IV4920-001, Black/Multi-Color, $150, Holiday 2026).
