Nike Zoom KD V
June 13th, 2012 by John K. | 66 comments
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The prices of sneakers have risen to amazing heights over the last two years, with Nike making a courageous effort to tag a shoe with a $250 asking price in the LeBron 9 Elite. So what could we expect with a shoe roughly a third of that price? Nike proved that at a low-tier pricepoint, an amazing shoe could be made – just look toward the KD IV, which has become the defining sleeper hit of the year. Working closely with Kevin Durant, designer Leo Chang created the Nike Zoom KD IV using the all-new Adaptive Fit lockdown system on a low-cut construction and a fore-foot Zoom-padded outsole, giving the shoe some design appeal with the strap and pointed tongue, but what really lit the spark were the introductory high-energy colorways in the ‘Nerf’ and ‘Weatherman’. What followed was a continual string of sure-fire hits like the ‘Galaxy’, ‘Easter’, the N7 release, and Nike iD, and quickly the Zoom KD IV rose to becoming the ‘it’ shoe for the first-half of 2012.
The success of the KD IV has Durant’s signature line on unfamiliar ground – that is, because the expectations are astoundingly high. Quite frankly, the Zoom KD III didn’t make that much noise and the exciting releases were rather limited, so the KD IV’s popularity arrived so suddenly simply because it didn’t rank too high on the list of must-watch items on our radar. Fortunately for KD, Leo, and Nike, there’s a mounting anticipation around the Nike Zoom KD V and the expectations are much higher, and this first look at a catalog shot shows that the Zoom KD isn’t just a ‘bargain’ purchase, but a headlining release.
Some details worth pointing out: Obviously, the lack of the strap is the most daunting feature (or subtraction), but the addition of visible Max Air on the heel, a pronounced heel counter, a rising ankle peak (note the heel is still relatively low), and a unique tongue construction and lacing system. The overall profile of the shoe can be compared to Nike’s current non-signature flagship models like the Hyperdunk and Hyperfuse, and it certainly draws comparisons to Durant’s physical build – slender yet sleek. Of course, this catalog shot isn’t enough to lay down a verdict, but expect more in every definition of the word as the Zoom KD is slated to break the $100 barrier with some interesting structural advances. Your thoughts? The Zoom KD IV saga isn’t quite over yet, but let us know what you think of this first look at the next KD shoe, and stay tuned to Sneaker News for more. Photos: infam0usP on NT
Nike Zoom KD V
554988-002
Spring 2013
$115
What happened kd iv are the best kds ever and now there going away from that design
What is "courageous" about Nike pricing sneakers at $250? I see it more as they're looking at what resellers are pushing, seeing how much the saps, I mean hypebeasts, (whoops!!), I mean, buyers will pay, and they are fleecing the public and laughing all the way to the bank. You just know that the wages for workers in the manufacturing plants of Asia are nowhere commiserate to what Nike is charging for SNEAKERS. And, marketing for most lines is near nothing, since all they do is hand some samples over to a "celebrity", and let the sneaker blogs cover that. BOOM!! Free advertising.
well said...
im a kd iv fan but i think the kd hype will die down after this release
i'd rather ball in these than the KD IV's hands down. air max heel and i'm hoping for zoom air in the forefoot? yes. breaking the $100 mark? a bit of a let down, not gonna lie.
nothing to be shock about... leo chang created hyperdunkks and hyperfuse so as KDs...
Disappointing........ Should have inc a strap.....
These look like they went for strictly functionality and left the fashion aspect to the KD IV's.... I cant really think of myself wearing these off of the court
real simple shoe. im sure the concepts that they are gonna come up with will make this shoe insane. so ill wait and base my opinion on more CW's, this pic isnt giving me enough just yet.
in a couple years from now his shoe line will cost $200 retail
Looks eerily similar to the KD 1 why are we switching back to these models... I'll give it a chance and hope that with some more polishing and some Thunder Colorways that'll Ill grow to like them.
Yup, doin' a KD V low would be nice.
hideousssssssss
@supreme carl yeah but unlike the other KD's this is much more similar to previous Nike models. KD's 1-3 have some similarity with previous models, but this is >A LOT< like hyperdunks and some other shoes. KD4's and 3's somewhat too had a lot of new stuff on them
Disappointing. Should of stuck with a allow cut model and reasonable $100 price tag. Assuming the majority of general releases will be purchased on sale and with promo codes. Bad move by Nike with KD's stock and popularity steadily rising. Hook'em Horns.
I know some nice colorways will drop, They're hightops (I prefer to play in Highs), and they're only 115. I'm pretty sure I'll be copping.
just like the hyperfuse 2011
The midsole and heel are actually kind of dope but the upper is terrible. I hope it looks better with some color cuz the kd iv was my favorite shoe this year but Im not feeling these. I know its hard to follow up a hit but I think they should have made less drastic changes to the iv.
They're not on kd's line, thye look like an huperdubk's, the dk's iv are much more better
These are so generic looking you tell people these are new Hyperdunks, Hypergamers or Hyperenforcers and they wouldn't question it. But as a KD sig? Hell no. Not after the IV.
What people seem to forget that this is a basketball shoe specifically engineered to the liking of Kevin Durant. I don't believe they intended it to be a lifestyle shoe, although it has taken that path quite dramatically. If he likes them, they are produced and that is that. Either appreciate that fact or purchase another shoe!!!
I don't remember that with the 8's like everyone keeps saying but the 9's were and are trash. The elites probably should have been the 9's in the first place. People just bought into the 9 hype because they are LeBrons and the love for the 7's and 8's. These do look like hyperdunks though.
hmmm maybe some low tops would look nice
WHY???? These are ugly
I see a mcfly colourway in this.
the outsole looks interesting for bball
are these mid tops or what...cus i really like the low top versions......
i think a nerf colorway would be hot on these. i don't think theyre that bad, a little too much like the hyperdunk, but i like that they decided to go high top on these
i don't like how they are no longer low top shoes
I hate when you people complain about mediocre stuff like, I won't wear these off court, you want a fashion shoe, go get some adidas shell toes, if you play ball, buy a basketball shoe. So tired of the shoe game being mocked with kids who just want to wear shoes to match with clothes and walk around the mall, use them for their purpose, and maybe this hype-beast game will go down to where people don't have to pay 500 to get pair of shoes that they aren't using.... ROCK DON'T STOCK
"you want a fashion shoe, go get some adidas shell toes" It's not 1985 and I'm not in Run DMC, so no grandpa, I won't.
Total letdown. Time to get my iD pair before that goes offline.
uh oh, i see an air unit. i guess KD's request for a sig that cost under 100 USD will be wasted
Nike is gonna save them with some dope colorways..
what happen to u wanting everybody to be able to purchase your shoe KD? breaking the $100 mark is a disappointment
before i clicked to read more, i was thinking like this is nike mag inspired, i was disappointed afterwoods. needs a strap though, KD likes the strap
Ok that's it, I'm done with KD's. Nike is back (yet again) to it's old ways of designing abnormal shoes. Phil Knight should have done mass firing of its designers who always do this awkward profile. That high front curving to low high-top is the most head - scratching senseless design ever.
13 eyestays?
it's actually on 8. It's like a speed lacing system.
Colorways will save it. Just like the Lebron 9
im gonna send nike a sketch for a KD VI and lebron XI hopefully i get hired
My plans too.....on a serious note
im not feeling these at all. hopefully nike pulls through and releases some dope colorways. they just look like those ugly hyperdunk shits in this pic
Nike be doing kevin durant wrong as shit!!!
So u don't think KD has a say on what the shoe looks like? Obviously ur just a hypebeast bitch
not really...
nah not feeling it
KDIV is still better
The design looks so simple. Too simple. Nike and Leo are going to have to deliver something as equally unique, if not more unique than the IV. Not a Hyperdunk look-a-like. Guess I'll need to see more pictures/colorways to judge completely.
It doesn't look like a bad shoe to play ball in but I won't wear these of of the court