Timing for the Kobe Brand could not be better as 2025 marks the Year Of The Snake on the Chinese zodiac calendar. With the connection between the Eastern tradition and Kobe’s alter ego, the storytelling possibilities are rich and plentiful, and Nike’s keen on delivering that message immediately with the Kobe 5 “Year Of The Mamba”.

Not one, but two colorways of the updated Protro model are hitting stores in January; it starts with the purple “Eggplant” colorway on January 9th, followed by this University Red pair on January 18th. With the richness of the red and regal aesthetic produced by the gold, this second version speaks more to the Chinese philosophy.

Again, an official release date is confirmed for January 18th, 2025; the shoes will be available in Adult ($190) and Grade School ($120) sizes and will include a red/gold dust-bag as well as a special “Year of the Mamba” shoe-box. See the official store list ahead for the latest.

WHERE TO BUY

UPDATE (01/06/2025):

Official images have been updated.

The trending ASICS GEL-Kayano 14 is looking to carry its run of dominance into 2025 with new colorways, this new “Metallic Birch” edition being the Japanese brand’s latest.

Every Kayano 14 gets met with pretty considerable demand, but colorways that rely on a pairing of cream and metallics have proven to be among the model’s most popular. Much like the recently-previewed “Oyster” colorway, this latest pair lends a contemporary feel through tasteful pops of cream on the base and midsole. The titular, champagne-esque “Metallic Birch” color introduces itself on the heel overlay and GEL cushioning capsules, while the primary overlays up top clean up in quintessential silver and black.

The “Metallic Birch” GEL-Kayano 14 is available now via the ASICS and select retailers, commanding the usual $150 MSRP. See official images below and take advantage of the purchase links in our “Where To Buy” section to cop yours.

Written by

Andrew Rizzo, Junior Editor

Andrew Rizzo is an editor at Sneaker News based out of New York City. His primary interests include Air Jordan, Nike ACG, Nike Air Max, and New Balance footwear. Prior to joining Sneaker News, Andrew covered youth sports for several outlets and worked at one of the world’s top performance marketing agencies. He hails from Astoria, Queens and is a huge New York sports fan, particularly when it comes to the Knicks and Yankees.