*finishline already marked down to $79.99 Link*
Executive Summary: simple yet smartly designed for the most part. If you ever wanted the Kobe 8, Nike basically repackaged it and renamed it with a few subtractions. Midfoot and torsional support is dependent solely on the insole which may or may not be a deal breaker for some. Minimalist lovers who want a low to the ground feel with great traction and fit will enjoy these.
You can see the lack of torsional support with the insole in.
I passed on the Mamba Mentality I and II because I’m not a fan on drop on insoles. I did pick up a pair of the II for $50 to compare though. With the Mamba Instinct, Nike appears to have fixed one of the main issues I had with drop ins: pinching between the insole and upper. Plus I think this version looks great, almost like a Kobe VI China colorway.
Pros: traction, fit, decent cushioning, stability, containment, truly lightweight at 11 oz.
Cons: Lunarlon isn’t the most bouncy cushioning and tends to die quickly, torsional and midfoot support is severely lacking and comes only from the thickness and density of the insole
Best for: light weight guards who want a low to the ground minimalist feel
Sizing: true to size lengthwise, widefooters can go up half a size if more width is needed
Buying Advice:BUDGET MODELS ALWAYS GO ON SALE, wait if you can. Fair price is $80, bottom around $50
Weight
11 ounces in a size 11. Guess lightweight is back again. 2.5 oz lighter than the Rare Metal and KD IX
Traction
Micro this, micro that, micro tread traction as Nike calls it.
I found this traction pattern to work great on clean floors (what doesn’t) and on dusty floors. Some dust gets stuck in the grooves during long sessions but they don’t require a lot of wiping at all. Per usual, I tested these out against my Clutchfit Drives, the bottom traction performer in my rotation, at my local dirty floor gym aka 24 Hour Fitness and I had to wipe within five minutes in the CFD. However, the Instincts hummed along at least a full hour before I had to wipe which is fantastic. What’s the secret? It’s the varying depth of the microtread.
If you look at the first pic of the traction you’ll see how the center of each micro tread “pod” is darker at the center. That first layer catches the brunt of the dust so the next layer can grab the floor (thus it looks clean). And if that doesn’t work, you have the regular herringbone along the outside. This is all theory of course but if it works it works right ?
The rubber is very soft and pliable so I don’t recommend these for outdoors as you’ll wear down the micro tread. For those keeping score, I put these a little behind the Kobe A.D. but way ahead of the CFD and Harden.
Well done Nike!
Cushioning
As I stated earlier, I’m not a fan of drop on insoles because I always get that pinching between the insole and upper on cuts. Nike actually fixed that issue by raising the walls of the insole (I know Nike did this on some other models like the Kobe 9) So thank you Nike.
left to right: Instinct, Mentality 2, Kobe 9
It’s hard to see from the pic and side shots are useless because of the raised walls so you’ll have to take my word for it. If you’ve worn Mamba Mentality 2 you’ll be presented with the almost the exact same set up and feel. I found the Instinct to be a touch thicker and firmer overall. I can pinch all the through the forefoot with the Mentality 2 and Kobe 9 but I can’t do so with the Instinct. I also found the Mentality 2 to be a touch thicker and firmer than the Kobe 9. And I found the 9 thicker and firmer than the 8. And I found the 8 .. just kidding. I think Nike firmed it up for Lunarlon longevity and more importantly torsional support (see Support and Stability)
Even with the firmer set up, cushioning is directly underfoot so it feels good overall. That was one of the points of the Kobe System right? Lunarlon isn’t my favorite cushioning set up since it loses its fun factor quickly as it dies. But even without that spring, it doesn’t mean it isn’t working but Nike really needs to come up with a Lunarlon Plus or something to keep pace and make the cushioning fun.
Fit
I’ve bought the Mentality 2 just to compare to the Instinct and it ran short and narrow by at least half a size. The Instincts fit true to size length (pointer finger width)and width wise. I tried up half a size and they fit me as well; they were true to size length wise so a touch too long (thumbs width) but good width wise so it will come down to fit preference for wide footers like myself. Regular and narrow footers should go true to size.
No deadspace side to side and very little above the foot. Zero heel slip as usual from the get go. Adidas should really copy this formula.
Well done as always Nike!
Materials
Flyweave for $100? Funny how quickly a “premium” materials ends up on a budget model. I don’t believe upper material costs are as nearly pricy as companies make them seem, it’s just to get the consumer sucked into the hype or feel good about dropping extra money for the same ol same ol. I blame all shoe companies for their marketing BS with materials.
Anyhoo, this is a woven done right. I’ve complained in the past about wovens and knits because of their elasticity but Nike put the softness and reinforcements in the right places.
The toe box and pretty much the front third of the shoe is reinforced with a TPU or soft synthetic. Minimal popping if any. Nike states it has TPU yarn in the forefoot but that synthetic backing will do more than any yarn.
The lateral side the from the 1/3 and back is pure weave. You can see that TPU up front
The medial side is almost pure weave but has some kind of very thin TPU or flexible glue
In case you’re wondering, the materials on the Instinct feel softer and more premium than what is found on the Mentality 2.
Overall the materials are great and gives a budget shoe a premium feel which in turn gives the consumer a great sense of value. Nice upgrade from last year which felt a little more plasticky.
Support and Stability
Support comes from the excellent fit and fairly sturdy heel counter (think Hyperrev or KD 9 but a little stiffer). Looks and feels the same as the Mentality 2.
Midfoot Support
Keep in mind that there is practically no midfoot support except the firmness of the insole. The shell of the shoe is a joke. This didn’t take much effort at all to do.
I bought the Mentality 2 to compare and I can’t do this to it because the outsole is firmer and thicker. I can fold it in half though but it takes more effort and I can’t bend it much past midfoot
Just for fun I tried to do this with the Kobe 8. The Kobe 8 has a carbon fiber shank that limits the bend midfoot and back. The 9 uses firm foam to limit the bend as well.
So all that is supporting your midfoot as well as providing torsional support is the insole
I had to twist and squeeze pretty hard to make this insole do this. Nike made this insole firmer and thicker than the Kobe 8 and 9. If you really wanted to, you could just glue or tape a credit card or two to the insole to improve rigidity but Nike really should have done it for that measly 5 cents it probably costs.
Some players will hate that there isn’t any midfoot support while the majority of people won’t care. The upside to the flexibility of the Instinct is that it feels natural on foot. I fall into the latter most of the time but I occasionally get plantar fasciitis so not exactly ideal for me. For what it’s worth MJ had carbon fiber shanks put into his shoes for his plants fasciitis so it’s doubtful he’d approve of these.
Stability
The outrigger on the Instinct is where it should be and doesn’t get rolled under the outsole like the A.D. The entire outsole is very flat and doesn’t feel tippy.
Overall support and stability is good but midfoot support just isn’t there.
Containment
A reinforced upper, a footstay and a raised wall in the insole?! Is Mexico paying for this or are the taxpayers ? #makenikegreatagain
Great containment especially for a woven upper. Well done Nike!
Conclusion
This is my first pass at the Mentality, I mean Instinct line and I am pleasantly surprised.
Even my local Academy Sports carried these and had the name wrong. At least they fixed it 🙂
Side by side under normal play, I had a hard time differentiating performance wise between the Kobe 8; both sit low to the ground with excellent traction and fit. The Instinct has does have firmer cushioning, a softer upper and better fit (yes a better, more snug fit) but gave up midfoot and torsional support. Although not ideal, I can’t complain about the lack of midfoot or torsional support since I don’t have serious foot problems. However, I won’t use these in the long run due to occasional plantar fasciitis flare ups. If you’ve ever had PF, you know how damn long it takes to go away. I like having a shoe that I don’t have to concern myself in case of a worst case scenario.
For $100 though, you get a lot of bang for the buck but as I’ve learned over the year, budget models hit sales faster and harder than it’s premium signature shoe cousins. Plus no Kobe on court will only accelerate the discount process. These can already be had on Eastbay with coupon for $80 already so expect price cuts in the coming months then add a coupon to get them down to the $65 price point for some serious value. #budgetballing
schwollo.com 
Hey schwollo great review per yuj. Could u explain to me what footstay and last mean again? Thanks man.
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Footstay is the raised midsole at the forefoot. A last is the basic shape of a shoe that manufacturers use to make different models of shoes . For example, a Kobe could be a team model w different materials and outsole but the shape and specs are the same. Helps keep costs down. Hope that helps!
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Does the shoe feel tight when you first wear it
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I didn’t have any issues with it but you can go half up a size for good measure bc i fit both Tts and half size up
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Could you do a kobe 8 archive review? Always been my favorite looking kobe and i like the 11 just wish the upper was a little less stiff. (Dont like the em 11 look either). Too bad i was born a few years earlier. First kobe i ever found was the 9 and i think i would love the 4,5,6, or 8
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Ha I’ll try to asap . What don’t you like about the 9? Can tell you if it’s any worse or better
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I have plantar fasciitis too bro. But the reviews on these have been positive. I wanted to like the 8s but I just didn’t like the upper and drop in midsoles to me is just nike being lazy in my opinion. I took my LeBron 11 midsoles and used them in the 8s and Kobe 9s for a bit but because the LeBron were so much thicker and higher, there were fit issues for me. I recently took the LeBron 4 insole and put it in my Kobe 8s and man is that combination beastly. So if you’re saying these are upgraded 8s, you think these would be good with the LeBron 4 midsole? I have plantarctic fasciitis too but I didn’t have issues with the Kobe 8s.
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The Kobe 8 has that carbon fiber shank to prevent it from over bending. I didn’t have any problems with the Instinct and I liked it overall but Id rather play in something else than risk injury that’s all. You should be able to fit the 4 insole into the Instinct, i have put my Lebron iv in storage and I’m too lazy to go get them out lol
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Nothing i dont like about it, ive never tried it. It was the new kobe shoe when i got into shoes. I like traction, decent impact protection, and semi-supportive but comfy materials. is the kobe 8 mesh a little less stiff than 11 elite? Thanks!
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I see. You’re not gaining anything going to the 8 although the Lunarlon is a little softer. Kobe 8 mesh is thinner and maybe a little softer than the 11 elite. Hard to compare them because of how they are made.
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Thanks!
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I stopped wearing the kobe 9’s as my recurring back problem suggests that i switch to shoes with better cushoning set up. based on this, d rose 7 is on top of my list…
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Nice good choice lol
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Can I expect a kobe 8 archive review? one of my favorite hooping models.
Also, can you do a hyperrev (og) review? thanks and keep up the good work
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Haha i will get around to it. If you already love it you don’t need my opinion lol
Hyperrev OG.. I’m not going to write one but here is a summary: cushioning is great feels like Zoom, traction is good when clean but picks up dust, zero containment, heel counter touch too soft. Fits true to size. Mesh fits nicely but once again no containment at all.
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Great review once again!! I think Nike nowadays makes better and more premium budget models instead of signatures. That’s interesting!
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All depends what you need in a shoe. But this is a pretty nice budget model if you don’t need that midfoot support
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I’ll have to to try these. This is the kind of shoe I prefer for going to grab a workout, with a shoot around to warmup and saying yes to pickup ball requests afterwards, lol. Do you feel these are better than the Hyperlive, which have a thick, but decently hard drop-in midsole?
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I skipped the hyperlive bc it looked and sounded so similar to the hyperchase. I didn’t really like the hyperchase bc of tippy heel and that insole was junky. So yes Instinct over hyper live
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Tried these on today. The cushioning was better than I thought it would be! Yes, softer than the Hyperlive phylon thing. Overall felt great. Only complaint was the material would bend into the top of my forefoot, but with my typical thicker socks and some break-in time, likely not a big deal. Love the outrigger placement. It’s almost TOO far back, but better than pinky toe slamming any day. The only reason I didn’t buy them is because I tried on that black/red Curry 2.5. Game over, lol. Fit like a glove, lateral movement well contained, no dead space yet could wiggle my toes, and at $89, a no brainer. This could become an expensive problem. I now own Jordan 30’s, Nike Hyperlive’s, D Lillard 2’s, and Curry 2.5’s … And I still want the KD9’s (half size down helps containment and doesn’t create other problems), and the Mamba Instincts. This blog will put me in the poorhouse :). But what a great stress relief from work 🙂 (Helping me make more $ and stay healthy in that regard)
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Haha nice nothing beats buying shoes for stress relief . Break in time will help with that forefoot area. Lots of people slept on the curry 2.5 but it fits and plays great. I tried half size down with KD ix , containment still didn’t work well enough for my tastes. Nice comfy shoe though lol
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these vs ad?
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Two very different shoes despite similar low cuts. Traction about the same, fit about the same, cushioning firmer in the AD but still some spring to it, definitely more supportive under midfoot. Instinct is more a natural feeling shoe on foot but little midfoot support and feels lower to the ground. I prefer more support so I’d go AD for peace of mind sake but the Instinct is great for those who don’t need it
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If i fit a 9.5 in the AD, will i fit a 9.5 in these?
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Yes you should be ok
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Lol your academy sports staff must not give too much shit..they could have corrected the name nicely. You know with a blank paper, black marker and transparent tape. Maybe it’s just my OCD to have everything looking nice and perfect.
Can u tell me the adress of the store so I can go there and properly relabel it?
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Lol academy is a very down to earth store so no they don’t care lol
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do you prefer these over the mentalities 2?
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Pretty much the same shoe but a nicer feeling upper but less midfoot support . I do prefer this insole to last year’s bc of the raised walls
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“Nike really needs to come out with a Lunarlon plus”… I agree, looks like the hyperdunk 2017 is where its going to be.
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We will see how it plays !
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What’s the breathability like on these Schwollo?
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Good enough since I didn’t notice anything outstanding or poor.
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Thanks mate. I tried the Liquid Metal version of the Rare Metals and there was too much backing underneath the upper. All I want is a pair of well ventilated, zero drop basketball shoes with minimal cushioning! Any other suggestions that fit that description? Thought about trying the regular Rare Metal but not sure if they’ll fit the bill
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I was going to say crazy explosive primeknit but there is a lot of drop. Mamba Instinct would be your best bet in terms of low minimal drop and cushioning.. or find some Kobe 8’s. Curry 3 Low almost fits the bill (vent not super ) or maybe the charged controller (haven’t tried them but sounds right up your alley). Or find a pair of tennis shoes like the Zoom vapor or adidas Uber sonic 1 or 2.
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Will one size extra be enough to fit a orthotic in? And if so will the shoe be as effective?
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I’m not sure I don’t wear orthotics and orthotics vary a lot. Your best bet is to try them on if possible. Effective in what sense ? Shoe will ride higher obviously. If there are a lot of variables like orthotics and you can’t try them on, I suggest passing on them altogether
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which shoe is a better performer, kobe 8s or kobe 9s
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Ix for most but I didn’t like it bc tippy heel
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Better traction and overall fit little firmer cushioning than the 8
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so the 8s were very stable in the heel then
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Yes
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I see; is it better for drop-in midsoles to be firm? What are the benefits?
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No it’s preference I thought the 8’was a little
Too squishy
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Do you still get pinching between the insole and upper in these shoes?
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Not really just slightly if any.
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What’s the difference between Mamba Instinct and Mamba rage?
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Nothing just a different pattern on the upper everything else is the same
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Mamba rages are the most comfortable shoes I’ve ever worn in my life due to the lunarlon insoles. I’ve had back, ankle, knee and whatever lower body issues since I was young. Now I’m in my 40s and it’s my weapon of choice for my feet, I recommend it to anyone who needs comfortable sneakers.
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This blog about Nike Kobe Mamba Instinct Performance Analysis and Review has helped me a lot, is very well written. I used this fat burner product: https://s96.me/fit and I reached the ideal weight.
Kiss you All!
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