Quick Facts
- The Nike Kobe 9 EM Hydrogen Blue features a full coat of icy bluish grey engineered mesh across the one-piece upper, with a slightly bluer shade added to the reinforced toe
- The tongue is done in wide mesh at the bottom and leather at the top with a hydrogen blue Kobe sheath logo to match the deep blue of the sockliner, outsole, and outline of the side panel Swoosh
- The Nike Kobe 9 EM Hydrogen Blue will be released February 1, 2026
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No matter how far out we get from Kobe Bryant’s untimely passing, the Black Mamba’s legacy continues to live on every night on basketball courts across the globe, thanks to his sneaker line with Nike. The Nike Kobe line is the most-worn sneaker across the NBA and at most levels of the game, and as Nike continues to satiate the demand by rolling out new colorways of classic retro Kobe silhouettes, Beaverton is bringing an icy hydrogen blue to the Kobe 9 EM.
The Nike Kobe 9 EM Hydrogen Blue features a full coat of icy bluish grey engineered mesh across the one-piece upper, with a slightly bluer shade added to the reinforced toe. The tongue is done in wide mesh at the bottom and leather at the top with a hydrogen blue Kobe sheath logo to match the deep blue of the sockliner, outsole, and outline of the side panel Swoosh.
The middle of the side panel Swoosh is white for a bit of bright contrast, and the lace loops poking out from the eyelets add more hydrogen blue to complete the look. Kobe’s signature is added to the heel stabilizing extension of the midsole built for superior on-court lockdown.
The Nike Kobe 9 EM Hydrogen Blue will be released February 1, 2026 through Nike and select retailers in-store and online. Available in adult and grade school sizing, the retail prices are set at $190 and $122, respectively. For all the latest Nike Kobe news and drop info, download the Sole Retriever mobile app.
Zach Harris is a writer based in Philadelphia. His work has appeared in Rolling Stone, Vice, Complex, High Times, and more. He is obsessed with skateboarding and bowling. He is still looking for his first 300. For tips, reviews, and anything in size 10.5 - zach.h@soleretriever.com
