The Kobe x Nike Air Force 1 “Denim” From 2006 Is Returning As A Protro Release

The "Kobe Vault" isn't just a tab on SNKRS.

Matt Varga 37 minutes

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The “vault being open” is largely a phrase we’ve seen attached to infamous pairs that’ve hit the modern scene like the Wu Tang Dunk or Undefeated Jordan 4. However, collectors active in that time could tell you that often the sneakers that’ve commanded the highest secondary market prices are the one-off Air Force 1s that Nike frequently broke off to its inner circle. Kobe Bryant is owner of plenty, but one of the more recognizable will be locked away no more come 2026, as the Kobe x Nike Air Force 1 “Denim” returns anew.

Relative to typical Kobe leaks of this nature, we have to do far less speculation with this pair. While there’s certainly room to tinker with this arrangement, initial info points to a faithful retro of this blue and orange arrangement. Bracketing the denim upper and fiery outsoles, frayed detailing surrounds each panel, while contrast orange stitching adds some extra depth. Where we can expect changes is in the tooling of this shoe, all but guaranteed to carry the drop-in ReactX insole first debuted with the “Frobe” edition early this year.

At this time, all that’s known of the Kobe x Nike Air Force 1 “Denim” is to expect a drop sometime in 2026. Given that this is sure to be a high-profile drop, we’ll keep you updated with more info as this story develops.

Info via Sneaker Files. Photo via Flight Club.

Written by

Matt Varga, Junior Editor

Matt Varga is an Editor at SneakerNews. Initially earning a degree in Video Arts and Technology, he got his start in video editing and writing in the music world — primarily on hip-hop and electronic. A long-standing interest in sneakers led him to switching over to footwear. An avid collector, his favorite sneaker of all time comes down to either the Air Jordan 1 “Black Toe” and Air Jordan 5 “Laney,” his first ever pick-ups. When he’s not writing, you can find Matt cooking, traveling, attending concerts and when weather permits, on the handball court.