Reebok Men's Kamikaze Ii Sneaker, Vector Navy/White/Vector Red

Product Information

Reebok designer Ricardo Vestuti was tasked with creating the sneaker for the dynamic power forward. The sneaker went through several possible names; Altimeter, Eliminator and Adversary to name a few, before finally landing on Kamikaze. Both serve up a similar white, red and blue color scheme, each using its layered upper to accentuate its palette to the fullest extent possible. Design lines are put on full display as well. The Shaqnosis’s signature circles start in navy blue before branching out to white and red, while the jagged pieces of the Kamikaze II offer red on the heel and blue on the forefoot, with a buffer provided by a white midfoot. Each also equips Reebok Vector branding. With the current state of things around the world forcing people to stay inside, now is a great time to revisit some of the best movie sneakers of all-time. For some movies, sneakers have a much deeper tie-in and end up front and center on the big screen. While others have less screen time but make up for it with a cultural relevance that can’t be denied. For this list, we wanted to focus on films that helped elevate the sneakers through placement or storytelling, sneakers that made an appearance on screen, became a talking point, or in some cases, were highlighted in a scene that we can’t forget.

While the Kamikaze line was short-lived, it is reflective of a wild time in Reebok’s design history. Kamikaze 1 designer Ricardo Vestuti recalls the time at Reebok fondly, adding “There was no design direction in this Reebok era. We made whatever we wanted, and there was no coordinated, singular direction. We all fed off of each other. We each had a particular style, and followed our own direction.” The Reebok Kamikaze is a silhouette released as a performance basketball shoe and is the first signature trainer for Seattle Supersonics' “Reign Man” Shawn Kemp. Renamed Hurrikaze, the Kamikaze is available in different designs and colourways. Kemp went on to battle the Bulls for the 1996 NBA Championship in the Kamikaze 2. When the Sonics fell short, roster moves were made, and Kemp was ultimately dealt to Cleveland in 1997. The glory days of Kemp and Payton alley-oops were gone, and the Reignman’s signature sneakers were discontinued.

The sportswear company, which recently completed its acquisition by Authentic Brands Group, has announced that the Kamikaze will now be called the “Hurrikaze.” Existing inventory for the sneaker will continue to be sold and will eventually be phased out as the Hurrizake-branded sneaker makes its debut this month. In 1994, Seattle Supersonics power forward Shawn Kemp was on the verge of superstardom. At the conclusion of the '93-94 NBA season, his Sonics lead the league with an impressive 63-19 record behind the thunder and lightning combination of Kemp and point guard Gary Payton. The Reebok Kamikaze is a silhouette released as a performance basketball shoe and is the first signature sneaker for Seattle Supersonics' “Reign Man” Shawn Kemp. Renamed Hurrikaze, the Kamikaze is available in different designs and colorways. Although this dynamic duo is similar in several ways, there are slight diversions to be seen as well: the Shaqnosis uses a signature Dunkman logo on its heel, while the Kamikaze II opts for pops of hi-vis reflective material on tongue and heel alike. Both are finalized by navy and white midsoles stuffed with DMX cushioning. Dropping around the same time as Steven Smith’s crazy Instapump Fury, informing the unique Mobius Collection, and setting the groundwork for Iverson’s Answer line, the legacy of the Kamikaze still lives on today.

Reebok Kamikaze sneakers have a signature look characterized by aggressive, zig-zagging lines that run from the outsole to the upper. The upper is built with leather and lightweight synthetic materials and features Reebok’s vector logo on the toe, heel, and tongue. Kamikazes also feature a padded tongue and collar for support and comfort, complemented by a breathable textile lining. The EVA midsole in Reebok Kamikaze sneakers is designed to offer support and cushioning, thanks to the soft material used in its build helping to minimize stress on the feet and absorb impact. Rounding out the design of this silhouette is a high abrasion outsole with a herringbone pattern for additional grip. It is also resistant to skidding and oil. One of the modern classics when it comes to the best sneaker movies has to be, Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse. While most of the shoes on this list happened years ago and were likely the result of a simple product placement effort from the brand, the 2018 Spider-Man animated film was a calculated partnership with Jordan Brand that also saw the release of one of the best Air Jordan 1s of the year. As we discussed on the podcast, the prices on the Jordan 1 ‘Spider-Man’ are still well above retail. WATCH ON NETFLIX

Reebok Kamikaze II OG

Reebok Kamikaze trainers have a signature look characterised by aggressive, zig-zagging lines that run from the outsole to the upper. The upper is built with leather and lightweight synthetic materials and features Reebok’s vector logo on the toe, heel, and tongue. Kamikazes also feature a padded tongue and collar for support and comfort, complemented by a breathable textile lining. The EVA midsole in Reebok Kamikaze trainers is designed to offer support and cushioning, thanks to the soft material used in its build helping to minimise stress on the feet and absorb impact. Rounding out the design of this silhouette is a high abrasion outsole with a herringbone pattern for additional grip. It is also resistant to skidding and oil.

To reintroduce the shoe, Reebok recruited basketball illustrator Peter Richter to share the story of NBA star Montrezl “Trezz” Harrell’s recent visit to the brand’s Boston headquarters. During the trip, Reebok said Harrell spent ample time in its archive and was enamored by the Kamikaze 2. The result is the “A Legend is Born” comic-style storyboard. While Reebok hasn’t offered an explanation, “Hurrizake” appears to be a portmanteau that combines “kamikaze” and “hurricane.” A violent storm is still a fitting sobriquet for a sneaker associated with Kemp, and most importantly, one that doesn’t make light of a brutal component of WW2. Kamikaze was used only for the first two of Kemp’s signature shoes, and from his third on Reebok went with the “Reignman.”La Reebok Kamikaze est une chaussure de basket conçue pour une meilleure performance et la première basket signée par le « Reign Man » des Seattle Supersonics, Shawn Kemp. Rebaptisée Hurrikaze, la Kamikaze est disponible en différents modèles et coloris. While the finished product – flashy, aggressive and brash – was a perfect accompaniment to the Reignman’s game, Vestuti admits he wasn’t familiar with Shawn Kemp at the time. The design of the Kamikaze 1 was in fact inspired by a Venezuelan visual artist.