You remember when the Sabrina 1 first dropped? It wasn't just another basketball shoe. It was a shift. Suddenly, everyone from NBA superstars to the kids at the local Y was rocking a WNBA signature. But here is the thing: the retail colorways, as cool as they were, only told half the story. The real magic happened in the Sabrina 1 Nike By You builder.
Most people think "customizing" a shoe is just about picking a louder shade of neon green. Honestly, it's way deeper than that. Especially with the Sabrina 1, where the tech specs—like that bottom-loaded Zoom Air and the full-length React foam—actually felt different depending on the materials you chose for the upper.
Why the Sabrina 1 Nike By You builder was a literal game changer
Nike doesn't always give us the "good" materials on the custom site. Sometimes they gatekeep the premium stuff for the limited drops. But with the Sabrina 1, the options were legit. You had the chance to mess with the textile patterns that paid homage to Sabrina Ionescu's Romanian heritage, or you could go totally minimal.
One of the biggest misconceptions? That these are "women's shoes."
Stop.
Nike built these on a unisex mold from day one. If you were looking for a Sabrina 1 Nike By You pair in 2024 or 2025, you were likely navigating that 1.5-size difference (a men’s 10.5 is a women’s 12), but the performance didn't care about your gender. It cared about your footwork.
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The "Kobe" Comparison: Is it Real or Just Hype?
If you spend any time on sneaker forums, you’ve seen the "Sabrina 1 is the new Kobe 5" takes.
It’s not just hype.
The low-to-the-ground feel is almost identical. In the Nike By You portal, you could even choose translucent or solid rubber outsoles. That's a huge decision. Most pros will tell you: if you’re playing on a dusty high school gym floor, go with the solid rubber. Translucent looks sick, but it's a dust magnet.
- React Foam: It's firm. Don't expect "walking on clouds" vibes. It’s meant for responsiveness.
- Zoom Air: It's in the forefoot. You feel it most when you’re exploding off your toes.
- The Shank: There’s a TPU midfoot shank that keeps the shoe from twisting. It makes the shoe feel "snappy."
Customization Mistakes You Probably Made
The biggest error I saw in the Sabrina 1 Nike By You designs was the "all-over" color trap. People would make the mesh, the cables, and the midsole all one color. It looks okay in the digital preview, but in real life, it loses all the detail.
The Sabrina 1 has these intricate "i" details on the toe and tongue. If you didn't use contrasting colors for the embroidery, you basically erased the coolest part of the design. Also, the "Vertical Swoosh" on the medial side? That was a deliberate choice to represent breaking glass ceilings. If you made it the same color as the upper, you missed the point.
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Where is the Sabrina 1 Nike By You now?
It's 2026. We’ve already seen the Sabrina 2 and the recently launched Sabrina 3 hit the shelves. If you go to the Nike site today, the Sabrina 3 By You is the current flagship, retailing for around $165. It’s got the new Cushlon 3.0 and those fancy pleated side panels.
But does that mean the Sabrina 1 is dead?
Hardly.
The secondary market for "New Other" or "Pre-owned" custom pairs is surprisingly active. You can find them on eBay or GOAT, often for under $120 if you aren't picky about someone else's color choices. Some people are even hunting down specific Nike By You "Bred" or "University" colorways that users designed and then sold.
How to get that Sabrina feel in 2026
If you missed the window to design your own Sabrina 1 Nike By You, you aren't totally out of luck. The design language carries over. Here is the move:
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Go to the Nike By You builder for the Sabrina 3. It's the natural evolution. The Sabrina 3 actually fixed some of the durability issues people had with the 1 and 2. It’s still low, still fast, but the lockdown is even tighter because of the way the cables integrate with the new mesh pleats.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Check your size: Remember, if you’re buying a legacy Sabrina 1 from a reseller, verify if the listing is in Men’s or Women’s sizing to avoid a return headache.
- Solid over Translucent: If you're actually hooping in these, prioritize solid rubber outsoles for better grip on diverse court conditions.
- Contrast is King: When designing the newer models on Nike By You, use at least three different tones to highlight the embroidery and the "i" branding—don't let the details get swallowed by a monochromatic look.
- Insole Swap: If you find the React foam too stiff, swap the stock insole for a performance one like Move or Heshi. It changes the whole experience.