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Always Hot: The Best "Infrared" Sneakers

Always Hot: The Best "Infrared" Sneakers

We hand select the best sneakers with Nike’s bright red hue, from all-time classics to brand new hits.

Matt DeSciora

If a picture is worth a thousand words, then a color is worth a thousand stories. Especially if that color happens to be the beloved “Infrared” hue that’s appeared on Nike and Air Jordan shoes since the 1990s. If you’ve been into sneakers for any length of time, then there’s a good chance you’ve had at least one “Infrared” shoe in your collection, and can vouch for how the colorway has a knack for drawing attention from people everywhere it goes. After all, that was the intention of putting the fiery shade of red on performance running shoes like the Nike Air Max 90 and even the Air Jordan 6 all those years ago.

If you’re new to the sneaker collecting hobby, there’s still a good chance that you’ve seen an “Infrared” colorway pop up on a recent collaboration or release that’s caught your eye. Three decades in, the “Infrared” color is still eye-pleasing, and still lighting up social media timelines just as it did sneaker store shelves back in the day.

With summer being the most opportune time to flex your flashiest sneakers, we thought it’d be appropriate to rundown some of the “Infrared” sneakers in our inventory. Expect to see a few tried-and-true examples of the “Infrared” style, and even a swerve or two.

Air Jordan 4 “Infrared”

There’s no shortage of classic “Infrared” shoes, but our list begins with the most recent addition to the red-based family: the Air Jordan 4 “Infrared.” Released last week, the “Infrared” colorway of the vintage basketball shoe no doubt looks to the Air Max 90 of the same nickname for a little inspiration, as it features the same neutral-based color scheme as the throwback running shoe.

Nike Air Max 90 OG “Infrared”

The Nike Air Max 90 OG “Infrared” was the official coming out party for the blazing red colorway, and is widely considered the measuring stick in which all other “Infrared” colorways are held. Not much else needs to be said about this shoe’s greatness or legacy in sneakers.

Air Jordan 6 “Infrared”

Depending on who you ask, there are some who place the Air Jordan 6 “Infrared” over the Air Max 90 “Infrared” for the simple fact that it was the shoe worn by Michael Jordan when he won his first NBA championship with the Chicago Bulls in 1991. Both shoes are timeless, so there’s really no wrong answer as to which is the best “Infrared” shoe.

Air Jordan 6 “White/Infrared”

The Air Jordan 6 “Infrared” was Michael’s go-to shoe in the ‘91 NBA Playoffs, but let’s not be so quick to forget that he also rocked the model’s “White/Infrared” colorway during the Bulls’ home games that season, as well. It’s pretty cool that Nike decided to give us not one, but two “Infrared” style Jordan 6s right out of the gate in ‘91.

Clot x Air Jordan 13 Low “Black/Infrared”

As we’ve seen with the Air Jordan 4 and Air Jordan 6, the “Infrared” theme has made its way onto plenty of Jordan sneakers in addition to being featured prominently on Nike’s Air Max line. A few years ago, Edison Chen’s Clot streetwear brand collaborated with Jordan Brand on the Air Jordan 13 Low “Black/Infrared,” a colorway that more or less is a tribute to the original Jordan 6 vibe.

Nike Air Max 2090 “Infrared”

What better way to introduce a new Air Max model, especially one so closely related to the Air Max 90, than by dressing it in an “Infrared” color block? In 2020, Nike debuted the Air Max 2090 “Infrared” as both an ode to the shoe we just mentioned and its most beloved colorway. The results, as you can see, were clearly favorable for the progressive Air Max 2090.

Nike SB Dunk Low “Infrared”

There’s something about the pairing of the “Infrared” hue with neutrals like black, white, and grey that’s just so appealing. Another sneaker we love that pulls off the look rather well is the Nike SB Dunk Low “Infrared” from 2020 that clearly takes its style cues from the OG Air Max 90.

Nike Air Max 90 “Reverse Duck Camo”

Let’s give credit where credit is due. Although no one in the sneaker world ever forgot about the Air Max 90 “Infrared,” Japan-based sneaker boutique atmos deserves praise for creating a new wave of appreciation for the colorway with its Air Max 90 “Duck Camo” collaboration, which happens to be the sneaker that inspired the model’s “Reverse Duck Camo” colorway from 2020.