Is the Nike Air Max 90 Infrared 2026 Already a Flop?

Let’s be honest. When rumours of the Air Max 90 “Infrared” 2026 started swirling, we all hoped for another true-to-form classic like the 2020 gem.

That 30th Anniverday drop was so good I triple-d up. One to rock, one to stock, and one ... well just because. With the OG box, “Air Max III” branding and anatomical arch leaflet, it wasn’t just nostalgic, it was fan-approved. A rare moment where Nike got the retro formula absolutely bang on.

So where does that leave the 2026 version? Well… a bit in limbo. Official images confirm the colourway’s still there, that white, black, grey and Infrared combo still hits but Nike’s done a remix with reflective 3M-style overlays and darker panels.

The 2026 Infrared Air Max 90 is not quite as true as the 2020 version, not as fun as the Flyknit editions of 2017 or pre-aged accents of the 2012, it seems a little safe. Even this year's GORE-TEX edition seemed more exiciting, but I suppose there's still time for opinions to change.

Even the legend of sneaker punditry Brendan Dunne summed it up perfectly with, “No. Need a regular one with mesh”. We agree, and apparently so do over 100 other sneakerheads who liked that comment. This isn’t the retro people were waiting for.

The new build ditches the breathable mesh for synthetic shine, prompting jokes about feet overheating and accusations of Nike “tarnishing” a classic. In an era where we’ve seen multiple Air Max 95 “Neon” and Air Jordan ‘85 Bred return with surgical precision, this feels more like a side step than a celebratory main event.

But is it a total flop? Not exactly. Some fans are still on board, mostly because the Infrared is a classic colourway, plus their 2020 pairs are likely battered by now. It’s hard to turn down a retro when your old version is starting to talk.

The silhouette’s street-level legacy, especially in cities like London and Manchester, means there’s always a spot for the Infrared 90 in the daily rotation.

Whether Nike has a more faithful retro in the pipeline remains to be seen. A potential city pack, maybe? But for now, the 2026 isn’t quite the home run we hoped for. It’s more like a remix album when we were waiting on the greatest hits. Not a total flop, but not quite a classic either.

Find out where you can cop the Nike Air Max 90 “Infrared” by downloading The Sole Supplier app!