Top 10 Infrared Air Jordan Sneakers

For the sake of accuracy, there is no such thing as the color of infrared. That’s because infrared is actually light that is below the color of red and is not visible to the human eye. Instead of seeing infrared, we feel it as heat and cameras are designed to see infrared in shades of red in relation to levels of coolness.

Even though we technically cannot see infrared, Nike has been busy making it iconic through some of the most well-known silhouettes in the brand’s history like the Nike Air Max 3 (now known as the Air Max 90), the Nike SC II Trainer, and the Air Jordan 6. Who knew that a little non-existent shade of red would hold such a connection to sneakers and that Jordan Brand would build up the color into something of a mini-franchise for the brand?

And now for a brief introduction to the Infrared versus Infrared 23 “debate” that easily confuses people either new to the term or don’t really care because they just want the OG Air Jordan 6 regardless of shade of red.

Infrared: Bright red, lighter tone than Chicago Bulls red, aka Varsity Red*. Examples include the 1991 original, the 2000 and 2019 retros, although there is some slight separation even between the three models.

Infrared 23: Neon red, almost pink-ish hue. Examples include the 2014 retro and all of the sneakers listed as Infrared 23 on this list.

*The 2010 retro uses Varsity Red instead of Infrared.

With Jordan Brand set to bring back Infrared in a big way in 2026 with the Reverse Infrared that is based on a 1999 salesman sample set to release during NBA All-Star Weekend, let’s take a look back at the best uses of Infrared so far.

10. Air Jordan 34 Infrared 23 (2020)

Worn by Luka Doncic during the 2020 NBA All-Star Weekend in Chicago, fans got to see a total flipping of the color blocking found on your standard black and red Air Jordans by making the red the dominant color. A look at various pictures of Luka in the sneakers from varying distances reveals how one could mistake the lighter shade red for pink, especially from afar.

9. Air Jordan 5 3Lab5 Infrared (2013)

The early 2010s are fondly remembered by Jordan Brand because anything they released at the time was guaranteed to sell out. This allowed them the freedom to get experimental with retros, plucking signature design elements from particular models and placing them onto others to spark discussion over their Frankenstein-esque execution. The Air Jordan Lab Series made some of the most divisive retros of the time, including this amalgamation of the Air Jordan 3 and 5 that takes the iconic elephant print of the 3 and pastes them over the entire upper of the Air Jordan 5 to give it a textured feel. The use of Infrared is interesting considering neither the Air Jordan 3 or Air Jordan 5 were particularly known for using the hue of red at the time.

8. Air Jordan 11 Low Infrared 23 (2014)

Another sneaker that wasn’t known for using Infrared is the Air Jordan 11, but its low-cut cousin got in on the fun with the Infrared 23 pair that released in 2014 along with other sneakers up and down this list. Calling this an Infrared 23 pair is a little silly because the use of the color is minimal on the upper, with most of it being found on the sneaker’s traction pattern.

7. Air Jordan 3 Infrared 23 (2014)

Released during a time period when demand for the iconic Air Jordan 3 White Cement was at its highest levels, the Infrared 23 provided relief for those in the sneaker community who were unable to secure a pair of the 2013 retro that featured Nike Air on the back. With nearly similar color blocking to the White Cement, there were enough changes (black tongue, Jumpman on the back, the use of Infrared 23 as an accent color) to distinguish this new colorway from the pair Michael Jordan wore in the 1988 NBA Slam Dunk Contest. The Infrared 23 thrived on being White Cement-adjacent and Nike has followed the blueprint since on releases like 2024’s Cement Grey and 2020’s Fire Red Denim releases.

6. Air Jordan 6 Low Infrared 23 (2015)

Also available in golf form, the Air Jordan 6 Low uses the same color blocking as the OG but adds black to the midsole. That small design tweak makes for an interesting “what if” because the OG’s white and Infrared midsole is ingrained in the minds of sneakerheads as the classic look, but the black on the low-cut pair makes for a more visually interesting pair.

5. Air Jordan 7 Infrared (2023)

Much like the Air Jordan 3 and Air Jordan 4, the Air Jordan 6 and Air Jordan 7 have been known to share iconic colorways that go beyond just giving them the same name. In 2023, Infrared landed on the Air Jordan 7 in the form of a retro that copies the homework of the Air Jordan 6 right down to using the same name on the paper. From the hits of infrared on the tooling, Jumpman logos on the tongue, and side panels of the black tongue, it’s a little like when a parent makes their kids separated by a year wear the same outfit to a function. They look the same, but the differences become more apparent upon closer inspection.

4. Air Jordan 6 Infrared 23 (2014)

The precursor to the Air Jordan 34 Infrared 23 featured earlier in this list, this 2014 release was part of Jordan Brand’s efforts to establish Infrared 23 as an alternative to the original hue. Well, there’s that theory or the funnier one where Jordan Brand’s original pairs in the archives have faded over the years and they haven’t been able to accurately mimic the shade of the originals ever since. Either way, there’s no mistaking this pair for prior Infrareds.

3. Air Jordan 29 Infrared 23 (2014)

With 2014 being a banner year for the Infrared 23, it only made sense to bring the neon red with pinkish vibes to the current flagship shoe. The Air Jordan XX9 was lauded for its top-notch performance on the court that included the use of Flyweave woven upper which is absolutely not the same thing as Flyknit*. The upper consisted of that bright Infrared 23 that was also found on the Air Jordan 6 of the same name, but with a large white Jumpman to provide a stunning contrast.

*As somebody who played hoops in both Flyknit (Kobe 9 Elite) and Flyweave (Air Jordan XX9), I preferred the stability and feel of Flyweave. There was a difference.

2. Air Jordan 36 Black/Infrared 23 (2022)

The Air Jordan line spent its 30s trying to relive past glory as each pair in the line was inspired by the matching Air Jordan from 30 years prior. The results varied from year to year with swings that ranged from wildly off base to worthy successor, the Air Jordan 36 falls into the latter category as it properly pays homage to the Air Jordan 6 while performing like a modern-day beast on the court. And unlike most of the Jordans in their 30s, the Air Jordan 36 integrated the color blocking of the Air Jordan 6 to perfection.

1. Air Jordan 6 Black/Infrared and Air Jordan 6 White/Infrared

Black: (1991, 2000, 2010, 2014, 2019, 2026); White: (1991, 2010, 2014)

Asking a sneakerhead to pick the better Air Jordan 6 Infrared is akin to asking what their overall favorite pair of sneakers is: it really just depends on the day and mood. The biggest advantage that the black pair has over the white is that it was on Michael Jordan’s feet when he won his first NBA Championship in 1991. Meanwhile, the white colorway has its own share of pop culture moments, including being the pair that Hanamichi Sakuragi bought for 30 yen in the legendary basketball anime Slam Dunk! One was a part of a critical moment in Michael Jordan’s history and the other helped to grow the myth of Air Jordans around the world. Not so easy now is it?*

*It’s probably not even close for most people, but for this anime fan, seeing that scene with Sakuragi as a kid was a big moment that shouldn’t be underestimated.

Juan Martinez

From video game journalism to veteran of the sneaker blog era to podcasting about well, everything, Juan is smiling through it all and can't believe this is his life. After recently getting into Formula 1, he now has hot takes about who the greatest driver of all time is. Email: juan@soleretriever.com