The Air Jordan 6 “Infrared” is one of the most popular and perhaps polarizing retro models to make the rounds. No, it’s not polarizing because of mixed feelings due to its history or design, but rather that it’s been released or sampled in more variations that a Picasso painting.
How so you ask? For starters, upper construction has ranged from that of leather, suede and nubuck depending on the sizing or release year, while 3M underlays have also came and gone amongst different drops. While such specifications have been more or less ‘whatever’ to many, the more delicate detail has been that of the midsole.
Originally released in Black/Infrared in 1991, its 2000 retro saw a sample with the hues swapped on the midsole with said styling even making it into an Eastbay catalog. To the delight — and perhaps to due to the complaints — of fans, the ’00 retro released in near original form with the midsole intact. In 2010, the “Infrared” 6s would release in packaged form with both white and black based variations, while “Varsity Red” revamps would drop in GR form to mixed reviews at the time but growing fanfare since. Most recently, the “Infrared” 6s would release in 2014 with pink leaning paint illuminating the midsole.
Today, we see a sample that intersects eras and iterations, sporting a closer to varsity tone on the midsole with a blacked out toe portion. Strange and rare, these have gone up for sale (oddly enough in a size 10 rather than regular sample size 9) for a lofty $5,000 at Stadium Goods.
