SoleGRIND
| 👟 Sneaker Release Info | |
|---|---|
| Brand | Nike |
| Model | Air Bakin |
| Colorway | Varsity Red |
| Style Code | IQ5365-600 |
| Release Date | September 29, 2026 |
| Available At | Nike.com, Select Retailers |
The Nike Air Bakin OG “Varsity Red” brings back one of the most distinctive Nike basketball shoes from the late 90s. IQ5365-600. September 29 release. If you do not know the Air Bakin, you probably recognize the wavy upper that caused controversy when it first dropped.
The original Air Bakin released in 1997 and featured a flame-like design on the upper that was supposed to represent heat. The Muslim community raised concerns because the flame pattern on the outsole resembled the word “Allah” in Arabic. Nike recalled the shoe and re-released it with a modified outsole. That controversy made the Air Bakin one of the most talked-about Nike shoes of the decade.
The 2026 version brings back the OG Varsity Red colorway. Red upper with black accents and a white midsole. The wavy synthetic upper gives the shoe a look that is unlike anything else in Nike’s lineup. It is a 90s design that still looks futuristic nearly 30 years later.
The Air Bakin is not a shoe for everyone. It is loud, weird, and unapologetically 90s. But that is what makes it special. In a market full of minimalist sneakers, the Bakin stands out by being the opposite of minimal.
September 29 via Nike.com and select retailers.
