SoleGRIND
Nike is digging into its running archives again, and the result is something that feels both familiar and completely new. The Nike Air Max Metro isn’t a retro reissue — it’s a fresh silhouette that borrows the visual language of early-2000s running shoes and packages it for 2026. If you’ve been missing the era when Air Max models looked like they belonged on a track rather than a street corner, this one’s going to catch your eye.
Style code IW4935-003 arrives in a Black/Black-Light Photo Blue-Illusion Green colorway that leans dark and technical. The upper pairs black mesh with Light Photo Blue suede across the toe, sides, and heel, while off-white suede accents break up the monochrome dominance. It’s a layered build — almost over-engineered in the best way, reminiscent of when Nike wasn’t afraid to stack materials and let a shoe look like the piece of sporting equipment it actually is.
Down below, the speckled midsole adds a grind of texture that ties back to the blue suede above. The Air unit runs long and blue-tinted, giving the shoe a visible cushioning window that’s more functional than decorative. Compared to the Pegasus Premium, the Metro sits flatter — less chunky, more streamlined. It reads as a runner first, lifestyle shoe second.
Small details finish things off nicely: Illusion Green branding on the tongue and outsole adds a pop of color that you might miss at first glance but ties the whole palette together. At $130 for adults and $110 for grade school sizes, the Metro is positioned as a mid-tier option that doesn’t skimp on the design story.
The Air Max Metro drops October 1, 2026. It’s the kind of shoe that rewards a closer look — photos don’t fully capture the layering and material contrast. If you’ve been waiting for Nike to remember that Air Max used to mean running, this is your moment.
