Nike Air Max 90 Infrared Golf Shoe Review

Nike Air Max 90 Infrared Golf Shoe

I’ve written quite a few reviews on this site for various Nike/Jordan golf shoes over the past years. My sneakerhead tendencies are WELL documented here and many of these golf shoes have had this Chicago kid unreasonably excited. But this shoe. This friggin’ shoe. This MIGHT BE the most excited I’ve been yet for a retro sneaker-inspired golf shoe. You see, as a big shoe guy, I take my sneakers serious. My top-5 shoe ranking is not easy to break into and largely untouchable. And they’re my top 5 by a mile, number 6 doesn’t even come close. Nike Infrared AM90s are one of those top 5. So when the Nike Air Max 90 Infrared golf shoe release was announced, I was, let’s say…pretty excited.

An Infrared Air Max 90 just slightly modified for golf? Yes, please. I thought you’d never ask…

The Looks

How do the Nike Air Max 90 Infrared golf shoes look? Absolutely perfect, that’s how. I am admittedly very biased here, but Nike did an excellent job capturing the AM90 silhouette and keeping the colors true. That’s not an inconsequential detail. Even in regular sneakers, Nike commonly butchers classic shoe profiles and the colors will be off even though they’re supposed to be the same as the OG. If you aren’t familiar with the original AM90, Nike turned heads with this stylistic running shoe in 1990 and it has captured the hearts of generations of shoe fiends ever since.

Comfort Level

I’d be lying to you if I said wearing the Nike Air Max 90 Infrared golf shoes feels just like wearing the classic sneaker. The regular sneaker is somewhat plush and has a typical 90s thickness to it. The golf shoe on the other hand is a little thinner, firmer, and a tighter fit. This makes sense to me, however, as the golf shoe is designed to hold up under fairly rugged use. I don’t need a pair of “running” shoes to hold up to bunkers, aggressive swing tempos, and damp conditions. I do need a golf shoe to do that.

Nike introduced air cushioning into their shoes in the late 70s, but only made it visible for the first time in 1987’s Air Max 1. (Check out our review of the AM1 golf shoe here.) The Air Max 90 was the next shoe three years later and it carried on the legacy of the visible air bubble. Same goes for the golf shoes 30 years later. The same foam midsole and air unit provide enough cushioning to your feet but are still firm enough to withstand your rounds of golf.

On-Course Performance

If you’re a walker, the Nike Air Max 90 Infrared golf shoes are perfect. The Air Max 90 sneaker is one of the best walking shoes of all time, so 18 to 36 holes is no problem for the golf shoe. They aren’t the most breathable shoes of all time, but they aren’t ovens for your feet either. Additionally, Nike gave the AM 90 golf shoes a thin overlay to help keep your feet dry. They come with a 1-year waterproof warranty, by the way. (I personally have not had them in wet conditions yet, so I can’t comment much on this.)

As I mentioned earlier, the AM 90 golf shoes have a somewhat stiffer profile than the standard sneaker. This makes the shoe hold up better during your golf swing and gives you a better foundation all over the course. The firm foundation and slightly tighter fit give your foot good support and stability.

Last but not least, the new “integrated traction pattern”. If you look at the sole of the original sneaker, it has a signature “waffle” pattern. While this new traction pattern on the golf shoe is much different, you can see how it draws inspiration from the original design. I’ll admit, I thought calling this a golf sole with this traction was generous at best, but so far, it has had comparable grip to many other spikeless golf shoes I’ve worn. Either way, the Air Max 90 transitions well from off the course to on the course.

Final Thoughts – Nike Air Max 90 Infrared Golf Shoe

Are the Nike Air Max 90 Infrareds the best golf shoes ever made? I don’t know, but probably not. It doesn’t matter though, I’m in love and they’re certainly not BAD golf shoes. So as far as I’m concerned, these are going to see plenty of time this season. More importantly, I’m more aware of how much I need to get a new pair of AM90 Infrareds in my sneaker collection. I finally wore my last pair into the ground last year and desperately need a fresh new pair.