Rare Air Jordan 11 Low "Black Infrared" Sample Surfaces

BY Ben Atkinson
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A rare Air Jordan 11 Low sample has surfaced online, and it's not something you'll find on shelves anywhere.

New images of an Air Jordan 11 Low "Black Infrared" sample have surfaced, giving fans a detailed look at a pair that's never actually released. These photos come from what's being described as a Looksee sample, a type of prototype typically used internally by Nike before any retail decision is made.

The design leans almost entirely black across the upper. Mesh panels cover the toe box, while glossy patent leather wraps the heel and side panels, matching the finish fans know from the standard Air Jordan 11 line. Infrared accents hit the tongue lining, Jumpman branding, and heel tab, giving the otherwise blacked-out pair a sharp pop of color.

Black also carries down through the midsole and outsole, keeping the color story consistent from top to bottom. It's a clean, stealthy take on a colorway usually associated with louder Air Jordan releases elsewhere in the lineup.

Because this is sample-only footwear, there's no confirmation these ever make it to retail. Looksee samples exist purely for internal review, and plenty never see daylight beyond a leaked photo. Still, the clean design has fans hoping Jordan Brand eventually turns this into an official release.

Air Jordan 11 Low "Black/Infrared" Sample

Sample sneakers offer a rare look behind the curtain of how Jordan Brand actually builds out a colorway before it's finalized. Not every version tested internally ends up approved for release.

The Air Jordan 11 Low has seen plenty of infrared-adjacent colorways over the years, but never quite this stripped down. Most retail versions lean into contrast, pairing black with a brighter accent color across a larger portion of the shoe.

That's part of what makes samples like this appealing to collectors. They offer a glimpse at design directions the brand ultimately passed on, at least for now.

Overall, whether this pair ever gets an official release remains unknown. For now, it exists only in these leaked photos, giving fans another rare Jordan Brand artifact to speculate about.

About The Author
Benjamin Atkinson is a sneaker content writer at HotNewHipHop, where he has been covering the latest sneaker releases and industry news since 2023. With a deep understanding of the sneaker market, Ben regularly reports on exclusive sneaker drops, collaborations, and trends shaping the footwear world. From covering the return of top Nike releases to writing about Travis Scott's famous Air Jordan collaboration, Ben delivers in-depth content for the sneakerhead community. He also brings valuable insights from his former sneaker reselling business, Midwest Soles, which sharpens his expertise on the market.