Andrew Rizzo The Nike Air Bakin’s renewed retro run continues with the release of the “Varsity Royal” colorway on November 12th. Pairs drop via Nike SNKRS and select retailers for $170 in men’s sizing. See our Where to Buy section for the store list and keep scrolling for context.
WHERE TO BUY
Mens Nike Air Bakin'
US 11/12/2026 Thursday
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| Retailer | Release type | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Nike SNKRS | Standard | Coming Soon |
| Sneaker Politics | Standard | Coming Soon |
| SNIPES US | Standard | Coming Soon |
| Foot Locker | Standard | Coming Soon |
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Nike’s retro sneaker business is hurting across the board, but the return of the Air Bakin has been a major win thus far, earning high praise from those around to witness its original run in the late ’90s. That’s pretty ironic since it wasn’t necessarily all that popular back in the day, but this isn’t the first time Nike’s been able to rewrite a narrative around a retro model.
Following the “Varsity Red” that got the retro run started, the Bakin continues gaining momentum with the “Varsity Royal,” another member of the model’s original colorway lineup. The ventilated upper portion takes on the titular hue, while the rest of the sneaker arrives in black with white accents. Unlike the 1997 pair and the 2008 retro, which featured grey mesh and black and white leather on the tongue, the 2026 edition goes with an all-black treatment. The collar branding has also been updated, replacing the original look with a white Swoosh atop a black TPU oval. The visible Air cushioning and white jewel Swoosh in the midsole remain unchanged.
The road ahead for the Bakin looks exciting as well, headlined by a low-top Jae Tips collaboration for Spring 2027 and standout non-collabs like the Nike Air Bakin “Multi-Color”.
Again, the Nike Air Bakin “Varsity Royal” releases November 12th, 2026 via Nike SNKRS and select retailers. Worth noting that the “Varsity Red” sold out and is currently going for above retail on aftermarket sites, so if these are a must have, we advise acting ASAP on release day.
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