Fox’s latest update to the 36 fork is much needed. For many years the 36 was a mainstay all-mountain and enduro fork, but in its last iteration, the 36 became an awkward middle child between the 34 and 38. With a complete redesign, can the new 36 finally deliver a standout performance worthy of its name?
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HISTORY
The previous generation of the Fox 36 launched in 2022 alongside the now legendary Fox 38, a burly and all-new fork that quickly grabbed all the attention. While the 38 impressed with its stiffness and support for aggressive enduro use, the 36 felt like a minor update by comparison. Many riders found it underwhelming, especially when pushed hard—it had a tendency to bind under load and lacked the composed, plush feel of its bigger sibling. As a result, the older 36 was often overlooked in favor of the 38, even on bikes that didn’t need quite as much travel or stiffness.
WHAT’S NEW ON THE FOX 36?
The 2026 36’s updated air spring and bushing layout are Fox’s attempt to remedy the old 36’s biggest flaw: binding under load.
A standout update in the 2026 Fox 36 is its re-engineered air spring – the Float Ultra-Low-Friction Compliant Air Spring. Unlike previous versions that used a rigid assembly, the new design introduces a slight amount of controlled play in the internal assembly. This flexibility allows the air spring to self-align inside the fork when the chassis is under side loads or twisting forces—like when you’re cornering hard, landing sideways, or riding through off-camber compressions.
This may sound like a small change, but the result is a big one: smoother travel, fewer instances of binding, and a more supple, controlled feel throughout the stroke. Combined with increased bushing overlap – up 30mm from the previous generation – this new air spring design is a key reason the 36 finally feels as good as the 38, especially when pushed hard.
Smaller updates include the 200mm post mount for the front brake; an air top cap which now utilises a cassette tool interface; and redesigned lower leg bypass channels with smaller air bleeders. Then of course, there’s that eye-catching generatively designed arch to increase stiffness and minimize weight.
As before, the new 36 will be offered with the choice of Grip X or Grip X2 damper, with 140mm to 160mm travel options.
ON THE TRAIL
Do all of these updates add up to an appreciable difference in performance? The short answer: Yes!
This fork now tracks noticeably better through rough terrain, jumps, and steep tech. It’s more planted, more responsive, and flat-out better than before.
Swapping between this and a 38, I could barely tell the difference—except for the weight. Unless you need more than 160mm of travel, the new 36 should be on your shortlist.
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