Here is a short guide to help you identify fake Nike shoes. Read on to learn more.
- Compare the Price
An unbelievably low price tag is a sure sign of fake Nikes. Authentic shoes won’t be ridiculously low-priced. It does not mean, however, that all discounted Nikes are fake.
A marked-down price of less than 50 percent should raise your suspicion.
It is rare to find Nike markdowns greater than 50% unless you are buying from an authorized Nike store and there is a clearance sale such as Black Friday. You should compare the seller’s price with the posted price on the Nike website or in authorized stores.
- Check the Seller
It is important to check out the seller or store before making a commitment to buy Nike shoes online.
Read the feedback and reviews of the online seller if you aren’t buying from an authorized retailer.
- Check the Style
It is helpful to do some research before purchasing a style to become familiar with its details.
View product photos on Nike’s website. If you want a specific color combination, make sure to check that too.
There are a lot of counterfeit Nike sneakers sold on the market, but the colors and shades are very different from the originals.
- Check the Box
The Nike shoes all come in a box with a proper label and tag. Boxes come in a variety of colors and prints, with orange, brown, and red being the most common.
Information like style, size, SKU, serial number, and barcode should be displayed on the side of the box.
It is common for counterfeiters to imitate these boxes, but they fail to include the essential side prints. A few online sellers ship fake Nikes without boxes, in plastic bags.
- Check the Tongue
There should be a swoosh and the brand name on the tongue, sometimes along with the style or model name.
A tag should be affixed to the tongue, including the size, country of manufacture, and SKU (Stock Keeping Unit).
There should be a unique alphanumeric code, usually nine digits long, that matches the number on the box’s side.
Usually, Goat Dunks display random numbers on their tags, not the ones on their boxes.
- Check the Outsoles
As a result of their high-grade rubber outsoles, authentic Nike shoes provide traction and support. Cheap rubber feels heavy and plasticky on the foot in imitation.
It is important that the soles have a uniform and evenly spaced ridges and patterns. In fakes, patterns are poorly spaced and the soles are stiff and not flexible.
- Check the Weight
The feel of Goat Dunks is also different from the real thing. False Nikes have a hard time replicating the feel of real Nikes because cheap materials are used to make them.
Fakes tend to feel heavier and more rigid than authentic products. Shoes made by Nike should be lightweight so that you don’t feel any drag as you walk.
- Check the Midsoles
Shoes with authentic Nike midsoles are usually glued, not stitched. Designed to provide arch support and cushioning, they are made from lightweight advanced foam.
Most new models have the brand name printed on the insoles, along with the swoosh and sometimes the model name as well.
- Check the Uppers
Nike shoes are manufactured and designed to the highest standards. Besides high-quality materials, Nike also crafts stylish and comfortable shoes using advanced technology.
Whatever style you choose, your Nikes should feel and look good.
When you inspect counterfeit Nikes and knockoffs closely, you will find inconsistencies and flaws in the design. Beware of uneven stitching, overlapping colors, and stiff uppers.
- Inspect the Logo and Small Details
Imitations can also be identified by their small details. There should be a matching font size and font style on the prints.
Fake shoes will have bad or crooked stitching details on their uppers.
Furthermore, counterfeit Nike shoes can have misspellings and swoosh logos that are too large or facing the wrong way.
