Nike is one of the largest shoe retailers in the world, and as demand for sneakers from Nike grows, so does the counterfeit market.
Increasingly, they are so close to the original that it is hard for the average person to tell the difference. However, there are a few small details to pay attention to, so in this article you will learn how not to be fooled
The city of Putian in southeastern China produces the most counterfeit pairs, but there are also many other factories in other cities.
So, if you’re thinking about buying shoes from the Nike brand, it’s worth knowing a few details that will protect you from being scammed.
Learn the ins and outs of Nike’s counterfeit products in detail
The hallmarks of counterfeit Nike shoes and other products can often be seen in small details. Pay special attention to:
- crooked, uneven or unfinished seams,
- Spelling errors in fine print, such as on a clothing label or on the tongue of a shoe,
- fonts, which may deviate from the original,
- swoosh or Jumpman logo – must be the right size and shape,
- The quality of embroidery on logos or other details.
Take a close look at the stitching on the product from Nike. In the example below of the original pair of Air Force 1 and the fakes, you can see that the swoosh is not aligned correctly, and there are extra gaps between the letters. In addition, in fakes, the quality of stitching is poor.
How to tell if Nike shoes are fake: check shoes and packaging
Nike is one of the most counterfeited brands in the world, so it can be difficult to distinguish genuine Nike products from fakes, as scammers take advantage of the brand’s popularity and refine identical replicas for their own gain.
U.S.-based StockX discovered that shoes from Nike were the most frequently attempted counterfeits in 2020. It also showed the three models that were counterfeited most often, which were: Off White x Nike Air Jordan 1 “Chicago”
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Off White x Nike Air Jordan 4 “Sail”
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Travis Scott x Nike Air Jordan 1 High.
All of these pairs are limited editions from Nike sought by collectors of sneakers, making them a “vein of gold” for scammers who are able to produce convincing fakes.
Scammers have become quite adept at counterfeiting Nike merchandise, so knowing the minor inaccuracies to look out for is crucial to avoid being fooled.
Check the packaging
All Nike shoes are packaged in a box that is properly labeled and marked. The color and print of the box varies depending on the style, but usually the boxes are orange, red and brown. The style, size, serial number and/or SKU and bar code should be printed on the box.
Scammers are trying to replicate these boxes, but they are missing important details. Which does not change the fact that there are already identical boxes on the market, which can confuse many people.
Note that sometimes scammers do a pretty good job of copying the original Nike shoes, including the boxes they come in, so you need to pay attention to small details like font size and layout.
Often shoes are shipped without packaging, which is a big red flag. Nike sneakers without original packaging, tags and labels, probably not original.
Check out the shoes
It’s always a good idea to do even a little research before clicking the “add to cart” button. Visit Nike’s official website and browse through the product images and color combinations of the products you are interested in.
Counterfeiters will often sell popular clothing and sneakers from Nike, but the color combinations and shades are often different from the originals.
Signs of counterfeit Nike shoes
Authentic Nike shoes are made of high-quality materials using advanced technology to provide comfort and style. If you have suspicions about the quality of your shoes, any part of them can help determine if they are counterfeit.
The following are the characteristics of the original Nike shoes.
The upper should be characterized by even stitching and quality finishing. The material should be soft and stretchy, without any creases, and the colors should not overlap.
The midsoles in original Nike shoes are glued, not stitched, and should be made of high-quality foam.
The outsole should be made of high-quality rubber that is lightweight and flexible. Check that the patterns and ridges are evenly spaced and equal, and that the soles are not stiff and do not give the impression of “plastic.”
On the tongue in the original pairs from Nike There is the brand’s logo. On the inside of the tongue on the tag should be product information, including size and country of manufacture. There is also a 9-digit serial number, which should correspond to the code on the box.
And finally, an often-overlooked detail – weight. It should be light and balanced when you wear shoes. Counterfeiters have a problem with the proportions of the various elements, which is why you may experience discomfort when wearing such a pair. The foot can get tired quickly through too much stress.
Do safe online shopping to avoid Nike fakes
When shopping online, it can be difficult to tell the difference between fake Nike products and genuine products. You can’t hold the items in your hands to feel the quality of the materials, you can’t check the details up close, and you can’t try them on to see if the fit is right. Therefore, do your shopping only on trusted sites or directly from the distributor.
Most counterfeit pairs from Nike
Nike Air Force 1
The most desirable model of recent times, so it’s no wonder that scammers are trying to copy them. However, they are often faked in variants or colors that differ from the original so it is easy to distinguish the replica from the real version.
Nike Air Max 90
One of the most popular models from Nike. They were created in many color versions so you will also find a large selection on many sites, while not all colors come directly from the manufacturer. Another issue is foot cushioning, in the fake version it is at a very low level. Therefore, if you feel that your foot is wobbling then you probably bought a replica and not an original.
Nike Air Jordan 1
For many shoe connoisseurs, a very familiar pair. It also has a number of collaborations to its credit, and its replicas are getting more and more polished. There is no shortage of scammers on the market, which is why you should pay special attention when buying this model. For more on this topic, see our article “How to distinguish Jordan fakes from originals”. Where we created a guide for this model only.
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