How to Spot Fake Air Jordans (2024)

How to Spot Fake Air Jordans

Legit Check Air Jordans
Counterfeit vs. Real

You can find fake Nike shoes in stores all around the world. A counterfeiting ring smuggled thousands ofcounterfeit NikeAir Jordansneakers into New York and New Jersey!Five people are each expected to receive 20 years in prison for trafficking copy Air Jordans.

How can you tell if Jordans are fake?

Today we have two pairs of the Air Jordan 1 and we will have a good look at the small details that tell the big story of counterfeit Nikes. We will study the real Air Jordan shoe purchased directly from Nike and the counterfeit shoe imported from South China. You will learn how to tell if a Nike shoe is real or fake. The secret to making a real sneaker legit check is…quality shoemaking.

The price is right?

When shopping for real Nike shoes you should expect to pay real Nike prices. If you find a rare Air Jordan or a unique color at a price that is too good to be true… then it IS too good to be true. Low prices and beat up boxes are your first clue that you have a fake, counterfeit, or illegally smuggled-in B-grade Nike shoe.

Make any mail-order or E-Bay purchases with trusted retailers. Remember, slightly used does not mean the shoes were real Nikes to start with.

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How to Spot Fake Air Jordans (2)

Air Jordan wings logo:

Studying the real Air Jordan and the fake Air Jordan side-by-side, you can see the factory making copies did a nice job on the logo. The artwork on the fake shoe is correct, but the real Jordan 1 logo is still embossed a little deeper into the leather. In this case, it’s hard to tell the difference until you look at the pattern of the cut parts. The real Nike does not have any stitching guides to help the stitchers locate the panels during assembly. The red logo panel of the fake Nike is loaded with these little assembly guides. These assembly guides are not a sign of poor shoemaking and are very common, just not on the real Air Jordan.

How to Spot Fake Air Jordans (3)

The Jordan 1 heel strap stitching:

The Air Jordan 1 has a tiny heel tab that covers the back seams of the quarter panel and the Swoosh.You can see the back tab on the real (grey) Nike has two stitch lines as the quarter top lines cross over. Also, the black thread contrasts with the grey leather. On the fake Jordan 1, a single stitch line crosses the tab and they used black thread on black leather. The stitching on the fake matches the leather instead of contrasting it with the leather. Again this detail is not an indication of low-quality shoemaking, it is just not how the original was made.

You can also see the centering guides on the red leather parts of the fake Jordan 1. The original Jordan does not show any assembly guides.

How to Spot Fake Air Jordans (4)

The Jordan 1 outsole logo:

If you look closely at the Nike logo on the outsole you can see the fake artwork is wrong. The width of the letters is too narrow. Another obvious mistakeis that the “K” of the fake Nike logo is not touching the tail of the Swoosh. Additionally, when you look closely at the tread patterns you can see the fake (red) tread has glossy spaces between the tread features where the grey does not.

How to Spot Fake Air Jordans (5)

The Jordan 1 tongue logo:

Next, get a good look at the woven label attached to the tongue top. The fake Jordan is missing the registered trademark circle “R”.I know it’s strange, but Nike likes to have the circle “R” twice on the woven label. On the backside of the wovenlogolabel (below), you will see the trademark information in English and French. The fake has the wrong lettering style and the tag is stitched on crooked. Crooked parts are a sure sign of poor shoemaking.

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The Jumpman size tag

How to Spot Fake Air Jordans (6)

Inside the shoe, you will see the size label with the Jordan Jumpman logo (above). The fake shoe has the tag welded to the back of the tongue. On the real Jordan 1, the tag is sewn down on the inside.

How to Spot Fake Air Jordans (7)

The Jordan 1 tongue lace keeper:

The lace keeper is asmall point but a dead giveaway when looking for fakes. The real Nike shoe has simple cuts in the tongue fabric to act as the lace keeper.This construction looks pretty low rent for a $120 basketball shoe, but this is how the original was made. The counterfeit Nike has a small piece of fabric added as the lace keeper.

See inside More Nike Shoes

We have made a proper sneaker legit check on a pair of Vans Old Skool sneakers. Check it out here.

Legit Check Vans Old SKool

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How to Spot Fake Air Jordans (2024)

FAQs

How to Spot Fake Air Jordans? ›

The logo should appear crisp and uncompromised. Look at the hands, basketball and feet to ensure everything looks properly proportioned. Nothing should look blurry or smudged. Fake Jordans may have an uneven or lumpy Jumpman, with poor stitching and unusual proportions.

How can you tell real Jordans from fake? ›

The real Air Jordan logo is embossed deeper into the leather, in the fakes we are dealing with a print rather than embossing. The “Air Jordan” lettering on the original logo has slightly thicker and larger letters, while the replica has them smaller and thinner.

How can you tell if shoes are fake? ›

Inspect the stitching, glue marks, and overall build quality. Genuine sneakers exhibit meticulous attention to detail, while counterfeits often reveal sloppy craftsmanship. Pay close attention to the materials used, such as leather, suede, or mesh, and compare them to known authentic examples to spot any variations.

How do I check my Nike authentic code? ›

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.

How can you tell if Nike Air Force 1 are fake? ›

Genuine Air Force 1 boxes have high-quality printing, crisp logos, and a detailed label. Inconsistencies in the box's design, font, or label are red flags. Can the insole and heel tab indicate if Air Force 1s are fake? Yes, authentic Air Force 1s have well-padded insoles and clean stitching on the heel tab.

Does StockX sell fake shoes? ›

StockX is a legitimate, trustworthy current culture marketplace that tries its best to make sure that each product is authentic. Although some fake items might slip through the system, StockX prides itself on its verification process which makes buying rare and collectable products safer for both buyers and sellers.

How do I verify my Nike shoes? ›

All Nike shoes are packed inside a box with a certain label and tag. The colour and print of the box usually vary depending on the style but mainly the boxes revolve around the colors red, orange, and brown. The print on the box should have the size, serial number, and style, with a barcode.

Where can I check if my shoes are real? ›

Inside the shoe under the tongue or side of the shoe you will find a tag. If it is not there, it proves the originality of the shoe. The tag will carry the size of the shoes or where they were manufactured. The most important is the serial code, also known as the SKU.

Are fake shoes illegal? ›

Legal Implications

It is illegal to purchase counterfeit goods. Bringing them into the United States may result in civil or criminal penalties and purchasing counterfeit goods often supports criminal activities, such as forced labor or human trafficking.

Do fake shoes smell weird? ›

Inside the box, Nikes and Jordans have a distinct smell. The fakes have a strong alcohol or a strong glue smell. The real ones have their own distinct smell, and it's always the same.

Is there an app to check sneakers authenticity? ›

Use CheckCheck App to authenticate your sneakers by our team of experts who can help authenticate your sneakers by the photos you submit. All items are check manually at least two times by two of our expert Authenticators. Over 1.5M legit checks completed so far!

What is authenticity code Nike? ›

If you want to check if a shirt is fake, Google the product code on the small inside label near the bottom of the shirt. The code you're looking for with Nike shirts is a 9 digit code made up of 6 digits, a dash and 3 digits.

Is it okay to wear fake Air Force 1? ›

Poor fit:Due to lack of technology, fakes can lead to blisters and discomfort. Lack of cushioning:Fakes do not provide the necessary cushioning, which can damage your joints and muscles. Poor quality materials:This leads to increased sweating, chafing and unpleasant odour.

How can you tell if Nike dunks are fake? ›

The stitching on fake Dunks is usually loose, thin, and inconsistent, while real Dunks have clean stitching that's consistent in thickness, depth, and color. Some counterfeit shoes may have paint stains throughout the midsole because of the lack of quality control.

What is the difference between original and first copy Nike shoes? ›

First copy of the shoes means the brand and the styling of the shoes is similar to the original one but the quality of the product will be inferior. You can use the first copy shoes to make good impression in front of your friends but either they wont be durable or they wont be comfortable.

What is the difference between fake and replica shoes? ›

Replica goods are considered to be legitimate copies because they do not bear the branded product's trademark. So, while a replica might have the same feature and functionality of a famous or branded product, it usually carries a different symbol or logo which is admittedly similar to the famous one.

Is there an app to identify shoes? ›

Grails - Shoe Identification is capable of identifying over 100,000+ different shoes, with higher accuracy than most human experts. If you've ever wondered “What shoe is this?” Grails has the answer. Wondering what shoe your favorite celebrity is wearing on Instagram? Want to keep up with the latest shoe releases?

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