How To Tell if Your Nikes Are Authentic
Off-White x Air Jordan 1. Photo courtesy of Nike Inc.
So, you’re a college student on a tight budget, but you have a job now. Every now and then you decide to treat yourself to a pair of shoes, probably some Nikes. For years, Nike’s been running the sneaker game. However, some people have caught on to the popularity and have made a profitable business from passing off fake shoes as authentic and selling them for more than their worth. Maybe they think you’re a naive college student, too overwhelmed with tests and assignments to learn how to tell the difference. Wrong! Follow these tips and be assured that you’ll be spending your hard-earned money on the real thing.
The Box
Nike box label. Photo by Caitlin Melgar
There are a few telltale signs to check the authenticity of your shoes simply from the shoe box. On the front of the box, “NIKE '' should be printed largely on the lid in all-caps with the signature swoosh underneath. Based on the shoe you get, make sure to look up pictures of the box’s Nike label before-hand, so you can check that the shade of the font is not darker or lighter.
On the side of the box, there should be a rectangle sticker listing some of the shoe's details such as the stock-keeping-unit (SKU), size, model and color. Often, fake Nike shoe boxes will be missing this piece. The font size and color should look exactly as shown on all authentic boxes.
Additionally, it’s crucial that you check for a round, glossy white QR sticker. Although this is not a QR code, the purpose of the sticker is to communicate that the shoe is authentic. A fake QR sticker will usually be matte white instead of glossy. A good sign of a real QR sticker are the textured lines that run along the sticker.
The Shoe
When you start examining the shoe, it’s important that you pay close attention to the font. For example, the quickest way to spot a fake Air Jordan shoe is in the shoe logo. If the “r” and “d” don’t touch on the word “JORDAN” you might be holding a counterfeit. Additionally, all Off-White Jordans will also have “AIR” printed along the bottom of the shoe. Plus, there will also be a label on the tongue of the shoe that should list: the size, manufacturing location, the shoe’s start and finish production dates, the universal product code (UPC), and the style number. On this tag look out for any missing information as well as unusually thick font or any faded font colors.
Air Jordan logo. Photo by Caitlin Melgar
Air Jordans and Off-White Jordans commonly come with a glossy bright red tag. On fake Air and Off-White Jordans, the color of the tag might be faded and the font on the tag will be easy to scrape off.
Additionally, take a minute to examine the stitching on any shoe you are looking to purchase. Authentic shoes will have neat, straight stitch work but fake shoes will generally have crooked stitching.