You’ve just scored a pair of new kicks from your favourite brand, and you can’t wait to hit the streets in them. But before you do, you need to know if they’re real or not. You wouldn’t want to wear knock-offs that look cheap, and stand out so that people notice – which defeats the purpose of wearing them in the first place! Sneaker spotting is fun, but it can also be a little bit scary too.
That’s because there are so many fakes out there these days, and many of them are getting more and more sophisticated by the day. In order to stay one step ahead of the game, we’ve created this guide on how to identify genuine sneakers from copies.
Check The Basics First
There’s no point in spotting genuine sneakers if the first thing you do is get fooled by a knock-off. So, try to make sure you’ve got your facts straight. Verify that the pair of sneakers you’re looking at are real, and not fake. This means not only checking the authenticity of the box, but also examining the shoes themselves.
Try wearing the sneaks around the house, or outside. You’ll be able to see for yourself if they’re comfortable to wear on a daily basis, or if they’re just another pair of sneakers you’d rather be wearing. You’ll also be able to find out if the design and quality is consistent from one pair to the next. If you can’t get a good feel for the design or quality of the sneakers, then it’s a good indication that they’re not genuine sneakers.
Know Your Sneakers
Before you start trying to spot fakes, you need to know enough about sneakers to spot a fake. Understanding how sneakers are put together will help you differentiate real sneakers from false imitations.
It’s important to note that there are many different types of sneakers, but not all of them are genuine. Sneakers come in many different forms, and shape, but they all have one thing in common: they’re meant for walking.
So, if you want to be able to spot fake sneakers, you need to know the basics of all types of sneakers.
Look At The Suede On The Upper One of the first things you should look at is the suede on the upper of the sneaker. Genuine sneakers have suede that’s made from different types of leather. This means the suede will have the trademark “S” branded on the upper of the sneaker. Knock-offs, on the other hand, will use cheaper types of leather for suede, and the “S” may not be branded on the suede. This is because the fake is trying to pass itself off as the real thing, so it doesn’t want people to know it’s a knock-off.
Examine The Lacing Another key aspect of a sneaker that will help you differentiate between real and fake sneakers is the lacing on the upper. Genuine sneakers are laced using a leather lace, whereas the lacing on knock-offs will most likely be a simple thread. Again, the fake sneaker is trying to make it seem like the real thing, but it’s a clear giveaway that they’re not authentic.
The Rubber On The Outsole Should Feel Solid When you’re wearing a pair of sneakers, you’ll feel the rubber on the outsole of the sneaker. The outsole of the sneaker is what gives your foot traction when you’re walking.
This means you should be able to feel the rubber on the outsole of the sneaker as you’re wearing them. If you can’t feel the rubber on the outsole of the sneaker, it’s a good indication that it’s not a genuine sneakers. Real sneakers will have a rubber that’s both soft and spongy, and feels loose like rubber. The rubber on knock-offs, on the other hand, is hard and crisp. This is another way of telling the difference between real and fake sneakers.
Don’t Be Afraid To Ask
As long as you’ve got yourself properly equipped with the basics of sneaker spotting, you’re ready for the hunt. But, if you’re feeling a bit nervous about spotting fakes, or you’re worried you might be missing something, don’t be afraid to ask a friend for help. You might be surprised by how helpful a friend can be when it comes to spotting fakes.
You could ask a friend to take a look at your new sneakers, and help you identify any mistakes or flaws in the design of the sneaker. Measuring the sneaker will help you determine whether the sneaker is too small, or too big for your feet. You could also ask a friend to take you out to a local sneaker spot so you can test your sneaker skills in public. Sneaker spots are great because they allow you to identify fake sneakers without the risk of getting caught.
Stitch-By-Stitch Guide
Sneaker spotting can be fun, but it can also be a little bit scary. This is because there are so many fakes out there these days, and many of them are getting more and more sophisticated by the day. To help you out, we’ve created a stitch-by-stitch guide to help you identify genuine sneakers from copies. Check the stitching on the outsole of the sneaker.
Genuine sneakers have a stitchdown outsole, and the stitches are on the outsole of the sneaker. If the stitching is not on the outsole, it’s a good sign that the sneaker is fake. On the midsole, your foot will rest in a foam like substance. This is usually yellow, and has a slightly spongy feel to it. Real sneaker shoes will have the correct amount of foam, and the foam will feel spongey to the touch.
The tongue of the sneaker is usually made of fabric, and the color of the tongue should match the color of the sneaker. Genuine sneakers will have a matching colored tongue, whereas fakes will usually have a contrasting colored tongue.
Bottom Line
Spotting fake sneakers from genuine sneakers is a good way to have some fun, but it can also be a little bit scary. If you’ve never spotted fake sneakers before, then it can be a little bit intimidating. You might be afraid that you’re going to mess up, and spot a fake wrong. Instead of panicking, why not try to take it a step at a time? Start by checking out the design of the sneaker.
If the sneaker has a design that looks real, and feels genuine sneakers, but you can’t get a good feel for the fit of the sneaker, then it’s probably a knock-off. Next, test the suede on the upper of the sneaker. The suede on the upper of the sneaker should have the “S” branded on it. If the suede doesn’t have the “S” branded on it, and it feels spongy and loose, it’s probably a knock-off sneaker.
When you’ve got the design of the sneaker down, move on to the lacing on the sneaker. The lacing on the genuine sneakers should be laced with a stitchdown, whereas the lacing on fakes is most likely a simple thread. When you’ve got the lacing down, and you’re confident in your skills, try to spot the rubber on the outsole of the sneaker.
The outsole of the sneaker should be soft, and have a spongy feel to it. It should also have the “S” branded on it. If you can’t feel any of these things, then it’s a genuine sneakers indication that the sneaker is fake.
