How to Identify Fake Nike Shoes

Research Nike shoe sellers online. Be very cautious when purchasing Nike shoes online. Since you can’t inspect the product in person, it’s easy to fall victim to counterfeit shoes. To avoid buying fakes, remember to:

• Check reviews and ratings on the website before making any purchase. Negative reviews are a clear sign that the seller may not be trustworthy. However, be cautious as some sites only show positive feedback. It’s a good idea to look for third-party sites to verify their credibility rather than relying on the seller’s page.
• Ensure that you are protected from scams. Some websites offer return policies, even when the seller is a third party on the site. With a money-back guarantee, you’ll be protected if you accidentally purchase fake Nike shoes.

Avoid sellers using stock photos to represent the actual shoes. Stock images tend to look more appealing aesthetically, but you should not rely on them when buying shoes online. Photos taken in a real setting ensure the shoes are authentic and reflect their actual condition.

• You can ask the seller to provide additional photos of the shoes next to a recognizable object, such as a newspaper from the current day, to verify the authenticity of the image.

Avoid purchasing shoes advertised as 'custom', 'variant', or 'sample' shoes. Genuine Nike sample shoes are typically only available in men's sizes 9, 10, 11 (US sizes), women's size 7, and children's size . Real Nike shoes are never labeled as 'custom' or 'variant'.

• Inspect the seller's entire inventory. Counterfeit sellers rarely carry sizes 9 or 13 and larger (US sizes).
• Older Nike models that are no longer in production usually do not come in all sizes. For example, if you find an online store with 200 pairs of a discontinued Nike model, it could be fake.

Be cautious with Nike shoes priced significantly lower than average. Shoes priced too low may be counterfeit or severely damaged.

• Generally, a pair of Nike shoes at half the price is likely to be fake. Discounts that seem reasonable, especially for limited edition or older styles, are usually more trustworthy.
• Sellers might list high prices and allow you to bargain down to an unusually low price. Be wary, especially when you can't verify the shoes' condition and authenticity in person.
• Check the estimated shipping time. If the shoes are delivered within 7-14 days, they could be coming from China (a known source of fake Nike shoes) or another distant country.
• If you must buy Nike shoes online, it's safest to purchase directly from Nike’s website or from an authorized Nike retailer here.

Don’t buy shoes that appear before the official release date. Almost any pair of shoes available before their official release date is most likely fake.

• These shoes might look like the upcoming release, but they're often just counterfeit imitations. Early leaked images allow fake versions to be produced before the real ones are available, and many buyers have fallen for this trap when trying to get shoes before anyone else has them.

Verify the authenticity of the Nike shoes. Once you find the shoes you want, follow these steps to confirm they are genuine.

• Carefully compare the shoes with images on the Nike website or from a trusted retailer's site.
• Ask the seller to confirm the shoes are authentic. You can also request the contact details of their distributor for further information.

Examine the packaging. Most fake Nike shoes do not come with the original Nike box and are instead wrapped in clear plastic bags or lack any packaging at all.

• Fake Nike shoe boxes are often poorly glued, making them less secure than the genuine Nike boxes.

Inspect the condition of the shoes. If you’ve owned a similar pair of Nike shoes, compare them with the new ones. A significant difference in quality indicates that the new pair is likely fake and may begin to fall apart after a few days of use.

• Genuine Nike shoes are typically softer and darker in color than fakes, as authentic ones are made from real leather, whereas counterfeits are made from synthetic materials.
• The midsole of fake Nike shoes often shows small dots or imperfections from manufacturing, which is not seen in authentic ones.
• Check the laces. Real Nike shoes always have laces threaded through all the eyelets, while fake ones tend to skip some eyelets.

Verify the SKU number on the box and the label inside the shoe. Every authentic pair of Nike shoes has an SKU number that matches the one on the box. If the numbers are missing or don’t match, the shoes are likely counterfeit.

• Check the label inside the shoe. Fake Nike shoes often have older dates on the label. For example, the label on a fake shoe might list the design date as 2008, but Nike didn’t first release this model until 2010.

Try on the shoes. Fake Nike shoes often feel like they’re made of soft plastic and lack elasticity, while authentic Nike shoes have BRS 1000 rubber soles.

• Most fake Nike shoes don’t fit true to size. They tend to be smaller by half a size and narrower compared to genuine Nike shoes. It’s a good idea to try on a pair from a trusted seller to check the fit.

• Contact Nike via email to report stores or retailers selling counterfeit Nike shoes. This way, you can help prevent others from purchasing fake Nike shoes in the future.
• Ask Nike store staff to assist you in verifying whether the shoes are genuine. Unfortunately, Nike does not take responsibility for shoes sold by unauthorized third-party retailers and will not offer refunds or compensation.