How to Tell if Adidas Shoes are Fake
Adidas is known worldwide for its quality products. The quality of these products means that the price is not always affordable for everyone, so some people revert to buying fake Adidas. Others are perhaps a little more naive and/or unaware that the shoes they are buying are fake. But, what’s important to note is that this is an easy mistake to make!The counterfeit market of Adidas shoes is large and meticulous, bootleggers are becoming more adept at imitating the real thing. Although your Adidas might seem authentic at first, a closer look will reveal the differences between fakes and the real deal.
As a consumer, the difference between fake and original products come down to quality. This is why in this oneHOWTO article we want to show you how to identify fake and original Adidas.
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Adidas superstar fake vs real
Like all clothing, there are tell tale signs that a product is real or fake. When it comes to telling the different between Adidas superstar original shoes, or general Adidas sneakers, you ’ll have to take a look at the heel tag.
The heel tag is a tiny triangular shaped piece of material situated on the upper leather heel of the shoe, where the upper layer meets the second layer. This is the most common way of differentiating between fake and real original Adidas shoes. If your Adidas have a heel tag then they are fake. Adidas stopped including heel tags onto their shoes around 2004/2005.
If you look at the image below, the fake Adidas shoes (black) and the original Adidas shoe (white) are shaped differently on the heel. The original is slightly higher on the back than the fake Adidas. The difference is easy to see when you put one shoe next to the other.
There are, however, other differences that can help you identify fake and original Adidas. One of the most common is that fake Adidas shoes have a rounded heel rather than original ones, which has a flat heel.
For more, you may also be interested in finding out how to identify fake New Balance shoes.
Adidas shoe laces
The next step in identifying between fake Adidas and original Adidas is by looking at the shoe laces. Most Adidas models come with a pair of new laces. So, if you are buying a new pair of Adidas shoes then its best to look for the neatly packed pair of laces in the box. If there are extra laces in the box, but they are loosely packed, then they are not authentic. Original real Adidas shoes come with neatly packed extra laces which are rolled tightly and sealed in plastic.
But since not all shoes comes with the extra lace; it’s best to check on internet about the Adidas model you are going to buy and if it suppose to comes with an extra shoe lace or not.
Original Adidas shoes lace eyelets
Lace eyelets are the holes in shoes through which the shoe laces are passed. Except for some old model of Adidas shoes, original Adidas shoe eyelets are non-metal. So, if you are holding a pair of new model of Adidas shoes and they have metal eyelets, they are fake.
Additionally, these eyelets will also fall out more easily, even from general wear and tear like pulling your laces in tight. If you finds that one of the eyelets has come out and is poking the sole of your foot, this is most likely because it is a fake Adidas shoe.
For more, you may be interested in reading our article where we discuss how to identify original Nike shoes.
Adidas shoe stitch
Adidas is known for its quality gear. Adidas original shoes are immaculately stitched. If you are holding an Adidas shoe in which the stitching is uneven, the seams are unfinished or if you can spot a loose end of thread, then your Adidas are fake.
To offer you a reference, the image below shows fake Adidas shoes with a poor quality finish. Good quality stitching is almost as much of a trademark of Adidas as is the trefoil logo itself (the three pronged logo you see in the shoes below). The same applies for the three stripes and three bars logo which are also found on Adidas products.
Another thing to consider is that usually fake Adidas leather is much shinier than the original product. The lackluster quality of fake Adidas shoes also often cause it to poke a toe through the front of the shoe.
Adidas serial number verification
Not all fake products are counterfeit, but a legitimate pair of Adidas trainers or sneakers will have certain standards to meet. To maintain quality control of these standards, every pair of original Adidas is given a unique serial number corresponding to each style of shoe. You can find the serial number on the tags situated on the label of the shoe tongue. You will need to look at the inside the shoes to see it properly. A real Adidas shoe will have two different serial numbers for both right shoe and left shoe. A fake Adidas shoe will always have the same serial number on the tongue label of both shoes. Also, you will have to make sure that the digits on the tongue label match the serial number printed on the box.
Which comes to our next point. Did your shoes come in a shoe box when you purchased them? If they came wrapped in a plastic bag, then it is likely that your Adidas shoes are fake.
Original Adidas logo
A real Adidas logo is never just a sticker. An original Adidas logo will either be stitched or carved onto the sole or tongue of the shoe. In the below image below, the black Adidas shoe logo is a sticker, while the logo on the white shoe is carved onto the shoe tongue. Fake Adidas shoes are usually printed on and will wear off quickly.
Price and heel
Price also platys a large factor in distinguishing between fake or real Adidas shoes. Generally, a pair of Adidas shoes will not sell for less than $70-100.
If you want to read similar articles to How to Tell if Adidas Shoes are Fake, we recommend you visit our Fashion & Style category.
