Without a doubt, the Adidas Yeezy 350 V2 Static Black Non-Reflective was one of the best releases in June. Both the reflective (FU9007) and non-reflective (FU9006) pairs were one of the most coveted Adidas Yeezy shoes of the year, reigniting hype around the globE.
However, this hype also brought great attraction from replica makers looking to make a quick buck. We have put this guide together help educate people surrounding the growing replica industry market, and how you could spot the difference between real and fake Yeezys.
Check out our first Debut YouTube video on Real vs Fake
In the opening episode of Real vs Fake our authentication team at KLEKT compare a pair of legitimate Yeezy Boost 350 V2 ‘Black’ (Non-Reflective) (SKU: FU9006) against their counterfeit counterpart. The Yeezy Boost 350 V2 were released on the 7th of June and are available on KLEKT.
If you’ve ever wondered “how can you tell if Yeezy’s are real and fake?” Then this video is perfect for you. Thanks to our own Professor Shaz and Burberry Bams, the video above outlines just what to look for to make sure you cop a legit pair.
When it comes to the 350 V2 models, there are a few key things to look out for in order to spot imitation Yeezys.
The Box
Without a doubt, one of the easiest ways to spot whether your Yeezy 350 V2 black is real or fake is the box. Burberry Bams and Professor Shaz give a couple of great reference points to look out for, which we’ll break down for you now.
Typically, these Yeezy replica makers are looking to get pairs produced quickly and then ready to be shipped. There are many signs of fake Yeezys, all of which can be found before the shoe is even out of the box.
Usually, the overall condition and quality of the fake boxes are of a far lower quality than the legit 350 V2 black pair. The wear on the box is one of the easiest to spot. Whilst both real and fake Yeezy 350 V2s are both made in China, the way that the boxes are treated is very different.
The Corners
The corners of boxes on fake Yeezys compared to real Yeezys is a big giveaway. Fake pairs of Yeezy V2s tend to be worn and slight damaged as you can see in the image above. Adidas handles these boxes with a lot more care and understands the importance of good quality control (QC). However, as you can see on the fake pair of Yeezys, this QC is not as important. The corners are crumpled, whereas on the legit pairs they are crisp.
The overall structural integrity on the box is also another big giveaway when it comes to fake Adidas Yeezys. As Shaz points out, the fake black 350 V2 has a lot of lines across the box, whereas the legit box does not. This is partly down to the care of the boxes and also the fact that fake boxes are not manufactured as well compared to the real pairs.
The Label
Now, the label has a couple of very big differences when it comes to checking for fake pairs of Yeezys. As Bam’s points out in the video, using a UV light to check the label has some interesting results.
On the legit box of Adidas Yeezy Boost 350 vV2 the label has almost no reaction to the UV light. However, on the fake pair, it has a strong reaction and has a bright circle appear for you to see. Now, this might not be the case on all Yeezys but it is a big giveaway.
For the most part, the replica pairs have small differences that makeup to a big change. The label can be a dead giveaway, especially when it comes to checking for fake pairs.
The lettering is also another big sign to check. For legit pairs of Yeezy Boosts, the lettering is close together and finishes a lot sooner on the label. The ‘Y’ of Yeezy should end perfectly in line next to the ‘Inside’ on the box on real pairs. However, this is not the case on fake pairs. Letters appear far more spaced out and usually finish a lot later on the label than the real label.
The Smell
As sneakerheads, we all know that new shoe smell. You may have noticed Bams taking a big old whiff of the shoe when Shaz asked him to tell which pair was real or fake. Now, he wasn’t doing that to see if the shoes were worn by Shaz before the shoot, he was trying to spot which pair was which.
Typically, fake Yeezy Boost 350 V2s tend to have a very strong chemical smell which is very different from the legit pairs. In the Adidas factories, care is taken in order to remove any harmful odours before they are released. However, in replica factories, this is not the same. When it comes to fake vs real Yeezys, the smell test is one of the easiest giveaways.
The Shape
The replica pairs of Adidas Yeezy Boosts have always struggled with a few things when it comes to the shoe construction. The toe box, as Bam’s highlights, has always been a big sticking point for the fake pairs. It’s also one of the easiest things to look for to tell if Yeezys are fake.
As you can see, this causes the toes to be elevated instead of a smooth finish compared to the real pairs. This has always been a major sticking point for the replica manufacturers, even on the original Adidas Yeezy Boost 350 V1s. The “bottlenose dolphin” toe box is one of the biggest giveaways to look for, so double-check this before you think about buying. On fake pairs of the 350 Boost V2, there is a much higher thread count when it comes to the toe box.
If you examine the pictures below you may be able to spot some of these differences.
The iconic Yeezy Boost 350 shape is hard for the copycats to get right. On real pairs of black Yeezy Boosts, the heel has a slight bump and dip whereas the replica pairs of Yeezys don’t have this. You can see in the video how there is no shape to the back, something that is a big giveaway on fake 350s.
It all comes down to the high thread count that replica manufacturers have when producing these pairs. This high thread count means that the structure of the Yeezys doesn’t sit as plush and smooth as legit 350s.
The sock liner can help you to decide whether you have got a real Yeezy Boost 350 V2. When comparing a real and fake pair of Yeezys, the sock liner is a big thing to look out for. For legit pairs, the angle of the sock liner is much higher when compared to a replica pair.
However, for replica pairs, the angle is much lower and finishes earlier on. Replica pairs have struggled to get the shape of the shoe right for some time now and the sock liner can help you to work out real or fake Yeezys.
The stitching on real pairs is also more of a matte finish to keep the minimal aesthetic that Kanye is so famous for. However, fake pairs tend to use a glossier thread in order to finish the shoe. This is obvious when you get up close with the shoes and make sure you keep your eyes out.
The Stitching
The iconic pull tab on the original Yeezy Boost 350 Pirate Black is seen again on the 350 V2 black. An ode to the second ever Yeezy 350 Boost, the pull tab was as much of a struggle to get right on v1 replicas as it is on the V2 replicas.
You can see that on real pair of 350 V2 blacks that the red stitching comes across at a much higher and slanted angle. The fake pairs tend to have the stitching right across the middle and the angle doesn’t change much at all, keeping in line with the stripe across the shoe.
As well as the stitching, the pull tab on the real pairs is a lot closer to the shoe when compared to the fake pairs. Check the distance between the heel tab and the heel itself. If the distance feels too big, chances are that the pairs aren’t real.
The Insole
Now we’ve inspected the outside of the shoe, its time to dive into the inside. Knowing how to spot fake Yeezys becomes a lot easier once you know what to look for on the inside of the shoes. The insole can be a real giveaway, specifically the logos found on the shoe.
All legit pairs of Adidas Yeezy V2s have a clear set of lines. You can see this in the transparency of the white Adidas trefoil and the insole. There is a clear cut between the black and white of the shoe and the logo. However, on replica Yeezys, this is not the case. The fake pairs do not have any transparency and the distinction between the lines is not as clear.
The Weight Test
For this video, we used a US9/UK8/EU42. As you’d expect, legit Yeezy 350 Boost V2s are manufactured properly by Adidas, meaning that there is complete consistency across pairs. The weight of a shoe is a big giveaway for authentic pairs.
As you can see in the video, the authentic Adidas Yeezys weigh the exact same, coming in at 385g per shoe. However, the same cannot be said for the fake pairs. The weight of fake pairs can fluctuate, but for the most part, these pairs are much lighter than legit V2 boosts.
This is all down to the fact that Adidas’ Boost technology is hard to get right, and they can also afford to spend more for each shoe. Replica manufacturers are offering a cheap and cheerful solution and can’t afford to get the weight right on every shoe.
The Midsole and Sole
In keeping with the Adidas Boost, checking the sole of the shoe can also be a dead giveaway. What fake manufacturers have, and continue to get wrong, is the way the the “boost” logo is finished on the sole.
Real pairs of Yeezys have a much clearer midsole, due to the fact that Adidas is keeping consistent across every shoe. With this, it’s important to check the transparency of the midsole before you buy. Replicas have always struggled to get the outer sole right, and this carries over into the lettering of the “boost”.
In the image below, you can see that the legit pairs have a much more defined look to them. The letters are all finished the same way and it’s also much easier to see the level of consistency in each individual letter.
However, on the fake pairs, this lettering is not the same. The letters tend to have a much more rounded effect to them, with the corners of each letter not being as defined as a legit pair.
Recap
So, we hope that you’ve enjoyed this latest episode of Real of Fake. If you’re concerned about what to look for when it comes to checking authentic or replica Yeezys just remember:
– Box quality: check the corners, the overall structural integrity and the way in which the boxes treated. A weak box should ring immediate alarm bells so double check before you buy – Label: lettering on authentic Yeezy boxes is much more consistent, as you’d expect. Check the label lettering to be sure, especially the ‘Y’. UV light could help to show which is fake and real, so if you have one handy use it. – Smell: a strong chemical smell usually mean that the pair is fake. Smelling your Yeezys can be an immediate pointer to go to – Toe box: fake pairs have a much higher toe box than a real pair. If the shoe has a bottlenose dolphin vibe, chances are that its not real. If the toe box is too raised, chances are its fake. – Heel: a lack of shape usually means that the shoe isn’t real. The heel bump is a classic part of the Yeezy 350 Boost V2 line, so check the shape. – Pull tab: check the angle of the pull tab and overall stitching angle. Real pairs have a higher angle whereas fake pairs keep in line with the stripe on the shoe. – Midsole: authentic Yeezys have a much cleaner midsole, whereas fake pairs don’t. Check the consistency of the midsole before you buy. – Boost: Adidas uses a more chiselled font on the sole compared to fake pairs. If your letters are rounded then your pair isn’t legit. – Insole: authentic pairs of Yeezys have a clear distinction between the white of the trefoil and the black insole material. If your pair doesn’t then it’s not looking good. Double-check the insole to be sure. – Weight: if you can, weigh your Yeezys. Adidas uses the same amount of boost in each shoe, so if your shoes weigh differently, get out of there.
Final Thoughts
The only way to make sure that you get an authentic pair of Yeezy’s is to get them from KLEKT. We legit check thousands of trainers and are experts in the sneaker authentication process. Don’t take the risk, purchase the Adidas Yeezy Boost 350 V2 Black from KLEKT today.