Previously, we discussed about the authenticity of Flyknit Trainers as there were (and are) still many fakes being produced, and now, it seems like production of fake Flyknit Racers are getting more attention. Without having to pay retail or more - upwards of $250 for each pair - consumers are looking at these cheap alternatives that cost them just a fraction of the real deal.
Saints got their hands on a fake pair of Racers, and we will be using it to compare the differences between a real and fake pair of these running shoes. One thing to take note of is that there are many different manufacturers of these replicas, and thus, details may vary. The following information should be taken into consideration that other fake Racers will have different details - e.g. different fonts - and what I am going to share is just an overview of what to look out for in general.
When purchasing a pair of Nike Flyknit Racers online, there are a couple things to look out for.
Box
The shoebox can be really helpful in spotting telltale signs of a counterfeit. However, many people are not aware of this, and what to take note of.
Material
The shoebox for authentic Racers always almost have a matte finish . Personally, I have never encountered boxes with a gloss finish for Racers. Glossy ones are a good indicator of its non-authenticity, and this is a relatively easy point to check.
Size Label
The font on the Nike Flyknit Racer shoeboxes are Helvetica-like - I do not have the exact font name - and it may be a little tough for people who are new to spot the difference. You can always check the photos attached for reference, or best still, check your own shoebox if you own a pair of Racers (authentic, of course!). Fonts and spacing have to be consistent.
Shoe
Size Tags
By far the most common and easiest way to check for Trainers, the manufacturers for fake Racers have definitely stepped up their game. The tags of the replica we got were really good - indistinguishable to those who don't know.
The size tag on the fake has inconsistent spacing between letters - look at nikebetterworld.com, MADE IN VIETNAM, UPC number - and have different bold words as compared to the original.
On the authentic pair , the spacing is consistent, and some of the size tag spotting tips from the Trainer article is applicable here too, so I shall not discuss too much about this.
Insole
The insole for the fake Racer has the words (RACING ROAD) printed (ironed) on, and it probably can be peeled off, with some inconsistent sizing found here in P9.
The real deal, instead has the words printed into the insole, and you are able to see the holes.
Heel
The heel area for the fake has an abnormal shape, unlike the uniform, almost symmetrical shape on the real Racer. The fake one definitely feels less sturdy to the touch.
Side Profile
The real Racer has a more curved heel area, which is more prominent from this view, and the heel of the fake pair is higher than the real one.
Toebox
The holes are clearly visible in real as compared to fake; this may be different from different manufactures of replicas.
These are just a handful of pointers to be aware of, and should help you effectively in differentiating fake and real Flyknit Racers. To make sure you don't even have the need to check your pair, make sure you get it from trusted sources! Always ask for tagged photos if possible as people may use photos taken by others to show you. If they are unwilling to do so, chances are it may be fake - don't waste your time.
Toebox
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