First off, the *obvious* thing is the suede itself. Real Adidas, especially Gazelles and other suede-heavy models, use decent suede. It’s gotta feel nice, y’know? Not scratchy and plasticky. Run your fingers over it. Does it feel like you could rub a baby’s butt with it (hypothetically, of course! Don’t go rubbing babies with shoes)? Or does it feel like you’re petting a grumpy cat covered in static cling? If it’s the grumpy cat, alarm bells should be ringing.
And speaking of bells… how’s the smell? I know, weird, right? But seriously, cheap fake suede often has this… chemically smell. Like a factory exploded in a plastic recycling plant. Authentic stuff usually just smells like, well, leather and glue. You know, normal shoe smells. I once bought a pair online that smelled SO bad, my cat wouldn’t even go near them. That was a BIG clue.
Then there’s the logo. This is where they often mess up. Is it crooked? Blurry? Does the font look *slightly* off? Adidas is pretty meticulous with their branding. Those three stripes are like their baby, they’re not gonna let just anyone slap ’em on all wonky. And the trefoil logo… seriously, zoom in on a picture of a real one and compare. Fakers often use a slightly different shape or spacing.
But here’s the kicker, and this is my personal opinion – it’s the *overall* feel. Real Adidas, even lower-priced models, have a certain quality. The stitching is clean, the soles are properly attached, the whole thing just *feels* well-made. Fakes often feel… floppy. Like they’re gonna fall apart after three wears. I swear, I’ve seen fake Gazelles where the sole is practically peeling off before you even take them out of the box. Like, seriously, what?!
And don’t even get me started on the price. If it seems too good to be true, it probably is. A brand-new pair of Gazelles for like, twenty bucks? Yeah, that’s a red flag the size of Texas. Unless you’re buying used from a thrift shop or something, be very wary.
