So, first things first, forget about those “first, second, third” lists. Life ain’t that organized, and neither are fake sneaker factories. Instead, think of it like this: you gotta look at everything, and I mean *everything*.
The easiest tell, usually, is the price. If you’re seeing a Tubular Shadow for, like, 30 bucks, run. Just run. Legit pairs ain’t gonna be *that* cheap, unless you’re scoring a crazy clearance deal (and even then, be skeptical!). I mean, come on, even on sale, they gotta make a *bit* of profit, right?
Then, there’s the knit. The *real* Tubular Shadow knit feels…well, it feels good. Like, kinda premium, you know? It’s got a nice texture, and it’s not gonna feel like you’re wearing a plastic bag. Fakes often use cheaper materials that are scratchy or stiff. It’s hard to describe, but you’ll *feel* it. (Trust your gut on this one!). Plus, look at the pattern. Sometimes the knit pattern on the fakes is just…off. Not as clean, not as defined. But honestly, this is where they’re getting craftier, so don’t rely on this alone.
Alright, check the sole. This is where things can get interesting. The Tubular Shadow has that funky, split EVA sole. It should be kinda firm, but still have some give. On fakes, the sole might be super hard and plasticky, or, even worse, like… squishy in a weird way. Also, the edges of the sole sometimes look really messy on the fakes. Like they just slapped it on there. I’ve also noticed sometimes the color of the sole is slightly off; like it’s too yellow or something.
The tongue and lacing system is another place to scrutinize. The tongue should feel well-padded and comfortable. And the laces? They gotta feel like decent laces, not some flimsy string. See if the laces feel really cheap and thin; that’s a red flag right there.
One more thing that’s bugged me when I’ve seen fakes: the stitching. Real Adidas usually has pretty clean stitching. On the fakes, you’ll find loose threads, uneven lines, just general sloppiness.
And of course, the box. Yeah, I know, who cares about the box? But look at the box! Make sure the label has the correct model number, size, and all that jazz. Sometimes the font is wrong, or the colors are faded. And if the box is like, totally crushed when you get it… well, that’s not a good sign.
