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Wondering how to spot fake Yeezy Boost 350 V2 Zebra CP9654? This is a complete Yeezy Zebra real vs fake comparison that shows you how to authenticate Kanye’s sneakers — from the sole to the laces, all details are included.
The short answer on how to spot fake Yeezy Zebras is: you need to keep an eye out for inconsistent text on the size tag, pay close attention to the way the shoes are laced and observe the overall shape. This might be a tad difficult to achieve and this is why you need the detailed comparisons with images that we have put together for you.
We’ve written hundreds of guides on fake vs real sneaker comparisons– this written piece is our most complete guide on how to legit check Yeezy Zebra.
Our guide is easy to understand and very detailed to ensure you don’t miss a thing. Let’s jump into the comparison.
Yes, this guide applies to every release of the Yeezy Zebras, as we’ve compared the 2017 size tags and boost soles, and the 2020 releases’ details which do apply to all of the releases in-between (the 2018 and the 2019 Zebras).
When fake manufacturers produce these replicas, they spend so much time trying to make the product look as authentic as possible and in the process, they neglect the barcode found on the sneaker’s box label.
This is why scanning the barcode is our first tip on how to spot the fake Yeezy Boost 350 V2 Zebra and it should weed out 95% of the fakes.
We have a detailed article explaining the barcode test for your perusal, but we will summarize it in this post with authentic and fake Yeezy Zebra examples.
Every colourway and size has an accompanying unique barcode.
This means that the barcode attached to Yeezy Boost 350 V2 Zebra in size 11 will be different from the barcode assigned to a size 10 of the same product.
What happens is that fake manufacturers do not spend precious time and money trying to get the barcode right for every shoe they replicate. Instead, they are always more focused on trying to make the sneakers as identical as they possibly can and this is why this test is almost always fool-proof.
Our app has an in-built barcode scanner but you will still have to use your judgement. Here’s how the test works.
But before that, there’s a very important caveat we need to highlight as our words have sadly been manipulated by those who sell fakes as authentic pairs:
Scanning a barcode and noticing the same colourway in the results does not automatically mean the sneaker is authentic. Moreover, simply finding the same size and colourway does not mean the sneaker is authentic — a broken clock is right twice a day. The purpose of this test is to quickly weed out fakes.
Let us highlight this again: the purpose of this test is to weed out the 95% fakes and nothing more.
Here’s a fake vs real comparison for the box label found on the 350 V2 Zebras.
No big difference can be seen but the first thing you will want to do is use our app.
If you haven’t downloaded it so far, you have to get it now — we’ve organized all our real vs fake comparisons over there.
Regardless of whether you’re authenticating Zebras or any other colourway of a Yeezy sneaker, the guides are there.
Use the button we’ve highlighted in the picture below. After that, point the camera to the barcode.
Next, the app will pull up a Google search with that specific barcode.
What you need to do next is to see if there are “confirmations” in the environment. What’s a confirmation point?
As we’ve mentioned, a barcode is unique for a size+colourway combination. A confirmation point means that somewhere else, someone hopefully had this barcode attributed rightly to this size+colourway combination you’ve got in front of you.
Take a look at the images below. This is what happens when we’re analysing an authentic pair’s barcode.
As you can see, there are numerous points showing us that indeed other people have attributed this code to the Yeezy Zebra (not another colourway) in size 12 (and not another size).
What happens when we scan a fake barcode? Let’s have a look:
From these images, the difference is clear. The original barcode shows many links to the exact size and colourway of the product being tested.
These serve as confirmation points while the search on the fake barcode basically shows nothing but a tracking link.
Pay close attention: simply finding the same colourway does not automatically mean the sneaker is authentic. Moreover, simply finding the same *size and colourway* does not mean the sneaker is authentic — a broken clock is right twice a day. The purpose of this test is to quickly weed out fakes
The purpose of this test is to quickly weed out fakes: if any anomaly occurs, such as:
Then you’re looking at a fake. If that’s not the case, keep on using our further comparisons in this guide.
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Whether you know how to decipher fake products or not, there are always pretty obvious inconsistencies like fuzzy lines, etc., on fake products that make them easy to spot if you just look a little closer.
For the Yeezy Boost 350 V2 Zebra, another way to note the disparities between the fake and the original is to look at the size tag of the product.
First of all, we are going to inspect the comparison of the fake vs real Yeezy Boost 350 V2 Zebra size tags on the shoes that were released the first time, in 2017, and then, we will check out the newer releases’ size tags.
Let’s see the comparison below:
As you can see, we’ve drawn out the inconsistencies by highlighting them and attaching a number next to it.
Here’s a map explaining what those numbers point to in this fake vs real Yeezy 350 V2 Zebra comparison.
Now that you’ve had a look at the Yeezy Zebras released in 2017, let’s have a look at the size tag on the newer Yeezys Zebra sneakers.
Just as you may know, we will first have a look at the reference fake vs real Yeezy Boost 350 V2 Zebra comparison image below.
In the image with the fake vs real Yeezy Boost 350 V2 Zebra 2020 shoes above, we have pointed out how the fake Yeezys have quite a few flaws as well.
Lastly, for your reference, we have highlighted what the authentic Yeezy Boost 350 V2 size tags should look like on the 2018 and on the 2019 Yeezy Zebras.
With this being said for the size tags, let’s move on to the next step of the guide on how to spot fake Yeezy Boost 350 V2 Zebra sneakers.
The boost sole on the authentic Yeezy Boost 350 V2 Zebra is more “bubbly” than that of its fake counterpart.
There is little differentiation between the pellets, and the striped circles have a better definition on the authentic boost sole. Study the images below to understand the difference better visually:
You can see that the stripes on the authentic are not only straighter but also thicker and more defined than those on the fake boost.
There is always a sort of mathematical stripe pattern on the fake and this is an easy way to spot them as the original stripe pattern is usually very random.
Now, let’s also have a look at the comparison between the real vs fake Yeezy Boost 350 V2 Zebra 2020 releases.
Just as we’ve promised at the top of the guide, we are going to have a look at the fake vs real Yeezy Zebra image that has the boost soles of the restocked shoes in 2020.
Keep in mind that these flaws apply to the 2018, 2019 and 2020 Zebras as well, as most of the pairs have the same details on their boost soles, even though they were released multiple times throughout these 3 years.
And so, looking at the reference real vs fake Yeezy Boost 350 V2 Zebra 2020 image above, you can see how the fake shoes have their pellets being too little visible.
In fact, the fake pair has its pellets looking too thin, while the authentic Yeezy Zebra 2020 pair’s pellets are more visible thanks to their thickness that’s higher than the fake pair’s thickness.
Lastly, in the image above, you can see another fake Yeezy Zebra 2020 release boost example that has the pellets looking really thin, but also mathematically positioned.
This flaw is just so common with the 350 V2 Yeezys! You’ll always see it on the fake Beluga, Bred, Oreo, and Cream White Yeezys!
Another way to tell real vs fake Yeezy Boost 350 V2 Zebra is to do a simple but concise analysis of the box the product came in.
We’ve written an extensive guide on how to spot a fake Yeezy Boost 350 V2 box so make sure you read this guide if you want to be really exhaustive — however, for the moment, we’ll cover the short story with specific fake vs real Yeezy Zebra examples.
A common flaw for the fake manufacturers is to mix up the “combinations” of the box label’s type and the last characters of one of the codes. Have a look at the fake vs real Yeezy Zebra box comparison below:
In this example above, because only 3 sizes are inscribed, that means we’re looking at the US label. Having 6 sizes would mean we’re looking at either the European or the Canadian version of the label.
Pay close attention to the area highlighted with the hand emoji. More specifically, check out whether your box says V02, V03 or V10.
For every authentic Yeezy product box, V02 and V03 are always paired with the American label while V10 is always paired with the European label.
Any other pairing indicates that the product is fake.
Be sure to read the full story on the fake Yeezy box if you’re still not sure about how to spot the fake by looking at this shorter adaptation.
The steps we’ve written so far are the best ways to authenticate this item.
The next few steps are still reliable signs of authenticity but are for non-top-versions of replicas available for this item. We recommend sticking to the steps we’ve explained above to make sure you’re not drawing the wrong conclusions.
Fake manufacturers try their best to replicate the Yeezy Zebra sneakers, and they do a pretty good job overall with the laces.
However, there is good news, since most top-level Yeezy Zebra replicas come with a major flaw. Once you start noticing the differences between the fake and the original lacing, it will be very hard to miss it.
See the fake vs real Yeezy Zebra lacing pictures below:
If it’s not clear, let us zoom in and explain better this way:
From the image above, you can see that for the original product, the right lace of the right shoe (imagine a top-down view, as if you’re wearing the sneakers) should always be underneath.
On the other hand, the left lace of the right shoe should be underneath as well.
In the fake image, you can see how the laces get completely mixed up.
The left lace is placed beneath the right shoe and the right lace placed beneath the left shoe. Fake manufacturers often get one or both of the lacing wrong and this is a quick tell you should use to your advantage.
However, although this tell is somewhat easy to spot, it is easy for anyone to switch up the lacing of a pair of Zebras.
Therefore, keep in mind that this flaw will apply mostly to unworn (also known as “deadstock”) pairs, since during the lifetime of a pair, the wearer might take the laces off and relace the sneakers in the wrong way.
As with the barcode scan, this tell is not a 100% fool-proof way to spot a fake since even a fake unworn pair can be relaced — it is, however, an instant callout for a fake if you’re analysing an unworn pair and it has the laces reverted.
If these two tells seem like they’re not good enough, that’s because the size tag is, in fact, the #1 way to spot a fake. Size tags never lie. We, however, present these scenarios in front of you because it’s our job to explore every single scenario when it comes to a possible scam.
As hard as these manufacturers try to reproduce the exact shape of the original product, it seems like this aspect of the sneaker is never fully replicated.
Looking at the image below, one can spot out how the fake Yeezy Zebra has a wider opening for the wearer’s foot.
It may be hard to put into words, but the peak of the shoe’s tongue sits differently between the two.
As a consequence of the aforementioned tongue, the structure of the sneaker is different.
Since we’re here, we can point out that the same lacing flaw applies here on the fake — can you notice how, even though this is the right shoe, the right lace is over the left one, when in fact it should be the other way around?
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Another way to check whether the Yeezy Boost 350 V2 Zebra you bought is fake or not is to study the insole of the product.
First, let’s look at the print found on the front side of the insoles.
In the image below, it appears that the text is thinner in the fake product and this is evident in the “d” and “Z” letters (highlighted left and right).
Besides, notice how the trefoil logo has round corners on the fake while the original has pointed ends — highlighted with the middle emoji.
Next, study the opposite side of the insole.
On the fake, there seems to be less space between the text and the outline of this inscription — highlighted on the bottom side.
Moving on, the ® symbol is not properly printed, since the R letter is bigger than it’s supposed to be and not as defined on the fake as it is on the authentic insole.
Lastly but not least, take a look at the text found on the side of the insoles. You can see that the text is a lot thicker on the fake product than on the original. This is a dead giveaway for a replica, since it shows how lower quality factory equipment was used to produce these add-ons to the sneaker.
The lettering on the fakes always looks different from that on the original Yeezy Boost 350 V2 Zebra regardless of how hard the fake manufacturers try to replicate it.
From the image above, you can see that the “Y” on the fake almost looks like a “V”. This difference is due to the low amount of precision of the printers used by fake manufacturers.
Once again, it might be hard to spot this tell without our comparison pics, so please refer to these comparisons when having a face to face meeting or when buying the Yeezy Boost 350 V2 Zebra online.
The reason why we’ve put together the Legit Check App is just so that our users can have a quick way to access the relevant information (whether it’s this lettering tell or, say, the size tag) in a couple of clicks.
Also, it appears that some fake Yeezy Boost 350 V2 Zebra come with a thinner SPLY-350 reverted print. This is more visible on the dash character or the highlighted “5” character.
When comparing the Yeezy Boost 350 V2 Zebra with the fakes, it is obvious that the middle stitching on the replicas is a lot thicker than what you may find on the authentic version.
Have a look at the original vs fake Yeezy Zebra comparison below:
The fake product has been stitched with too many threads and, as a consequence, the whole section seems to be wider and more prominent than what you may find on an authentic pair.
The toe box of the fake Yeezy Boost 350 V2 Zebra looks a lot bulkier than that of the original.
This happens as a consequence of differences when it comes to the creation process. Since these fake manufacturers use inferior machinery, the build will always appear different from the original as they do not pay attention to detail.
From the image above, you can see how the toe box found on the fake Yeezy Boost 350 V2 Zebra looks a lot bulkier than that of the original. The extra detail put into the production process of the original product constitutes to the build of the shoe.
This is what makes this huge difference which, thankfully, gives us yet another way to spot a fake Yeezy Zebra.
While the full guide is long, we’ve synthesised how to tell fake vs real Yeezy Boost 350 V2 Zebra in a couple of seconds. Here’s how I’d go about it if I only had 30 seconds to authenticate:
This is a recap of what we wrote above. If you’re in a face-to-face meeting with someone and you have doubts regarding the authenticity of the pair you’re almost buying, we’ve got you covered.
That’s why we made the app: so that if you have doubts about a specific area of the shoe (whether it’s the size tag or the box label), our fake vs real guide is a few clicks away — in an instantly delivered (and curated) manner.
This way you won’t have to scroll through this whole guide. Make sure you download the app!
The Yeezy Zebras released multiple times.
An initial Yeezy Zebra Boost 350 V2 CP9654 released on the 25th of February, 2017 — even though the original retail price went for $220 or £150 back then, the resell value was easily +$1000.
Eventually, Adidas restocked the Yeezy Zebra CP9654 on the 24th of June, 2017 — resell prices from 3rd party sellers went down as a consequence, hovering around $550 to $700 per pair.
Then, the Zebra sneakers had a third restock on the 9th of November, 2018 — totally unexpected from Adidas. Needlessly to say, the prices dropped even more.
Another time when the Zebra 350 V2s restocked was the 27th of June, 2020 – once again, the sneakers were released at the base price of 220$.
It’s one of the services we offer. We’re putting out all these guides which will be free forever, but if for some reason you still have doubts, we’re happy to have a look for you.
The process is simple: send us pictures of the pair you want authenticated and we’ll come back with a verdict in 24 to 48 hours (sometimes even faster).
Thank you for reading this,
Ch Daniel and Ch David
