If you want to become immune to fake Air Jordan 4s, then you’ve come to the right place.
We’re not going to bore you with any useless information
We’ll show you the most accurate tutorial on how to spot fake Jordan 4s.
This guide works for any Jordan 4 colorway.
The Air Jordan 4 is one of the most replicated shoes. In a single interception, U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers seized 14,806 fake Jordans[1].
Hence, it’s important to know what you’re buying.
Let’s check it out!
How to tell if Jordan 4s are fake
To tell if Jordan 4s are fake, make sure you check the text printed on the size tag.
Carefully analyse the thickness of the text. Fake Jordan 4s have bolder text than the one seen on authentic Jordan 4s.
Another reliable spot is the stitching below the cage on the side of the shoes:
Fake pairs tend to have the stitching crooked
Real Jordan 4 pairs never do
1. Size tag
You can see three flaws on the fake size tag, and they’re all quite the same.
The fake Jordan 4 size tag’s text is too bold
The letters are too thick
On the real Air Jordan 4 tag’s text, all the pointed inscriptions are thinner
Expert Legit Check - Let our team look at your Jordans:
2. Cage
The second-best way to spot fake Jordan 4 sneakers is the stitching below the cage (on the profile side of the shoes).
Comparison with a high-quality replica
The stitching below the fake pair’s cage has too much space between each thread
That makes the stitching inconsistent
The real pair has its stitches placed closer to each other, leaving less empty space in between the threads
Comparison with a LOW-quality replica
This image comes from the real vs fake Jordan 4 Bred tutorial
The stitching below the triangular-shaped cage is too wide on the fake pair
The real Bred Jordan 4 pair presents less empty space in between the stitches
The fake pair has its threads crooked, and they’re randomly attached to the shoes…
… while the real pair’s stitches follow a strict pattern, which gives the shoes a better look.
In most cases, replica manufacturers pay less attention to this obvious detail, which gives us enough room to easily label pairs as fake or real.
A quick mention:
The steps we’ve written so far are the BEST ways to authenticate this item
The next few steps are still reliable methods…
… but they apply to non-top-versions of replicas available for this item
If in doubt, we recommend double-checking the steps we’ve explained above this line.
3. Back
Depending on your colourway, the rear side of the shoes might be different.
Some pairs have the “NIKE AIR” text, and some other pairs have the Jumpman logo[2].
The fake Jordan 4 has inconsistent stitching
The threads are too thin, too short, and too sparse
The fake pair has fewer threads than the real pair
The fake vs real Jordan 4 comparison above shows you two flaws: the size and the thickness.
Sizing:
The fake pair’s “AIR JORDAN” text is too small.
The real one’s text is bigger.
Thickness:
All characters on the fake Jordan 4’s label are too thin and narrow
The real pair’s letters are thicker and wider than the fake
5. Suede
This tell only applies to suede-leather 4s.
Authentic: When touched, it leaves dark traces behind.
Fake: No traces left behind — the fake suede remains light.
Nike uses a variety of materials, including leather, suede, and mesh, to create the iconic designs. These materials are sourced from various suppliers[3].
Replicas never use the right materials.
6. Heel
On authentic Jordan 4s, analyzed from the side, you’ll be able to notice a bump on the rear side
Speaking of the Union Jordan 4s, you might like the following legit check guides: Union Jordan 1, Nike Dunk Low.
8. Sock liner
On the fake: The sock liner becomes too narrow
On the authentic: Sock liner remains consistent
Looking at the rear side of the fake Jordan 4, you can see how the sock liner is actually okay, but you can also notice how it becomes too narrow on the left side of the shoes.
9. Cage
This image comes from the Kaws Jordan 4 legit check tutorial. Make sure to check it out!
The edges are less curvy on the fake pair
The most noticeable spot: the bottom indicator added in the image above (the one on the bottom side of the triangle)
You can notice how the fake pair’s corner is pretty much straight, like a 90-degree corner.
Then, you can also notice how the real pair’s corner is rounded.
10. Exterior tongue
Most tongues have stitching, and then the Jumpman “Flight” logo[4].
The fake pair presents stitching that is too thin
The threads are too long.
The real Jordan 4s present shorter and bulkier stitches
10. Sole
Flip the Jordan 4 pair upside-down so we can talk about the Jumpman logo.
The fake pair’s Jumpman has improper outlines
There’s too little red paint and too much white paint
The real pair has red paint all-over the 3D Jumpman logo
Only the sides of the logo are white…
… unlike the fake pair which has white paint even on the top of the logo
11. Toe box
The fake Jordan 4s: toe box is looking too flat
You’ll commonly see the counterfeit Jordan 4 pairs having a small toe box, just like the one above
On the real pair: toe box is flawless, as always
In other words: the real pairs are supposed to have a thicker and more inflated toe box than the fake one
Shortlist: Authenticate your Jordan 4 in 30 seconds
Check the Size Tag: Make sure that the text on the size tag isn’t too thick and bold.
Inspect the Stitching Below The Cage; The stitching below the cage on real Air Jordan 4s should have high attention to detail. Fake Jordan 4s will have inconsistent spacing on the thread and the stitches will be further apart.
Look at the Back: The back of the fake shoe will also have inconsistent and thin stitching, which means fewer threads throughout the shoe.
Verify the Text on the Inside of the Tongue: The Air Jordan text on the tongue of fake Air Jordan 4s will be thin and narrow.
Check the Shape of the Shoe: Sometimes, the fake Jordan 4s will not have a bump on the rear side.
Look at the Footbed Stitching: By taking out the insole, you can check the footbed stitching for inconsistencies.
Inspect the Shape of the Socklinker: The shape of the sock liner on fake Jordan 4s will be too narrow throughout the shoe, whereas real Jordan 4s will have consistent sock liners.
Verify the Edges of the Cage: The edges of the cage on fake Jordan 4s will have less curvature than the real ones.
Check the Tongue Stitching: Real Air Jordan 4s will have thicker stitching on the tongue than a fake pair.
Look at the Bottom of the Shoe: The bottom of the shoe on fake Air Jordan 4s will have improper colouring and the paint will be off compared to real ones.
Inspect the Toe Box: A fake pair will have a flatter toe box than a real pair of Air Jordan 4s.
Check the Box: The box will have thinner text with far less letter spacing than a real Air Jordan 4 box.
Above a quick summary of how you can Legit Check your Air Jordan 4s.
If you’re still unsure about the authenticity of your Air Jordan 4s, Legit Check is here to help!
We can quickly authenticate your Jordan 4s with just a few photos. Get in touch today.
Best practices to avoid fake Jordan 4s
Here are some of our best tips for avoiding Jordan 4 fakes, and how to deal with receiving a fake sneaker:
Buy your Jordan 4s from trusted sellers and marketplaces: If you suspect that the shoes on a site are fake and the website looks suspicious, avoid buying from them. Buying from a reputable seller or trusted marketplace (like StockX) is a great way to ensure that you’re buying what you paid for.
Record yourself opening the package: Recording yourself opening any package of secondary market collectibles is generally good practice. It’s a great way to make sure you have evidence that you did in fact receive a fake pair of Jordan 4s, and that you’re not just swapping them for your own fake pair (a common defence by counterfeit scammers).
Get your Jordan 4s authenticated: Legit Check is the best way to get your Jordan 4s authenticated quickly and professionally. Our team of experts is here to help you ensure you don’t get ripped off and can give you peace of mind that your items are real if you’re unsure.
Raise a dispute with whoever you paid with: Raising a dispute with the marketplace or payment processor you used is crucial. This is why it’s important that you ensure purchases are protected through Paypal ‘Goods and Services’ when buying online with PayPal, or with the site’s own buyer protection for other marketplaces like eBay and StockX.
If all else fails, consider a Chargeback: This is in the worst case, for example, if you’ve transferred some money to a scammer directly or not used a payment processor that’ll allow you to get your money back. Contacting your bank to try to get a chargeback is the last resort, and is a long process which can be a nuisance.
Use a Certificate of Authenticity to help you get your money back: If you need to raise a dispute or file for a chargeback, make sure you have undisputed evidence that the item is fake. This includes a Certificate of Authenticity. If your sneakers are fake, you can use our Certificate of Authenticity to confirm that you’ve been scammed.
I was sold fake Jordan 4s. How can I get my money back?
If you’ve accidentally bought a fake pair of Jordan 4s and you’ve happened to pay through PayPal or via credit card, then our Certificate of Authenticity can help you get your money back.
We’ve helped thousands of people that got scammed with fakes to get their money back. See right here how a certificate looks like.
Why should you Legit Check Air Jordan 4s?
Here are a few reasons why you should authenticate your sneakers and other streetwear:
Fake sneakers are becoming more common: As more fakes are put onto the market, it can be harder to know that the sneakers you’re buying are real.
Jordans are especially prone to counterfeiting: Their popularity and accessibility as a shoe mean that they’re easier to get away with counterfeiting than other brands.
Authenticating protects yourself later on when trying to sell them: If you don’t check whether your Air Jordan 4s are real, selling them can lead to a nasty surprise. Any knowledgeable buyer will know that they’re fake, and you could risk a hit on your reputation or an accusation of trying to scam someone.
Ensure you can get a refund in case your shoes are fake: Retailers and marketplaces have a cutoff point for refund disputes. Depending on the seller, you can miss the time period for a refund if you don’t check the authenticity of the shoe quickly.
Expert Air Jordan 4 legit check service
If you’re unsure whether you have a real or fake Jordan 4 pair and you want confirmation from experts that carefully inspect kicks like this every day:
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About the Author
David is the co-founder and co-CEO of Legit Check By Ch. David's experience: 5+ years of creating educational content in the fashion industry. 6+ years of authenticating luxury items. Currently, David is the Head Editor of the LCBC Library, where 1,000,000+ words have been published, in free guides, for over 1,000 items.
