Yeezy 350 Legit Check: How To Authenticate Any (2023)

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Ch Daniel
Real vs Fake Yeezy Boost 350
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Last Updated on December 3, 2023 by Ch David

You’re likely on this page because you:

  • Look at a pair of Yeezy Boost 350 V2
  • But you’re not certain if they’re original
  • So you need to authenticate Yeezy 350s

This guide is your solution.

Legit check any Yeezy 350 V2 colorway with this guide.

Scroll down to read the most professional ways to spot fake Yeezys.

how to spot fake yeezys
This image portrays an infographic guide that applies to every Yeezy Boost 350 V2 colourway. Continue reading for a fully detailed guide!

How to tell if your Yeezys 350 V2 are fake

To tell if your Yeezy 350 V2 are fake, check the size tag for irregularities such as fuzzy lines, the ® text making contact with “adidas,” or misplaced letters.

For visuals, refer to our comprehensive real vs fake comparisons below.

1. Size tag

  • Every Yeezy has different sets of inconsistencies/misprints on their size tags.
  • But just like the old saying, we’ll teach you how to fish, rather than giving you a fish.

Let’s look at the fake vs real Yeezy Zebra size tags (most popular colorway).

  • Authentic:
    1. “MADE IN CHINA” text is thicker.
    2. Date of manufacturing text (e.g., “05/20”) is thicker.
    3. “adidas ®” text is thicker and the “®” symbol is more visible.
    4. Text font is consistent throughout, including the “EVN” and size “10” text.
    5. “US UK FR JP CHN” text is thicker and more defined.
  • Fake:
    1. “MADE IN CHINA” text is too thin.
    2. Date of manufacturing text (e.g., “02/20”) is thinner.
    3. “adidas ®” text is thinner with the “®” symbol less visible.
    4. “EVN” text uses a different font.
    5. The “10” size text and other size-related inscriptions are thinner.
    6. “US UK FR JP CHN” text is also too thin.

Finding it too hard? Legit check your Yeezys with our experts:

2. Lacing

This applies without any exception to unworn (deadstock) pairs.

All authentic adidas x YEEZY sneakers follow a strict lacing pattern:

  • Authentic:
    • Right lace is beneath the left lace on the right shoe.
    • Left lace is underneath the right lace on the left shoe, mirroring the arrangement on the right shoe.
  • Fake:
    • The lace positioning may not mirror accurately between the left and right shoes…
    • Revealing a lack of attention to detail.

Let’s have a closer look at the same comparison:

Authentic lacing:

  • The right shoe should have the right lace underneath.
  • The left shoe should have the left lace underneath.

Fake lacing:

  • The right shoe might have the left lace underneath.
  • The left shoe might have the right lace underneath.

This tell tell applies once you’re looking from the top of the shoes.

So remember to revert, depending on the angle from which you’re looking.

Fake Yeezys get at least one of the two wrong.

Sometimes both.

Note: This tell can also apply to worn pairs, but your judgement is required:

  • It’s possible in 1% of the cases that the laces were taken off….
  • And re-laced in the wrong manner.
  • This can happen on both real or fake pairs.

Nonetheless, it’s an instant tell for a fake Yeezy 350.

Below is what the authentic Yeezy Infinity Laces look like:

  • Ever since 2020, Yeezys started coming with spare laces
  • They should be attached in a cardboard box
  • You’ll find it inside the main box of your Yeezys

That’s everything about Yeezy 350 V2 laces.

3. Barcode

No one who buys fakes “wears” the box.

  • Replica creators would rather focus on the shoe.
  • Therefore, 95% of the fakes will fail this quick test.

For this step, we’ll use the Yeezy 350 Blue Tint as a reference point.

  • Each size and colorway combination of Yeezy 350 has a unique barcode.
    • The Oreo colorway in size US7 has one specific barcode…
    • While the Beluga colorway in size US8 has another.
  • These unique barcodes are crucial for authentication.
    • To verify a pair…
    • Compare the barcode number with the barcode on verified authentic pairs to check for a match.

Every Yeezy 350 has a unique combination of: Model, Style-Code, Colorway, Size.

With this being clear, let’s see how to scan the barcode.

1.1. How to scan

  • Get the Legit Check App
  • Open the “Barcode scanner”
  • Point it at your Yeezy’s box
Legit Check App

Then, you’ll have to look at the results and check for any confirmation points.

As previously mentioned, we’re now checking the 350 V2 Blue Tint, so:

  • Model: 350 V2
  • Style-Code: B37571
  • Colorway: Blue Tint
  • US Size: 5 – 14

Now, let’s check the results.

1.2. Original

  • The right shoe comes up (the one in the real vs fake box image above).
    • Adidas Yeezy, 350 V2, “Blue Tint”, B37571, Size US10.
  • Many confirmation points check out.
  • Moreover, loads of Google results say the same thing.

Therefore, we’re certainly looking at a 100% authentic barcode.

1.3. Fake

  • The wrong shoe comes up.
  • Remember, the fake box said these are size US 10.2
    • Instead, different combinations come up.
    • Size: US 5, 9, 9.5, 10, 11, and others.
  • Everything but what we need.

Hence, it’s safe to say that we’re looking at a fake Yeezy Blue Tint barcode.

Remember: Just because the shoe name matches doesn’t mean your barcode is legit.

All the other details must check out: model, style-code, colorway (+ size).

Things left unclear? See our detailed Yeezy barcode guide.

4. Boost sole

  • The sole is yet another one of the best tells.
  • This works for both worn and unworn pairs.

4.1. Pellets

Compared below are the real fake Yeezy 350 V2 Static (White).

  • Authentic:
    1. Shape: Pellets have minimal variation and exhibit a “bubbly” appearance.
    2. Placement: Striped circles are scattered randomly without a distinct, consistent pattern.
  • Fake:
    1. Shape: Pellets may show noticeable variations and lack the “bubbly” characteristic.
    2. Placement: Striped circles tend to be organized in a consistent, recognizable pattern…

The pellets on fake Yeezys lack the randomness seen in authentic versions.

4.2. Striped circles

Below we’re looking at the fake vs real Yeezy Semi Frozen Yellow.

  • Authentic: Striped circles on the boost are randomly placed without following a specific pattern.
  • Fake: Circles exhibit a clear, consistent pattern, indicating they aren’t placed randomly.

5. Box label

This step is mainly about the Yeezy serial number check.

It can save minutes (if not hours) as multiple counterfeit Yeezy pairs fail this.

Have a look at this Yeezy Cream White box below:

Yeezys come in US and international versions.

  • US Release:
    • Box label shows three country sizes: US, UK, F.
    • Serial numbers on the label’s bottom left-hand corner end with V02 or V03.
  • International Release (including Canadian + European):
    • Box label displays six country sizes: US, UK, F, D, J, and CHN, all printed equally.
    • Serial numbers end with V10.

And here’s a fake box with the wrong combination.

  • If you see 3 size squares paired with the V10 text, that’s instantly a fake Yeezy box.
  • If you see 6 size squares paired with the V02 or V03 text, that’s instantly a fake Yeezy V2 pair.

Still unclear? We’ve got you covered:

Read the entire story about Yeezy 350 V2 boxes.

In that specific article, we compare all existing Yeezy boxes, coming in all formats:

  • US
  • EU + Canada
  • Mexico
  • Brazil
  • China + Hong Kong
  • Japan
  • Restocks / 2020 Special Boxes / Other stickers

Check that guide if your 350 V2 box doesn’t look like in the real vs fake image above.

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.

6. Tongue

6.1. Opening

We’ll use the Yeezy 350 Black over here.

  • Authentic: Tongue is of standard height.
  • Fake: The tongue is noticeably elongated and taller, a significant sign of a counterfeit model.

6.2. Peak

Below is a comparison of the Yeezy 350 V2 Green Stripe.

  • Authentic: Tongue significantly curves upwards.
  • Fake: Tongue is flatter and curves less than the authentic pair.

7. Stitching

For both front + back comparisons, we’ll check the Yeezy 350 V2 Clay.

7.1. Front

  • Authentic: Middle stitching on the shoe’s side is thinner with a distinct structure.
  • Fake: Middle stitching is significantly thicker.

Let’s go to the back of the shoes.

7.2. Back

  • Authentic: Front view of middle stitching is dense and strong.
  • Fake: Stitching appears weaker and less dense.

8. Translucency

This is for the midsole of your Yeezys.

Below are the TRFRM Yeezys.

  • Authentic:
    • Sole is more translucent.
    • Outline of the boost sole is clearly and properly delimited.
  • Fake:
    • Sole is less transparent, appearing more opaque.
    • Outline of the boost sole may not be as well-defined.

9. Toe box

Reference for this step is the real vs fake Yeezy 350 V2 Tail Light.

  • Authentic: The toe box is sleek and not excessively bulky.
  • Fake: The toe box region seems overly inflated and thicker.

10. Pull tab

Some colorways don’t have the pull tab.

However, a few do, including the Yeezy 350 V2 Glow.

  • Authentic: The stitching on the pull tab is more compact and vividly colored.
  • Fake: The stitching on the pull tab is less dense and of lower quality.

11. Sock liner

We’ll use pictures from our Yeezy 350 V2 Beluga guide for this tell.

11.1. Interior side

Below is the Beluga 2.0 version.

  • Authentic: The sockliner is thicker, providing a robust and snug fit.
  • Fake: Thinner sockliner, differing significantly from the authentic pair’s thickness.

11.2. Exterior side

Here is the Beluga 1.0, the OG Yeezy 350 V2 colorway:

  • Authentic: Sockliner narrows slightly for a tailored fit.
  • Fake: Sockliner maintains consistent thickness without narrowing at the bottom like.

12. SPLY-350

This is the signature inscription on Yeezys.

For this comparison, we’ll use the Yeezy Zebra.

  • Authentic: The “Y” is clearly defined.
  • Fake: The “Y” may resemble a “V” due to low-quality printing precision.

Fun fact: “SPLY-350” means “SUPPLY 350”.

13. Insole

13.1. Front

  • Authentic:
    • The “adidas Yeezy” text on the insole is thicker.
    • Features a more substantial letter “Y.”
  • Fake:
    • The text is thinner.
    • There are wider gaps between the letters…
    • Especially noticeable in the letter “Y.”

13.2. Back

You’ll have to take out the insole to access the back of them.

And then, some Yeezys may be different than others:

  • Light colorways: White on the back of the insole.
  • Dark colorways: Black on the rear.

We’ll analyze them one by one.

13.2.1. Light colorways

  • Authentic:
    1. Deeper print with shadows for depth.
    2. Closely embossed logo and text.
    3. Thinner letters in “adidas”.
    4. Deeper ® engraving.
  • Fake:
    1. Shallower print.
    2. More spaced-out logo and text.
    3. Thicker letters in “adidas”.
    4. Shallower ® engraving.

13.2.2. Dark colorways

  • Serial Number:
    • Authentic: Placed near the top with space above it.
    • Fake: Very little space between the serial number and the edge of the insole.
  • Adidas Trefoil:
    • Authentic: Small space at the top of the logo.
    • Fake: Exaggerated space at the top of the logo, indicating a potential fake.
  • Adidas Text:
    • Authentic: The ‘S’ of the Adidas logo is bolder but blends well with the sneaker.
    • Fake: The ‘S’ appears bolder and stands out more, suggesting it could be a fake.

13.3. Serial number

  • Light colorways: We’ll look at them right now.
  • Dark colorways: Inspected just previously (point 13.2.2.)
  • Authentic:
    • Well-spaced lettering…
    • Including the dash symbol (” – “) on the insole serial number.
  • Fake:
    • Randomly spaced lettering with little to no space between letters…
    • Especially noticeable in the dash symbol (” – “).

13.4. Indentation

  • Authentic: Multiple well-defined indentations on the side of the insole.
  • Fake: Single indentation on the side of the insole.

That’s all about the insole. Quite a lot!

14. Sole

  • Authentic: Crisp and well-defined Adidas text and trefoil logo with deep embossing.
  • Fake: Lower-quality printing, less detailed trefoil logo, and shallow embossing.

15. Stripe

For this step, we’ll look at the Yeezy Antlia Reflective.

This works for all Yeezy Reflective stripes.

All colorways, however just the Reflective Yeezys.

For example:

  • This will work only for Antlia Reflective.
  • But not for the regular version (Antlia Non-Reflective).
  • Authentic: Yeezy stripe stops short of the toe, leaving a gap.
  • Fake: Elongated stripe reaches the toe of the sneaker.

16. Reflectiveness

This tell works for three types of Yeezys:

  • Non-Reflective: Have reflective laces, though.
  • Reflective: Entire shoes + laces.
  • Stripes: Colorways just with relective stripes (e.g. Desert Sage & Linen)

Fear not, we’ll analyze all types.

16.1. Laces

In the picture below: Yeezy Boost 350 V2 Lundmark.

  • Authentic:
    • More pronounced glow in photographs.
    • Reflective material well-aligned with straight and mathematically aligned lines.
  • Fake:
    • Less pronounced glow.
    • Refletive material appears more randomly distributed.

16.2. Entire shoe

For reference, these are the Yeezy 350 V2 Static White.

  • Authentic: Reflective material well-aligned with straight and mathematically aligned lines.
  • Fake: More random distribution of reflective material, less aligned.

16.3. Stripe

Below, we’re looking at the Yeezy Linen.

  • Authentic: Stripe with well-defined 3M material, not chaotic, and not too shiny.
  • Fake: Less defined stripe with chaotic placement of 3M material, shinier and more powerful appearance.

17. Extra thread

Below are the fake Citrin Yeezys:

  • Authentic: No extra thread of red stitching on the colored side.
  • Fake: Extra thread of red stitching on the colored side.

No best replicas should ever have this issue. Though, it’s our duty to point it out.

Also on older fakes (2017-2018 era) of the:

  • Yeezy Beluga 2.0
  • Yeezy Cream White
  • Yeezy Semi Frozen Yellow

18. Adidas labels

We’ll call “extra labels” what you’ll see below on these Yeezy pairs.

  • Authentic (Up to Yeezy Static, 2019):
    • Extra labels with 6 sizes on the box label for EU/Canada pairs.
  • Fake (Up to Yeezy Static, 2019):
    • Missing extra labels on the box label for EU/Canada pairs.

For pairs released after the Yeezy Static colorway (after late 2019):

  • Check the quality of the text’s print for authenticity.
  • Ensure that the barcode on the extra label matches the one on the box label and scan it for verification.

19. Accessories

While it’s not common practice these days anymore, some fake boxes will come with extra trinkets within the box.

It’s highly likely that you’ll be able to authenticate faster and better through the other points above, but just to make the situation clear, any of the following being placed within your box of Yeezys should instantly qualify the pair as a fake.

There is a calendar inside this envelope. Original Yeezy packaging should not have that.
  • This paper above should never be perfectly folded.
  • Authentic Yeezys come wrapped in this yellow-cream paper.

Yeezy 350 Authenticity Checklist

  1. Scan the barcode and ensure it matches with other genuine pairs.
  2. Inspect the lacing pattern, particularly if the Yeezys appear unworn.
  3. Examine the V02, V03, or V10 text on the box label, taking note of the number of sizes listed.
  4. See the boost sole. Make sure the pellets are not placed in a specific pattern, but rather look random, just like on a real pair.
  5. Check the size tag for any inconsistencies in the text or print quality. Compare the boost sole to known authentic pairs.

Use this list whenever you don’t have enough time to go through the full guide.

This short authenticity checklist can be very useful:

  • 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 Legit Check App: so that a specific section you’re doubting (whether it’s the size tag or the box label) 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!

Are fake Yeezys hard to spot?

No, fake Yeezys are not hard to spot if you do it right. Starting the legit check process with the size tag makes it the easiest.

  • The size label can instantly tell if you have fake Yeezys.
  • No replica has and will ever get it right, just like on the real adidas x YEEZY shoes.

It will forever stay the #1 authenticity teller.

What country are Yeezy 350 made in?

Yeezys, especially the 350 V2, are made in various countries, such as China, Vietnam, India, Mexico and Germany.

How fake Yeezy 350 V2 are made

After analysing thousands of pairs of sneakers, we’ve put together these information bits that will save you time.

Fake manufacturers get a couple of authentic Yeezy 350s and try their best to replicate them.

However, what they care about is:

  1. Selling as many fake Yeezy 350 V2 as possible — so as to make a profit.
  2. Getting these Yeezys as close as possible to the real (authentic) version — so that they can convince fake buyers to wear them with confidence.

For step #1, they’ve got their ways of doing sales and marketing which is not of any interest to us, people who want to learn how to legit check.

But when it comes to step #2, understanding the manufacturers will make it easier for us to do a Yeezy fake vs real sneaker comparison.

What do fake Yeezy 350 look like?

Keep this in mind: Adidas, Nike and all these companies are big, multi-national businesses which:

  • Have to enforce standards of employment.
  • Look to produce high-quality sneakers.
  • As a consequence, they will buy high-quality factory equipment
  • Even when it comes to producing minuscule detailed pieces like the size tag.

Adidas, Nike and other big brands care about not having any misspelling/inconsistency on small details like the size tag.

On the fake manufacturers’ side:

  • They don’t care that much about minor details…
  • Like the quality of the size tag print, the insole print, or the barcode label.

Where to buy legit Yeezys from?

Whether you’re looking for older releases or newer releases, here’s the short answer:

The best way to buy these sneakers is to resort to a thirdparty reseller who has been stocking (i.e. storing these shoes unworn) this model.

Shop authentic Yeezy 350s at GOAT and Flight Club.

We understand how difficult it might be to buy legit Yeezys:

  • Since some of the colourways can not be bought anymore.
  • Especially releases older than a few months.

Because of this, we’ve written a guide on how to buy safely online without getting scammed.

There, we’re answering multiple questions such as:

  • Where can I find these resellers?
  • How can I trust them?
  • What extra measures should I take to trust a reseller and to transact properly?
  • What happens if I get scammed?
  • How should I go about purchasing these sneakers?

Find the guide we’ve written on buying streetwear safely online here.

Expert Yeezy 350 V2 legit check service

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.

Get our opinion

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

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About the Author

Ch Daniel is the co-founder and co-CEO of Legit Check By Ch, one of the world's leading companies in product authentications. Daniel's experience: 8+ years in the luxury industry, 7+ years in the authentication industry, 10+ years of business development. Currently, Daniel is overseeing the development of new products of Legit Check By Ch.
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