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Are your Adidas Yeezy Boost 350 V2 real or fake? This is a complete Yeezy fake vs real guide to authenticating Kanye West’s Yeezy 350 V2 sneakers and it works for every colourway.
In short, to spot a fake Yeezy 350 V2, you need to look out for inconsistencies on the size tag: that means any fuzzy line, the ® text touching the “adidas” text or misplaced letter. Besides, make sure the barcode test is passed. To get a visual explanation of all these, check our real vs fake comparisons below.
If you want to learn how to spot any Yeezy or any of the Kanye West sneakers (which is beyond the purpose of this article, as we’re only addressing Yeezy Boost 350 V2 here), we have a full guide which covers all of the Yeezy sneakers, which is constantly updated whenever new sneakers are out. Click here to see this guide.
We’ve written hundreds of guides on fake vs real sneaker comparisons – this piece is a general guide that should help you legit check any Yeezy Boost 350 V2 colourway.
We are always comparing the best fake version of a Yeezy Boost 350 V2 and always updating this article as we know how demanded it is.
In this guide we’ll cover:
The short answer is yes, it’s easier than you think.
Telling the difference between fake vs real Yeezy trainers is very easy, once you understand a couple of things (which we’ll take you through).
First of all, you need to understand how replica shoes 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 Boost 350 V2 pairs and try their best to replicate them. However, what they care about is:
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.
Keep this in mind: Adidas, Nike and all these companies are big, multi-national businesses which have to enforce standards of employment.
Not only that, but they also look out 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.
Why?
It doesn’t make sense for those who create fake Yeezy Boost 350 V2 to waste time and resources on a minor detail that will not impact those who wear fakes as much.
As a consequence, replica manufacturers overlook minor details.
Which is exactly you or I will be able to authenticate these trainers.
I’ll go more in-depth in the following sections of this complete guide on how to tell fake vs real Yeezy Boost 350 V2 pairs but let’s have a look at this comparison so I can prove my point.
We always aim to go as deep as possible when it comes to teaching people how to tell fake from real Yeezys, hence the multiple items on the comparison above.
For a quick one, have a look at number 5. Notice how the ® is touching the “adidas” text.
That’s an instant callout for any fake.
No high-quality equipment used by Adidas should allow an inconsistency like that to happen.
As a second example, notice number 7.
The “C” in “China”. That letter is definitely taller than the rest, so that’s a print error that can only be cause by a lower-quality factory machine.
You don’t have to worry if you think you won’t remember it — our Legit Check App is there to help you access all this information in a quick manner.
Every single subset (size tag, sole, lacing etc.) of what we’re going to explain is nicely ordered in there.
So whether you’ll be on the move or at home, you can easily tap into the size tag comparison or the lacing comparison — whatever you’ll need. Make sure you download it!
Remember what we’ve written above about fake manufacturers and their process? When they replicate the box label, they don’t care that much about the barcode.
Why should they?
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, hence I recommend you start with it.
How will we tell fake from real through the barcode test, you may ask? You will want to check whether the barcode matches on the box you’re checking matches the other authentic barcode labels on the market.
The barcode test has its own article where we’re explaining the full situation. Below, we’ll put together just the basics — if some things are unclear, make sure you read that as well.
Let me explain.
For every size and colourway combination, there’s one specific code combination. There is one certain barcode for Yeezy Boost 350 V2, Sesame colourway, size US7.
Then, there’s another one barcode for the same Yeezy Boost 350 V2 Beluga, size US8. And so on. All these serial numbers are unique.
What we’ll do, to put it shortly, is: we will search for the barcode number of the pair we’re authenticating, to see if it matches the barcode on other authentic pairs.
Why would we do that? Fake Yeezy Boost 350 V2 pairs have the wrong barcode. Let us show you a quick example, but make sure you read the bigger article if any part is confusing.
First, go to our app’s home screen and use this button:
Once you do that, point the camera at the barcode you’ll be authenticating.
As soon as a serial number is recognized, a Google search page result will pop up.
Here’s where you have to judge for yourself — if there are some or a lot of confirmations on Google for the code you’re searching, the box is authentic.
Here’s how a Yeezy barcode scanner test would look like, for the sake of an example.
Let’s say we’re barcode scanning these Yeezys above. Point the camera at the serial number over there.
Here’s what the result page will show:
This is what a confirmation point is. One result showing the exact colourway and size you’re testing.
As you can see in the case above of the Yeezy barcode scan, all four results are confirmation points. If we scroll down, we’ll see more of them.
This box is authentic!
This is yet another quick way to tell between fake and real Yeezy Boost 350 V2 trainers.
Once again, it’s a micro-detail that replica manufacturers don’t really care — yet it’s highly valuable for us when authenticating a pair.
It can save minutes (if not hours) as multiple counterfeit Yeezy pairs fail this.
Have a look at this box below:
Notice that highlighted V10 text. That number will vary (it will say either V02, V03 or V10), but what we care about is the number of sizes we see on the left side.
More specifically, we need to see whether the number of sizes is paired with the right V02/V03/V10 number, so as to spot the real vs fake Yeezy Boost 350 V2 box barcode label.
Having 3 size squares means we’re looking at the US version of the Yeezy Boost 350 V2.
Having 6 size squares means we’re looking at either the European or the Canadian box of the Yeezy 350 V2.
How is this becoming helpful? Counterfeit Yeezy boxes mix these combinations up. If it seems complicated, don’t worry, we’ve got you.
Here’s the correct map:
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.
Every Yeezy colourway 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.
We’ll take as an example the fake vs real Yeezy Boost 350 V2 Butter size tag comparison and show you the reasoning behind spotting a replica pair.
What we need to look out for here is any misprint, inconsistency or anomaly.
In other words, spot the difference between the higher quality printing machines Adidas used and the lower quality machines the fake manufacturers have used.
Let’s take for example the #6 highlight. Notice on the fake size tag how the “1”, “/” and “3” are very close to each other. Not only that, but you can barely read the “3” on the fake.
That will never happen on an Adidas size tag.
Look at the “JP” text in the “US UK FR JP CHN” row. Notice how the authentic size tag has perfectly straight lines on both letters. On the other hand, fake Yeezy size tags are too fuzzy.
Pay attention to the spacing between characters. Notice the “275” below JP or the 265 below “CHN”.
Can you sense the randomness between the space between those characters? Comparing it to the authentic size tag shows us that the authentic counterpart has perfect spacing.
We have individual analyses on multiple Yeezy Boost 350 V2 colourways, so make sure you download the app so you can find out the exact specific size tag of the colourway you’re looking to authenticate.
Here’s how they are curated and organized within the Legit Check App.
This applies without any exception to unworn (deadstock) pairs.
It can also apply to worn pairs but your judgement is required: it’s possible in 1% of the cases that the Yeezy Boost 350 V2 laces were taken off and re-laced in the wrong manner.
Nonetheless, it’s an instant tell for a fake vs real Yeezy Boost 350 V2 comparison. The photos are inverted so that it’s easier to understand the replica and the authentic Yeezy pair. Check out how fakes come laced:
And have a look at the legit pair of Yeezy 350 V2. We’ll explain below what the difference is.
Have a look at the authentic Yeezy on the left side.
The right lace is underneath the left lace on the right shoe
The situation is mirrored as well: the left lace is underneath the right lace, on the left shoe.
Let’s recap just to be clear:
Authentic Yeezy Boost 350 V2 lacing:
The right shoe should have the right lace underneath.
The left shoe should have the left lace underneath.
This fake vs real Yeezy Boost 350 V2 tell applies once you’re looking from the top, so remember to revert, depending on the angle from which you’re looking.
Fake Yeezy Boost 350 V2 lacing:
The right shoe might have the left lace underneath.
The left shoe might have the right lace underneath.
The replicas get at least one of the two wrong. Sometimes both — however, I haven’t seen any original pairs come laced properly from the factory.
The boost sole comparison is a bit of a complex matter. Once again, we’re going in-depth into every colourway, since Adidas changes the processes and techniques behind the creation of these soles every now and then.
To make sure you get the very-specific fake vs real comparison, use our app’s to get to the desired colourway. But as we’ve promised, here’s an overall comparison.
The boost sole was quite hard to replicate for the counterfeit manufacturers. At least in the beginning.
In the meantime, Adidas ramped up the production of this model (the 350 V2s) and wild fluctuations started appearing on the authentic boost soles.
Nonetheless, differences can be spotted. Let’s start with a picture.
One difference that applies to all Yeezy Boost 350 V2 fake vs real tests are the following two:
What we see on the left side is a very smooth boost sole, yet there are also very defined soles. Ideally, if you’ll be exposed to enough fake boost soles, you’ll get a feeling of this.
On the boost sole, you can start noticing these circles with 3 or 4 stripes. See them below:
Both fakes and authentic pairs have sometimes more than 3 stripes within these circles, but legit pairs tend to have these stripes arranged more orderly.
What we recommend here, once again, is to go to the detailed breakdown of authentic vs replica within our app on the specific colourway you’re looking to check.
This way, we’ll give you more targeted advice, predicated on the type of boost sole Adidas released.
We’ll call “extra labels” what you’ll see below on these Yeezy pairs.
On the left side, you’ll notice the extra labels that usually come with the EU/Canada pairs. The European/Canadian pairs have 6 sizes on the box label.
Any Yeezy Boost 350 V2 released before the Static colourway coming with this extra label is likely to be an authentic.
It’s not a deciding factor, but fake manufacturers haven’t caught onto replicating this label on any release up to the Static version.
If you’re confused about the order in which colourways were released, check our app. All Yeezy Boost 350 V2 colourways are listed there and arranged chronologically (in other words, sequenced as they were released).
For pairs released after the Yeezy Static colourway, you’d need to pay attention to:
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.
This paper above should never be perfectly folded. Authentic Yeezys come wrapped in this yellow-cream paper.
While the full guide is long, we’ve synthesised how to tell fake vs real Yeezy Boost 350 V2 in a couple of seconds. Here’s how:
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 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!
We understand how difficult it might be to buy the Adidas Yeezy 350 V2, since some of the colourways can not be bought anymore — especially releases older than a few months.
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 third–party reseller who has been stocking (i.e. storing these shoes unworn) this model.
Because of this, we’ve written a guide on how to buy safely online without getting scammed.
We’re answering there multiple questions such as:
Find the guide we’ve written on buying streetwear safely online here.
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).
Make sure you follow our Instagram, our YouTube Channel, or our other socials (check out the footer)! We’re doing greater things and want to build a beautiful place for people like you.
Thank you for reading this,
Ch Daniel and Ch David
