Looking to learn how to spot fake vs real Off-White Air Force 1 Black? By the end of this guide, you’ll know what to look for to spot fake Off-White AF1 Black.
Not the colourway you’re looking for? Check out our other guides:
How to tell if Off-White Air Force 1 Black are fake
You can tell if Off-White Air Force 1 Black are fake (or real) by checking the medial text on each shoe. Fakes have thicker letters that are placed too close to each other.
1. Medial text
1.1. Left shoe
The “c.” printed text is too thin on the fake Off-White Air Force 1 Black.
Th “NIKE” and the “USA” prints are too visible on the fake Off-White AF1 Black pair.
The legit pair has these two prints looking less opaque.
1.2. Right shoe
First, the same problem on the “c.” text is visible here too.
Also, the fake pair has the dot in the “c.” print round, and it must be a square on real pairs.
The “USA” text is almost invisible because of how it has been placed on the fake Off-White Air Forces.
Finding it too hard? Reach out to our Nike x Off-White experts:
2. Swoosh
2.1. Shape
The top of the fake Swoosh is too thin.
It is not thick enough.
Also, notice how the fake Swoosh is too arched and curvy, while the legit Swoosh is less angled.
2.2. Stitching
On the fake Off-White Air Force 1 Black pair, the placement of the Swoosh determines the stitches to be placed more to the left side of the shoe.
To spot this, you can take as a point of reference, the black leather line next to the Swoosh.
The fake Swoosh is placed almost to the left edge of this line, and the authentic Swoosh is placed more to the right of it.
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. “AIR”
The fake “AIR” text is less visible.
The opacity is lower than it should be, and it makes the “AIR” text look grey instead of white.
The fake text seems less thick than the authentic one.
4. Code stamp
The number “1” in the “HO18” text is different. The fake character is longer and thinner than the legit one.
The dash (“-“) between “MNSBSK” and “131” is too thin and too long.
The hashtags (“#”) seem to be too thin on the fake Air Force 1s.
5. Orange tab
The fake orange tab has its corners looking round, instead of the sharp ones on the real pair.
The black stitching on the fake pair has extra threads.
Overall, the fake tab is too long.
6. Tongue
The fake pair has the “NIKE TM” text placed too high on the tag.
The “NIKE” text looks crooked on the fake tongue tag.
7. Insole
The fake “THE TEN” text is looking too small, while the legit print is bigger.
The fake print is also too boxy.
8. Size tag
The fake “MADE IN CHINA” text, and the one below and the one above it, is too thick.
In the “AO4606-001” text, the letter “O” is a zero (0). It should be a letter instead of a number.
On the other hand, the authentic OW Air Force 1 Black pair has the “MADE IN CHINA” text thinner than the fake one.
Shortlist: Tell fake Off-White Air Force 1 Black
Examine the medial text closely. Often, counterfeit versions feature overly thin or excessively opaque medial text, making it excessively visible on the fake pair. Additionally, take note of the “c.” text – the dot should not be circular; it needs to have a square shape.
Inspect the Swoosh. Counterfeit Swooshes frequently exhibit excessive thinness at their upper part and display exaggerated curvature. Also, be mindful of the sustained stitching, which tends to be overly long on fake pairs.
Analyze the “AIR text” on the midsole. Most fake pairs have “AIR” text that lacks the same opacity as genuine ones, often appearing gray rather than white.
Verify the stamp code on the rear side. Fake code stamp printed text usually appears overly thin, and the letter arrangement might deviate from the correct pattern.
Scrutinize the orange tab on your Off-White AF1 Black. Counterfeit orange tabs often possess rounded corners instead of sharp ones. Be attentive to any extra black threads hanging above the orange tab.
Examine the tongue tag of the shoes. Frequently, the fake “NIKE” text is oddly positioned too high on the tongue tag, whereas the genuine “NIKE” text sits lower.
Validate the “THE TEN” text on the insoles. Fake pairs tend to feature “THE TEN” text that’s disproportionately large.
Authenticate the size tag. Generally, the fake “MADE IN CHINA” text is excessively thick, and on the “AO4606-001” text, the letter “O” is sometimes mistaken for a zero (0), whereas it should be a proper “O”.
The comprehensive instructions provided for the eight steps differentiating between fake and genuine Off-White sneakers can be quite time-intensive to follow through when you’re aiming to verify the authenticity of your pair.
In light of this, we’ve assembled a rapid 60-second method to authenticate yours. Check the list above!
Expert Off-White Air Force 1 authentication
Should you require assistance in authenticating your Off-White Air Force 1 Black, rest assured that we are here to assist.
Simply provide us with high-quality photographs of your sneakers, and within a timeframe of 24 to 48 hours, we will respond with the results.
Our response will include a comprehensive report outlining the basis for our determination of whether your sneakers are genuine or counterfeit.
With this, we conclude our guide on identifying fake Off-White Air Force 1s. As more accurate and updated comparisons become available, we will continue to enhance and update this article accordingly.
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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.
