Air Max 90 Legit Check: How To Spot A Fake (2025)

Last Updated on January 7, 2025 by Ch David

To spot fake Air Max 90, you should check the size tag. Very bolded inscriptions always indicate a counterfeit pair! Original Air Max 90 pairs must have thinner prints.

If you are here because you want to learn how to spot fake Air Max 90, then you are in the right place.

Find useful real vs fake comparisons with explanations in this guide. By the end of this article, you’ll be an ace in telling fake Air Max 90s.

This guide works for any Nike Air Max 90 colorway.

For now, let’s stick with our real vs fake comparison for these Nikes.

How to tell if your Air Max 90s are fake

You can tell the difference between real and fake Air Max 90 through the size tag inside the tongue. Fake Air Max 90s always have thicker inscriptions than the authentic ones.

Let’s see how to do this!

1. Size tag

• The fake size tag has its text badly font-weighted, as there are numerous different thicknesses for the characters.
• The fake item has its printing with the product ID code looking too thin (“AJ1285-012” in the fake example).
• On the right side, the manufacturing date is too thin on the fake Air Max 90s.
  • The fake shoes have different font weights for this text as well.
  • The “20/18” text is thicker than the “07” text on the fake pair.
• The “MADE IN VIETNAM” and “FABRIQUE EN VIETNAM” text below is too thin.

The text on an authentic Air Max 90 size tag should have the same thickness for all characters.

Finding it too hard? Reach out to our Nike x Off-White experts:

2. Rear details

• The fake shoes have their “NIKE” text a bit thicker than the legit shoes’ text.
• The fake “A I R” text is too thick and curvy.
• On the fake pair, the stitching lines re too short and thin.

On the other hand, the retail shoes have stitching on the back of the shoes looking longer and thicker

3. Insole

• The fake shoes have their “A I R” text looking too thin.

On the other hand, the authentic shoes have their text looking thicker than what it looks like on the fake pair.

4. Side AIR MAX logo

• The fake shoes have their text looking noticeably thicker than the one on the authentic shoes.

Therefore, the authentic shoes have their “AIR MAX” text looking thinner when compared to the replica shoes’ text.

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.

5. Tongue

• The fake shoes have their stitching looking too thin and kerned with too much empty space between them.
• The fake pair’s registered trademark “®” symbols are too thick.
• The “NIKE” text on the fake shoes is thicker and boxier than the text visible on the legit shoes.

6. Swoosh

• The fake shoes have their top sharp tip of the Nike Swoosh logo looking too curvy.
• The fake Swoosh is coming out of the shoes instead of being glued o the leather.

At the same time, you can see how the authentic shoes have their top sharp tip looking glued to the shoes.

7. Midsole

• The fake shoes have holes in their midsole looking too curvy.

The holes on the authentic shoes’ midsole are narrower.

8. Toe box

• The fake shoes have their toe box looking over-inflated.
• The fake toe box has a chunkier and thicker look when compared toe box of the legit shoes.

Shortlist: Authenticate Air Max 90 in 60 seconds

1. Scan the size tag for any font-weight flaws. Mostly, the counterfeit Nike AM90 sneakers have their size tag’s text improperly. font-weighted, as some of the letters are either thicker or thinner than what they should actually look like.
2. Verify the shoes for the rear details. Usually, the fake shoes have their text looking too thick and curvy, and the stitching on the rear side is commonly looking too short and thick as well.
3. Look at the insole of your Air Max 90s. Most of the time, the replica Nike AM90 sneakers have their “A I R” text on the insole looking too thin.
4. Inspect the “AIR MAX” text on the side of your shoes. Mostly, the replica Nike AM90 sneakers have their text on the side of the shoes looking too thin.
5. Verify the text on the tongue’s badge of your shoes. Usually, the fake pairs have their text looking too thick and boxy.
6. Keep an eye out for the quality of the Nike Swoosh logo, as the fake shoes commonly have their Swoosh poorly glued at the top sharp tip, and not only that but also look too curvy.
7. Check the holes in the midsole of your Nike AM90 sneakers. The replica pairs usually have their holes on the midsole looking too curvy.
8. Analyze the toe box of your shoes. Most of the time, the fake shoes have their toe box looking over-inflated, too thick and too chunky.

There are situations, where you may be unable to go through each detailed step, explained above when you need to authenticate your Nike Air Max 90.

That is why we have compiled this quick 60 seconds solution to authenticating your sneakers.

Expert Air Max 90 authentication service

If you need help with the authentication of your Nike Air Max 90, we’ve got you covered.

All you have to do is send us good-quality pictures of your Nike Air Max 90 and we will get back to you with the results within 24 to 48 hours. The results will also come with a report on why we believe your sneakers are fake or authentic.

That brings us to the end of our fake vs real Nike Air Max 90 guide. We will continue to update this article as better and newer comparisons are put out.

Need our opinion on your item’s authenticity? It’s a service we provide.

Get a fully-detailed report for why you have a real or fake item. Takes less than 48 hours!

Alternatively, use our free resources: written guides and video tutorials.

Thank you for reading this,

Ch Daniel and Ch David