The thing about legit checking Pharrell’s HU Trails is… it ain’t always easy peasy lemon squeezy. These counterfeiters are getting CRAZY good. They’re upping their game constantly. So, relying on just one thing? Not gonna cut it. You gotta be a sneaker Sherlock Holmes.
First off, the barcode. Supposedly, you can scan it, right? And it should tell you if it’s legit. Yeah, well, good luck with that. While it’s a good starting point, don’t put all your eggs in that barcode basket. Fakers can copy barcodes. They ain’t stupid. Just because it scans doesn’t automatically mean you’re in the clear. It just means you need to dig deeper.
Then there’s the general quality. This is where you gotta use your eyeballs, people! Are the stitches clean? Is the Primeknit (if it has Primeknit) looking legit? Or is it some cheap, scratchy imitation? I’ve seen some reps where the stitching is just…a mess. Like a toddler was let loose with a needle and thread. And the Boost (if it’s a Boost model) should feel like actual Boost. Bouncy, responsive, not some hard, plastic-y feeling garbage.
Color, too! Check that color. Compare it to official images from Adidas. Sometimes the fakes are *slightly* off. Like, a shade too bright, or a shade too dull. It’s subtle, but it’s there. I’m telling ya, pay attention to detail.
And don’t forget the little details! The branding. The laces. The insoles. EVERYTHING. Those little details are where fakers often cut corners. The Pharrell logo might be slightly wonky, the laces might feel cheap, the insole might be…off.
Honestly, my biggest piece of advice? Buy from reputable sellers. I’m talking Adidas themselves, authorized retailers, and well-known consignment shops. Yeah, you might pay a little more, but you’re paying for peace of mind. Trying to save a few bucks by buying from some random dude on the internet? That’s how you end up with a pair of “Pharrell Human Race NMDs” that look like they were assembled in someone’s basement. No offense to basement assemblers.
And one last thing that I’ve done, and maybe it’s overkill but helps me out: If you’re buying online, ask for extra pictures. Like, really detailed pics. Ask for pics of the inside of the shoe, the bottom of the shoe, close-ups of the stitching. The more you see, the better you can judge. And if the seller hesitates or refuses? Red flag, my friend. HUGE red flag.
