First off, and I’m not even kidding, just *look* at ’em. Like, *really* look. Scrutinize ’em like you’re trying to find Waldo at a rave. See any wonky stitching? ‘Cause that’s a HUGE red flag. Real Converse, they gotta have clean lines, even stitches, and the toe cap should be smooth, flush against the shoe. If the toe cap looks like it was slapped on by a kindergartener during arts and crafts, ditch ’em. Seriously.
And speaking of the toe cap, that’s a biggie. A fake’s gonna have a toe cap that’s all rough and irregular. It might even feel… off. Like, not right in your hand. Trust your gut, man. Your intuition is screaming for a reason.
Then there’s the whole heel patch situation. This is where the fakers often REALLY screw up. Supposedly, the fake Converse are gonna have this massive heel patch, like a gigantic rectangle that takes up way too much real estate back there. A real pair’s got a more proportioned, um, rectangle. I mean, it’s all rectangles, but the real ones are… you know… balanced. It’s hard to explain. You just gotta *feel* it, ya know?
Oh, and don’t forget to peek inside! Check the tongue. See if there’s any weirdness happening there. Real ones are gonna be clean, well-finished. If it looks like a rushed, sloppy job on the inside, chances are the outside is a lie too.
Now, let’s talk logos. That little ® symbol? Keep an eye out for that. Sometimes, the fakers forget that lil’ guy, or they botch the font. Depending on the model, that logo on the heel can be black or white, so make sure the color matches what you’d expect for that specific style. But honestly, I’ve seen fakes with perfect logos too, so don’t rely on this alone!
Honestly, sometimes it’s just a vibe. A real pair of Converse feels solid, well-made. Fakes often feel flimsy, cheap… like they’re gonna fall apart after one wear. If they feel like you could tear them with your bare hands, run. Just run far, far away.
