The Air Jordan 1 Shattered Backboard line has one of the best recent stories in Air Jordan history. In 1985, Michael Jordan took part in an exhibition game for Trieste, an Italian basketball team. The young and gifted basketball star would go on to score 30 points and score a slam dunk that shattered the glass backboard. This moment was immortalised in the form of an Air Jordan 1 back in 2015 that became a big hit with the sneaker community.
With the Air Jordan 1 Shattered Backboard 3.0 releasing last weekend, the sneaker community has had its SBB fix for a short period. However, with the introduction of the latest patent covered Shattered Backboard Air Jordan 1, many fakes have now begun to flood into the market.
For our latest real vs fake guide, we’ll be teaching you how to spot a fake Jordan 1 Shattered Backboard 3.0. We’ll be explaining you what to look for when comparing real vs fake Jordan 1 Shattered Backboards, as well as what authentic Air Jordan 1s look like when compared to fake Jordan 1s. Let’s get started on your fake education class.
The Test
Below we have two Jordan 1 Shattered Backboard 3.0s next to each other. One of these AJ1 Shattered Backboard 3.0s is real and one is fake. Which of these Shattered Backboard 3.0s do you think is authentic?
The Reveal
If you said the shoe on the left then congratulations, you were right! The left shoe is, in fact, the authentic Jordan Shattered Backboard 3.0. If you thought that the shoe on the right was the real Air Jordan 1 then not to worry, this was one of the hardest real vs fake Jordan 1 comparisons that we’ve ever done.
Now, let’s take a look at some of the signs you need to look for when carrying out your Jordan 1 legit check.
The Upper
With the upper part of the Air Jordan 1 Retro High OG “Shattered Backboard 3.0” being completely patent, being able to spot the difference can be quite tricky. At first glance, the Shattered Backboard 3.0 fake looks very good for an unauthorised authentic Jordan, but the devil is in the details.
Let’s take a look at a few key areas you should be checking out when spotting replica Shattered Backboard 1s.
The Wings Logo
For pretty much every fake Jordan 1 out there, the Wings logo is something that they always struggle to get right. It is one of the most iconic details on real Jordan 1s and something that regulators continuously struggle with. However, this detail is even more prevalent on Shattered Backboard 3.0 1s.
If you look closely you will be able to see that on these Shattered Backboard 1s, the Wings logo has been printed on. When you run your finger over this logo in person it is smooth to the touch and has a much more defined finish. However, on the fake Shattered Backboards, this logo has been embossed. When comparing these real and fake Jordans, it is easy to see why replicators struggle to keep up with the premium quality of Nike.
The Patent
This is the most distinctive feature of almost any shoe in the Shattered Backboard line. When Nike began manufacturing these Jordans, they took an entirely different approach, with an entirely patent upper featured throughout the shoe. When it comes to spotting a Shattered Backboard 3.0 replica, this is one of the key areas that you should be looking at.
One of the biggest giveaways on fake Shattered Backboard 3.0s will be the lack of shine on the leather. Authentic SBB 3.0s will have a premium leather which will appear extremely shiny. The fakes are unable to match the quality used on the upper, meaning that fake Jordan 1 Shattered Backboard 3.0s appear dull in the light.
The Creasing
Another key detail that you should be looking at on the Shattered Backboard 3.0 is creasing on the leather. If you look closely you will be able to see some creasing on the Swoosh. This creasing appears much more on the real pair in comparison to the fake pair, with little to no detail on the fake Swoosh at all.
The Height
If you want to know how to tell fake Jordan 1s, one of the biggest giveaways is the overall height of the shoe. For the most part, fake Air Jordan 1s tend to be taller and, in the case of these Shattered Backboard 3.0s, it runs true. The fake Shattered Backboard 1s are one centimetre taller than the real pair and, when placed side by side, it’s pretty easy to spot.
The Stitching
When it comes to carrying out a Jordan 1 legit check, the stitching is another area that you need to look at. Nike Shattered Backboards will have perfect stitching throughout and, when looking at the orange leather panels, this stitching will be a rich colour. On the fakes, the stitching is much lighter and is easier to spot.
Another thing to look at is whether the heel panel actually collides with the stitching at all. As you can see from the image above, the fake Jordan 1 Shattered Backboard has stitching that almost touches the Swoosh and causes the leather to crease.
Finally, check out the stitching on the sole unit. The real Shattered Backboards will have an off white colour thread that matches the midsole. This thread appears much darker on the fake pair.
The Heel
When you place the real vs fake Jordan 1 Shattered Backboard 3.0 side by side, this is where the real differences start to show. The heel is one of the biggest giveaways on pretty much all Air Jordan 1 fakes and one that you will be able to spot instantly.
The Shape
As with all real Jordan 1s, there is a specific hourglass shape that is found throughout the sneaker. This shape is distinctive to real Air Jordans and something that replica manufacturers cannot get right.
You can see from the image below, the hourglass shape on the real pair is there. The sneaker has curves around the Swoosh area, almost pinching in. If you look at the fake Air Jordan 1, this shape is non-existent. The shoe simply goes straight down and has no curves at all.
The Stitching
We already mentioned that stitching plays a vital role in identifying fake Jordan 1 Shattered Backboards. When it comes to the heel, the stitching is also another big giveaway that you should be looking at to determine whether or not they are real or fake.
You can see from the image above that the stitching on the real pair is spread out evenly, whereas on the fake pair the stitching is closer together and, in some cases, almost touches.
The Sole
This is another key area to look at when you want to know how to tell fake Jordans. The detail is however much more obvious on the Shattered Backboard Jordan 3.0, and we’ll explain why.
The sole on the real pair is much sharper with the grain and in hand feels rougher than the fakes. The grain pattern on the fakes is less defined and feels smooth. Also, the divots on the sole are much more clean-cut and straight on the real compared to the fakes.
The Details
When you start looking at the finer details of the Jordan Shattered Backboard 3.0, you will notice a few things that will set the real thing apart from the replicas out there. There are a few things that you should check out that will help you to spot Air Jordan 1 fakes as a whole.
The Tongue Tab
The writing on the tongue tab is neat, a much darker colour and fits perfectly on the tab. It also starts at the top of the tongue as does not overhang in any way. However, if you look at the fake pair the writing is much taller, not as cleanly sewn and also overhangs at the top of the tongue.
The Toe Box
Arguably one of the most iconic parts of the Air Jordan 1 is the toe box. The perforations found on the toe box are a big giveaway on Air Jordan 1 fakes, so if you want to know how to spot fake Jordan 1s just check this out.
The toe box on the fake has a completely different shape to the real pair as you can see. If you look closely you can see that the black leather actually overhangs onto the sole, giving a clear distinction that they are replicas.
You can see from the image above that the perforations have a clear, well-defined hole on everyone. The fake pair also has varying degrees of quality on the holes and it’s a big giveaway.
Recap
- The Upper – check the overall build and materials used. Authentic Air Jordans will be much better quality than fakes, that’s a given
- The Wings Logo – the logo is printed on, not embossed. This print will be smooth to the touch
- The Leather – this is one of the biggest giveaways. The patent leather should have a lot of shine and also some detailed creasing on the entire shoe.
- The Height – if you want to know how to spot fake Jordans, the height is a big giveaway. Replicas will be taller than authentic Jordans.
- The Stitching – the stitching should be evenly spaced throughout the shoe. On the upper, the stitching will be a rich orange and a deep black, the sole will have an off white stitching
- The Heel – remember the hourglass shape! Check out the stitching towards the rear panel and see whether or not it is even
- The Sole – real pairs have a much sharper grain and in hand feels rougher than the fakes
- The Tongue Tab – the writing should not overlap the tongue at all and it should be small, neat and a much darker colour
- The Toe Box – check the perforations as well as the overall shape. Clear cut holes should appear on the real deal, with a perfect toe box
Final Thoughts
We hope you enjoyed this guide on how to tell fake Jordans. There are a few signs that you should always keep in mind when checking out Shattered Backboard Jordan 3.0s.
If you wondering where to buy Air Jordan 1 Shattered Backboard 3.0s then head on over to KLEKT! Our team of authenticators guarantee legitimacy on every product, meaning you don’t have to worry about a thing. With the Shattered Backboard 3.0 price only going up, now is the time to buy!
