Q&A for How to Tell if Your Vans Shoes Are Fake

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My Vans do not have a trademark on side of the shoes. Are they fake?

Community Answer

My vans (the original black and white high tops) don't have a Vans tag on the side either and I got them from and actual Vans store, so really it depends on the type of shoe you have.

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Question

Does the Vans label on the back of the shoe need to be red to be authentic?

Community Answer

No. Most Vans have red labels, but others don't. Also, many Vans collaborations do not have red labels on the heel.

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Question

There is a flea market in my town and there is a vendor sells Vans and Converse for $30 but they are in their original boxes. So are they fake or real?

Community Answer

It is possible that they are used. Check the shoes themselves to see if they have the distinctive patter on the bottom, if the bend, and if the logo on the inside is clear.

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Question

Are Vans bought from JCPenny or Famous Footwear fakes?

Community Answer

Nope. Shoes sold At Famous Footwear & JCPenny are 100% real. They don’t sell fake stuff or else it would be all over the internet.

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Question

What sorts of features can I look for on the inside of the shoe?

Community Answer

Check the bottom of the shoe, near the heel. There, you will find the Vans logo. Keep in mind that this may vary depending on the type of shoe you have.

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Question

If my Vans say Vans on the tongue, does that mean they are fake?

Community Answer

Some real Vans shoes have Vans on the tongue. Research your specific shoe.

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Question

How can I tell if my Vans shoes are fake?

Community Answer

Read the tips mentioned above. wikiHow has done an amazing job by letting us know how to distinguish between original and fake Vans.

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Question

Should the white rubber band overlap slightly or be flush where the two ends meet at the heel?

Community Answer

All Vans overlap slightly, it's how the foxing tape is on all Vans except for the cupsoles. Look up how Vans shoes are made, it's an interesting process.

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Question

I have two pairs. They have different patterns on one the hexagon is tiny and the diamond larger On the other they are both around the same size with the hexagon being a little smaller. First is fake?

Community Answer

It sounds like the second pair of shoes is fake.

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Question

How can I tell if my Vans are real?

Community Answer

Read the tips that are listed in the article above.

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Question

If my Vans have a black logo on the back instead of red, are they fake?

Community Answer

No. That is the same way with my shoes, and after hours of research, I found out it doesn't matter. The color varies from style to style.

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Question

If my vans logo are small, that mean it's fake?

Community Answer

No. Often fake logos will be larger. Compare the shoes to a real pair to see if the proportions are correct.

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Question

If my Vans have red tags on the back of the shoe, does that mean they're fake?

Community Answer

No, they can be a different color. It just depends on the shoe.

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Question

Does WSS sell fake Vans?

Community Answer

No, they don't; they collaborate with Vans.

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Question

If my Vans tag is on the back of the shoe, is it fake?

Community Answer

Maybe, but keep in mind the location of the tag depends on the type of shoe you have.

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Question

If the sole of my Vans only has two letters that don't match the sticker on the box, are they fake?

Community Answer

Not necessarily. Vans has more codes, such as HF and EV8. CLK is not the only sole marking that is authentic.

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Question

Do real Vans ever have a white sole?

Community Answer

Yes, they do. That's the original design/style.

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Question

How many lace holes should my Vans have?

Community Answer

The authentic Vans have 4-6, depending on what size they are. Old school Vans normally have more.

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Question

Is the use of different colors in the checker pattern on my Vans a sign that they're not authentic?

Community Answer

No, because there are many different styles and colors due to the popularity of the checkered Vans.

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Question

Are the soles of vans always white?

Community Answer

No not always. It depends on which color you pick. The vans pictured do, but others have soles that are a gum color, black, cream, grey, etc.

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Question

Are real Vans made in Cambodia?

Community Answer

Real authentic Vans come from a variety of places, so you'll have to do more research. If it says "Made in Cambodia", then they are most likely real.

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Question

Are my Vans fake if they have a logo on the back?

Community Answer

No. On all Vans, there are three logos and one of them is located on the back of the shoe.

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Question

I do not have the original box. How else can I tell if they are fake?

Community Answer

The tips that are listed in the article are helpful. If you still don't know, then do some more research or compare them to a real pair in an authentic Vans retailer.

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Question

My vans don't have a CLK on the sole, are they fake?

Flying Llamas

Community Answer

They could be, so be very careful the next time you buy them.

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Question

How do I tell if my Vans are fake via the stitching?

Community Answer

The stitching should be close together, and there should be more stitches across the shoe lace if it is real.

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Question

If the bottom of my Vans are white, are they fake?

Community Answer

No. Not all vans shoes have gum bottom soles.

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Question

Are my Vans shoes fake if they have five holes instead of four for the shoelaces?

Community Answer

Most likely, yes, as vans are made specifically with four shoelace holes.

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Question

"DT" is displayed on the base of my Vans. Are they fake?

Community Answer

Yes they probably are. The real ones don’t have that on them. You should return them to the place you purchased them from and ask for a refund.

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Question

Would getting the Vans from Khols mean they are fake?

Community Answer

No, they should be 100% real as Kohl's has a reputation to maintain and is liable to be sued if it infringes the laws regarding fake goods.

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Question

Are shoes with letters on the "ifc" and "hf" soles are fake?

Community Answer

No, they are not fake. Vans have different letters on the back of them, if your Vans have the letters "IFC, EVB, DT, HF, SHC" these symbols mean the products are from Chinese Vans factory and "GSI" is from Indonesia.

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