How To Tell If Your 'Pinnacle' Air Jordan 1s Are Real or Fake

by Brandon Richard

As the name suggests, the Air Jordan 1 Pinnacle is a premium take on MJ's original signature shoe. Details like a snakeskin upper and gold-plated hardware make the shoe a bit more difficult to counterfeit, but the factories are working hard to get fraudulent versions of the popular sneaker on the market. Fortunately, there's a few tell-tale signs to separate the authentic and unauthorized pairs, and Fake Education has listed a few tips for your benefit.

1. Laces

Fake Education: "The wax laces are thinner on the unauthorized pair. Notice there is about 33% more empty space on the unauthorized lace lock, but the laces fill up the space on each end on the retail pair."

2. Toebox

Fake Education: "A closer look at the toe box area and you see just how off the material is on the unauthorized. The whole upper has a patent leather shine to it, all of the scales are way too close together and it does not have the same python upper as the retail pair."

3. Hardware

Fake Education: "Each letter/number of "MJ23" is almost touching on the retail pair, but on the unauthorized there is clear separation between each letter/number."

4. Aglets

Fake Education: "The top of the aglets on the retail pair are pinched in to hold the laces snug. On the unauthorized, the tops are not pinched. Refer to the red highlighted areas for a better reference. Also the retail aglets are longer, but if you only have one or the other in hand u won't be able to tell. Side by side it is easy to see though."

5. Box Tag

Fake Education: "The color code is incorrect on the unauthorized pair."

6. Insoles

Fake Education: "Stitching under the insole is red on the retail pair and it is white on the unauthorized pair."