How to Spot Real vs Fake Grateful Dead Dunks

If you are reading this, you probably want to legit check Nike SB Dunk Low Grateful Dead Green Bear. We know how tricky it can be sometimes, and for that very reason we prepared a guide for you. This guide will help you authenticate your sneakers in 10 easy-to-follow steps. 

But remember, we also offer professional Nike SB Dunk Low Grateful Dead Green Bear authentication services in case you need an expert’s advice. When in doubt, let us know! You will get a quick reply with a detailed explanation of why we think your item is real or fake, and a unique authenticity certificate. Now, let’s get right into it.

How to legit check Nike SB Dunk Low Grateful Dead Green Bear?

• Notice the overall shape of the sneakers
• Pay attention to the toe box
• Inspect the tongue tag
• Look at the logo on the inside of the tongue
• Check the authenticity of the tongue stash pocket
• Examine the heel tab lettering
• Make sure the size tag is correct
• Take a look at the insole
• Authenticate the underside of the insole
• Pay attention to the outsole

Examine the Overall Shape of the Sneakers

These SB Dunk Lows take inspiration from the iconic psychedelic rock band Grateful Dead. Specifically, they are based off of the iconic “marching bears” artwork that appeared on the cover of the GD album “Bear’s Choice”. The sneakers feature a plethora of references to this graphic mark, each of which we are going to cover today.

But first, please notice the overall shape and materials of your shoes. The overall shape should be in tune with the original Nike SB Dunk Low model. On the comparison below the fake pair is slightly longer.

Also Read: Nike Dunk Low Fake vs Real

The materials are mainly plush faux fur and smooth suede on the overlay panels, which certainly make this pair stand out. The authentic sneaker has longer and fuzzier fur, while the suede should be more soft and pleasant to touch. 

The next thing we are going to cover is the felt swoosh, which mimics the scarves worn by the marching bears, and has a unique zig-zag shaped trim around it. The fake item has its swoosh slightly wider, and so is the trim.

And finally, pay attention to the vivid green-blue colorway. The fake pair has slightly different colors, specifically on the suede overlays. While the original overlays are neon green, in tone with the rest of the design, the fake pair has them more of a spring green color.

Inspect the Toe Box for Material and Shape

Here, yet again, you should pay attention to the material and the colorway of the toe box. As we mentioned before, the faux fur is slightly longer and more fuzzy on the original, and it should feel really soft, as high-quality materials were used to produce it. 

You should also carefully inspect the shape of the toe box, which in the authentic pair is wider, and the rubber part does not stick out so much.

Something that is not very visible on the picture are the laces. They should have red/blue/white thunderbolt aglets. If your pair doesn’t feature those as part of the design, you might have a fake product.

Check the Tongue Tag and Graphic Details

The third method we are going to cover today requires you to look at the tongue tag of the shoe. It features the marching bear graphic with a Nike Swoosh behind it. 

Here we advise you to examine the stitching. On the following Nike SB Dunk Grateful Dead fake vs real comparison it is clear that the stitching of the pair on the right is done in a different way.

Also, please ensure that the logo is vivid and all parts of it can be clearly visible.

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Verify the Inside of the Tongue Logo

Another unique detail is the logo found on the inside of the tongue, and it includes the lightning bolt from the Grateful Dead logo and the Grateful Dead Productions text in a circle around the lightning bolt. 

There are a few things to notice here. Firstly, the thunderbolt should be placed perfectly inside the text circle. On the replica it is placed slightly off-center. 

Also Read: Jordan 4 Black Cat Real vs Fake

The text should be precisely printed, have accurate font and even space between the characters. Small details like that is what usually gives away a counterfeit item, because they are difficult to replicate on regular manufacturing equipment.

Test the Functionality of the Tongue Stash Pocket

Probably the coolest detail about these sneakers is the stash pocket inside the tongue, which closes with a zipper. It has green zipper and stitching, and is lined with blue mesh on the inside.

It goes without saying that the zipper should open and close easily, without any difficulties. 

Another defect you can notice on the fake product is that the pocket itself is crudely sewn, with bits of fabric sticking out.

We are halfway through! Have you already figured out how to spot fake Nike SB Dunk Low Grateful Dead Green Bear? If not, don’t worry! LegitGrails got your back with our expert authentication services.

Examine the Heel Tab and Nike Lettering

One more way to spot fake Nike SB Dunk Low Grateful Dead is by looking at the heel tab. 

You can see that the heel tab on the fake product is bigger and wider in dimension, and so is the lettering. 

The Nike logo, stitched in the Grateful Dead album font, should be perfectly placed on the heel tab, right in the middle of it. Not only that, but the stitching should be dense, as proof that high quality equipment was used in production.

Inspect the Size Tag for Printing and QR Code Quality

The size tag of your shoes can really help you make sure they’re authentic.

First of all, the size tag should have its text perfectly printed, with proper font sizes. 

Secondly, the QR code should be clearly visible and not blurry.

Lastly, make sure the dimensions of the size tag are correct. Here, as you can see, the fake tag is less wide.

Analyze the Insole Graphic and Colors

The insole graphic features all 5 of the Marching Bears. This is one of the weakest places in counterfeits, because it has a few differences from the original that are hard not to notice.

Firstly, the fake product here has the same problem with colors. While the authentic insole is the same neon green color as the rest of the design, the color of the replica is more dull. 

Moving on, please pay attention to the marching bears graphic. The problem here is the positioning on the bears, as in the fake one they are too close to the edge of the insole and not at all symmetrically placed. Not only that, but they seem too wide and big, as if the shapes were stretched out. 

Finally, the black outline around their silhouettes is thicker as it should be, compared to the original. 

Review the Underside of the Insole Logo

The Grateful Dead “Steal Your Face” skull logo with a Nike SB logo in the middle is a nice finishing touch to this beautiful pair of sneakers, but it also serves a purpose of helping us in our task.

You can surely notice that the skull on the right is slightly blurry, and appears washed out. It should not look this way. The skull logo should be clearly visible and have pitch black color.

Furthermore, the black outline of the skull is too thick in the fake, and it makes some details less clear.

Evaluate the Outsole Design and Logo Placement

And the last thing we are going to examine today is the outsole. It is mostly blue with a green spot in the middle featuring the Nike SB logo. 

There is not much to notice here, except that the logo is not clearly visible in the replica pair. You should also ensure that it is positioned exactly in the middle and not off-center. 

The Bottom Line: Key Takeaways for Spotting Fakes

We have reached the end of our guide. Hopefully, we managed to provide you with some helpful information in order to legit check Nike SB Dunk Low Grateful Dead Green Bear. Here’s a quick checklist of things to avoid in counterfeit sneakers to ensure you get the real deal:

• Faux Fur: Authentic pairs use longer, high-quality faux fur that feels soft and plush. Fakes often use shorter, rougher fur.
• Suede Overlays: Originals have soft and smooth suede, while counterfeits use stiff or inconsistent materials.
• Look for uneven or loose stitching, especially around the tongue tag, heel tab, and insole. Authentic pairs have dense, precise stitching.
• Misaligned or sloppy seams are clear signs of poor craftsmanship typical of counterfeits.
• Green Fur: Genuine sneakers feature neon green fur. Fakes may have duller, spring green tones.
• Suede Overlays: Authentic overlays match the bright, bold design, while replicas often have faded or inconsistent colors.
• Tongue Tag: The marching bear graphic should be vivid, detailed, and properly stitched. Fakes often have blurry or poorly defined designs.
• Inside Tongue Logo: The lightning bolt and circular text should be perfectly aligned. Misaligned or off-center logos are a dead giveaway.
• Insole Graphic: Authentic pairs feature marching bears with even spacing, precise outlines, and vibrant colors. Counterfeits often stretch or misalign the bears.
• Tongue Stash Pocket: The zipper should open and close smoothly without catching, and the pocket should have neat stitching and proper lining.
• Size Tag: Counterfeit tags often have blurry QR codes, incorrect fonts, or improper tag dimensions.
• Authentic shoeboxes are sturdy and feature precise labels with proper logos and graphics. Fakes often come with thinner, poorly printed boxes.

However, if you are uncertain, feel free to contact us!