Most fake crocs look like original crocs. They come in dull and bright color designs, usually seen in white, black, brown, green, and pink colors, with port holes that make it look like Swiss cheese, and straps across the back that flip up and down.
Also, the Crocs brand has walked its way into the fashion industry as celebrities like Justin Bieber, Bad Bunny, Nicki Minaj, and many others have used it to make a fashion statement. With this level of popularity, the number of fake Crocs (Croc-offs) in the market is increasing every day.
I have fallen victim to fake Crocs on two occasions. The first was when I purchased Crocs Classic Heart Print Clog which came in a different color from what I had ordered and got flattened just after 8 days of usage. On the second occasion, I ordered a Crocs Crocband that arrived with large chunks of its sole missing and also in a different color. These events made me determined to equip myself with ways of spotting fake Crocs.
Through research and a couple of market surveys, I was able to learn key pointers to spotting fake Crocs. They helped me secure an original Crocs Crush clog on my third purchase and I’ve been loving these shoes ever since.
I’d like to share these key pointers with you so you don’t fall victim to these vicious counterfeits.
What Do Fake Crocs Look Like
Most fake crocs look like original crocs. These croc-offs (fake crooks) come in dull and bright color designs but are usually seen in white, black, brown, green, and pink colors with port holes that make it look like Swiss cheese, straps across the back that flip up and down making the shoe more like a scandal almost like the original crocs.
Basically, fake crocs come in the same designs as original crocs. However, certain features can help you spot fake crocs from original ones.
Ways To Spot A Fake Crocs
As I said earlier, fake crocs look like original crocs but they can be spotted with certain features. I have classified these features under 10 tips. These tips will help you easily note fake crocs. Check them out.
Tip # 1: Check The Shoes’ Design Features
Original crocs have a standard design of circulation nubs on their insoles. These nubs are one of the things that makes this shoe so comfortable and they also increase circulation in the feet. They make the shoes ergonomic and a great and popular choice for people who spend long hours on their feet.
Fake crocs, on the other hand, have counterfeit and most times limited nubs on their insoles. But these will not provide the same ergonomic satisfaction as those in original crocs.
Tip # 2: Check The Shoes’ Logo
The shoes’ logo is also a key pointer to spot Crocs counterfeits. All original crocs have the Duke logo on their insoles. A genuine Duke logo features a crocodile with two eyes, six even bumps on its back with the fourth one slightly larger than the rest, and two hands with three fingers on each.
A crocodile missing any of these features is a Duke counterfeit.
Original crocs have the true Duke logo attached to the left and right sides of the ankle strap.
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: Why do people wear shoes in the house?
If your crocs Duke is missing any feature listed above or doesn’t have a Duke, it is fake. Also, if your croc doesn’t have a Duke logo on both the right and left sides of its ankle strap, it is definitely a fake Croc.
Tip # 3: Check The Shoes’ Material
The shoes’ material is a great factor to distinguish fake crocs from originals. Original crocs are made with a material called ‘Croslite’. This material makes them flexible, cushioned, durable, lightweight, and slip-resistant on wet surfaces.
Croc-offs, on the other hand, are usually made from low-quality rubber which makes them heavy and slippery on wet surfaces.
If your croc is not flexible, well-cushioned, or smells of rubber or chemicals that come off of plastic, it is not an original croc. In addition, because of the Croslite material, the original Crocs tend to float in water. But for croc-offs, being made from rubber, they tend to be harder and heavier, making them non-floatable. So if yours sinks in water, it is a fake.
Tip # 4: Check The Shoes’ Tag
Authentic crocs have sticker labels or tags on them; these usually bear barcodes and also details about the brand, the color of the crocs, the item fit, product ID, the crocs size, and the manufacturing country.
You immediately know a croc is fake if it is without a tag.
Also, each crocs model has a distinct barcode, so a model’s barcode that is similar to another model is an obvious clue that you are dealing with croc-offs.
Tip # 5: Check The Shoes’ Feel
Original crocs Croslite material will give your feet a comfortable well-padded feeling with enough room for your toes to move freely. You should also be able to feel the circulation nubs increasing the flow of blood around your feet. Gradually, the sole foam will shape itself to your feet.
On the other hand, croc-offs tend to be uncoordinated and rubbery and lack that soft feel of real crocs.
Tip # 6: Check The Shoes’ Outsole
The outsole is an easy way to spot a fake croc. Original crocs carry most information on the shoe tags and a few added details underneath their soles.
This information includes:
- brand name and its trademark symbol.
- manufacturing country (Made-in information).
- Size information
- The official Crocs website
- Product ID
- The origin of production (Boulder, Colorado).
A croc missing any of this information on its outsole is not an authentic one.
Tip # 7: Check The Shoes’ Packaging
Original crocs purchased from stores are packaged in a high-quality premium box with a barcode, shoe size, color, and model information written on the side. Those from approved online vendors come in a branded clear bag.
Croc-offs can also be packaged this way; however, regardless of packaging, all genuine crocs come with a tag with a barcode and shoe details. So if a croc is packaged in a high-quality premium box or branded clear bag, but doesn’t possess a tag bearing a unique barcode, and shoe details, it is fake.
I wish I had known this before my first two purchases; it would have saved me from a lot of stress. Oh well, good thing I got it right the third time.
Tip # 8: Check The Shoes’ Tread
Due to the Croslite material used in making them, original crocs tend to have great traction on slippery surfaces. These shoes were originally designed to prevent slipping or sliding on boat desks so they have the best non-slip tread on their soles.
On the other hand, croc-offs are made of rubber which makes them slippery on wet surfaces and provides poor traction.
Tip # 9: Check The Shoes For Defects
Authentic Crocs don’t come with defeats, nor do they manufacture defects easily as mine did just after 8 days of wearing them. If you get Crocs and they begin to develop defects within 90 days of the purchase, you can return them.
Shoes with early faults are usually fake.
Most of the defects I encountered from buying fake crocs and a few from other people were:
- One foot is bigger than the other
- Finding a smaller size than the one stamped on the box
- Missing bits (sometimes chunks) of the sole, especially the toe area.
- Bearing a different color from what’s on the box.
- Fragile strap heels
Tip # 10: Check The Shoes’ Color
Original crocs are made in several grounded colors with captivating names like Ice Blue, Flame, Orange Zing, Taffy Pink, Celery, and so on.
Most fake crocs, on the other hand, come in odd colors that are not on Crocs’ official website. During my research, I met people who complained of finding weird and surprising colors when they opened the shoe box.
READ ALSO: How to Prevent Tie-Dye Crocs From Peeling
Two of the fake crocs I purchased came in Salmon and electric blue colors when I had ordered a Ballerina Pink and Ice Blue respectively.
You can check the Crocs website for its official colors.
FAQ
How Can You Tell Fake Crocs?
You can tell a Croc is a fake if they are missing any of authentic Crocs’ distinctive features, such as a tag with a barcode unique to the shoe model, genuine logos in specific places on the shoes, particular information on the outsoles, and the characteristic light, flexible, foam-like material.
Is Made in China Crocs Original?
If the Made-in information (the country where the shoes were made) on the outsole or tag says ‘Made in China then the Crocs is original. Original Crocs bear its manufacturing company logo and its unique trademark on its outsoles.
Which Crocs Are the Original?
Original crocs are crocs with distinctive features such as a tag with a barcode unique to the shoe model, genuine logos in specific places on the shoes, particular information on the outsoles, and the characteristic light, flexible, foam-like material. Any Crocs that doesn’t bear these features (all of them) is a counterfeit.
How Many Holes Are in Real Crocs?
Real Crocs have exactly 13 holes on each pair.
Where Are Real Crocs Made?
Real Crocs are made in Broomfield, Colorado.
