Vibram FiveFingers - How to Spot the Fakes

Vibram Fivefingers, they're a radically different animal when it gees to shoes. They've stirred both discussion and disdain for their very noticeable appearance and fit. They're in hot demand amongst runners and outdoor enthusiasts alike...and the number of knock-off and counterfeits out there are running rampant, and unfortunately, okay is no exception. Vibram has acknowledged that there is a problem with counterfeits invading the market, yet this is likely a problem of their own making (more on that later). I have seen the information on their website for identifying fakes and it is woefully inadequate and vague. This may be intentional to prevent the counterfeiters from correcting the errors of their ways, yet it prevents all of their potential customers from really understanding the difference between the real thing and something less than satisfactory. To be sure, the counterfeiters go to great lengths to make their product initially look like the real thing but, the materials are inferior and the fit is horrible. Personally owning several authentic pairs myself and having the misfortune of buying fakes, I felt that I have amassed enough information to help others tell the difference from real and counterfeit. I'm offering this guide to buyers and casual sellers alike, because no one likes getting burned with getting something that wasn't as expected and likewise, a well-intentioned, yet unware seller feels awful if what they sold doesn't measure up to a buyer's expectations.I will preface my article with the disclaimer that these details are subject to change. New, different, and some pretty wild stuff is geing out of knock-off-land and it is difficult to stay current with these evolutions.Aspect 1. Color - This will be your most obvious indicator. Real VFFs gee only in the colors shown on Vibram's official site. I'm not allowed to share the actual link with you here, but if you search on "Vibram Fivefingers" you are likely to get the official site as one of the first links. Check the color scheme against those shown on the site, if you can't find it, it's probably not real. Note that there are discontinued color schemes, but seeing them offered for sale is quite rare. Also keep in mind that there are counterfeits that do match an actual color scheme, though oftentimes the colors are somewhat off from the real thing. Here are just a few of the fake colors (note that several gee very close to actual color schemes offered):