Buyer Beware: The 20 Craziest Fake Kicks On The Internet

Look but please don't touch.

Complex Original

Image via Complex Original

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We've all been there before — spotted a friend, an associate or complete stranger sporting some footwear that looked a tad suspect. You've always prided yourself on staying current with Nike's and Jordan's latest releases but, for some reason, you've never seen or heard of what this fraudster is wearing (aside from in a random Facebook virus). You want to tell this person that their kicks might be a sham, yet you're afraid that they'll get offended. But let's be real, fake sneakers ARE the offenders!

Nevertheless, we've still got to pay homage. In a humble factory somewhere in Putian, China, a lot of toil and creativity goes into the making of counterfeit, one-of-none lime green Jordans; they've also got designers and buyers that masterfully put their heads together, much like the guys in The Innovation Kitchen of Beaverton, Oregon. Furthermore, there's definitely something paradoxically intriguing about fake sneakers — some of the concepts are outlandish and their telltale, arbitrary prices give us the giggles. So, let's take a look at what's out there and please, do not purchase anything you see in The 20 Craziest Fake Kicks on the Internet...

sang

SANG "Nike Air Jordan I"

Price: Unknown

If you thought fakes and knockoffs were something new, you were wrong; brands such as SANG, Stadia and XJ9000 attempted to bootleg early Jordans and had some success. Funny thing is, the leather on these SANGs is probably better than that of today's Jordans.

nfl

Air Jordan XX3 x Air Jordan VI "NFL"

Price: $68.00

How and why these have an NFL tag and patch is beyond us. It does make them kind of amazing though.

air mag

Nike Air Mag

Price: $129.99

Somewhere, in this strange, strange world that we live in, someone must have purchased these. And Michael J. Fox can't even be mad at them, for they obviously know not what they do.

concord

Air Jordan 11.0 "Concord"

Price: $73.99

The only riot these may cause is a furious one by Tinker in Beaverton. "I created one of the best sneakers of all-time and this is the 'thanks' I get!?"

angry birds

adidas Originals by Originals Jeremy Scott JS "Angry Birds"

Price: $155.00

What's funnier: the thought of someone thinking they're cool wearing these, or that they look JUST like Bert!?

son of mars

Air Jordan Son of Mars "Quai 54"

Price: $71.00

So limited that they never even happened!

womens

Air Jordan IV x Nike Air Force 1 x Nike Air Max 2009 GS

Price: $78.99

Breaking up is hard to do? Pretty sure giving her these would do the trick.

taxi

Nike Air Foamposite x Nike Air Max 2009 "Air Taxi"

Price: $55.00

If the "Golden State" Foamposites were monster trucks, they would look a little something like this.

jordan 8

Air Jordan VIII "Light Emitting Surface"

Price: $71.60

The site that had these really boasted a "light emitting surface." So does that mean you basically have an LED flat screen on your feet? 'Cause that would be awesome.

yeezy 2

Nike Air Yeezy II

Price: $81.00

Kanye, we are so, so, sorry.

charcoal

Air Jordan VII DMP 60+ Pack "Bulls"

Price: $66.80

The only time charcoal looks like that is when it's no longer good. Well...

nikken

NIKKEN "Air Force 1 Mid"

Price: Unknown

Simply incredible. Short people everywhere must rejoice and throw their hands up like the NIKKEN logo for platform AF1s.

indigo

Air Jordan IX "Indigo"

Price: $68.00

The Air Jordan IX is set to have a hell of a return in 2012. Guess we gotta take the good with the bad.

heels

Nike Air Max 2009 Heels

Price: $70.00

Running in heels has never been more comfortable and unattractive.

parakeet

Nike Zoom Kobe VII "Parakeet"

Price: $86.99

These were originally $240. They are an unbelievable 64% off. How is it possible that there are any left?

lebron

Nike LeBron 9 "South Beach"

Price: $74.99

We've come to terms with the fact that the "South Beach" LeBron colorway will inevitably live on forever.

spizike

Air Jordan Spizike.0