How to QC sneakers: 9 spots to check

Before anything else, open the listing in the QC checker and filter the albums by your size. Sneaker listings often have hundreds of orders, and the ones in your size are the ones that matter.

1. Overall shape (side view)

The side profile is what everyone sees first. Compare the height of the heel, the curve of the toe and the thickness of the sole against a retail photo from the same angle.

2. Toe box

From the front: how high and how wide the toe sits. A boxy or very flat toe is the most common giveaway.

3. Logo placement

Position, size and angle of the main logo. Look at where it starts and ends relative to the stitching around it.

4. Heel

From behind: the heel should be straight and symmetric. Check the heel tab, any embroidery and the shape of the counter.

5. Stitching

Even spacing, straight lines, no double stitches. Look closely around the toe cap and the heel.

6. Tongue tag and tongue shape

The tongue label's font and spacing, and the tongue's padding and height.

7. Size tag (inside)

It tells you the size you got and is one of the most-checked details. The numbers should line up and the production dates should look plausible.

8. Sole

Outsole pattern, colour of the midsole, and any glue stains along the join between upper and sole.

9. Box and extras

Not important to everyone, but if you want the box, check its label matches the shoe, and that extra laces are there.

Bonus: weight

Many warehouses weigh each order. Shoes in a box are often 1.2-1.8 kg, which matters for shipping. Some people ship without the box to save money - see measurements and weight in QC photos.