N° 002 — Shoes
What shoe is this?
Upload a photo of the side, the tongue or the heel. We name the model and colorway, and tell you plainly when two models are too close to call.
Drop a photo of the shoe here
or press ⌘V to paste a screenshot
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FIG. 02 — Labels
Where the model name hides
Most sneakers carry a style code on the label inside the tongue. Typed into a search bar, it finds the exact pair faster than any description.
- Nike & Jordan
Label inside the tongue
Six characters, a dash, three digits — e.g. AB1234-100. The last three digits are the colorway.
- adidas
Label inside the tongue
An article number of two letters and four digits — e.g. AB1234.
- New Balance
Tongue label and often the box
The model and colorway in one code, such as the model number followed by letters for the color.
- Converse
Tongue label
A style number, often starting with letters — the same number the box carries.
- Vans
Tongue label and box
A style code beginning with VN, followed by letters and digits.
Formats vary by year and factory. If the label is worn, the box end label usually repeats the code.
FIG. 03 — Look-alikes
Models people mix up
01
Air Jordan 1 High vs Air Jordan 1 Mid
On OG-style Highs the tongue label reads “Nike Air”; Mids usually carry a Jumpman instead, and sit lower on the ankle.
02
Nike Dunk Low vs Air Force 1 Low
The Air Force 1 has a taller cupsole, often with “AIR” debossed on the side; the Dunk's sole is slimmer and flatter.
03
adidas Samba vs adidas Gazelle
The Samba has a suede T-shaped overlay across the toe and a gum sole; the Gazelle is mostly suede with a plain toe.
04
Air Max 1 vs Air Max 90
The Air Max 90 has a moulded plastic heel tab and a more angular Air window; the Air Max 1's heel is plain.
FIG. 04 — Pinning the release
From the model name to the exact release
Knowing it is an Air Jordan 1 High is half the answer. Popular models come in hundreds of colorways and get re-released for years, and the release decides what a pair is worth. These clues take you from the model to the one you are holding.
Updated October 2026How we tested the identifier
| Clue | What it tells you | Where to look |
|---|---|---|
| Colorway code | The colorway, separately from the model | The last part of the style code on the tongue label or box |
| Size tag dates | Roughly when the pair was made, and so which release | Inside the tongue or the collar; many Nike tags print a production date range |
| Tongue and heel branding | Which version of a retro it is | Retros styled on the original often bring back the original's logos |
| Box label | Official name, colorway and size together | The short end of the box |
| Insole print | The line, a collaboration, sometimes the year | The printed logo on the sock liner, or under its edge |
| Materials | General release or special edition | Suede, patent, nubuck or a printed upper on a familiar shape |
01
Name the model first
Upload the side profile and let the scanner name the brand and model. Everything after this narrows down which version of that model you have, so get the model right before you chase the colorway.
02
Read the code, not the color
Phone screens and indoor light shift colors, and two colorways can look the same in a photo. The colorway part of the style code does not change. If you can hold the shoe, the label inside the tongue is the most reliable answer you will get.
03
Check the year when it matters
Well-known colorways come back as retros, sometimes several times. The production dates on the size tag or the box tell you which release you have, and an original and a recent retro sell for very different prices.
04
Search the code where pairs are resold
Type the brand and the full style code into a resale marketplace or a search engine. Resale product pages usually list the release date and the original retail price next to the exact colorway name.
05
When the photo is all you have
No tag to read? Crop to the shoe and upload the sharpest frame. If you get a shortlist, compare the side panels and heel of each candidate with your photo, and look for a second photo or a caption from the same post that shows the pair from another angle.
FIG. 05 — Questions
Asked about this
Can I identify a shoe from a TikTok or Instagram screenshot?
Yes. Screenshots work as long as the shoe is reasonably sharp. Pause on a frame where the side profile or a label is visible.
Why does it show several candidates?
Some models differ only in a detail the photo doesn't show — a heel tab, a tongue label. Instead of guessing, it lists the close candidates and tells you what to photograph to settle it.
Can it tell the exact colorway?
Often, for well-known colorways. Lighting shifts colors, so check the style code on the tongue label if the exact colorway matters.