# Air Force 1 Low QC: toe box shape, perforations, the swoosh and the midsole stitching, which flaws matter **URL:** \ **Category:** QC & Legit Check\ **Tags:** qc\ **Created:** [February 18, 2018, 12:05pm UTC](https://superreps.net/t/air-force-1-low-qc-toe-box-shape-perforations-the-swoosh-and-the-midsole-stitching-which-flaws-matter/421 "2018-02-18T12:05:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![kicksgazer](https://superreps.net/user_avatar/superreps.net/kicksgazer/32/296_2.png) [@kicksgazer](https://superreps.net/u/kicksgazer)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2018, 12:05pm UTC](https://superreps.net/t/air-force-1-low-qc-toe-box-shape-perforations-the-swoosh-and-the-midsole-stitching-which-flaws-matter/421/1 "2018-02-18T12:05:33Z")
The [white AF1 batch thread](https://superreps.net/t/white-air-force-1-top-tier-batch-worth-it/190) asks whether a top-tier batch is worth it. This one is about the QC itself: what to look at in the photos of any AF1 Low. Score for “how much a simple shoe can hide”: 3/10. There’s nowhere to hide on a plain upper, so the shape does the talking. - Toe box: height and slope from the side. - Toe perforations: rows, spacing, hole size. - Swoosh: shape, tip position, stitching. - Heel tab, tongue tag, lace tag. - Midsole: the stitching around the sole and the “AIR” on the side. Which of these do you check first? [[PHOTO: Air Force 1 Low lateral side, full shoe in frame at sole level, toe box, swoosh, midsole stitching and heel visible]] Related: [New Balance 2002R QC](https://superreps.net/t/new-balance-2002r-qc-n-logo-suede-mesh-midsole/412), [Converse Chuck 70 QC](https://superreps.net/t/converse-chuck-70-qc-canvas-glossy-midsole-heel-patch/422) _Editorial summary, not independently verified._ ---
**Author:** ![swooshaddict](https://superreps.net/user_avatar/superreps.net/swooshaddict/32/308_2.png) [@swooshaddict](https://superreps.net/u/swooshaddict)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2018, 1:33pm UTC](https://superreps.net/t/air-force-1-low-qc-toe-box-shape-perforations-the-swoosh-and-the-midsole-stitching-which-flaws-matter/421/2 "2018-02-18T13:33:53Z")
Pros: the swoosh is the easiest thing to compare, retail photos are everywhere. Cons: everyone checks the swoosh, nobody checks the toe box, and the toe box is what people notice on feet. Is there a reliable way to judge the toe box from QC photos, or does it need a side shot every time? ---
**Author:** ![toecap\_fox](https://superreps.net/user_avatar/superreps.net/toecap_fox/32/315_2.png) [@toecap\_fox](https://superreps.net/u/toecap_fox)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2018, 2:01pm UTC](https://superreps.net/t/air-force-1-low-qc-toe-box-shape-perforations-the-swoosh-and-the-midsole-stitching-which-flaws-matter/421/3 "2018-02-18T14:01:05Z")
TL;DR: it needs a side shot at sole level. Compared with retail, look at the height of the toe box and how it slopes towards the tip: an AF1 toe that sits too tall or too boxy changes the whole silhouette. Perforations come second: rows evenly spaced, holes the same size, the pattern matching the retail layout for that colourway. The [Dunk Low QC thread](https://superreps.net/t/dunk-low-qc-swoosh-toe-box-perforations-heel-tab-flaws/355) uses the same toe box logic. ---
**Author:** ![midsolekeeper](https://superreps.net/user_avatar/superreps.net/midsolekeeper/32/313_2.png) [@midsolekeeper](https://superreps.net/u/midsolekeeper)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2018, 2:51pm UTC](https://superreps.net/t/air-force-1-low-qc-toe-box-shape-perforations-the-swoosh-and-the-midsole-stitching-which-flaws-matter/421/4 "2018-02-18T14:51:18Z")
Verdict: the midsole is the underrated check on an AF1. Details: the stitching around the cupsole should be even in length and run at a steady distance from the edge; the “AIR” on the lateral midsole should be crisp and placed like retail; there shouldn’t be glue marks where the sole meets the upper. A stray glue mark is usually minor and often cleanable; uneven stitching all the way round is more visible. [[PHOTO: Close-up of AF1 midsole stitching and the AIR lettering on the lateral side]] ---
**Author:** ![heelcountersleuth](https://superreps.net/user_avatar/superreps.net/heelcountersleuth/32/270_2.png) [@heelcountersleuth](https://superreps.net/u/heelcountersleuth)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2018, 2:47pm UTC](https://superreps.net/t/air-force-1-low-qc-toe-box-shape-perforations-the-swoosh-and-the-midsole-stitching-which-flaws-matter/421/5 "2018-02-18T14:47:52Z")
The heel is the AF1’s rear elevation, to borrow an architecture term: on most colourways the heel tab carries “NIKE AIR” embroidery, which should be centred and upright with even letters, and the heel seen from behind should be symmetrical. Tongue tag next: straight, crisp text, same layout as retail. The metal lace tag is a tiny detail that changes between releases, so compare it with the exact retail release rather than with another pair. ---
**Author:** ![swooshaddict](https://superreps.net/user_avatar/superreps.net/swooshaddict/32/308_2.png) [@swooshaddict](https://superreps.net/u/swooshaddict)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2018, 3:30pm UTC](https://superreps.net/t/air-force-1-low-qc-toe-box-shape-perforations-the-swoosh-and-the-midsole-stitching-which-flaws-matter/421/6 "2018-02-18T15:30:02Z")
So the order is toe box, then perforations, then swoosh, and the midsole stitching before anyone gets excited about the logo. What about an off-white sole on a pair that should be all white? ---
**Author:** ![kicksgazer](https://superreps.net/user_avatar/superreps.net/kicksgazer/32/296_2.png) [@kicksgazer](https://superreps.net/u/kicksgazer)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2018, 3:54pm UTC](https://superreps.net/t/air-force-1-low-qc-toe-box-shape-perforations-the-swoosh-and-the-midsole-stitching-which-flaws-matter/421/7 "2018-02-18T15:54:04Z")
Yellowing from age and storage is a different topic; on a new pair, an off-white sole can simply be a slightly different sole colour on that pair. Daylight photos against retail are the only fair comparison. For how to ask for better photos in general, the [first-time QC guide](https://superreps.net/t/first-time-reading-sneaker-qc-photos-gl-rl/189) covers it. ---
**Author:** ![toecap\_fox](https://superreps.net/user_avatar/superreps.net/toecap_fox/32/315_2.png) [@toecap\_fox](https://superreps.net/u/toecap_fox)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2018, 4:59pm UTC](https://superreps.net/t/air-force-1-low-qc-toe-box-shape-perforations-the-swoosh-and-the-midsole-stitching-which-flaws-matter/421/8 "2018-02-18T16:59:10Z")
TL;DR: on an AF1 Low the shape matters more than any logo. Recap of the thread, everything compared with retail photos of the exact colourway: | Check | What to look for | Severity if off | | --- | --- | --- | | Toe box | height and slope in a side shot at sole level | noticeable | | Perforations | even rows, equal holes, retail layout | minor to noticeable | | Swoosh | shape, tip position, even stitching | noticeable | | Midsole | even stitching, crisp “AIR”, no glue along the edge | minor (glue) to noticeable (stitching) | | Heel | tab centred, embroidery even, symmetrical from behind | minor to noticeable | | Tags | tongue tag and lace tag against the exact release | minor | | Sole colour | judged in daylight against retail | depends | _Editorial summary, not independently verified._ ---
**Author:** ![kicksgazer](https://superreps.net/user_avatar/superreps.net/kicksgazer/32/296_2.png) [@kicksgazer](https://superreps.net/u/kicksgazer)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2018, 5:14pm UTC](https://superreps.net/t/air-force-1-low-qc-toe-box-shape-perforations-the-swoosh-and-the-midsole-stitching-which-flaws-matter/421/9 "2018-02-18T17:14:17Z")
Clear. Score for this checklist: 9/10. The missing point is comfort, which no photo shows anyway.