Sneaker Authentication Specialist
Sneaker and streetwear authenticator. Covers Nike, Jordan, Yeezy, and limited collaboration releases.
Published October 2026 · Contact
What a Nike Sample Tag Is
A Nike sample tag is the label inside a shoe that marks it as a sample, not a retail pair. On the labels we reviewed, the marking is printed in the last line or two of the tongue or lining label, with wording such as "PROMO SAMPLE" or "SALES CFM SAMPLE". Some pairs also print the word SAMPLE with a "property of" line and a "not for resale" line on the inside of the collar.
Sample pairs are made for the company's own use, not for retail. Press coverage of Nike's lawsuit against former employees describes them as shoes that never hit the retail market, known inside Nike as "Look See" samples. That is why they attract collectors, and also why a sample tag attracts counterfeiters.
This guide covers what the tag says, what it does not, and, because the same skill applies to every pair, how to read a shoe tongue label.
What a Sample Tag Does Not Prove
A sample tag proves nothing about authenticity. A tag is a printed label. It can be reproduced, and "sample" is a selling point, so it is worth copying.
We have seen a pair we judged counterfeit with a neatly printed "SALES CFM SAMPLE" label, in the same layout as the genuine one below: made-in line in English and French, a code string, the model name, a "DBOM#" number, the upper, last, size, ship-to and season fields, and the sample line at the bottom. We also saw a pair listed as a "sample" that carried an ordinary retail label. A label that says sample does not make a shoe a sample, and a shoe that really is a sample does not make it genuine to buy without checking.
Worth knowing
"Not for resale" wording is not a mark of a sample either. Nike has also released retail pairs themed around "Not For Resale" text, such as an Air Jordan 1 NRG sold through a boutique, according to [Complex](https://www.complex.com/sneakers/2018/11/air-jordan-1-not-for-resale-customers-forced-to-wear). The wording alone cannot tell the two apart.
How a Sample Tag Differs From a Retail Label
A retail Nike label and a sample label share a look, but they carry different information.
| Retail label | Sample label |
|---|---|
| Made-in line in several languages | Made-in line in English and French |
| Style code with a colour code, such as 840606-192 | A season-prefixed code string or a style code, plus a factory code such as LN3 or LN4 |
| A size grid in US, UK, EUR and CM | A single size, such as M9.5 or 15.5, in a SIZE field |
| UPC barcode or QR code | No barcode on the samples we reviewed |
| Production dates | A SEASON field, such as SP12, SU13 or FA18 |
| No UPPER, LAST or SHIP TO fields | UPPER, LAST, SHIP TO and a sample line |
The samples we reviewed show it in the fields. The promo sample label below reads SEASON SU13 and ends with "PROMO SAMPLE" and a date in year-month-day form, 20130328.
A sample with a retail barcode layout, or a retail label that carries a sample line, does not match what we reviewed. That is a reason to look harder, not a verdict.
How to Read a Shoe Tongue Label
The label inside a shoe is the same kind of document on Nike, Jordan and adidas shoes. It sits on the tongue or the inside of the upper, depending on the model. This is how to read a shoe tongue label, field by field.
- Made-in line. The country of manufacture. This line is never a tell on its own: genuine Nike and adidas shoes are made in several countries, including China and Vietnam.
- Style code. On Nike retail labels it is a six-digit code, a hyphen and a three-digit colour code. Match it to the colourway you are holding on Nike or a retailer. On adidas labels the equivalent is the article number, printed as ART and a letter plus digits.
- Factory code. On Nike labels, a short code such as LN3, LN4 or SZ. It tells you the layout generation, and it should fit the release. Our Air Jordan 4 guide lists the codes we saw on genuine labels.
- Size grid. Retail labels carry US, UK, EUR and CM sizes for one pair. They should match the size on the box and in the listing.
- Dates. Retail labels show production dates. A date before the release of the model does not fit a genuine pair. Our Air Jordan 11 guide shows how the dates line up with releases.
- Barcode or QR code. A product code. It is the same on every pair of the same model, colour and size, so it can be copied.
- Sample fields. UPPER, LAST, SHIP TO and SEASON appear on sample labels and not on retail ones.
On the shoes tongue label of an adidas pair, the same logic holds: the size grid, the month/year date, the article number and the QR code are all consistency checks. Our explainer on adidas batch codes, QR codes and barcodes goes through them.
A tongue label that matches the shoe proves nothing. A label whose style code belongs to another colourway, whose dates fall before the release, or whose layout does not fit the others from the same period, is a red flag.
What We Can Tell From a Label Photo
A clear photo of the label lets us read every field above and compare the style code, the factory code and the dates with genuine labels of the same release. Fakes copy a genuine label in full, so a label that matches clears nothing by itself. We read it together with the rest of the shoe.
For model-by-model checks, see the Air Jordan 1 guide, the Nike Dunk guide and the fake Jordans overview. If you have a sample pair, or any pair with a label you cannot place, you can submit it for a Nike authentication.
FAQ
What is a Nike sample tag?
It is a label inside a shoe that marks it as a sample, with wording such as "PROMO SAMPLE" or "SALES CFM SAMPLE", on a label that also carries upper, last, size, ship-to and season fields. Samples are made for the company's internal use and were never meant for retail.
Does a Nike sample tag mean the shoe is real?
No. The tag is printed, and we have seen a pair we judged counterfeit with a neatly printed sample label. A sample tag that matches the format we describe proves nothing, and a label that does not fit the shoe or the season is a red flag.
Is a Nike sample shoe legal to buy?
We cannot give legal advice, and we did not find a clear answer for individual buyers. What we can say is that Nike has sued former employees over reselling samples, as press coverage of the case describes, so a seller with samples should be able to explain where they came from.
How do I read a shoe tongue label?
Work through the made-in line, the style code, the factory code, the size grid, the dates and the barcode or QR code, then check that they agree with the shoe, the box and the colourway. The sections above go through each field.
What does the shoes tongue label on a Nike show?
On retail pairs it shows the made-in line, a style code, a factory code, a size grid, dates and a barcode or QR code. On samples it shows a season, last, size and ship-to, and a sample line instead.
Can you check a Nike sample tag from photos?
Yes, when the label photo is clear. We read the fields and compare them with genuine labels of the same period. A tag that matches proves nothing by itself, and a mismatch is a red flag, so the rest of the shoe is checked too.
