Real vs Fake Arc’teryx Beanie: Spot the Difference
Arc’teryx's most popular beanies at the moment are the Bird Head Toque, Bird Word Toque, and Grotto Toque. These beanies are a prime target for counterfeiters and a field of landmines for anyone trying to buy one on the secondary market. These three beanies are so heavily faked that I would not consider purchasing one from an unlicensed retailer. This guide provides information to help spot a real vs fake Arc'teryx Beanie.
Gallery of Real Arc'teryx Grotto Beanies
Gallery of Fake Arc'teryx Grotto Beanies
How to Spot a Fake Arc'teryx Grotto Beanie
Incorrect logo Stitching
- An easy way to distinguish between a real vs fake grotto beanie is to examine the stitching. Most of the letters in the stitching on the fake Grotto Beanie are wrong. The A is too sharp, the font in the R is way off, the C is almost an O, the apostrophe is bigger, the E is too small, and the Y and X are too narrow. Each replica batch is different; for example, not all of the Cs look like Os, and some of the R's have the space in the middle of the letter filled in. In all cases, the stitching on the fake Arc'teryx Grotto beanies will not resemble the official font.
Incorrect Tag
- The black hang tag on the fake Arc'teryx Grotto toque is shiny and has Arc'teryx written in black (left). The real Grotto toque has it written in silver (right).
- The hang tag on the fake folds in 2 (left), and the real hang tag is a single card. (right).
- The real grotto tag has a product sticker on the back, displaying the product name, SKU, size, model number, color, and price.
- The interior care tags on some fake grotto toques list the wrong model, such as the Fernie toque (left), while the real version is labeled as the Grotto Toque (right).
Design Discrepancies
- The part of the grotto design that comes down above the A is larger in the fake grotto beanie. Notice the differences in the stitching here as well. The real one on the right is crisper, and the R on the fake one is almost filled in.
Gallery of Real Arc'teryx Bird Word Beanies
Gallery of Fake Arc'teryx Bird Word Beanies
How to spot a fake Arc'teryx Bird Word Beanie
Incorrect lettering
- As with most replicas, you can always look to the font to check if it is real vs fake. On the fake Arc'teryx Bird Word toque (left) the A is too jagged, the R is in the wrong font, the C is too narrow, the T is too skinny and is missing the little base ( although I have seen replicas with the base), the E is too skinney and is missing the fine details and lastly the Y and X are too narrow. Compare that to the real one on the right.
Incorrect Tags
- The fake Bird Word has a hanging tag (left), and the real toque has a tag attached by two plastic pins (right).
- The fake Bird Word has an interior care tag with the wrong label. Often, it reads "Fernie Toque." The real tag (right) says Bird Word Toque.
Design Discrepancies
- Some replicas are better than others, but in all cases of the fake Bird Word Beanie, the Bird logo and the lettering will look off. Either the bird will be too large or the lettering will be too large, but the ratio will always appear off.
Real Arc’teryx Beanie Details
Their flagship model, the Bird Head Toque, is priced at $60 and is made from a blend of wool and recycled polyester, featuring a brushed polyester band. The Bird Word Toque, also $60, is made from recycled polyester. The Grotto Toque retails for $60 and is made from 100% recycled polyester with a colorful design.
Where to Buy Real Arc’teryx Beanies
- The official Arc’teryx website, arcteryx.com, has the full range of beanies.
- Authorized Retailers: Check Arc’teryx’s website for a list of verified dealers like REI and Scheels.
- Second-Hand Purchases: When buying second-hand from platforms like eBay, you can verify if it is a real vs fake Arc'teryx beanie by requesting close-up photos of the logo, tags, and stitching.
If you suspect your Beanie is fake, report it to Arc’teryx by emailing reportafake@arcteryx.com. You can also contact the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at fake@antifraudcentre.ca for additional support. For further assistance, reach out to Arc’teryx Customer Service at 1-866-458-2473 or via their Contact Us form.
Why Authenticity Matters
Authentic Arc’teryx beanies meet the brand’s high standards. Counterfeit beanies are made from low-quality materials that will not deliver the same performance, resulting in discomfort and premature wear.
Only genuine products are covered by Arc’teryx’s warranty, allowing for repairs or support if needed. You can learn more about the impact of purchasing real vs fake Arc'teryx beanies at Arc’teryx Counterfeit Information. I hope this post helps to inform someone on how to spot a fake Arc'teryx Beanie.
