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Real vs Fake Fight Gear: How to Spot the Difference (and Why It Matters)

In the world of martial arts, your gear is more than just equipment — it's your protection, your performance, and your pride. But with the rise of low-cost online retailers like Temu, Shein, and AliExpress, the market has been flooded with fake or low-grade copies of popular fight brands. At Zenjo, we regularly hear from customers who’ve unknowingly bought counterfeit gear online, thinking they were getting a great deal — only to be left with broken stitching, painful injuries, and wasted money. So how can you tell what’s real and what’s not? Let’s break it down.

Why Buying Authentic Matters

Safety First
Real gear is designed and tested to protect you. Authentic brands test their gear. Fake gloves and pads often use thin foam and cheap vinyl, which can lead to:
•  Hand and wrist injuries
•  Skin irritation
•  Poor shock absorption

Built to Last
Genuine brands like Punch, Fairtex, and Venum are made to withstand years of training. Counterfeits? You’ll be lucky if they last a few sessions.

Support the Sport
When you buy authentic, you support real brands that invest in fighters, gyms, and the martial arts community — not factories that churn out knockoffs.

Peace of Mind
With Zenjo, you know exactly what you’re getting: 100% genuine gear, shipped fast from our Auckland store, with real customer support if anything goes wrong.

How to Spot a Fake

Price That’s Too Good to Be True
If you see “Fairtex or Venum gloves” for $50 or less — they’re not authentic. Authentic gear has a consistent retail price range. Be cautious of:
•  Unbelievably cheap prices
•  Big “SALE” or “Flash Deal” ads on unknown websites

No Brand Authentication
Check for:
•  Official tags and labels
•  Manufacturer logos inside the gear

If the brand name is misspelled, blurry, or missing entirely — it’s not the real deal.

No NZ Stock or Support
If shipping is “7-21 business days” or tracking is vague, chances are it’s coming from overseas — with no way to return or exchange easily.

At Zenjo, we ship from Auckland and can assist with returns, exchanges, or sizing issues.

Stitching and Padding Quality
•  Real gloves: dense, layered padding, strong stitching
•  Fakes: uneven foam, lumpy fit, weak seams

If it looks flimsy — it probably is.

Real vs Fake: Side-by-Side

Feature Authentic Gear Fake Gear (e.g. Temu/AliExpress)
Price $90–$500+ (based on brand & size) $20–$50
Materials Genuine leather / high-grade synthetics Cheap vinyl or foam
Protection Multi-layer padding, wrist support Minimal padding, poor fit
Branding Crisp logos, tags, manufacturer label Blurry or fake branding
Longevity Years of training Weeks (if that)
Returns/Support Local NZ support, fast replacements No real support, often no returns
7th Aug 2025

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