Fake UGGs vs Real UGGs: How To Spot Them?

Shopping for comfortable shoes can be quite an arduous process at times. With all the options available and the beautiful designs, choosing a single pair may prove difficult.

Winter boots are some of the most challenging in this regards, as no two boots are made alike and finding the exact pair that you can wear comfortably is not the easiest task.

In fact, there is a boot design out there which is extremely comfortable, to the point that some even wear them inside the house.

The title of today’s piece gave it away, it’s the UGG boots we are talking about.

A boot that took the world by storm and became popular among all ages and genders, it also managed to divide people into preference camps, some loving the design and others disliking the way it looked.

Despite the latter, UGG boots remain a beloved part of many people’s winter wear, especially women.

You might also like: Are UGG Boots Still in Style? + 5 Suggestions

As with all brand products that gain popularity, the risk of counterfeit products is always present. This was the case for UGG boots, too.

Read also: Bearpaw Boots vs UGGS: Which is Better?

We are not talking about boots that resemble UGG but are from different brands, as the Ugg boot is indeed a type of boot originating from Australia and New Zealand, whereas UGG is a brand.

We are talking about counterfeit UGGs that claim to be originally made by the brand UGG.

Now that we have clarified this matter, let’s get started with today’s guide of how to spot original vs. fake UGGs.

1. The Problem With Counterfeit Products

Now, we are well aware that sometimes brands will make a product that comes at an unreasonable price.

Due to that, justifying and rationalizing the purchase of similar, but not original, products that are manufactured elsewhere is understandable.

With that being said, there are a few reasons why you should refrain from purchasing a counterfeit or fake product as opposed to the original one. And no, it’s not because people can tell or judge you about it, these are legitimate reasons.

1.1 Lower Quality

This is a given. Typically, unless the product is a gimmick or seriously unreasonably priced, there is a good reason why it comes at the price it does, which is due to its quality.

Original UGGs are made of very high quality materials that not only make for a more durable product, but they also help the boot wear more comfortably and retain its shape better.

Another reason that ties into the low quality aspect is the risks that materials from uncertified sources, or of unknown origin can pose to your health.

Things such as dyes, manufacturing process, raw materials and chemical treatments can negatively affect your health even when done in the most responsible way by reputable brands, let alone when done in a no-name factory with no regulations or monitoration.

These are all quite evident when you consider how many years original UGGs last with regular use, which goes to show that you are really getting your money’s worth.

1.2 Ethical Concerns

Another concern is also the ethical sourcing and manufacturing of a counterfeit product.

Most name brands rely on responsible and sustainable sourcing for raw materials and they make sure that the working facilities and conditions are adequate and meet the required standards.

This ensures that, in the case of UGGs, the leather and wool comes from humanely treated animals and that the workers are not risking their health (or life) during manufacturing.

None of these can be guaranteed in the case of counterfeit UGGs or any other product, as there is no information on who makes them or where and how they are made.

1.3 Brand Respect

Now, some people might not really care about respecting the brand’s effort in making a high quality product. We get it, but we disagree.

Respecting a brand and the product they make is recognizing the hard work and the high quality of that work that goes into making the product you are looking to purchase.

Buying from and enabling counterfeit manufacturers is as harmful to you as it is to the brand.

It is harmful to you because you are spending money on a low quality and low durability product, thus putting yourself in a position of having to buy more frequently as you would have if the product was genuine.

2. Spotting Fake UGGs

With all the reasons of why buying from counterfeit sources is not the best idea out of the way, those of you who want the original product but are concerned with unknowingly getting a fake one, are in the right place.

Let’s now discuss the ways you can make sure that the UGG boots you are looking to purchase are genuine and from the brand itself, and not UGGs manufactured in China or other countries by uncertified manufacturers.

2.1 Retailers

If the retailer is a local store, then you should make sure to go to Store Locator and see if it is a genuine seller.

Those looking to buy online can head over to URL Check by UGG, in order to see if the online store sells fake or original boots.

The brand’s Counterfeit Gallery is also very useful in this regard, as it provides you with pictures of what the genuine product looks like as opposed to the counterfeit one.

2.2 Security Feature

As of 2010, UGG has placed several security features on the products’ labels and packaging to make it evident whether a product is genuine or not.

One such feature is the holographic sun logo, which changes from black to white when rotated.

The left shoe often comes with a sewn-in label, wherein the materials and size are listed. The holographic logo should be on the label right behind it, on the foil strip.

For shoes with no sewn-in label, on the sole of the left shoe should be a security sticker, which matches the security sticker on the shoebox.

When the holographic sun logo is not present, such as in some products designed in 2014, then you can scan the QR code that is part of the label, which will provide you with an answer of whether you boots are genuine or not.

Another label to check is the one on the heel. Here you must look at original labels in order to see the differences, which are often quite evident.

2.3 Manufacturing Origin

Now, we did mention UGGs made in China previously, but this is not a giveaway of fake manufacturing in this case.

A good deal of UGGs are made in China and the rest are made in Vietnam, the Philippines, Cambodia, the U.S and the Dominican Republic.

As you can see, there is no Australia or New Zealand in that list. If you see any claims of “UGGs made in Australia” or New Zealand, you are looking at a fake product.

Uggs do originate in Australia and New Zealand, but UGG is an American brand owned by Deckers Brands.

2.4 Quality and Materials

Image: pinterest.it/pin/84794405470810728/

Quality is another way you can tell whether UGG boots are fake.

Details such as the smoothness of the suede and leather or the stitching can be quite telling. Original UGG boots are smooth, with no markings on the suede aside from the stitching, which should be well-done, even and with no threads sticking out.

UGGs are wide and have a heel that tapers towards the shaft, with no sudden or crooked shape changes. The toe is also wide and round, with a downward slope as opposed to being flat or narrow.

Another thing to watch out for is the smell. Original UGG boots and shoes don’t have a scent or smell, whereas counterfeit products might smell of glue, plastic or synthetic smell, which comes from the dyes and cheap materials used.

2.5 Size

Having a wide cut, UGG boots tend to run large, which is why ordering a size smaller is usually what most people do.

An UGG boot that fits snug at your normal shoe size is potentially fake, as they are notorious for having narrow toes.

Comparing pictures of the design you like to the official pictures on the UGG website is another good way of finding other differences, such as the height.

Fake designs can be taller or shorter than the original one, or might even come in colors that are not available in the official listing.

The opening on top should also be wide and spacious enough to tuck your jeans in them or to fold them down easily. Fake UGG boots can have a narrower opening and be difficult to wear or roll down.

2.6 Price

A “genuine” product selling for a price that seems too good to be true is a clear indicator of a fake design.

Unless you are buying in a second-hand shop where the boots have been previously owned for years, there is no way that a new, original UGG boot comes at low prices.

Our advice here would be to refer to the official UGG website or other authorized sites, such as Zappos or Amazon, to compare prices.

3. Conclusions

This concludes our guide on how to spot a pair of fake UGG boots. We hope you found it useful and that you can now shop smarter and safely!