How to Tell if UGG Boots are Fake

When the weather turns frosty, there’s nothing so cozy as slipping your feet into a pair of warm and fuzzy UGG boots. It’s no wonder that UGGshave long been a fall and winter fashion staple — and as a result of that fame, UGGs have become fodder for copycats around the world that claim to be just as cute and cozy for less.

Luckily, UGG boots have quite a few distinguishable features that make them stand out from their imitators. If you want to avoid the knock offs and ensconce your feet in genuine Australian sheepskin, you’ll need to learn how to tell a pair of fake UGGs from real UGGs. Read on to learn how to spot a fake, what UGGs are made of, and everything else you need to know to help you guarantee you’re getting the real deal.

Real UGGs vs. Fake Uggs: How to Tell the Difference

When purchasing a pair of UGG boots, always check the label to see where they were made.

UGGs are an Australian brand made from Australian sheepskin, so you might think that the real deal is made in Australia — but if so, you’d be playing into copycats’ hands.

Real UGGs are a division of Deckers Outdoor Corporation. Since Deckers has factories in China, Vietnam, Cambodia, the Philippines, the Dominican Republic, and the U.S., the label should read Made in China, or one of these other countries, including some UGGS will say they are made in Vietnam. If it says Australia or New Zealand, then you know you’ve spotted a fake.

How to Spot Real UGGs Packaging

For an Ugg authenticity check, never judge a book by its cover — but when it comes to UGG, the “cover” can give you a big clue as to whether or not you’ve landed your hands on a pair of the genuine article. Real UGGs are packaged in sturdy cardboard boxes. The boots themselves should be wrapped in plastic bearing the UGG Australia logo — a detail fake UGGs tend to miss. Real UGGs will also come with shoe inserts meant to preserve the shape of the boots. If those are missing, chances are you’ve got a fake on your hands.

Another way to tell if your UGGs are real or fake is to look for maintenance instructions. These should be clearly printed and tell you how to care for your UGGs so that they’ll last. Imitation UGGs tend to have blurry instructions, which indicates they have been scanned and copied.

How to Check the Bottom of Real UGGs

A telltale sign that you’ve got the genuine article is that your UGG boots original style are extremely comfortable. That’s partly due to the fact that they’re made from Australian sheepskin, but it’s not the only reason. Original Ugg boots have a nice, flexible sole that’s meant to conform to the natural curvature of your feet when you wear them.

Fake UGGs, however, often have thin, rigid soles that are likely to wear down quickly and be more of a burden than a pleasure to wear.

Another way to test if you’ve got the real thing? Try lightly bending the soles around. If they’re genuine ugg boots, doing so should be easy. If it’s difficult, or if the soles feel stiff or brittle, you may have a fake on your hands.

Check the Special Security Label

There’s another easy way to spot a fake from the genuine article: the UGG security label. This special security feature is made specifically by UGG Australia to protect its image, and as result it’s designed to be difficult to copy.

First, you have to know where to find the security label. There should be matching security labels on the left shoe and the shoebox. The label on the shoebox will be a sticker; on the left shoe, look for either a sticker on the sole or a sewn-in strip of foil placed behind the size and materials labels.

Next, examine the security labels to see if they’re authentic ugg boots. They should feature a distinctive holographic sun logo that switches from black to white when you rotate it 90 degrees. Sewn-in security labels will also feature a qr code that takes you to UGG’s website so you can verify that your boots are the real deal. Turn the label over and you’ll see a metallic band with a 3D effect designed to make it look like it sits in front of a background with a pattern made using the UGG logo.

Real UGG fur vs. Fake UGG fur

One of the biggest draws of owning a pair of UGGs is the hygge-like pleasure that comes from walking around with your feet wrapped in genuine Australian sheepskin.

If you’re wearing the real deal, the fur inside should be the color of cream. To further test it, rub it between your fingers. It should stay put because it’s real sheepskin and not lining. If bits come off, it might be a synthetic fur lining.

Other telltale signs of fake fur are if the color is white or gray instead of cream, if it doesn’t feel lush and cozy, or if you can pull apart the fur interior from the suede exterior.

More Signs of Fake UGG Boots

There are other ways to check and see if you’ve got a real pair of UGGs or a cheap imitation.

Maybe your UGGs were delivered in flimsy brown dust bags instead of official boxes — or maybe they have an Australian flag printed on them.

Another badge-of-dishonor could be that the boots are made with double- or triple-synthetic lining stitched to cow or pig suede instead of Australian sheepskin. It’s also critical to give your boots a careful once over, looking for signs of quality. If the stitching is sloppy or the fur is not visible from the top or side opening of the boot, chances are you’ve got a pair of fakes.

Another way to tell if you’ve got a pair of fake UGGs instead of real ones is to check the height. Fake boots are often taller than real UGGs and have a narrower opening — so they don’t roll down easily the way real UGGs do.

Where to Buy Real UGGs