When the weather gets cold, nothing beats slipping your feet into a perfect pair of warm and cuddly UGG boots. It is no surprise that UGGs have long been an autumn and winter footwear fashion staple. This, together with the UGGs’ popularity, the brand has become standard fare for fakers all over the world who claim to be just as adorable and nice and warm for a fraction of the price.
Fortunately, UGG boots have a number of distinguishing characteristics that set them apart from their copycats. You will need to learn how to tell if a UGGs are fake or real if you want to avoid the counterfeits and embroil your feet in legitimate Australian sheepskin. Continue reading to learn how to tell a counterfeit, and anything else you need to know to ensure you are getting the authentic pair.
Key Takeaways
- Check the label: Look for a label that includes the Ugg logo, the words “Made in China,” and a barcode. The label should also be attached with double-stitching and be centered on the heel of the boot.
- Inspect the sole: Real Uggs have a flexible and lightweight sole made of rubber, while fake Uggs often have a rigid and heavy sole made of hard plastic.
- Look at the fur: Real Uggs have fur that is soft, thick, and dense, while fake Uggs often have fur that is thin, sparse, and rough.
- Check the stitching: Real Uggs have tight and even stitching, while fake Uggs often have loose and uneven stitching.
- Look at the price: If a pair of Uggs is selling for an unusually low price, it’s likely that they are fake.
- Check the seller: Only purchase Uggs from authorized retailers or reputable sellers to ensure that you are getting a genuine product.
- Inspect the materials: Real Uggs are made from high-quality materials, such as twin-faced sheepskin, suede, and leather, while fake Uggs often use lower-quality materials.
- Try them on: Real Uggs should fit snugly but not be too tight, while fake Uggs may feel uncomfortable or be difficult to put on.
- Look for security features: Real Uggs have security features, such as a reflective tag on the back of the boot and a holographic sun logo on the label.
- Use common sense: If something seems too good to be true, it probably is. Trust your instincts and do your research before purchasing Uggs to ensure that you are getting a genuine product.
1. Inspect the Security Features
Because of the never-ending fight against knockoffs, UGG has installed authentication methods on UGG and I Heart UGG items. In general, these unique stickers and tags are the most efficient and dependable way to ensure the validity of your buy.
UGG has also been using security characteristics on its tags and packaging since the autumn of 2010, beginning with the holographic sun logo, which alters from black to white when repositioned 90 degrees.
So, if your UGG boots have a stitched-in materials/size tag on the left boot, this security attribute must be on the foil strip on the tag just right behind it. And if there is no stitched-in tag, a security label should be placed on the left sole of the boot. In addition, the security badge must be on the shoebox as well.
UGG Australia decided to add a QR code to the stitched-in security sticker on the left boot in the autumn of 2013. Scanning with any smartphone will take you to the official website of UGG, in which you can confirm the boot’s authenticity.
When you turn this tag over and look at the rear side, you must notice another security attribute with the UGG icon “rolling” over the sun logo, appearing in an eye-catching 3D effect.
It is worth noting that the holographic sun logo on the stitched-in labels of several autumn 2014 boots is missing. If you come across merchandise that lacks this security attribute, simply scan the QR code.
Make sure to verify the holographic sun logo on the UGG boots, which should be positioned directly over the “Australia” text on the sewn-in label. Additionally, check for the reflective security label sewn inside the left boot, with an UGG logo at the top and a sun logo at the bottom.
2. Check The Manufacturing Country
You can find this hard to believe, but UGG shoes marked “Made in Vietnam” and “Made in China” are completely authentic.
Deckers Outdoor Corporation, which has facilities in the United States, Vietnam, the Philippines, China, Cambodia, and the Dominican Republic, has been producing genuine UGG products for many years. So, if the label states that the boots were made in Australia or New Zealand, this is a red flag that the boots are a forgery.
To summarize, genuine UGG boots are manufactured in the United States, the Philippines, the Dominican Republic, Vietnam, China, and Cambodia.
The UGG tag on the rear of the heel must be compared to a genuine UGG sticker, as shown in the image below. Counterfeit ones frequently have larger fonts, poor sewing, and off-color colors.
As the brand is no longer known as UGG Australia, but obviously UGG, iconic original labels no longer include the words “UGG Australia.”
3. Inspect the Packaging
Genuine UGG boots are packaged in a sturdy cardboard box. A few claim that the genuine box is a solid one-piece box with a flip-top cover, but others claim to have bought genuine UGGs in strong two-piece boxes with removable covers.
That information is particularly contentious, but the plastic wrap is just another part of the wrapping that you can inspect.
In fact, the plastic in which the UGG boots are wrapped must be thick and scratchy, with the word “UGG” printed on it. Counterfeit ones are made of thin and low-quality plastic and almost never have anything written on them.
Examine the care handbook, the authenticity card, and any other writings that come with the UGG or I Heart UGG products. They must be printed precisely on premium, a thick paper with superior ink. In other words, they should never be blurry, fuzzy, or look scanned.
UGG Australia did stop utilizing white paper for these in June 2007 and began printing the UGG shoes care guidebook and other cards on paper with a cream color.
Genuine UGG shoes come with inserts inside to keep them from being malformed during storage or shipping. Counterfeit UGG boots are usually not as carefully handled and frequently not equipped with the inserts.
Genuine UGG items will not be shipped in a pouch with the UGG logo on it. A UGG shopping bag is only available if you visit the store at one of the brand’s official retail locations.
The following items are not included with original UGG shoes:
- A brown dust bag labeled “Snow Boots”. Authentic UGG boots are never referred to as snow or winter boots.
- Any tag that is attached or secured to the shoes themselves. Neither label is attached to genuine UGG shoes from Deckers.
- Anywhere else on the packaging materials, there will be a printed Australian flag.
All of these features are obvious signs that the UGGs are forgeries.
To ensure the authenticity of UGGs, inspect the packaging for any signs of tampering or damage. Like any other high-end brand, counterfeiters often neglect the packaging quality. Refer to this guide on how to spot fake vs. real Vans shoes for more tips on inspecting packaging quality.
4. Inspect the Fur Lining
The lining of genuine UGG boots is a kind of rich creamy color and feels soft, fluffy, and thick. Fake UGG shoes tend to have a grayish whitish color and have a shaggy, thin, and plastic-like feel to them.
If you are having trouble distinguishing between genuine and artificial fur, rubbing it can help. If small pieces and bits fall off, it implies the fur is phony. On the other hand, the fur on genuine UGGs must not come off or break easily.
In addition, the fur side of legitimate sheepskin is naturally attached to the suede or faux leather side (the fur itself is not simply lining), so they will never fall apart.
If you can detach exterior material from the fur on the inside of the shoes, it is a clear indication that the UGG boots are not made of genuine sheepskin and are therefore counterfeit.
5. Check the Soles
The soles of genuine UGG shoes are really flexible and feature a lot of give in them, giving the impression that you are walking on clouds. In contrast, the soles are usually solid and difficult to flex or bend.
Genuine UGG boots typically feature half-inch thick soles as well. Counterfeit UGG shoes, on the other hand, often come with thinner soles that are only around a quarter-inch thick at the very most.
Authentic UGG shoes also come with the authorized R in a circle next to the text “UGG” on the soles. Actually, this used to be a pretty obvious way to tell the difference between original and counterfeit UGGs, but fraudsters have caught on and have begun trying to add this detail to knockoff UGGs.
In addition, the tread pattern or grooves on the outsoles of the brand’s boots was also adjusted from zigzag to the unique sun logo. Authentic UGG boots must have the sun and the logo in the middle of the shoe’s sole in the accurate lettering, but this is not the most reliable way of ensuring authenticity.
As you can see from the video down below, it is not always possible to tell if your UGG shoes are genuine or fake. And the only and easy way to be certain that your shoes are authentic is to scan the QR code.
6. Check the Size
In general, those who have purchased or owned UGG shoes before are aware that they tend to run big. And it is general knowledge that purchasing a pair of UGG boots a size smaller is usually considered the best option.
Over time, genuine UGG boots tend to stretch and shape to the wearer’s feet. So, if a pair of UGG boots in your true size feels too small, they are most likely fake.
Additionally, inspect the boot opening as well. Basically, it should be big enough to allow you to fold or tuck your pants in. The fakes often have a smaller opening and do not roll down as simply as the genuine UGG shoes.
Some imitation UGG boots are often taller or shorter than genuine UGG shoes. So, before buying, determine the right height for an ultra-tall, tall, or ultra-short UGG shoe.
7. Detect the Smell
Counterfeiters usually use cheap adhesive, phony sheepskin, and other low-quality materials to make cheap imitation UGG shoes in order to entice you with ridiculously low prices.
This, as a result, gives the forgeries a strange chemical, synthetic, and plastic odor. The smell of the paint or dye used on the counterfeit sheepskin is already a telltale sign that it is a forgery.
Genuine UGG and I Heart UGG items should have no odor at all.
If you’re unsure whether your UGG boots are fake or real, you should give them a sniff. Real UGGs are made from high-quality sheepskin, and they should have a distinct, natural odor. Learn more about how to determine the authenticity of designer items at hoodmwr.com.
8. Check the Overall Quality
If you are going to buy $200 shoes, you will want to give yourself plenty of time to check them meticulously. Here are several crucial things to look for when evaluating the overall quality of a genuine UGG boot:
- Examine the width of the UGG boots. Counterfeited UGG shoes are frequently narrower than genuine UGG ones.
- Check the stitching. Ensure that the stitching is even and that no threads are unfolding.
- Inspect the leather and/or suede. The material should be really soft, smooth, made of high-quality materials, and free of unneeded identifying marks.
- Take note of the shoe’s heel. They should softly taper towards the remaining portion of the boot and not be totally corrupt in any way.
- Take note of the shoe’s tip. A genuine boot progressively slopes downward, whereas a counterfeit boot tends to have a pointier toe.
9. Compare the Price
Genuine UGG and I Heart UGG boots are all made of high-quality materials, and high-quality comes at a cost. Therefore, if you find a pair of UGG shoes sold for an insanely low, too-good-to-be-true price, it might be a red flag that they are counterfeit.
Since 1978, the highly common classic UGG boots have been produced. Several of the most prevalent colors are rarely discounted.
When trying to determine if your UGGs are real or fake, price can be a deciding factor. If you find a pair being sold for a deeply discounted price, it’s possible that they are fake. Use this percentage calculator guide to determine the percentage difference between the discounted price and the regular retail price of UGGs to make an informed decision.
10. Always Check the Seller
If a seller has said that the UGG shoes are cheap since they are “imported directly from the brand’s factory,” the shoes are most likely fake. Details can be found in our eBay buying guide.
Furthermore, avoid scam web pages that are only out to defraud buyers with their counterfeit UGG boots. These websites frequently use words like “cheap UGGs” and misspelled words like “ugh boots.”
Hope these tips make your UGG boot buying easier, and you will not buy fake UGG boots in the future.
FAQs
How do you check if my Uggs are real?
You can check if your Uggs are real by inspecting the label, sole, fur, stitching, materials, and price. You can also try them on and look for security features.
How do I find my UGG serial number?
The UGG serial number can be found on the inside of the left boot, on the heel tag, or on the box.
What are fake Uggs made of?
Fake Uggs are often made of lower-quality materials, such as synthetic materials or low-grade sheepskin.
Is there such thing as fake Uggs?
Yes, there are many counterfeit or fake Uggs on the market.
Are UGGs made in China real?
Yes, UGGs made in China can be real. UGGs are made in a variety of countries, including China, Australia, and Vietnam.
Are any UGGs made in Vietnam?
Yes, UGGs are made in Vietnam, as well as other countries such as China and Australia.
Do real UGG boots smell?
Real UGG boots may have a slight odor due to the natural materials used in their construction. However, they should not have a strong or unpleasant smell.
