My Hunt for the Perfect Pair of Fuggs
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As a child of the early aughts, Uggs were the de facto shoe choice ofeverygirl I knew. They were always at the top of my Christmas and Hanukkah wish lists, and over the years, I went from wearingtall black Uggstoshort chestnut onestoBailey buttons. No matter the Ugg du jour, it always mattered that they were actual Uggs. Fake Uggs — or “fuggs,” as they’re commonly known — lacked the coveted Ugg tag on the back of the heel and the status-y appeal that came with that square inch of label. Only the real Australian-made, pillowy shearling-stuffed boots would do.
While Uggs have come and gone out of style since then, in my mind they’ve always been high quality, warm, and reliable. So I was surprised when, a little over a year ago, the TikTok sirens blared, “Uggs aren’t what they used to be.” InTikTokafterTikTok, it seemed that anyone who’d recently purchased a new pair of Uggs had worn them for only a month or two before the shearling looked matted and dingy. Then came the comparison videos:side-by-side looksatUggs from the 2010s and the 2020sin which the older pairs looked luxuriously soft next to their rather sad contemporaries. Still, I (and what seemed like every otherGen-Zgirl) put someTasman Ugg slipperson my Christmas list only to fall victim to the same matted fate come February of last year.
This past fall, as temperatures started to drop and the holidays were coming around, I started thinking about Uggs again. But this time, it was different. I decided to set out on a mission that would mortify my younger, Ugg-purist self: finding the very best pair offuggs. If the real deal wasn’t high quality anymore, what was the point? My perfect pair of fuggs would be lined with shearling that stays thick and fluffy after regular wear (duh). I’m a traditionalist at heart, so I wanted something that looked like a classic Ugg: chestnut-colored, medium length, and free of any buttons, bows, or platforms. Finally, I capped the price at $200, which is slightly more than what you’d pay for themedium-length Uggs, but I figured that if I was looking for better quality, that might come at a higher price.
After scouring the internet for boots that fit my criteria, I landed on four pairs to call in and test in addition to one pair I already owned. Over the past four months, I’ve worn these fuggs while running errands, traveling through TSA, and going to brunch with friends. I even used this article as an excuse to wear fuggs to a few holiday parties. Below, all the boots I tested and the two pairs I declared the best.
The Runners-Up
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If I’ve learned anything as a Strategist writer, it’s that one must approach the world of Amazon fashion brands with a reasonable dose of skepticism. Still, my hunt would be incomplete without testingat leastone of the countless boots that pop up when you search for “off brand ugg boots” on the retailer’s site. After looking through the dupiest of dupes, I landed on some from Dream Pairs because I’d been testinga pair of the brand’s design-y sneakers(which turned out to be a compliment magnet). At just $50, the boots are significantly cheaper than a pair of Uggs, but as soon as I took them out of the box, I could see what was sacrificed for the low price. Thefauxshearling was about half the length of the shearling in other boots I’d tried. Whereas some boots hugged my lower calves and ankles, these gapped at the front and back like a big pair of jeans, meaning some cold air slipped in on particularly cold days. That said,if you’re just looking fora good-looking-enough and affordable boot to keep your toes warm, these will do the trick.Thefauxsuede exterior looked just as rich as the other boots I was testing, and generally they kept my feet toasty.
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When I took these boots out of the box, I thought they were going to be my favorite. Compared with the other boots on the docket, these have the richest chestnut color I’ve seen for the price, along with thick, genuine shearling that hugs rather than squeezes my calves. My feet are a half-size, so I sized down because the size guide says, “We recommend an initial tight fit in our suede/sheepskin footwear. Over time the suede will stretch slightly and the sheepskin lining will mold to your feet, making it the perfect fit.” As promised, the shearling — a wool blend — molded to my feet after just a few walks around my neighborhood. This even gave my toes a little wiggle room at the front of the shoe. That said, without the extra padding at the back, my heel rubbed against the boot’s rigid heel after just a few blocks even when I was wearing thick socks. That was ultimately a deal breaker for me.
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Obviously, these boots —sparklesand all — are not like the others, but I’m including them as a fugg option for the Ultra Mini fans out there (they come in more neutral colors, likechestnutandblack, too). The brand sent them to me in December 2023 — coincidentally at the height of the TikTok-Ugg-craziness — and I added them to my shoe rotation right away, wearing them from my dorm to the library during my last batch of college finals. After I received my Ugg Tasmanslippersfor the holidays that year, I’d cycle between both, depending on the outfit. I’m not crazy about the Ugg mini height in general (I find them too short and unflattering for my ankles), but I’d recommend these if you’re looking for anUltra Minidupe, whether it be in the sparkly pair I’ve been wearingor one of the neutral options. Nearly a year later, the shearling looks almost as new and fluffy as ever, except at the sole, where it has matted down to mold to my foot. As for hand-feel, the shearling has the most silky-soft texture of the pairs I tested. And at just $59, they’re practically as inexpensive as the Amazon ones.
The Winners
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I must admit: I was initially skeptical of Quince’s shearling-lined boots. After unboxing them, I was disappointed to find some slight discoloration on the boots along with a small mystery splotch that I had to scratch off one shoe — but I persisted in the name of testing. When I slipped them on for the first time, I noticed that the thick and fluffy shearling hugged my feet and legs, making them feel supported rather than squished. Four months later, the shearling has molded to my feet in a secure-feeling way — no rubbing at all. As for the suede exterior, I found them to be a slightly duller chestnut compared to the other pairs, but I don’t mind.
These landed in my winners category for a few reasons. The price is a draw, of course, and the shoes’ lack of exterior logos is another upside (as far as fuggs go, it’s better to have no label at all). I wasn’ttrulywon over, though, until I shoved these boots into my suitcase for a ski trip in Breckenridge, Colorado. According to Quince, the boots come pre-protected with a water-repellant treatment (and were already slightly discolored), so I figured I wouldn’t have to be careful with them. The more it snowed and the more I wore them, the more I was impressed by the boots. Every day of the trip, I’d throw on my Quince fuggs and walk through inches of fresh snow with abandon. By the time I arrived at the airport for my flight home, the boots looked exactly the same. Yes, the slight discoloration is still there, but the shearling is still thick and fluffy, especially around my ankles and lower calves. Withat leastanother three cold, wet months in New York City ahead this year, I know I’ll be stuffing these under my favorite pair of jeans whether it’s raining, snowing, sleeting, or just below freezing.
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These cost $10 more than theirUgg counterparts, but when it comes to quality, they feel the most similar to how I remember the Uggs of my childhood — making them the true (if pricier) winner of my fugg hunt. They have a rich chestnut exterior and a cloud of light and fluffy shearling that stays soft no matter how often I wear them. They’re the most rich-colored boots I tested and have a round, dainty silhouette that feels just right poking out of my wide-legged pants. Honestly, they’re the pair that makes me believe shearling-lined boots could be office-appropriate attire.
Yes, you could get an actual pair of Uggs for this price, but I’d say it’s worth the switch for the high-quality materials of the Overland — double-faced shearling sheepskin, some leather whipstitch trim, and suede heel overlays — plus the unique silhouette and a sole that’s so light you almost forget you’re wearing shoes. Just a word of warning: Don’t get them wet. I made the mistake of wearing them after a rainstorm and am still fighting a stain with my suede brush.
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