Saturday, October 17, 2009

Ugg Vs. Emu

I would really like to know what the difference is between Ugg and Emu boots.




I do not own a pair of either boots. Both styles of boots look very comfortable. I thought the fad would eventually go away, but every fall and winter they are on the feet of every girl in the city. I have also wondered if you could be too old to wear Uggs or Emu boots. I am not giving away my exact age, but I can say I am not in my 20's.

Someone told me recently that they had them in many colours. I looked at her like she was crazy. She compared it to my bag collection.

I own a pair of pink Warmbat slippers. They look like Ugg/Emu slippers. I wear them all year long even in the summer.

I have considered buying a pair of the boots, but I don't know which one to buy. The look the same to me. However, there is a difference in price. There are also many other companies that sell similar boots.

Emu Australia Official Website: http://www.emuaustralia.com

Ugg Australia Official Site: http://www.uggaustralia.com

42 comments:

FB @ FabulouslyBroke.com said...

They're about the same

UGG might be slightly better made

I own a pair of faux UGGs from Costco and they're just as comfy I think

I only wear them in the home because it's freezing here!

heidi said...

difference is in the materials. the outer of both is suede but ugg uses Grade A sheepskin whereas emu uses merino wool which is scratchier and not as warm.

Anonymous said...

If the Emu's that you are looking at cost a lot less then the Uggs then there IS a difference in the quality. What the last person posted is sort of true...whats going on is that there are 2 types of Emu's. One kind has a suede upper and a 100% merino wool lining. They look essentially the same as classic Uggs, but they are NOT made of the same materials, and they are about half the price. Look up Emu Hi Bronte in a search and you can see a pair of these. They are about $80. The other kind is made of 100% sheepskin, just like Uggs, and they are essentially the same price as Uggs ($160 typically). This version is essentially identical to classic uggs and are the same quality. To see a pair of these search for Emu Hi Stingers.

The Bag Lady said...

Thanks for the advice. I have seen Uggs for around $250 and Emu's for $100. I was wondering why there was such a big difference in price.

Anonymous said...

I have both ugg and emu...there is a cheaper brand of emu that costs aroun $60-$80 and those are cheaper and different than ugg. BUT the stinger hi in emu is essentially the SAME boot! The look, the feel and the way they look is the same! NO DIFFERENCE!!

Anonymous said...

I must say I am not a fan of either. Just not my thing, but when my 12 year old fashion consious niece asked for a pair of Uggs. I compared prices! I love my niece to death but to spend over $100 on 12 year old seemed well CRAZY! I opted for Emus. She can still be admired by her friends and my pockets won't be empty.

Anonymous said...

I'll say this- I can't vouch for Emu but I did a side by side trial of Ugg and Bearpaw in the store one day. I put on the Bearpaws first- on the outside, they looked nearly identical to the Uggs. After I tried the Bearpaw's, I slipped on the Uggs. There was no comparison to the comfort. The Uggs were much more comfortable, like sliding your foot into a cozy warm slipper. The low price of the Bearpaws were tempting but definitely nothing like the Uggs. Now I am trying to find out if it's like that for the Emu's too.

Jessica Ann said...

I have been an owner of both. I live in the mountains of West Virginia, so it gets cold, but not extreme. I wear my boots nearly every day in the winter months. I began with just a few pairs of UGGs, and recently saw the EMUs on sale, so thought, why not? Although the EMUs are not as well made, obviously, by the price, I have to admit, I almost prefer them! If you are my age (20) and in college, you pay attention to brands, and everybody up here wears UGGs, but I am so ready to start sporting my EMUs as well. Also, UGGs tend to be worn out faster, unless you hardly ever wear them, and the EMUs seem to last a little longer.

I also like the curved heels on the EMUs, they help me with balance. And the tread on the bottom is a little better on ice.

Overall, they are both GREAT brands. I like to go back and forth, but if I had to pick just one, I'd end up going with EMUs so I can own more pairs in more colors! :)

LOLGirrllll <3 said...

emu is better and very close in price, uggs are more expensive just cuz of the brand not the quality!

Laura said...

I am wearing EMU brand boots right now. I waterproofed them with that $15 spray that they sell you at the store and I make sure to do it often .. but they still leak if they get snow on them and they're not very warm and the inside got worn out SO quickly. They also stained badly even though I took care of them and tried to avoid the salty slush on our roads. The back of them is all squished down from being worn and they are stretched out so the top of the boot looks wavy lol. I bought them in the spring on this year.

Anonymous said...

My daughter (15) was looking for a pair of UGG boots, while shopping recently we found the EMU boots. We talked to the sales lady and he recommended trying both pair on. I left it up to my daughter, I wanted her to get what she would be happy with. She chose the EMy said it felt like there was a little more support in the EMU than in the UGG. We bought the water proof kit and she's been wearing them, says they are very toasty in our cold snap here in Indiana.

Anonymous said...

We have recently purchased a pair of Emu Ugg Boots and a pair of Miller's Ugg Boots which are apparently huge in Australia from WWW.UggCulture.com.au and we couldn't be happier. We haven't previously heard of Miller's Uggs but purchased as they were a bit taller than the Emu Uggs and we really liked the colour & couldn't be happier.

Anonymous said...

I own both UGG and EMU, mid-calf version. Originally, I wore my UGGs everywhere because they were so warm and comfortable. But the sole started to wear out after two years, although the boots were still warm. So I decided to try EMUs to replace/supplement my UGGs. EMUs definitely have a better sole, both are equivalently warm. Perhaps the wool in UGGs is slightly higher quality, as many say, but I can't tell the difference. If one is softer and the other more scratchy, I haven't noticed yet because I almost always wear socks with them and when I wear them around my apartment with bare feet, both feel soft. EMUs seem to be more water proof. If it weren't for the label, I would definatly like EMUs better, but the UGG label looks good because it is the original.
I ended up giving my UGGs to my sister who is in high school because the label means more to her (I'm in college). Personally, I like EMUs better for outside because of the sole but UGGs are lighter, like a slipper. Both are very comfortable and warm, and overall, there is almost no difference.

Made4Walking said...

We have a web site selling EMU boots - http://www.madeforwalking.com.au

Emu Stingers are made with grade A Australian Borderlester Merino sheepskin. Merino sheep have very soft, fine fleece, it is the softest you can get. A borderlester sheep has dense pile and thick skin which is great for boots. The Stingers that we have on our store are made in Australia.

The new Stingers have a removable machine-washable inner sole, which has arch support - I believe the only sheepskin boot in the world to have this.

The new Stingers also have a fiberglass heel unit for extra strength. They are the only company to use this.

The sole unit has two layers - one is soft EVA for comfort and the bottom layer is a dense rubber - for durability.

The Emu company started off by making all of the UGG Australia boots and actually they were making sheepskin boots before that time, without a brand name. So they are one of the originators.

We have loads of articles and information about these topics here: http://www.made4walking.co.nz/pages/articles-and-information-about-sheepskin-ugg-boots-and-other-made-for-walking-footwear

kite string said...

Please disregard my previous comment! The EMU's I have are made in Australia because that's where I bought them. The ones you buy in the U.S. are all made in China.

Anonymous said...

Well... I have both UGGS and EMUS no questions asked that EMUs are supposed to be made better and are comfy. Some say just get the cheaper one or don't because you will look cheap. For a while, I was obsessed looking at the back of everyone's boots if they were UGGS or fake UGGS. I've seen A LOT of people wearing UGGS. But truthfully, there's not that much of an appeal of UGGS except you have the UGG label on the back and they're more expensive to show off to your friends. Even though UGGS are more preferred they're just preferred because people think "it's such a big brand name, everyone has them, there has to be a reason why they're more expensive". Really, I used to have EMUs and by accident got an oil stain on them so was happy to finally get the real UGGs. EMUs aren't really a knock off, but almost better quality in the stitching but UGGs on the inside tend to be softer “Grade A sheepskin” than just the kinda scratchy wool in EMUs. Basically, I’m not trying to confuse or influence you, but don’t just decide because everyone has them (UGGs) and they're "the real thing". But if you don't care about an expensive thing for a little less quality, go ahead! Get EMUs, but if you want the UGGs maybe because of the different styles or because you don't want to look cheap, maybe it’s worth the price. A lot of people say to get UGGS, its worth the price, but, maybe its not. It’s not their money they’re spending, they just say that, but they have no real solid, facts. It’s just a label, plus you get arch support from EMUs. Let you decide for yourself but remember, EMUs are not a knock off, they just don't get that much advertising as UGGs do because of their huge company. Hope this helps!
P.S. Don't let anyone influence you for anything you might not think is the right choice, not just with UGGs/EMUs, with everything you do.

~E. M. Graham

svini said...

I agree with E.M. Graham. EMU boots have the same, if not better quality than UGGs. It's very coincidental I found this article. I bought EMU boots today, for just $50 on Macy's (originally at $99), and I can't wait for them to arrive! I was so excited about it, that I even wrote a blog article on it! I've addressed a little on the great EMU vs UGG debate on:

http://www.svinispicks.com/2010/11/50-off-100-emu-boots-at-macys.html

Anonymous said...

I bought a pair of Ugg clogs when they first came out/beacme popular and everyone made fun of me saying Uggs are Uggly and such. I eventaully bought a pair of the boots and got the same response. Now how many years later the same people who were making fun of me now own Uggs or the knock off kinds. Last year I bought a pair of Emu's and after getting home from the store and wearing them once or twice decided I didnt like them and gave them to my sister. Now this winter the snow started falling and I didnt have any boots with me so I stole my sisters Emus I had given her and fell in love with them. I am in need of a new pair of boots and happened to be on Macys.com and they had some of there boots buy one get one free. Who cant resist a free pair of boots. I got 2 pairs of Emu's for $119. I cant wait for them to arrive. The one thing I didnt like about my Uggs is the bottoms on the insides wore out fast and for some reason my big toe rubbed a whole through. I am sure I will buy another pair of Uggs but for now I am going to give Emu's a chance. The price was just to sweet for a broke college kid!

Anonymous said...

How about the new UGG for example Kenly, they seem better then the old models. They should have better sole and also the top looks more like a shoe. I am trying to choose between them and the Emu Stinger and the new UGG. I have also heard form others that EMU should have better soil, plus the price is better :D but also like the Kenly Ugg. Does anybody have any experience with those?

CARRIE said...

SO I am very late on my post here, but I have been wanting a pair of UGGS for a couple years. I am a stay at home mom and rarely buy things like that for myself, and I am also very thrifty and I always look for the best deal without sacrificing quality. In my searching I came across the EMU boots. I am excited to say that I ordered a pair today.. regular 95.00 for only 35.00, I cant wait to get them!! I love Holiday Season sales :) I wont be able to tell you the difference between how the Ugg feels vs EMU but Ill let you know what I think of mine.

Anonymous said...

Personally i LOVE Uggs but hate Emus. I'm sorry to anyone who disagrees with me but that is just my opinion. I've never seen the Emu Hi Bronte boots but i have felt other Emus and i think they feel awful. i have 3 pairs of Uggs and i wear them literally all the time. I don't I've seen Emus in stores and some of them are actually more expensive than Uggs. I hoped this helped anyone.

Anonymous said...

Emu is owned by the original founder of UGG boots. They sold the UGG brand to Deckers Outdoor, A holding company who took production of UGG to china. Emu is still made in the original factory that UGG was founded...Just some food for thought.

Anonymous said...

I bought a pair of Emu boots first. Then i bought a pair of Ugg boots on sale. At first i wanted Uggs but could not afford them, so i bought Emu's. When I compared them there was a HUGE difference. Uggs were MUCH better quality and i would not recomend Emu's.

Anonymous said...

I have a pair of both. EMU are very very very comfortable. so are UGG. i have them both becuase one is in style and one is not. I love my EMUs and UGGs. They are the same except for the name. if you are stressed out from the name difference, get UGGs. if you really think that being different and confortable is for you, go with EMUs. they hole up the same way and are both just as comfortable.

Anonymous said...

I started w Uggs -3 pair. I used them as my dog walking boots in Chicago. They were all trashed by winters end (I did weather proof them). The heels were smooshed & wrinkled & the seems were visibly worn.

After giving them to my niece (who at 16 was thrilled to get 3 pair of actual UGGS) I ended up buying a pair of Emu's, on sale for $50 at a local boutique. They are the wool lined version (the Bronte) but I was so happy I didn't pay $180 for disposable UGG boots. This year I wanted another pair, went back to the same boutique and bought the Emu's tall Stinger (the Stinger 100% sheepskin version) in chocolate brown leather for $60!! I LOVE them- their is a removable arch that's washable, the stitching is thicker & tighter than Ugg and the traction is better and just as flexible & comfy.

Moral of the story? If you're 16 and have to wear a label to run with the crowd, then get Ugg. If you're secure and don't care about the difference of 3 letters, get the Emu's. They're built better, last longer & look EXACTLY THE SAME!! Btw, the place still has a bunch of the Emu's for $60 and under- the whole boutique is 50% off- they don't have a website but the owner is my neighbor and would probably take an order over the phone. It's called Soley Yours Boutique in Libertyville, IL and the phone # is 847-362-7653

nixi said...

I work for a company that sells both Emu and Ugg boots. Having had training on both I'm astonished Uggs still retain their popularity.

The 'original' boot (ugly boot - hence ugg) was created by surfers. A tannery in Geelong catered to this growing demand by producing their own, slightly more fashionable version of this boot. The Ugg name was sold (to an American company, not Australian) and was a success.

The original tannery now produces the Emu brand - a company still loyal to its roots and working out of the same factory in Geelong.

Having owned both brands, as well as working with the boots on a daily basis I wholeheartedly recommend Emu boots. Ugg boots are all well and good, but honestly the quality is simply not as the price would leave you to believe. The amount of customers who have complained about the poor quality of some of the styles is beyond belief. Most of these disgruntled customers have now switched to Emu (a notably less expensive boot) and have found exactly what I have found - Emu are built to last.

Comfort wise I've found they are both equally warm and cosy. The wool used for the inner boot are different and arguably both high quality. I personally prefer the Emus merino wool as it seems to keep its plushness for longer.

Also, the Emus have a more moulded sole to fit the natural shape of your foot (as well as a removable insole - easy to throw in the wash!)

And the big one - the water resistant Emus are brilliant. They were all I wore through the snow storms here and not only were my feet warm and dry throughout, but the suede is still in perfect condition.

I can't believe the amount of money I've thrown at Ugg simply for a label. The fact that they are constantly raising their price when no progress on quality is being made is ridiculous.

My vote goes to Emu.

Anonymous said...

I have 2 pairs of uggs classic which I have trouble getting into. My heel gets caught have way. This year I picked up 2 pairs of EMU one was $150 same price as uggs but much much better! Softer more comfortable. Stays cleaner. I feel it's better than uggs . My 2nd pair of Emu I purchased on an amazon gold box deal for $44. The best yet!

Anonymous said...

I really prefer EMUs. I Looked at the UGGs in the store and i find that EMU's are SOSOS SOFT! while UGGs there still soft but EMU has a slight curve on the bottom better for walking. It is also water resistant! which i find awesome. I go EMU!

Christina said...

Emu is MUCH better - quality and price!!! They are both sheepskin but Emu is waterproof, Ugg is not. Emu is double stitched, Ugg is cheaply single-stiched. Emu has a reinforced heel, Ugg does not and shifts around. Emu has a better heel, Ugg's is cheap and wears out. AND Emu retails cheaper. EMU is far superior!

Anonymous said...

Emu is MUCH better quality and price! Emu is waterproof, Ugg is not. Emu is double stitched for strength, Ugg is single. Emu has a reinforced heel and a better sole, and last longer. Emu is far superior!! I have had mine for years and love them.

Margo said...

I know this post is SO old, but I saw it and now that I live in Australia I can tell you that the "Ugg" brand in the US is made in China. The EMU brand is made in Australia. I choose EMU! I don't mind buying things made in China, but after seeing a documentary all about this (and living here of course!) I'll only buy EMU.

katrinajune said...

I just bought a pair of Emu's, not even thinking of Uggs. I remembered when I got home though, and felt the urge to google the difference. Reading these posts just made me so happy and reassured about my purchase. Good deals make you feel like you won a shopping game! Yesss...

Emu Boots said...

Personally, I prefer EMU over UGG as only the EMU boots use high quality Australian shearling and wool. On the other hand, UGG has some really cool styles so I can't help but own a few pairs of UGGS too! ;p

Anonymous said...

Well, living in the UK ugg boots and emu boots are basically the same price so there really is no winner in that aspect! But honestly owning a pair of both each have their positives and negatives. The emu boots feel more bouncy to walk in so to speak, where as the uggs are more flat and don't give that added 'bounce' feeling. BUT, on the other hand this makes the emu's heavier than the uggs and while comfort of the boots is pretty much level, it is easier round walk in uggs cause there's not as much weight on your feet! All this about the quality of the boots is rubbish. I purchased a pair of uggs about a week before my emu's and neither are waterproof let me tell you that for free, unless the rain in England is different from everywhere else. After about 2 years of regular wear of both makes; both have gone floppy around the ankles. On the emu 's the sheepskin has literally ripped awayfrom the seaming therefore all the wool is poking out, and on the ugg a hole mysteriously appeared therefore doing the same as the emu (all the insides falling out). both soles have worn down pretty much the same even though the emu's have an extra bit of rubber at the front and back so there's no win there. the only real difference in the boots is that emu boots are more bulky which decided my opinion for me. if they are going to last about the same amount of time for pretty much the same amount of money buy the uggs. they are more stylish and sleeker than the emu's (& they don't make you look like you have fat feet). other than that they really are not a lot different, but if you have wider feet the emu's are probably a better fit! I would say they are equally well made, just go for the ones you think are the style for you. Hope this helped a bit. :-)

Anonymous said...

I leave in Canada were it's really cold and I prefer the Ugg.I buy a pair of EMU because my friends told my it's better(she have a shoes shop)because it was made without wood(just want to said that ugg don't have wood) ,but not for me.I came home after shopping and my feet was hurting me and become so big.2 weeks later all the inside of my EMU boot was broken and the cotton beggging to go.And my feet was always cold.So I buy some ugg boot and im totally in love with them. And they soooo much better. I have normal foot after shopping and my foot are always hot. 3 mouth later they all ok. Ugg are much expensive but so much better

Anonymous said...

Emu is made in China and are always broking

so after 2 pair i buy ugg and no problem with them

Anonymous said...

Both are now made in China for international trade. Ugg is still more expensive... So not worth it.

Anonymous said...

Fun fact! I actually am a manager at a very high end retail store, the original creators of UGG oversold their shares and lost most of their company so they started over and created EMU AUSTRALIA, and infact re-designed and improved their original idea by adding water proofing, double interlock stitching, and sole support...the boots are slightly cheaper in order to compete at a faster rate. Research is fun.

Anonymous said...

around 6 years ago i started buying emu boots. bought the brontes first.these are yhe wool lined cheaper ones. ok. then bought the emu brand in the echinada and the stinger high and the stinger mini. the first emu's lasted a couple of years. they just got baggier and looser. then my love affair with uggs started. there is no comparison as the fit with uggs australi is superb. the sole does not wear down as quickly as the emu's. in fact one pair of emu soles wore down at the heel within 6 weeks and i got a refund and paid the extra for the uggs.the hole in the toe is an issue with both brands but this can be rectified by buying a half size bigger if you have a high instep or very long big toes. i have got rid of all my emus over the years and only wear uggs and there are some authorised stockists that do great deals on uggs so you dont have to put up with il fitting boots that fall apart. ugg are the market leader for a reason. as soon as you put on the uggs they just hug your feet and that comfort lasts the lifetime of the boot, with emus even though i like the sheepskin it is very dense the fit is a big issue and they jut look clumpy

Anonymous said...

EMU is an Australian company and its products are made with Australian produced sheepskin,leather,and Merino wool.

UGG is US (CA) based company and its materials and production are both Chinese.

UGG is actually not marketed in Australia because its trademark is considered too generic in that country.

Anonymous said...

I know this post is really old but i just wanted to say, ive had both brands and EMU are by far the superior,and they were the original brand in the beginning! They have a fibre glass heel insert unlike UGGs who i found out use cheap cardboard in theirs, and the sheepskin and wool they use is 100% from Australian sheep and manufactured there as well, not in China like UGGS! Also can i just say to the people who moaned they didnt keep your feet dry from rain even with a spray its because the boots are water RESISTANT not water PROOF!!!!

Anonymous said...

Um, Emu - the original ugg boot maker - now has two diff quality boots - yes, one is made in China & the other is made in Australia (it is a premium boot, with better materials).

To the supposed "high-end" store manager, you are full of $hit. Do your research & stop posting lies. Where do you people come from?