UGG Alternatives: Sheepskin Boot Brands for the US, UK and Canada

By Winter Styled Editorial Team · Updated 2 November 2026

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Classic pull-on sheepskin boots are warm, soft and easy to wear, and the best-known name in the style is UGG. Several long-established brands make sheepskin and shearling-lined boots too, and other styles give the same cozy feel with more support or better weather protection.

This guide compares UGG alternatives by what you're looking for, with sections for the UK and Canada. It's a comparison of brands and styles based on what each company publishes about its products, not a hands-on test, and we don't quote prices because they change often.

Not affiliated: Winter Styled is an independent site. We are not affiliated with, sponsored by or endorsed by UGG or its owner, Deckers Brands, or by any brand mentioned here. UGG is a registered trademark of Deckers in many countries and is used here only to describe the style being compared.

For a general explainer on real vs faux shearling, fit and care, see our shearling-lined boots guide.

What to check on any sheepskin-style boot

• Lining material. "Sheepskin" or "twin-face sheepskin" means real shearling. "Faux fur," "fleece" or "wool blend" means a synthetic or mixed lining, which can be warm but usually flattens faster.
• Upper. Suede sheepskin is soft but needs protecting. Some brands use cow suede or leather uppers, which tend to hold their shape better.
• Sole. Look for a rubber outsole with real tread if you'll walk outside. Very soft foam soles wear quickly.
• Insole. A removable insole lets you replace a flattened one or add a supportive insert.

Materials at a glance

This is a starting point, not a ranking. We haven't tested these boots ourselves; each row is based on what the brand's own product page says.

Sheepskin boot brands to compare (US)

EMU Australia

EMU Australia is a family-owned Australian sheepskin brand based in Geelong, Victoria. It grew out of Jackson's Tannery, which dates back to 1948, and the brand says its Platinum collection is handcrafted in its Australian workshop. It sells classic sheepskin boots alongside water-resistant and merino-lined styles. As with any brand, check whether a particular style uses real sheepskin or a wool lining.

Bearpaw

Bearpaw was founded in 2001 and is one of the most widely sold sheepskin-style boot brands in the US, usually at a lower price point than premium sheepskin labels. Linings vary by style, so read the materials line on each listing to see whether it's sheepskin, a wool blend or faux fur.

Kirkland Signature shearling boot (Costco)

Costco lists the Kirkland Signature Women's Shearling Boot in whole sizes 6 to 11 (materials in the table above). Costco notes that sheepskin stretches slightly with wear, so the first fit should be snug, and recommends wiping with a damp cloth rather than washing. It's sold at Costco rather than Amazon, and availability is seasonal.

Birkenstock Boston Shearling (for more structure)

If a flat sheepskin insole leaves your feet tired, the Boston Shearling pairs a shearling lining with Birkenstock's contoured cork and latex footbed. It's a suede clog, so your ankles stay exposed. Keep it for dry days.

EMU Australia Buller (for slush)

The Buller keeps EMU's sheepskin lining but in a mid-height, laced, hiking-style boot of waterproof leather, with arch-support insoles and a Vibram sole.

PAWJ California (vegan)

Sheepskin is an animal product. PAWJ California says all its boots and slippers are 100% vegan, made with synthetic suede and faux fur, and it sells mini, short and tall pull-on styles. Faux fur doesn't handle moisture the way sheepskin does, so wear socks.

Blundstone Winter Thermal (a tougher slip-on)

For something that copes with weather, a lined Chelsea boot is a practical alternative. Blundstone Canada lists the Winter Thermal All-Terrain #2242 with waterproof leather, sealed seams, Thinsulate and a sheepskin footbed. Blundstone also notes that rubber sole performance drops below -15°C and that slip resistance is compromised on ice.

Bearpaw youth boots (kids)

Bearpaw's youth range includes pull-on styles such as the Alyssa Youth, treated with Bearpaw's BearCoat rain and stain repellent. For deep snow, a waterproof insulated snow boot is still the better choice for kids.

A note on Koolaburra

Koolaburra by UGG was Deckers' own lower-priced line. In its annual report, Deckers said it closed Koolaburra.com as of March 31, 2025 and planned to wind the brand down in wholesale by the end of 2025, and industry reporting confirmed the closure. Any pairs you still see are leftover stock.

UGG alternatives in the UK

UK shoppers have a homegrown option in Celtic & Co., a sheepskin brand founded in Cornwall in 1990. The company says it handmakes its sheepskin boots and slippers in its Newquay workshop and offers an in-house resole service, which can extend the life of a pair whose uppers are still in good shape. Sizes are listed in UK sizing.

Other things UK buyers should check:

• Sizing: UK sizes run lower than US sizes, and the gap varies by brand. Blundstone, for example, tells women to subtract 3 from their US size to get its AUS/UK size. Always use the brand's own size chart.
• Weather: frequent rain makes water resistance more important, so keep a waterproof boot for wet days.
• Amazon: you can compare sheepskin boots on Amazon; check delivery and import charges to the UK before ordering.

UGG alternatives in Canada

Canadian winters are harder on footwear, so many buyers want more than a soft sheepskin boot. Manitobah (Manitobah Mukluks) is a Canadian company founded in Winnipeg in 1997, with Indigenous and non-Indigenous ownership. It makes mukluks and winter boots with sheepskin shearling footbeds and linings, and the company rates its sheepskin-lined mukluks and boots for use down to -32°C (-25°F). Manitobah also notes that most of its styles have no arch support, which is worth knowing if you need it.

Kamik is a Canadian boot maker. Its Tundra women's boot is listed as made in Canada, with a waterproof shell, a removable insulated liner and a -40°C rating. It's a true snow boot rather than a sheepskin boot, which is often the more practical choice for deep snow and slush. Blundstone Canada sells its Winter Thermal boots (see above) in Canadian dollars.

Other things Canadian buyers should check:

• Temperature rating and grip: brand ratings are a guide only, and icy sidewalks need a rubber outsole with a deep, flexible tread.
• Salt: road salt marks suede. Rinse and dry boots after salty walks; our salt stain guide explains how.
• Amazon: you can compare shearling-lined winter boots on Amazon; check delivery and import charges to Canada before ordering.

What owners discuss

If you want first-hand opinions, public threads like this r/BuyItForLife discussion about higher-quality alternatives are worth reading. Treat them as individual experiences, not tests, and check the date, since brands change materials over time.

Other styles that give the same cozy feel

• Shearling-lined Chelsea boots hold their shape better and suit city wear.
• Felted wool slippers and house boots are a good choice if you mainly want warm feet at home. See slippers with arch support.
• Insulated waterproof boots are the right call for slush, rain and long walks. Our guide to how to choose snow boots covers what to look for.

Where to compare

• Sheepskin-lined boots
• EMU Australia sheepskin boots
• Bearpaw boots

Check the materials, sole and size chart on every listing before you buy.

Care tips to make any pair last

• Treat suede or sheepskin with a protector spray before the first wear, and brush the nap gently.
• Let wet boots dry naturally at room temperature, away from radiators, and rotate pairs so each dries fully.
• Wear socks to reduce odor and wear on the lining.

Sources

• Brand product pages linked in the sections above (Costco, EMU Australia, Birkenstock, Blundstone Canada, Bearpaw, PAWJ California, Kamik)
• Deckers Brands, annual report notes (fiscal 2025)
• EMU Australia, About EMU Australia
• Celtic & Co., Our heritage and Our Cornish workshop
• Manitobah, Frequently asked questions and Our story
• WWD, Out of Ugg's shadow, Bearpaw comes into its own

Read next: Slippers with Arch Support: What to Look For Before You Buy →