Frequently Asked Questions - Are Koolaburra® boots the same as "Ugg® Australia" brand sheepskin boots?
- What is the difference?
- Why is "made in Australia" important?
- Where can I buy Koolaburra footwear?
- Is Koolaburra selling direct?
- What is "double face" Merino sheepskin?
- What adult sizes are available for Koolaburra footwear, and which size should I buy?
- What kids' sizes are available for Koolaburra footwear, and which size should I buy?
- Are special orders available?
- How should I care for my Koolaburra® footwear?
- Are Koolaburra® Australian-made sheepskin boots the same as "UGG® Australia" brand sheepskin boots?
- No, absolutely not! In the U.S., "UGG® Australia" has been registered as a trademark, which is now owned by Deckers Outdoor Corporation. Koolaburra has no connection with Deckers Outdoor Corporation or its trademarks. Koolaburra's founders agreed in 2005 not to use that term to describe Koolaburra® Australian-made sheepskin boots.
- What is the difference?
- In short, Koolaburra footwear is actually Australian, while Deckers Outdoor Corporation's boots are mostly made in China.
There are many differences between Koolaburra® boots and Deckers Outdoor Corporation's boots, including:- Koolaburra® Classic boots feature removable insoles (like all of our boots and most of our slippers) for long-lasting comfort.
- Koolaburra® Classic boots are hand-crafted with a unique pattern that creates a deep toe well and a firm fit across the arch, providing a superior fit as the sheepskin naturally stretches over time.
- Koolaburra makes footwear exclusively in Australia.
All Koolaburra® footwear is made from top-quality double-face Australian Merino sheepskin. We never use lower grade "sheepskin linings" in our footwear. Try on a pair today, and let your feet feel the difference!
[back] - Why is "made in Australia" important?
- Real Australian sheepskin boots are made in Australia, and have been for generations - they are an Australian icon. No one knows sheepskin like Australian craftsmen with decades of experience. To make sure that your boots are really Australian, check for "Made in Australia" on the tag or the box. Many companies have manufactured imitations in China or elsewhere. These boots often say "Australia" on the boxes (or on the boots themselves). While this may be misleading, it is not illegal. U.S. and international trade laws do, however, protect the terms "Made in Australia" or "Australian Made" so that only genuine Australian boots can display that label. [back]
- Where can I buy Koolaburra® footwear?
- To purchase your own pair of Koolaburras, you can either go to the Koolaburra Shopatron store or go to
our store finder for retailers near you or online. When you purchase from the Koolaburra Shopatron store, please note that you may receive the item from an authorized retailer near you that carries Koolaburra footwear.
A note to our retailers: please partner with us, and help us fulfill our online orders! Existing Koolaburra retailers: learn more about Shopatron, then sign up to get new customers and fulfill Koolaburra orders. To become a Koolaburra retailer, please contact us.
[back] - Is Koolaburra selling direct to consumers?
- No! It may seem like we are, because consumers can place orders on our Shopatron-powered web store. In reality, Koolaburra turns those orders over to our authorized retailers, who fulfill those orders from their inventory on hand.
Our customers love the system because they get fast service from a retailer near them, and they are sure to receive genuine Australian-made Koolaburra footwear. Retailers also love the system, because they find new customers, additional sales, and ongoing insight into national sales trends. To find out more, please call Koolaburra at 888.566.5228.
A note to our retailers: please partner with us, and help us fulfill our online orders! Existing Koolaburra retailers: learn more about Shopatron, then sign up to get new customers and sell your Koolaburra inventory. To become a Koolaburra retailer, please contact us. - What is "double face" Merino sheepskin?
- This term distinguishes true sheepskin boots from sheepskin linings. "Double face" sheepskin is sheepskin through and through: the outer surface of the boot is the sheepskin itself, and the inner surface is the wool, which is still attached to the skin. Koolaburra uses only top-grade double face Merino sheepskin in all of our footwear.
Some other constructions use non-Merino or other lower-grade "sheepskin linings" glued to cowhide or pigskin, or "wool linings" with the wool itself glued to cowhide or pigskin. Boots made in this manner do not have the breathability and comfort of true double face Merino sheepskin. [back] - What adult sizes are available for Koolaburra footwear, and which size should I buy?
- Koolaburra footwear is only available in whole sizes. As with all footwear, it's best to try on the pair for size at one of our authorized retailers. Since sheepskin will stretch and form to your fit over time, the initial fit should be snug but never uncomfortably so. If trying the pair before purchase is not possible (you are buying a gift or purchasing online, for example) we recommend buying your true U.S. size, or buying the next higher size if you normally wear a half size.
Please see the size chart below for the relationship between Australian sizes and U.S. Men's, U.S. Women's, and European sizes. Adult Koolaburra footwear sold in the U.S. is marked with both the U.S. Men's size and the U.S. Women's size.
Australia / UK 345678910111213141516U.S. Men's / Unisex 4567891011121314151617U.S. Women's 567891011121314European 36373839404243444647
[back] - What kids' sizes are available for Koolaburra footwear, and which size should I buy?
- Please see the kids' size chart to view the full infants and kids size ranges.
InfantToddlerChildJuniorBaby Booties1234——————————————Kids' Boots————56789101112131234—Adult (Unisex)———————————————456
Baby Booties
Koolaburra Baby Booties come in four sizes:
- size 1 is for infants, normally newborns to 3 months;
- size 2 is for 3 to 6 months;
- size 3 is for 6 to 12 months; and
- size 4 is normally for ~9 to 18 months.
Please note that there is some overlap and, of course, babies come in different sizes and grow at different rates. We hope these general guidelines are useful for you and your customers.
Kids’ Boots
Koolaburra kids’ boots come in U.S. children’s shoe sizes (whole sizes only). Kids’ boots start at size 5 and go through size 13, then start again at size 1 and go through size 4. (Size 5 is the smallest; size 1 is the next size larger than 13; size 4 is the largest.)
A kids’ 5 is for a very small child who may just be starting to walk, approximately 18 months of age. Once a child is wearing a kids’ 3, they are approaching adult sizing. Their age at this stage can vary widely.
The footbed of the kids’ size 3 boot is equivalent to an adult men’s 4 (women’s 5). The kids’ 4 is similarly equivalent to an adult men’s 5 (women’s 6). Please note that the kids’ boot is NOT identical to the adult boot: kids’ boots are shorter on the leg than the mid-calf adult boot. When a child grows out of a kids’ size 4, their next higher size will be an adult men’s 6 (women’s 7) in the classic short or tall style. [back]
- Are special orders available?
- Yes. Our retailers can place special orders, which generally take 4-6 weeks to produce. The most common types of special orders are existing styles in colors that we do not normally stock. We also take special orders for Tatu designs on other colors (12-pair minimum) and for custom-embroidered words on Kettle Black boots. There is an extra cost associated with special orders; please call your local retailer for details.
[back] - How should I care for my Koolaburra® footwear?
- First and foremost, we strongly recommend protecting your boots with Koolaburra® Water & Stain Repellant, especially in wet or snowy climates. Our repellant can be ordered by any store that carries Koolaburra products.
In addition, every owner of fine sheepskin footwear deserves an extra replacement insole. Swap the insoles out every couple of weeks, or more often if you wear the boots frequently. If necessary, remove and wash the insoles with Koolaburra® Sheepskin Shampoo with Lanolin, which freshens them and keeps the wool exquisitely soft. Regularly washing and replacing your insoles will keep your boots feeling great for years.
If your footwear becomes soiled, we recommend professional cleaning by a reputable shoe repair shop. If you would prefer to clean them yourself, we recommend first attempting to remove any loose dirt or smudges with a very soft nylon bristle suede brush. Brush very gently -- never scrub. You may also hand-wash your footwear with Koolaburra® Sheepskin Shampoo with Lanolin, following the instructions on the bottle. Be careful to wash both entire boots, and wash the insoles separately. Never spot clean or scrub roughly. Dry slowly away from heat and sunlight. Some dye loss and temporary stiffening of the sheepskin is normal. For best results, apply Koolaburra® Water and Stain Repellant after washing.
[back] - Do you have another question? Should we add to this list? Let us know!
