Uggs are all the rage, but....

[minniebeth]

How are Emus? I just can't justify $140 pair of boots when 1. DD's feet are still growing and, 2. she is just not responsible enough to take good care of them. Yet she really wants a pair for Christmas. The Emus look just like the Uggs and are more than half the price. Can anyone tell me what the difference is and that the Emus will serve their purpose? Thanks!

 

[simba928]

I live in those style shoes all winter. I literally wear them every single day from the first snow fall to the day it all melts in the spring. I usually just buy a cheap pair, usually from Costco. They're like $30. I'm so hard on them, though, that they only last me one season. I think, depending on how often your daughter will wear them and since you said her feet are still growing, a cheap pair like that will be fine. This year I gave in and bought a pair of Emus figuring they might last me more than one season. They were $50 at Macy's a few weeks ago so we'll see how well they hold up.

 

[NotAmused]

I have a pair of Emus that I still wear from 3 years ago and a pair of the "Bear Paws" brand. I absolutely love both of them. They may not be Uggs, but they still look the same and are super comfy and warm.

 

[AshleyW]

How are Emus? I just can't justify $140 pair of boots when 1. DD's feet are still growing and, 2. she is just not responsible enough to take good care of them. Yet she really wants a pair for Christmas. The Emus look just like the Uggs and are more than half the price. Can anyone tell me what the difference is and that the Emus will serve their purpose? Thanks!

My future MIL buys the Emu boots instead of the UGG boots, and there's really not much of a difference. Hers have held up just as long as my UGG boots have. Most of the Emu boots are still made in Australia, whereas UGGs are now made in China. If I didn't get the UGGs for free while working at Nordstrom, I probably would have just gotten the Emu boots instead.

 

[klacey1]

I bought a pair of non-sheepskin Emu's last year and to be honest, there's a small rip along the instep of the left shoe. HOWEVER, I am pretty sure it's because the boots were too big (were intially a little big and then stretched with wear), forcing all of my weight on the instep of the shoe, adding too much stress. I normally wear a size 6, which is what I bought the boots in, but if I get a new pair this year, I think I'm going to get a 5. Sizing down would be my reccomendation (I think the Ugg company also reccomends sizing a full number down)

 

[bananda]

you can get uggs that are not a particular brand here. mine were about $20 from a reasonably priced clothing store. i've had them for about 2 or 3 years. you dont need to get expensive ones. cheap is usually just as good (in my experience)

 

[Sparx]

i suggest bear paw they're half the price, and the same quality.
http://www.bearpawshoes.com/

 

[pirateofthecarolinas]

I bought my daughter the faux Uggs last year and she was immediately told at middle school that they were FUGGS. Fake Uggs!

My MIL has bought her a pair of Uggs for Christmas. $193.00. She really wanted them and MIL lets the kids choose what they really want. DS15 got a $200.00 baseball glove.

I stay out of it.

 

[MAKmom]

How are Emus? I just can't justify $140 pair of boots when 1. DD's feet are still growing and, 2. she is just not responsible enough to take good care of them. Yet she really wants a pair for Christmas. The Emus look just like the Uggs and are more than half the price. Can anyone tell me what the difference is and that the Emus will serve their purpose? Thanks!

How old is your DD? That is the big question. You can find Uggs at Goods Home stores & TJ Max if she is younger than Middle School. If she is in Middle School I would get her the real thing. Her foot is not going to grow that much. They run big so you will have some room to grow. She will wear them all year round.

 

[Cindy B]

Yes, I would get the real thing as well. My daughter (7th grade) told me that she would rather go without instead of fake uggs.

I was at a function at her school and was wearing a pair of ugg like boots that I bought at Kohl's. One of the parents next to me-- ad ad even!-- started poking his wife next to him pointing at my shoes and said "Look honey.. FUGGS!"

So if they are that "comfortable" with a parent, imagine how cruel other kids would be.

 

[Shoshana]

I wouldn't consider Bear Paws or Emus "fake" Uggs. They're all name brands, kind of like Nike, Addidas, Rebok.

I have a pair of Uggs and even though I used suede protector and never wore them when it was wet/snowy, the suede is so thin that it's rubbed off on top. I've read reviews where the quality of Uggs has suffered since they've switched to making them in China and the reviews for Emus are better.

I guess even if my dd were old enough to be that brand conscious, if I'd done the research and learned that the most expensive brand were not as high quality as the other, I wouldn't buy them.

 

[jfranklyn]

My daughter (age 11) got a pair of Bearclaws last year. They were fine for keeping her feet warm, but despite the fact that they were the correct size, she "shlomped" in them. That's the word I use to describe people dragging their shoes along the floor. It drove me crazy. This year, she begged for Uggs and we got them as an early Christmas gift. She LOVES them and walks perfectly normal in them. I think it's because of the way the actual foot area of the boot is constructed. The bearclaws are not a structured heel, but the Uggs are. Anyway, she fit into a child's 6, so the price difference between the two brands ended up being only about $50. It is totally worth it for her to feel "cool", and me to see her walking normally and in love with her shoes.

 

[Melrosgirl]

The inside (sheepskin?) of the Uggs is nicer than the Emus.

 

[Princess.Neve]

Hmm, I'm not sure how helpful this will be, but if you do decide to breakdown and get her the real thing, I know that the children sized Uggs are about $90-110. You can get them in the children shoes in Nordstroms. They fit up to an adult size 8. That is what I got and I wear an adult 7 1/2. (Plus they still come in pink! )

 

[agnes!]

Yes, I would get the real thing as well. My daughter (7th grade) told me that she would rather go without instead of fake uggs.

I was at a function at her school and was wearing a pair of ugg like boots that I bought at Kohl's. One of the parents next to me-- ad ad even!-- started poking his wife next to him pointing at my shoes and said "Look honey.. FUGGS!"

So if they are that "comfortable" with a parent, imagine how cruel other kids would be.

What a TOOL. I would have been tempted to look at him and say "*Nice* manners, I can easily see you're a genuine jerk."

agnes!

 

[luvmy3]

I wouldn't consider Bear Paws or Emus "fake" Uggs. They're all name brands, kind of like Nike, Addidas, Rebok.

I have a pair of Uggs and even though I used suede protector and never wore them when it was wet/snowy, the suede is so thin that it's rubbed off on top. I've read reviews where the quality of Uggs has suffered since they've switched to making them in China and the reviews for Emus are better.

I guess even if my dd were old enough to be that brand conscious, if I'd done the research and learned that the most expensive brand were not as high quality as the other, I wouldn't buy them.

But to a middle school aged girl, the name you are wearing means more than wearing just any name brand. Thankfully my dd is perfectly happy with UGG style boots that have peace signs embroidered on them. She would like the real thing because I have them but I am not spending that much on shoes for her yet.
OP, if your dd doesn't care about the UGG name and just wants the style, the EMU is the way to go if you are looking for quality. My TJMAxx had them for $50-$60
My dd had Bearpaws last year and they didn't even last through the season, they are a total waste of money.

 

[Shoshana]

But to a middle school aged girl, the name you are wearing means more than wearing just any name brand. Thankfully my dd is perfectly happy with UGG style boots that have peace signs embroidered on them. She would like the real thing because I have them but I am not spending that much on shoes for her yet..

I understand that, I have a number of brand-conscious nieces and nephews, plus I remember being that age (surprisingly

That said, money is an object is my family. Even at my dd's age, if I consented to every wish and name brand, we'd be broke. When it's solely an issue of quality, I am likely to pay more money -- cheap quality is a waste. But when it's soley an issue of brand and appearance and fitting in, well, I think there are ultimately more frugal and meaningful ways of responding.

That's just my opinion and I realize it might not be a popular one -- especially among the kids!

 

[minniebeth]

Thanks for the replies everyone~
My DD is 12 and she is in 7th grade, but goes to private school so she wears a uniform to school everyday, including shoes. If she were wearing them everyday, I would consider spending the $ for the Uggs.
It comes down to if she wants Uggs then she compromises somewhere else.
She has other things on her list she really wants. I asked her if she would be willing to compromise on the brand and get other things or if she wanted the Uggs and give up somewhere else. She was willing to compromise on the brand, so I was just wondering if the quality of the Emus were worth the price. They are on sale at Dick's Sporting Goods this week, so for a good price, I think we'll go with that since she won't be wearing them everyday.

It looks like they will be fine for her purpose. Now DD7 wants them too!

Now if only I could get myself a pair of Uggs!

 

[punkin]

My DD11 wants uggs too, but she is not getting them. I don't think they are good for growing feet. They have no support whatsoever.

 

[mjkacmom]

Yes, I would get the real thing as well. My daughter (7th grade) told me that she would rather go without instead of fake uggs.

I was at a function at her school and was wearing a pair of ugg like boots that I bought at Kohl's. One of the parents next to me-- ad ad even!-- started poking his wife next to him pointing at my shoes and said "Look honey.. FUGGS!"

So if they are that "comfortable" with a parent, imagine how cruel other kids would be.

I agree - dd13 had real Uggs in the 6th/7th grade (I bought them big to get 2 years out of them), but she found a pair of Emu's (FUGGS) in TJMAX, and bought them. However, just this morning she mentioned wanted a specific pair of UGGS for Christmas. So, FUGGS for back to school shopping, UGGS for Christmas.