Koolaburra by UGG was the lower-priced sister brand of UGG, sold through department stores and big-box retailers from 2016 until Deckers shuttered it at the end of 2025. If you own a pair, or you’re hunting for clearance stock, here’s the full story.<\/p>\n
Koolaburra by UGG was a mid-tier footwear line owned by Deckers Brands, the same parent company that owns UGG. It used UGG-style silhouettes (boots, slippers, mocs) at lower prices by swapping pure sheepskin for blends of sheepskin, faux fur, and synthetic linings. In January 2025, Deckers announced it was winding the brand down to focus its portfolio on UGG and Hoka. The standalone koolaburra.com<\/strong> website closed on March 31, 2025, and the brand was fully discontinued by the end of 2025.<\/p>\n The original Koolaburra was an independent sheepskin footwear company founded in 1991 in Santa Barbara, California. It competed directly with UGG in the early 2000s and used the term “ug” and “ugg” in its marketing.<\/p>\n Deckers Outdoor Corporation, the parent of UGG, sued Koolaburra over use of the “ugg” and “ug” terms. Deckers won. Koolaburra had to stop using those words.<\/p>\n Deckers bought Koolaburra outright in 2015 for an undisclosed price.<\/p>\n Deckers relaunched the line a year later as Koolaburra by UGG<\/strong>, positioning it as the cheaper alternative to the flagship UGG brand. It hit shelves at JCPenney, Kohl’s, Macy’s, Nordstrom Rack, DSW, Zappos, Amazon, Rack Room Shoes, and similar mid-market retailers.<\/p>\n Deckers announced it would phase out Koolaburra (along with the Ahnu hiking line) to concentrate resources on UGG and Hoka, its two major growth brands.<\/p>\n The official koolaburra.com<\/strong> website shut down. The URL no longer sells product.<\/p>\n By the close of 2025, Koolaburra was no longer in active production. Remaining inventory was left to sell through at retail partners.<\/p>\n The two lines used the same parent company’s design DNA, but the materials were not equivalent. Koolaburra boots were lighter, less insulating, and not built for the same lifespan as flagship UGG sheepskin.<\/p>\n Once Deckers stopped production, the only remaining stock sits with third-party retailers. As leftovers sell through, sizes and styles disappear permanently. Check:<\/p>\n Do not type “koolaburra.com” \u2014 that domain is dead. Sites that look like the old direct store may be unaffiliated resellers; check the URL before paying.<\/p>\n Existing Koolaburra footwear is fine to keep wearing. Care is the same as before:<\/p>\n The original 1-year limited warranty was administered by Deckers. With the brand wound down, contact Deckers customer service directly through the UGG website’s help center if you have a defective pair still inside the warranty window. After the wind-down, returns generally fall back on the retailer that sold them \u2014 check that store’s policy.<\/p>\n If you liked Koolaburra’s look at a budget price, the closest substitutes in 2026 are:<\/p>\n It was made by Deckers Brands, the same company that owns UGG, but it was a separate, lower-priced product line \u2014 not the flagship UGG brand.<\/p>\n Deckers said it wanted to focus its resources on UGG and Hoka, its two highest-growth brands. Koolaburra and the Ahnu hiking line were both phased out at the same time.<\/p>\n No. Like UGG, they used suede or sheepskin uppers and were water-resistant at best. Treat with a repellent spray and avoid soaking them.<\/p>\n Defective pairs inside the 1-year window can still be raised with Deckers customer service through the UGG help center. After that, the retailer’s return policy is your best route.<\/p>\n No. Deckers closed the site on March 31, 2025, and has not signaled any plan to revive the brand.<\/p>\nBrand history<\/h2>\n
1991: Original Koolaburra in Santa Barbara<\/h3>\n
2005: Lost lawsuit to Deckers<\/h3>\n
2015: Deckers acquires Koolaburra<\/h3>\n
2016: Relaunch as Koolaburra by UGG<\/h3>\n
January 2025: Wind-down announced<\/h3>\n
March 31, 2025: Direct site closes<\/h3>\n
End of 2025: Fully shuttered<\/h3>\n
How Koolaburra differed from UGG<\/h2>\n
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\n <\/th>\n UGG<\/th>\n Koolaburra by UGG<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n \n Price range<\/td>\n $110\u2013$250+<\/td>\n $50\u2013$120<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Upper material<\/td>\n Twin-faced sheepskin<\/td>\n Suede, leather, or synthetic uppers<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Lining<\/td>\n Pure UGGpure or sheepskin<\/td>\n Faux fur or sheepskin\/synthetic blend<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Sold at<\/td>\n UGG stores, ugg.com, premium retailers<\/td>\n Mid-market retailers (JCPenney, Kohl’s, DSW)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Status<\/td>\n Active<\/td>\n Discontinued (end of 2025)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n Where to still find Koolaburra by UGG<\/h2>\n
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If you already own a pair<\/h2>\n
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Warranty and returns<\/h3>\n
What to buy instead<\/h2>\n
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FAQs<\/h2>\n
Is Koolaburra by UGG real UGG?<\/h3>\n
Why did Deckers discontinue Koolaburra?<\/h3>\n
Are Koolaburra boots waterproof?<\/h3>\n
Can I still get warranty service?<\/h3>\n
Is the koolaburra.com website coming back?<\/h3>\n
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