My first pair of Ugg boots were the Chocolate Classic Mini II that I received for Christmas over a decade ago. No matter how unshapely they have gotten over the years, they’re a pair I refuse to part with because nothing beats their comfort and warmth! This year, I thought rather than replacing them with a new one, I’d look into repair options instead. Along the way, I learned that Ugg now offers an ‘Ugg Renew’ program which is a repair program for their older Classic boots. If you’re researching how to restore your Ugg boots, this post shares all the details on what to expect in the process!
Disclosure: This post makes use of affiliate links, which may result in a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
What is the Ugg Renew Program?
Ugg Renew is a new repair program launched by UGG, in collaboration with NuShoe. I am new to this company, but across my research, learned that they are the leading shoe repair company worldwide and based out of California. The program currently only accepts Classic Boots with Black, Gray, Chocolate Brown, or Chestnut soles.
Services are offered at 3 different levels, which include shampooing, resoleing, and/or binding replacement. If you’re researching how to restore Ugg boots, below is a summary of all the services and prices. More details found on the Ugg Renew website.
Why I Chose to Repair Instead of Buy New
I recently made the decision to no longer purchase new fur products. Given that the leather and shearling of my boots were still in good condition, I was hopeful there would be a restoration option to give these shoes another life.
Not to mention, I’ve read reviews that the quality of the Classic Boot is no longer the same in later models. The current colors have changed too. After weighing my options, it made sense to stick with my old pair. Sometimes, nothing beats the quality (and connection) we have to those ‘forever pieces’.
Ugg Renew Program: What to Expect from the Process
I chose the ‘Restore’ option (you can also watch my IG Reel HERE), which replaced the outsole as well as shampooed and conditioned my leather. Here is the step by step of how everything went down.
- You complete a form on the model of boots you have (color, length) and the service you’d like.
- UGG provides you a shipping label, which you can affix to a box of your choice.
- Ship your boots.
- Once delivered, you need to wait ~4-weeks for the service to completed, at which point, you’ll receive a return shipping label to track your repaired boots.
- End-to-end process took exactly 1-month. Plan accordingly for the winter months!
- Enjoy the look of your like-new UGGs.
The only nerve-wracking part of the process is once your boots are sent off you don’t have any visibility into which part of the repair process has been completed. You just have to trust the process until the boots get returned back to you.
Apart from that, I found the process simple and streamlined. You can always reach out to their customer service email (info@uggrenew.com) if you have questions along the way, and they are pretty responsive!
Before & After: How My Ugg Boots Look After Being Restored
Although I didn’t accumulate any tears from extended wear, my boots looked pretty misshapened and the outsoles were completely thinned. I was impressed that when I received the finished results, they looked plush and new again!
- From the front: NuShoe helped to steam clean these boots, lift stains, deodorize, and condition the leather. They also added a generous amount of tissue paper stuffing to help these boots retain their shape again.
- From the bottom: The outsole was replaced by their new sugarcane based foam outsole (Sugarsole). I love that this material comes from a renewable source.
- From the inside: The shearling looks super lush. They do not replace the footbed, so this part of the shoe felt the same as before. If you are in need of upgrading that component, I learned that they sell Sheepskin Insoles as well.
What the Ugg Renew Program Does NOT Cover
While the Ugg Renew program is super helpful, it is important to understand what services are not covered.
- They do not patch holes or tears, and they do not replace sheepskin.
- They do not replace the fleece lining of the footbed.
- If you have questions on whether your boots can be restored, send photos of your shoes to info@uggrenew.com to double check before you ship them out!
How to Restore Ugg Boots with Simple At-Home Tips
Now that my boots are restored, I assume it’ll be another few years before I send them back in. In the meantime, you can always care for them at-home using the UGG Care Kit. It sold out very fast during the holidays, but Nordstrom and Amazon also carry this set.
Their bundle comes with these items:
- Protector: A water-and-stain repellent spray that protects your shoes from the elements.
- Cleaner & Conditioner: Lanolin-based, and rejuvenates sheepskin.
- Shoe Renew: A freshening spray that helps reduce odor.
- Bamboo Handle Brush & Scuff Eraser: Helps keep the leather finish looking fresh and clean.
If you are on the search for how to restore your Ugg boots, I hope you found this program helpful. I personally did not have connections to a local cobbler, and I am sure with every request, the costs can add up. Thankfully, the Ugg Renew program now offers an affordable solution to restore your old Classic boots!
