UGG Boots Review: Best Boots for Couch-to-Cafe Wear

Writing an UGG boots review is a pretty heavy dose of nostalgia. I received my first pair of UGGs for Christmas in the year [redacted to protect my age from the Gen Zs to whom I lie about it at bars]. I was in my early teens and had spotted Carrie Bradshaw wearing a special limited edition cranberry-colored iteration of the Classic Short Boot on Sex & the City.

I heard that you didn’t need to wear socks with these mythical boots, that they’d keep your feet warm in the winter and cool in the summer thanks to their moisture-wicking wool interior, and that they were all the rage among the mythically cool surfer girls of Australia.

I had to have them.

Ugg Boots Pros

• Cozy wool lining
• Very lightweight
• Warmest casual winter boots I own; no cold feet here
• Can be worn without socks
• 7 colors to choose from
• Made with sustainable materials (like EVA from recycled sugar cane)

Ugg Boots Cons

• Pretty indoorsy shoes; don’t challenge them
• Wearing UGGs for long walks can be a bit of a pain if you need arch support or thick soles
• Pretty pricy for what you’re getting

About UGG Boots

Back in 1978, an Australian surf bro named Brian Smith relocated to Southern California for graduate school at UCLA. Determined to avoid the boring accounting job his degree had prepared him for, he decided to become an entrepreneur instead.

The idea for sheepskin boots came to him while reading a copy of Surfer magazine advertising the ubiquitous sheepskin boots that most Australian surfers wore to keep their feet warm after a day of hanging ten, a term I know because despite the fact that I can’t even properly cling to a boogie board, I own a pair of UGGs.

Realizing that the trend had not yet spread to the States, Smith decided to be the one to spread it. He founded UGG Imports with $500 of start-up money, and by the mid ’80s, the classic UGG boot had become synonymous with SoCal beach culture.

In the years since UGG has grown from surf shop standby to an iconic brand for celebrities wearing sweatshirts and comfy-shoe-lovers of all stripes. Today, the company sells a humongous range of footwear along with clothing, handbags, and other accessories. But the original Classic Short Boot remains their bestseller.

UGG Boots Aesthetic

• 8 inches tall
• Laceless
• A little chunky from the thick lining
• Maybe ugly, maybe not

The UGG aesthetic is a love-it-or-hate-it situation with perennial appeal/controversy. But haters, take note: In this particular year of our lord, 2024, they are officially “back with a vengeance.”

To thank for this, I believe we have an array of Jenners and Hadids and a Y2K fashion revival that simply will not die but the Classic Short Boot’s timeless design and unbeatable snuggly-ness don’t hurt either. Aside from noting its 8-inch shaft height, I probably don’t need to describe to you what a Classic Short UGG boot looks like. You already know.

 

 

 

 

 

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UGG Boots Construction

This boot is built like a cozy blankie for your feet. Its soft sheepskin exterior features overlock stitch detailing on the seams and suede heel counters for structure. The sheepskin is treated topically for water repellency, which means it’ll resist mild amounts of water—a light ocean spray, perhaps, or a dry dusting of snow—but I would not advise stepping in any puddles or wearing these boots when the sky is actively weeping.

UGG Boots Outsole

• Lightweight cushy outsole

The outsole is very, very cushiony with decent traction, and made of either SugarSole™ (a “responsible compound using sugarcane foam that allows us to reduce dependency on fossil fuels by replacing petroleum-based ethylene”) or a Treadlite by UGG™ Proprietary compound. Whichever I got, I imagine they’re practically interchangeable.

I found the sole of my boots decently durable and extremely lightweight, which I love. This boot is SO light.

UGG Boots Lining

• Sheepskin lining

My favorite thing about UGGs, though, is that you don’t have to wear socks with them. In fact, they’re comfiest when you don’t. Sheepskin breathes naturally and is thermostatic, meaning it keeps bare feet close to your natural body temperature regardless of the weather, and the cloud-like fleece interior wicks away moisture and allows for plenty of air circulation.

As someone whose hands and feet are always cold, I like to wear these around my house as slippers because of how quickly they defrost my icy toes. And if I put them on right after a hot shower, I’m golden. Socks could never.

Are UGG Boots Comfortable?

UGGs are comfortable in that they’re warm, soft, and can be worn without socks. I’m more than happy to wear them around my house in the winter, plus they can also walk out the door when I need groceries or coffee. That gives it a real edge over, say, slippers.

My only complaint is the lack of arch support—and slipping in a pair of my usual go-to Superfeet inserts kinda ruins the effect of the cozy wool interior—which is why I keep these boots around mainly for indoor lounging and quick trips to the bodega. Do not hike in UGGs, folks.

I suppose it’s about as fair to complain about arch support in wool lined UGGs as it is to complain about arch support in house slippers, so don’t consider this a con so much as a feature worth noting.

Sizing

• Fit true to size

UGGs run true to size. My usual size 9s fit like a glove.

Price

• $180

At $180 (that’s after a 2023 price jump) these boots aren’t cheap. And to be brutally honest, you can get plenty of knock-off versions that look exactly the same and cost way less.

UGG alternatives did not give me the same walking-on-clouds feeling that real UGGs do

But for me, it’s not about the UGG label on the back, it’s about the quality of the materials used to make them.

I’ve had fake UGGs before (I called them my FUGGs) and UGG alternatives did not give me the same walking-on-clouds feeling that real UGGs do. They also did not keep my toes warm. Plus, even though these boots are by no means vegan, I like knowing the company values sustainability and ethics, and I’m willing to pay a little more for that.

The sheepskin is from regenerative farms, certified by Land to Market and Responsible Wool Standard, that work hard to restore the mineral content of their soil and preserve the farms for future generations. They repurpose a lot of recycled materials, like Tencel and recycled polyester. The leather is certified by the Leather Working Group, which we’ve written about a lot on this site. The list goes on.

Wrapping Up

Like I said, you either love UGGs or you hate them. Or, if you’re like me, you go through stages of love and hate (high school: love, college: hate, now: I guess love once more??). But you’d be hard-pressed to find a comfier boot, and the sustainable practices justify the price, in my opinion.

I didn’t think I needed UGGs to come back into my life until I slipped my feet back into a pair after more than a decade, and my feet went “ahhh, hello old friend.” Within minutes, said feet turned from two blocks of ice into a pair of cozy little hot dogs in two fluffy little hot dog buns. And that, to me, is worth the hype.

Are UGGs good for wet snow covered trails?

Do not wear the Classic UGG boots hiking; the sole is too thin and they are not waterproof.

Can I go winter hiking in UGG Adirondack iii?

You can do light winter hiking in UGG Adirondack iii. Unlike the Classic UGG it's waterproof, has a more solid and grippy sole, and is rated to -32ºC or -25 degrees Fahrenheit.

Do UGGs have a suede upper?

UGG Boots do not have a suede upper, but it is made from an animal hide. They have a 17mm Twinface sheepskin upper. A twin-face sheepskin piece is processed on both the fleece and skin sides, offering the softness that UGG is renowned for.

What are UGGs' durability like?

Ugg boots are lightweight and not as durable as other winter boots like Sorel boots. They emphasize softness and comfort over outdoorsiness, so just wear them for short walks.

Are UGGs a good winter boot?

UGG boots are a great winter boots for a lightweight casual boot. They don't do well in wet weather, though.

What are the best winter boots?

UGG boots are great winter boots if you want a comfy pair of boots to wear indoor or on short trips outside. For tougher use, consider a Goodyear welted boot like Thursday's Captain boot or Grant Stone.

Do UGG have a sheep lining?

The UGG Classic Short II boots you're probably asking about are lined with sheep's wool that's been processed to reduce the itchiness.