When winter comes around, there’s nothing we want more than to be cozy and warm when we go out in the snow. You grab your hat, coat, and gloves and then look at your footwear—the question arises, “can you wear Uggs in the snow?”
It’s not a definitive “yes or no” answer. It depends on the Ugg boots you have. Let’s take a look at which ones are suitable for wintry wet days and which ones only when it’s dry.
Are All Ugg Boots Waterproof?
What you might think of as traditional Ugg boots, are the iconic comfortable sheepskin ones that everybody recognizes. They’re worn by celebrities and us ordinary folk the world over. However, these classic suede boots are unfortunately not designed for you to wear in the snow and rain.
While they will keep your feet warm and dry for a short time, water will eventually seep through. They aren’t waterproof. The result will be cold, wet feet, and maybe ruined boots.
After investing your money in them, this will be the last thing you want. Wear them in the snow at your peril, but they will look like you’ve put them through the wringer. You are better off keeping them for cold, dry days.
Luckily, some Ugg boots are waterproof, but we’ll come to those in a moment. Firstly, let’s look at what you can do to help keep your classic Uggs looking good.
How Do I Protect My Uggs From Snow
Ultimately, you shouldn’t wear classic Uggs in the snow. However, if you get caught out, there are some things you can do to help keep your Uggs looking good and possibly prolong their life.
Cleaning Ugg Boots
Cleaning your Ugg boots can restore their look if you end up with salt or watermarks on them from snow.
Regular brushing with a suede brush will remove surface dirt and debris and raise the nap of the suede. When your boots are dry, brush them gently, making sure you do so in one direction only. If you have any scuff marks, you might need to be a little more vigorous; moving the brush strokes back and forth.
You can use a suede eraser to remove more stubborn marks and stains. This one from Sapphir is a good choice. You use it much as you would a pencil eraser, rubbing over the stain until it’s gone.
This video shows you how to do it.
There might also be occasions when all your boots need is a little attention from a suede cleaner. Ugg makes a kit containing the necessary equipment to clean and protect your boots.
After brushing your boots, soak a sponge or clean cloth with fresh water. Dampen the boots all over, making sure you don’t saturate them. Apply a small amount of cleaner to your sponge and gently work it into your boots.
Once you have covered the whole boots and removed any stains or marks, wipe the excess soap away with another clean damp sponge. Stuff your boots with paper to help them keep their shape and dry them in a ventilated area away from direct heat and sunlight. It can take about 24 hours for them to dry.
Finally, raise the nap of the suede again by gently brushing with your suede brush.
You can read our full article on how to clean Ugg boots for step-by-step instructions.
Waterproofing Ugg Boots
When you first buy your Ugg boots, it’s a good idea to waterproof them before you wear them. You should also do this every time you clean them to protect them from watermarks and stains in the future.
You will need your suede brush and a waterproof spray suitable for suede. You could use the one out of the Ugg kit if you have it. Or choose one like this from Cadillac.
Once you’ve brushed your boots and removed all the debris and dust, evenly coat the outside of your boots with the spray. Make sure you don’t soak them.
Leave your boots in a well-ventilated area away from direct sunlight and heat for at least 24 hours to dry. Restore the nap with your suede brush. You can read step-by-step instructions in our guide to waterproofing Ugg boots.
Ugg Boots for Snow and Rain
Ugg does make some boots that can withstand wet, snowy weather.
Fabricated from leather or PVC, among other materials, they have sealed-seams and other waterproofing properties.
These include materials that repel water and a patented DryTech construction to keep your feet dry and warm. The linings and insoles are made from cozy materials like sheepskin or fleece. They’re generally designed to wick any moisture away from your feet.
Many also have additional traction in the outsole for grip. Some of the snow boots are rated for weather as cold as -25 degrees Fahrenheit.
You could choose the Sienna rain shoe which comes in sizes 5 to 12 for women. There are seven color choices, including red, black, blue, coral, and white. Their shiny finish will pair with your classiest winter outfit for some snowtime fun.
Alternately there are the ladies Kesey boots, which have a leather seam-sealed upper and a wool shaft. They have a zipper on the inside and a decorative buckle. Lined with Uggpure wool and waterproof, they will keep feet warm and dry. Sizes available are from a 5 to 12.
For the men there’s the Hannen leather boot, which has an Uggpure wool lining. They’re available in cordovan, dark chestnut, and black in sizes 7 to 18. The seam-sealed uppers are waterproof to protect your feet during cold, snowy spells.
For a more casual look, you could choose the men’s Olivert snow boots. They come in four colors, slate, black, Norse green, and grizzly brown, and sizes 7 to 18. The uppers are seam-sealed; they have a moisture-wicking fleece lining, and they’re cold-weather rated.
These are by no means all of the boots Ugg manufactures suitable for wearing in the snow, but it gives you an idea of the type of boot available.
The company’s weatherproof range is quite extensive, so there are sure to be a pair of Uggs that will have you covered for snowy days.
Ready for Snowy Weather
As you can see, returning to our original question, “can you wear Uggs in the snow?”, yes, you can, and no you can’t.
The classic suede Uggs would be ruined, and your feet would end up cold and wet. However, those designed as rain boots or snow boots are purpose made for the job.
Before taking your Uggs for a test walk in wintry weather, check the manufacturer’s label. This should tell you if the boots you have are suitable for snow or not.
We hope you enjoyed our guide, and you now know which Uggs you can wear when the white stuff descends from the sky. Please leave us a comment with your experiences of Uggs and snowy weather, and don’t forget to share.
