UGGs, UGGs , UGGs! Every year, once the weather starts to hit below 50 degrees, it seems as if a clock goes off, hinting that it’s time to begin wearing the well-admired Uggs. Most of the shoes under the Ugg brand look like well-built, sturdy shoes built for the cold of winter.  But once you start to wear the seemingly well-built shoe, unexpected and quite unlikeable things start to happen.  Are these shoes really made to endure this winter weather?

Common issues that occur after purchasing a pair of UGGs are water damage to the shoes or just staining in general. Leslie Gomez, a freshman  who has gone through the horror, said:  ” I mean my UGGs got damaged just from the rain, which made me pretty upset, and after the UGGs dried a little, there were like little dark brown spots.”  Another story comes from Kimberly Arana, a sophomore. She said: ” I’ve dropped food on my UGGs before and the grease stained them, it was so difficult to try and get the stain out, and in the end it’s still very visible.”  These two stories show that Uggs are definitely not the stain-resistant type of shoe. But nevertheless, there are ways to prevent staining and water damage!

Not many people consider the fact that there are ways to protect their precious Uggs from vicious water damage. The most common way you can ensure your UGGs are cared for is by buying water & stain protector spray. These spray prices are usually around $10-$30. UGG themselves have their own care package for their shoes, which is $40. Does anyone actually care for their UGGs to this extent, though? Isabella Lopez states that she actually does go through this process. She told me, “I actually do use a spray on my shoes, it basically makes your UGGs waterproof. I would say it works for the most part. After I sprayed it onto my UGGs, I could definitely see a difference.”

UGGs are a highly favored shoe during icy cold winters. But why are UGGs just so utterly ubiquitous? Could it be their somewhat “sturdy” exterior, or more so their stylish design? After interviewing, I found out that many do not wear the treasured UGGs for their protection against this frostbite-worthy cold, but instead for the cuteness that comes along with the purchase of the shoes. Darlene Cruz, a freshman, states her feelings after she told me: “I wear UGGs mostly for the aesthetic. UGGs are really cute with basic outfits like sweats and a hoodie; they go with really anything.”  Isabella Lopez, a freshman, gives me her view on this question after stating: “I’ll say I wear UGGs more for the style of them, I like how the UGGs are comfortable, and I think that they are very stylish, but I do have shoes that can handle things like snow and rain better than UGGs .” 

Most of the time when purchasing a pair of shoes, or mostly anything, the performance of said item is most likely going to be more up to standard as soon as you purchase the item. Over time, though, the performance of the item will begin to go downhill. Do the same rules apply to UGGs, though? Kimberley Arana, a sophomore, said: “I honestly don’t think my UGGs were ever able to handle weather that good, even when I first got them. I’ve had water damage and staining happen to my UGGs ever since they came out of the box brand new.”

Throughout this article, you can really only see the negative side of this well-known shoe. Although this is less than a handful of people’s opinion on this shoe, we can still get an idea of what the public thinks of this popular brand. What do you think? Are UGGs really all that and more?