Do People Still Wear UGG Boots in 2025?

It’s December in Wellington, and the rain is sideways. You pull on your boots-warm, fuzzy, and just a little bit ridiculous-and wonder: does anyone still wear UGG boots? The answer isn’t yes or no. It’s more like… UGG boots never really left. They just changed who’s wearing them and why.

They’re not just for college dorms anymore

Ten years ago, UGG boots were the go-to for lazy Sundays, yoga studios, and dorm rooms. They had a reputation for being cozy but uncool. Now? You’ll see them on CEOs in Melbourne, on mothers dropping kids off at school in Portland, and on fashion editors in Paris. The shift wasn’t sudden. It was quiet. Like a slow tide.

Brands like UGG, by now owned by Deckers Outdoor Corporation, stopped pretending they were just slippers with soles. They redesigned. Thinner soles. Sleeker silhouettes. Leather linings instead of just fleece. They introduced ankle boots, Chelsea styles, even waterproof versions. The classic Twin Set? Still there. But now it’s paired with tailored pants, not sweatpants.

Real people aren’t wearing them because they’re trendy. They’re wearing them because they work. After a long day on concrete floors, after walking through wet grass in the rain, after chasing toddlers through parks-UGGs deliver comfort that nothing else does. And in 2025, comfort isn’t a compromise. It’s a priority.

Who’s buying them now?

The old stereotype? College girls in Minnesota. The new buyer? A 42-year-old nurse in Toronto who works 12-hour shifts. A 58-year-old teacher in Wellington who walks the dog every morning in freezing drizzle. A 28-year-old freelance designer in Berlin who needs boots that don’t pinch after 8 hours of Zoom calls.

Women over 35 are the fastest-growing segment of UGG buyers. Why? They’ve tried every kind of boot-stilettos, chunky soles, lace-ups-and they’ve learned one thing: if your feet hurt, nothing else matters. UGGs don’t fix bad posture or weak arches. But they cushion the blow. And that’s enough.

Younger shoppers are buying them too, but differently. They’re not buying the $200 classic. They’re buying the $120 mini boot from the UGG x Reformation collab. Or the recycled wool version from the brand’s sustainability line. They care about materials. They care about ethics. And UGG has responded. Since 2022, they’ve used 40% less water in production. Their tanning process is now Chrome-free. They’ve launched a take-back program. It’s not perfect. But it’s progress.

The competition didn’t disappear-it evolved

You might think UGGs are alone in the sheepskin space. They’re not. Brands like Bearpaw, Sorel, and even Dr. Martens now make sheepskin-lined boots. Some are cheaper. Some are more stylish. Some are better waterproofed.

But here’s the thing: none of them have the same brand recognition. When you say “UGG,” people know what you mean. When you say “sheepskin boot,” they picture a dozen different things. That’s power. That’s legacy.

And UGG knows it. They don’t compete on price. They compete on trust. Their customer service is surprisingly good. If your boots start to fray after two winters, they’ll send you a replacement. No questions asked. That’s rare in footwear.

Are they still ugly?

Let’s be honest. The original UGG boot looks like a sheep wrapped around your foot. But fashion doesn’t care about “looks” anymore. It cares about feeling. And if you’ve ever worn a pair after a long day, you know: that fuzzy hug is addictive.

Style has changed. The boots themselves haven’t. And that’s the point. UGGs aren’t trying to be fashionable. They’re trying to be functional. And in a world where everything is optimized for speed, efficiency, and appearance-UGGs are a rebellion. A quiet one. Worn on bare feet, with socks rolled down, in the kitchen at 7 a.m.

They’re not for everyone. If you need ankle support for hiking, don’t buy UGGs. If you need waterproof boots for snowstorms, get something else. But if you need something that feels like a warm blanket for your feet? There’s still nothing better.

What’s changed in the last five years?

In 2020, UGG boots were mostly beige. Now? You can get them in charcoal, olive, rust, even deep teal. They’ve added removable insoles for orthotics. They’ve made the soles less slippery. They’ve even introduced a line with a gel heel cushion-designed for people who stand all day.

They’ve also stopped making the cheap, plastic-lined versions that fell apart after one winter. The $80 boots you see at discount stores? Those aren’t the same as the ones sold in their own stores. The real UGGs are made with Grade-A twin-face sheepskin. That means the wool is on the inside, the hide on the outside. It’s breathable. It’s durable. It molds to your foot over time.

And here’s a secret: if you buy a pair and take care of them, they’ll last five years. Not two. Five. That’s longer than most sneakers. Longer than most designer boots. And they cost less than half of what a pair of designer ankle boots runs.

Are they worth the money?

Let’s say you spend $180 on a pair. You wear them for three winters. That’s $60 a year. Compare that to buying a new pair of boots every season because the soles crack or the lining tears. Or worse-buying a pair that looks good but gives you blisters every time.

UGGs aren’t luxury. They’re investment. You’re not paying for a logo. You’re paying for comfort that lasts. For warmth that doesn’t fade. For feet that don’t ache.

And if you’ve ever stood in a cold kitchen at 6 a.m., barefoot, shivering, wishing you had something to slip on-then you already know the answer.

So… do people still wear them?

Yes. And they’re not wearing them because they’re trendy. They’re wearing them because they’ve tried everything else-and UGGs still win.

They’re not fashion. They’re survival. And in 2025, survival looks a lot like cozy, fuzzy, slightly silly boots on wet pavement. No apology needed.