Did you know that Australian Sheepskin Ug boots have always been called Ug, Ugh or Ugg boots and have been made in Australia for almost 200 years? "We always called them Uggs, Smith says, "long before it was a trademarked brand." Brian Smith, Founder UGG Holdings, Inc. Los Angeles Magazine October 1st, 2001

The Ug Boot Story

The original Ug Boot. "Ug," (also spelled "Ugg" and "Ugh" in Australian dictionaries) is not a brand name but an age old generic term for this style of Australian-made sheepskin boot. In Aussie slang, the Ug name is short for "ugly." In terms of comfort, however, the Ug Boot is a thing of beauty. The softness of the Australian Merino sheepskin produces a boot with a snug, cozy, form-fitting feel that’s more like a sock than a shoe, yet it’s rugged enough for outdoor wear. The fleece lining has the astonishing property of providing year-round comfort. In cold weather, the plush fleece provides an insulating layer of warmth by trapping your body heat, much like goose down does. But in the heat of summer, the natural fibers of the fleece actually cool your feet by wicking away perspiration.

Growing Up in Ugs

By the 1970s, in Perth, the largest city on Australia’s West Coast, Ug boots were being manufactured by several small companies in the area. Perth has much the same climate as Southern California and is also a haven for surfers, whom Aussies call "surfies." And it was the community of surfies at the great surfing beaches at Margaret River near Perth who first adopted Ug Boots as their footwear of choice and made them a symbol of the Aussie surfing lifestyle.

Ug Fever Spreads

From the beaches of Western Australia, Ugs were soon seen on the feet of East Coast surfers from Brisbane to Sydney. And it wasn’t long before some of these surfers -- the ones who traded their surfboards for skis in the winter -- found that their Ug Boots were just as at home in the ski resort areas of the Snowy Mountains as they were on the warm sands of Sydney’s Bondi Beach.

It was Aussie surfers, traveling the world in search of the perfect wave, who first introduced their mates in Southern California to the pleasures of the Ug Boot. Ugs soon became a cult fashion among those L.A. surfers who could depend on a buddy ‘down under" to send them a pair of boots.

Ug Essentials

Today the Ug "secret" is out. You’ll find these versatile boots to be in fashion on beaches from San Diego to Santa Cruz and in ski resorts from Tahoe to Vail. And today, you don’t have to "know someone" in Australia who will send you a pair, since there are now a number of companies importing boots of this type. But, if you want the genuine article, you do have to know what you’re looking for because, no matter how they spell it -- Ug, Ugg or Ugh -- there are several importers with look-alike products that fall short of being the real thing.

If you want genuine Ug Boots -- well-made boots with all the qualities that made the original so desirable -- you’ll want to make sure that.....

The boots are made from 100% Australian Merino Sheepskin. This will ensure your purchase is made of the finest Sheepskin hide avaliable.

Please Note:

Beware of very cheap imitations... quite a few boots on the market are made of cow suede with sawn on sheepskin inner fleece off cuts.... Don't take the chance and purchase these boots.... the external cow suede does not breath like 100% sheepskin does and will leave you with a smelly sweaty boot... But I must say these boots do look like the real thing but just don't cut the mustard when compared to authentic ugg boots.

Some of the absolute classic flat womens winter boots of recent years are Uggs. They are warm, come in a huge selection of styles and colors, and go with just about anything. There are other classics too, as well as loads of on-trend boots for each season from affordable brands, copying designer level fashions.

Some of the best-known boots brands include Ugg Australia, Love from Australia, Timberland, Caterpillar, Dr Martens, Blowfish, Firetrap, Crocs and Hunter Wellies.

Ugg Australia and Love From Australia both make luxurious sheepskin boots, such as Uggs, the perfect womens winter boots, but they now also offer other styles of boots. Both brands have ventured into making warmer-weather styles, as even though the sheepskin lining of Uggs wicks away moisture to keep the feet dry, the out soles are quite thick and chunky.

Some of the newer designs look more lightweight and Spring-like in style, for example the very popular Classic Cardy Uggs by Ugg Australia. These not only come in classic earthy colours but they now also come in glorious shades of sorbet, pool and cream.

It's worth remembering that Ugg boots actually originated from the surf beaches of Australia, where there is no shortage of sun, so if the Aussies had the foresight to wrap their feet up in comfy Uggs on the beach, we might as well all follow suit. That means you can wear your winter boots all year round without a worry.

If you prefer a slightly more waterproof boot you should probably look towards a brand such as Timberland or Caterpillar. Both these brands have made waterproof, hard wearing, practical boots for many years, but both have ventured slightly off their traditional path in recent years and added fashion boots to their collections.

If you prefer a boot with a heel look no further than the gorgeous, and very current Blowfish, or the fashion house that is Firetrap. Even Dr Martens have added heels to their boots in recent years, and they now produce a whole range of stylish, fashion boots. A bold move away from their traditional image of making boots for generations of rebels.

If you're more of a welly-wearer in the wetter months there is really only one brand you need to look at and that is Hunter Wellies. Who would have thought that good, old-fashioned Wellington boots would become such a phenomenal, worldwide hit? Anyone who is anyone owns a pair of Hunter Wellies, as they are absolutely perfect for muddy, summer festivals and watery, winter days alike.

There is a must-have pair of womens winter boots out there for everyone. We all have our favorites and many styles just keep coming back year after year, as we simply can't do without them.