Andy Rajeckas – Weather Guidebook

UGG is the most popular brand of Deckers Outdoor Corporation, accounting for ~$2 billion in sales, almost a third of the parent company’s ~6 billion revenue. People wear their super comfy Uggs for years, if not decades, so durability isn’t in doubt. But can you wear Uggs in the rain? You can wear Uggs in the rain only if you own a waterproof or weather rated pair. Classic Uggs aren’t waterproof, so you can’t wear them in the rain. Also, all rain or weather ready Uggs can endure moderate and short exposure to water or snow, not heavy precipitation. Whether or not you can wear Uggs in the rain depends on the footwear type, how long it may be exposed to water and the severity of the precipitation. Also, your Uggs’ current condition might influence the adverse effects. Read on to know how and when you can wear Uggs in the rain. Will Rain Destroy Your Uggs? UGG manufactures dozens of types of footwear in scores of designs and styles for: Babies Toddlers Kids Women Men All Gender With literally hundreds of different Uggs out there, generalizing the shoes’ wearability in the rain is a non-starter. So, let me focus on the 5 main varieties that broadly encompass every pair UGG makes right now. Here are the branding labels based on their distinct attributes: Classic Rain Ready Waterproof Weather Rated Weather Ready Note the difference between weather rated and ready, as they don’t have identical attributes. Also, rain ready isn’t the same variety as weather ready. The only two varieties that rain will not destroy are waterproof and some weather rated Uggs. Rain can damage and, in extreme cases, destroy Uggs of the classic, rain ready, and weather ready varieties. Leather or suede will turn stiff once the material absorbs water through soaking. Not only will your Uggs be tough and uncomfortable to wear, but they may also have stains. UGG doesn’t recommend wearing any of these 3 types and all the other styles that don’t have the waterproof or an appropriate weather rated tag in heavy rain, snow, and standing water. UGG Classic Boots Aren’t Waterproof and Should Not Be Worn in Rain The first pair of Uggs was created in 1978. The brand burst into the scene in the 80s, already a legend, with sheepskin boots known as Classic. This was almost a decade after the seminal folk singer and songwriter Joan Baez released her Diamonds and Rust. Teleporting to the present day, UGG’s Classic II is a somewhat stain and water resistant version of the original. These Classic II Uggs are pre-treated to protect against typical stains that aren’t entirely preventable in daily life. This pretreatment also repels moisture or water to a degree. Hence, your Classic II Uggs face no risk of damage from inadvertent spills and any occasional splash of water. But you can’t wear these Uggs in the rain. Extended or prolonged exposure to water will wear off the pretreatment and also damage the sheepskin leather. Like the Classic II variety, all Uggs without any waterproof or weather rated label are vulnerable to damage to varying degrees if you: Wear them in the rain Walk on puddles Soak them in water Allow abundant splashes on the material UGG uses many materials in its footwear, including but not limited to the following: Sheepskin Suede Leather Cotton (laces) Rubber (soles) Metal (eyelets) Sheepskin isn’t the only source of leather and suede for UGG currently. Leather is the outer portion of sheepskin, while suede is the side facing the flesh. Both the side and type are vulnerable to water, including leather sourced from other animals, which UGG has been doing for a while. Pretreatment can only provide some protection against water or repellence. So, you can’t wear UGG’s Classic Women’s Neumel Platform or Men’s Neumel Boot and head outdoors in the rain except for a few seconds or, at the most, a couple of minutes if the downpour isn’t heavy. UGG Rain Ready Footwear Is Water Resistant, Not Totally Waterproof UGG has rain ready footwear for all genders in various sizes. These Uggs are waterproof to an extent. Consider the following Uggs for women, all of which are available on Amazon.com: Harrison Chelsea Harrison Cuff Harrison Lace Harrison Moto Harrison Tall Harrison Zip These ‘waterproof’ Uggs will endure mild to moderate rain, not a torrential downpour. The rain ready Uggs have a seam-sealed construction, so water won’t seep through below the ankle. If a rain ready pair of Uggs has zippers, like the Harrison Zip, these feature water-repellent coatings. The rain ready Uggs are not as vulnerable to rain as the Classic boots. Still, they can suffer stains and other signs of damage if they get drenched due to prolonged or severe water exposure. UGG Weather Ready Boots Are Water Repellent, But Not Waterproof UGG makes scores of weather boots. However, many are labeled as weather ready. Here are a few examples: Men’s Baysider Low Weather Men’s Biltmore Chelsea Women’s Biltmore Chelsea Women’s Biltmore Hiker Women’s Lakesider Mid Lace Up These weather ready Uggs have many waterproofed features, such as: Seam-sealed construction Waterproof leather Waterproof suede Water repellent materials Some weather ready Uggs sport additional features to remain durable and safe in the rain, such as the following: Non-wicking laces Waterproofed nubuck White Spider Rubber Uggs with White Spider Rubber soles deliver reliable durability and high friction on wet surfaces. Yet, these weather ready Uggs can still not endure a torrential downpour. You should assess the real-time conditions before deciding whether or not to wear these Uggs in the rain. Having said that, weather ready Uggs will perform much better than the Classic. They will also outdo other styles that don’t have any significant waterproofing feature other than a repellent that will wear off in a few months anyway, if not weeks. Of course, you can reapply such repellents for protection. The 1-Year Warranty for Standard Uggs Doesn’t Cover Water Damage Uggs have a 1-year limited warranty. This standard coverage exempts standard wear and tear and any accidental or inadvertent damage, such as your pet chewing on the Uggs. However, accidental damage could also be due to the following: Direct heat Inclement weather Water damage Thus, you should avoid the following actions if you want to use the warranty: Don’t dry your Uggs in the sun Don’t put your Uggs in the dryer Don’t put your Uggs in the washer Don’t wear your Uggs in the rain If your Uggs are made of only sheepskin leather and suede, don’t expose them to moisture or allow the pair to get soaking wet in any circumstances. Moisture or water can cause permanent damage to sheepskin leather and suede. Rain Won’t Destroy Some Waterproof or Weather Rated Uggs A few weather rated Uggs have the requisite waterproofing to endure heavy precipitation. For instance, the UGG Men’s Butte Snow Boot will be fine in inclement weather, including torrential rain. These Uggs are made of the following materials, among others: Cow leather Cow suede Sheepskin lining Synthetic materials The Butte is weather rated up to -25.6 °F (-32 °C). Also, these Uggs have a few extra features, such as: UGG pure wool Vibram outsoles Warming insulation The Use of upcycled wool makes these Uggs wearable in the city and the mountains. The outsoles can remain flexible in sub-freezing temperatures. Plus, the full-grain leather is waterproof. Waterproof and weather rated Uggs for children and women have identical features, subject to the specific model. For instance, the UGG Women’s Drizlita Rain Boot can endure a torrential downpour, but the pair isn’t rated for cold temperatures or snow. Meanwhile, the UGG Women’s Yose Puff Snow Boot is weather rated for temperatures down to -25.6 °F (-32 °C). These Uggs can endure heavy rain, snow, and water exposure regardless of the temperature. Any tongues or zippers on such Uggs are gusseted and treated with water-repellent coatings. How To Protect Your Uggs in the Rain and From Water Damage Suppose you don’t have either waterproof or weather rated Uggs. In that case, you will need a way to protect your boots or sneakers in the rain or from water damage. Even if you have a weather rated pair that is reliably waterproofed, you will need to clean, dry, and maintain it in due course. There are at least 4 ways to protect your Uggs in the rain, which can also apply to snow if your pair is weather rated. Here are your options and solutions: You may use a UGG Boot Guard in the rain and snow. This protective accessory is compatible with most Uggs with flat outsoles and rounded closed toes. However, these Boot Guards aren’t compatible with a few styles, including Biltmore, Butte, Harrison, etc. You may use a UGG Shoe Care Kit to protect your footwear. You can buy a UGG Cleaner and Conditioner or a complete Shoe Care Kit, depending on your needs and the kind of rain you are likely to encounter where you live. You can get the UGG Protector Shoe Spray if your pair is old and the pretreatment has worn off. You should use sheepskin cleaners, conditioners, and protectors for Uggs regardless of rain, snow, and water exposure to extend their life. If none of the options work, check out the UGG Renew initiative. People can now refresh, repair, and restore their Uggs through this program. This solution isn’t necessarily swift, but you can salvage a reasonably damaged pair of Uggs. Conclusion You can wear Uggs in the rain if they are waterproofed for heavy downpours. Weather rated Uggs with impeccable waterproofing can endure torrential rain, but the classic and other models don’t have the same protection against moisture, soaking, and sustained water exposure.