Ugg boots have for over six decades drifted in and out of popularity worldwide as trendy winter footwear, thanks to their functional and cozy design.
However, despite their style status, these chic boots and surfers go together like macaroni and cheese. So, why do surfers wear Uggs? I embarked on a fact-finding mission, and this is what I discovered!
Why Do Surfers Wear UGGs In 2024?
Surfers wear Uggs to keep their feet and shin warm after surfing in cold ocean water. The sheepskin boots are made from grade A Merino twin-faced sheepskin. These shearling-lined boots, in turn, insulate surfers’ feet from chilly weather while instantly offering comfort to their numbed feet. Additionally, some Uggs are water-resistant, making them ideal footwear to walk in along ocean shores.
To learn more about why surfers prefer wearing Uggs after surfing, how Uggs became a surfing essential, and more, keep on reading!
Why Do Surfers Prefer Wearing UGG Boots?
Generally speaking, surfers wear Uggs since the sheepskin boots are made from Grade A merino sheepskin.
Uggs’ sheepskin is treated on both the skin side and the fleece side to provide instant warmth and comfort to the numb feet of the surfers.
In addition, the Grade A merino sheepskin material used to make the chic boots is extremely soft and dense for additional comfort.
If that’s not enough, surfers wear Uggs since they’re made of sheepskin leather which breathes naturally and wicks away moisture.
As stated earlier, Ugg boots have breathable and moisture-wicking properties that enable them to allow free air circulation on the surfers’ feet and keep their feet dry after surfing.
Since sheepskin leather is naturally thermostatic, Uggs keep the bare feet of surfers close to their normal body temperature, notwithstanding the outside temperature.
Therefore, Uggs automatically regulate the surfers’ body temperatures throughout the day. Thus, the sheepskin boots can be worn throughout the year.
Besides providing comfort, Ugg boots are versatile since they come in a wide range of styles and designs, allowing surfers to choose the pair that best suits their preferences.
How Did UGGs Become A Surfing Essential?
Ugg boots became a mainstream fashion piece in the 1970s owing to the Aussie surfing community.
Gold Coast and Byron Bay’s surfing community started sporting the fluffy sheepskin boots to warm their feet after surfing in the cold ocean water.
Consequently, Shane Stedman, a Sydney surfing legend, trademarked the name “Ugh-Boots.” He has to this day claimed to be the inventor of the chic boots.
However, Uggs became popular internationally among surfers in the 1970s after the sheepskin boots were featured in California surfing magazines.
Local surfing shops started stocking the sheepskin boots sourced from Australia during surfing competitions.
As the popularity of the chic boots grew among surfers, Brian Smith, an Australian surfer, seized the opportunity and migrated to the United States with a bag full of Uggs.
In turn, the Aussie surfer trademarked the brand name “UGG” in the United States and set up his venture of designing and manufacturing Uggs from sheepskin in Southern California.
The renowned Classic UGG Boot was the first sheepskin footwear that Brian Smith’s new venture designed, manufactured, and sold.
By the mid-1980s, Ugg boots had become a symbol of the social beach culture in Southern California and had started gaining traction through surf stores from Santa Cruz to San Diego.
Over the years, Ugg boots have evolved beyond the original Classic UGG Boot to new and fashionable styles, designs, and colors that cater to different surfers’ needs and preferences.
Who Were UGGs Originally Made For?
Uggs were originally made for Australian surfers who spent most of their time getting their feet wet in the ocean.
That explains why the sheepskin boots come with a fleece-lined interior, a synthetic outsole, and a tanned surface.
Their fleece-lined interior is meant to keep the surfers’ numb feet and shins warm and comfortable after surfing in the cold ocean water.
In addition, the trendy footwear is made from natural thermostatic and natural moisture-wicking sheepskin material to keep their feet dry all day long.
On their part, the Ugg boots’ synthetic outsoles are waterproof to prevent the surfer’s feet from getting wet while walking in them on the ocean shores.
The Classic Ugg Boots, which are still the backbone of the UGG brand, cover the surfers’ shins to insulate them from the chilling cold while providing warmth and comfort.
Over time, the chic boots have advanced to the present wide array of Ugg styles and designs that virtually everyone in the family can wear, from kids, women, and men.
While Uggs have over the years evolved to become the trendy and functional footwear that we know today, many surfers still sport the boots after spending their time on the ocean.
Who Originally Wore UGGs?
Australian surfers originally wore uggs to keep their feet warm after surfing.
Typically, surfing helped popularize the sheepskin boots outside New Zealand and Australia as surfers looked for the ideal footwear to keep their feet warm.
Uggs were first introduced in the United States in 1978 after Brian Smith introduced his sheepskin experience to surfers on Southern California beaches.
Before then, Southern California beaches had been the epicenter of a casual beach lifestyle, and, thus, Uggs became an overnight sensation among surfers.
Over time, Uggs began being a symbol of people who embraced the surfing sport as well as a casual, relaxed, and active beach lifestyle.
It’s worth noting that Ugg boots were originally worn by men who loved surfing since there were no women’s sheepskin boots at that time.
However, all this changed after the girls started wearing their surfer boyfriend’s Uggs, especially during the summer, which made the manufacturing of women’s chic boots take off.
After Deckers Outdoor Corporation trademarked the UGG brand, they have transformed the Ugg boots from ideal beach wear to casual footwear that the whole family can sport.
Conclusion
Surfers prefer wearing Uggs after spending their day in the ocean due to the comfort, convenience, and warmth that the sheepskin boots provide.
Uggs are made from twin-faced sheepskin that naturally wicks away moisture and is naturally thermostatic, enabling the chic boots to regulate surfers’ body temperatures.