Are You Smart Enough and Man Enough to Wear Ugg Brand Boots?

Back in the late ‘70s I saw my first pair of ugg brand boots on a surfing trip to Mexico with some buddies of mine. Five of us were just a year out of high school when we headed down to a surf break called Quattro Casas, which is a couple hours south of Ensenada. The bumpy rough road made for a sweaty trip down but we finally arrived at the surf break that sported a quick wave that peeled to the right off a point. We surfed on and off until nightfall when everyone finally got out of the water.

At this point we removed our wetsuits and started getting comfortable and that’s when I noticed the ugliest footwear I’d seen since the disco influenced platform boot. My friend Robert was sporting these… things on his feet. “What the hell are those supposed to be?” I exclaimed. The other guys now hearing my distress turned and started cracking up once they set their eyes on the Australian sheep skin boots. “They’re called Ugg Boots and I got them at Hanifin’s Surf Shop in Newport,” Robert said as he proudly displayed the stupid looking booties. “They are made of 100% sheep skin. Lots of the surfers in Australia wear them,” he said pulling one off and showing us the fluffy insides. Our quick to judge immaturely got the better of us as we all fell about the place in throes of laughter. Immediately as was typical of the time period we started in on Robert with verbal bashing and gay innuendo. “Those are some pretty poofy looking boots you got there Robert,” Chuck commented with a sneer. “Dude, is there something else you are going to tell us? Are you coming out? Oh, I really wasn’t prepared for this. Should I have brought flowers, perhaps a card or something?” Phil said with a slightly serious undertone of concern in his homophobic voice. “Does this mean you won’t drink beer with us anymore? You know, we bought a lot. I’m not going back to town to get you Chardonnay my fruity friend.” We thought we were all too funny as we busted Robert’s chops and laughed at the ugly ugg boots that for all we knew Robert might have made himself.

After a ten minute verbal beating on Robert with him bravely defending his sexually, surfing ability and sheepskin uggs from Australia, we finally settled down. Robert continued to boldly wear his boots the rest of the trip and didn’t let us bother him. In fact I think he ended up surfing better than the rest of us on that trip. Maybe our hacking on him and his silly boots made him emotionally stronger? Or maybe he just drank less beer? Or maybe his feet didn’t get so chewed up like some of us?

See Robert ended up with the last laugh because by the trip’s end, we all wished we had some classic ugg boots ourselves. The rest of us had worn sandals, which didn’t keep our feet protected or warm at night. We slept on the bluff above the surf break and my feet as well as the other guys got cold at night. It made sleeping difficult. Robert wore his boots all-night and slept quite comfortably. He made sure we knew this because he rubbed it in our faces each morning. But that was only half of it. Robert didn’t get attacked on the feet and ankles by angry velvet ants or bloodthirsty assassin beetles. The mauling from these insects was so bad that one side of my foot looked like flesh colored bubble wrap because of so many bites and stings on it. It really hurt too. Yeah, by trip’s end I think we all would have rather suffered the humiliation of wearing the ugly looking boots rather than deal with the pain and suffering we did.

It is funny how function will beat out appearance when it comes down to being comfortable. Now twenty some odd years later I have a pair of ugg brand boots and I think the ugly things are one of the best purchases I’ve ever made. I only wish I had been smart enough and man enough to buy them earlier.

Jim Rubel is a successful author and publisher of http://www.boots-4u.com - A source for information on discount cowboy boots, men’s dress boots, best hiking boots, cold weather hunting boots, military-combat boots, motorcycle-riding boots, ugg classic short boots, women's leather dress boots, men’s steel-toed work boots, and more.

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What is "Ugg" Means? Where can I Find SheepSkin Boots?

The origin of the Australian ugg boot has a variety of stories as to how and when the ugg sheepskin boots were actually invented. One of the versions has the sheep skin footwear as the boot worn by pilots during World War One. These boots were referred to as “Fug Boots” denoting their use as ugg boots used for flying. In the 1930’s, Blue Mountain Ugg Boots were commonly worn by sheep shearers for their added warmth over regular footwear. “Apache Ugh Boots” were fashioned by Mortel’s Sheepskin Factory in the 1950‘s. By the 1960’s surfers were wearing their own version of the boot, finding them an easy and comfortable way to warm up after surfing the cold Australian waters.

The original ugg sheep skin boots were made with two pieces of sheepskin attached in the front and a soft sole. Most Australian’s believe the name “Ugg” derives from the word “ugly”, therefore coining the term “Ugg Boot”, as uniquely Australian as “Joey’s “ and “mate’s”. Given the ugg boot’s various stories of origination, it would be impossible to pinpoint who made the first sheep skin boots and when. Truth be told, they were probably reinvented many times satisfying a variety of uses based on the specific need of the person.

In the 1970’s, in Western Australia, some people saw that with some basic changes, the ugg boot had real potential and began their own company called Uggs-N-Rugs (tm). They implemented some basic style changes such as replacing the center seam with a patterned braid down the back and a more substantial sole designed for added comfort. Eventually a fully molded heal counter was added to these boots. This design created three layers to the boot; the sheep skin, the molded heal, and the suede that is used as the outer layer. This type of manufacturing helps the boot to retain its original shape and allows for maximum support. Although the ugg sheep skin boots boot were to be the core-selling product of Uggs-N-Rugstm, many companies throughout the world have copied and produced their own version of the sheepskin boot.

Since the success of Uggs-N-Rugs as one of the longest running producers of sheep skin boots in Australia, many other manufacturers and retail businesses from all over the world have attempted to copy their success. Although there are many stories found on the Internet, one Australian named Brian Smith lays claim to being one of the first to introduce the ugg boot to the American market.

The origin of the Australian ugg boot has a variety of stories as to how and when the ugg sheepskin boots were actually invented. Most Australian’s believe the name “Ugg derives from the word

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