Uggs were popular shoes back in the early 2000s, but they’re making a comeback like many fashion trends tend to do.
If you’ve always wanted a pair since you never had one back in the early 2000s or are ready to grab a new pair since your old ones are worn out, now is the time.
These popular boots are high-quality and relatively affordable when you think about how long they’ll last you with proper care.
Before you swipe your credit card to order a new pair, there’s something to know about these boots. Plenty of shoes stretch out over time. So, do Uggs stretch over time? Yes, your Ugg boots stretch over time.
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What Are Uggs Made of?
The material used can determine if and how well the shoes stretch. Uggs are made with sheepskin – more specifically, sheep shearling. Sheep shearling is sheepskin with the fleece still attached.
Manufacturers use twin-faced sheepskin so that the white fleece is on the inside of the shoe, providing warmth and comfort for your feet.
As for the soles of Uggs, they’re thick and synthetic. You may have noticed that Uggs have a tan color on the outside.
They do this to create a more desirable appearance and increase the shoes’ longevity.
What Are the Pros of Sheepskin?
Using sheepskin is what makes Uggs long-lasting and a high-quality purchase. The material helps keep your feet warm during the cold months and cools your feet if you wear them when it’s warm out.
Plus, sheepskin’s flexibility is also why your Uggs can stretch over time. The material is naturally stretchy and can expand over time without compromising the quality of your boots.
What Are the Cons of Sheepskin?
While there are several benefits of using sheepskin for shoes, there’s always a downside. For example, sheepskin can easily stain when you expose them to water. You can use a water-proof solution to prevent this issue, but naturally, this is a concern.
A much bigger drawback is the growing controversy over using sheepskin, and some animal rights activists have expressed concern.
Using fleece is common and not harmful to animals, but they’ve spoken up since the boots also have the skin. Many are protesting and boycotting the brand as a result.
Ugg has responded to protests by saying they are conscious of their use of animal parts and make an effort to monitor animal welfare standards. They work to understand and minimize their overall environmental impact as a company.
They have also stated that 100% of all Ugg suppliers must verify their compliance with their Animal Welfare Policy each year.
Whether or not you are comfortable with the process through which Uggs are created, they are undeniably high-quality shoes, which is the factor that leads to their longevity.
Read Also: Different Types of Uggs
So, Do Uggs Stretch?
Yes! Authentic Uggs will stretch with time and as you wear them. This natural process happens gradually, but it may seem faster the more often you wear them.
Again, the reason your Uggs will stretch over time is due to the sheepskin material.
So, if your UGGs are genuine, they certainly will start to stretch all the time. Now, if you have fake Ugg boots or shoes, there’s a good chance they won’t stretch at all. Even if they do, it won’t be precisely like traditional Uggs.
Are There Counterfeit Uggs out There?
As with many brands, there are counterfeit versions out there. Ugg is no exception. You can find knock-off versions that style-wise look similar are more affordable, but they won’t compare to how high-quality authentic Uggs are.
There’s nothing wrong with getting a counterfeit pair of Uggs or a similar style if you don’t want to pay the price for authentic Uggs.
But, if you’re not buying Uggs from retailers that provide them or from their website and you believe you’re getting real ones, you’ll want to do your research first.
If you’re ordering Uggs from a third-party site or from someone selling their old pair, you’ll want to make sure you’re getting true Uggs, especially if you’re paying top dollar for them.
There are several ways to figure out if your Uggs are legitimate or not. Here’s what you’ll want to look for:
- The label – Ugg boots will have a sewn-in label that verifies their legitimacy. The label will have a sun drawn on it and will turn colors when it reaches 90 degrees.
- The security sticker – If your boots don’t come with a sewn-in label, you can check for a security sticker.
- The boot’s sole – All authentic Ugg boots have a half-inch thick sole. Fake ones will have thinner soles.
- The stamp – On the bottom of authentic Ugg boots, a registered “R” will be in a circle next to the brand’s name.
With these tips, you can easily tell the difference between authentic and fake Uggs. However, if you don’t want to leave it up to chance, make sure to buy from a reputable source like the Ugg website.
Keep in mind that many fake Ugg boots aren’t made with sheepskin like authentic ones are. So, while genuine Ugg boots will stretch over time, it’s doubtful that your counterfeit Uggs won’t. Or, if they do, they won’t maintain the high level of quality that Uggs have.
Do Uggs Fit True to Size?
Yes, Uggs generally fit true to size. Most customers claim that Uggs for their feet are similar to other true-to-size shoes.
Ugg offers all the standard shoe sizes you’ll find at most physical and online stores.
Ugg has also made an effort to expand its sizing for those with wide feet. Their sizing now goes up to a 3E for customers with extra wide feet.
Since they offer a wide variety of sizes, you shouldn’t have trouble finding a size that’s perfect for you. You can most likely go with whatever size you generally wear if you’re buying online.
The best way to be sure is to read reviews, just in case. You can always return and get a new pair if your choice doesn’t fit properly.
If you’re buying Uggs in a store, an associate can help you try on various sizes to find the perfect fit for you. They can even help measure your feet beforehand if you aren’t sure your real shoe size.
You don’t want your feet to feel squeezed or tight, but you also want to make sure they don’t fit too loose. You’ll want to account for genuine Ugg boots stretching over time when purchasing.
Read Also: Are Uggs Comfortable
What Size Uggs Should I Buy?
Since authentic Uggs will stretch over time, you’ll want to buy size accordingly. You don’t want to buy something too small though, because they’ll be uncomfortable and you need to wear them to stretch them out.
The good thing is that since Ugg boots fit true to size, knowing what size to order is relatively simple.
Even when accounting for the material stretching over time, going with your standard shoe size is best with this brand.
Now, if your typical shoe size is a 7 ½ or any other half size, you have some decisions to make.
While Uggs offer wide shoe sizes, they don’t offer half sizes. Therefore, you’ll need to decide which of the closest full sizes fits you best.
As we have discussed, Uggs will get larger over time. Because of this, it is generally a better idea to buy a pair of Uggs that is too small.
When they’re too big, they’ll stretch to where they don’t fit as well in the long term. But, you don’t want them so small that they’re uncomfortable to wear.
Uggs don’t stretch aggressively over time. You don’t need to worry about buying a size seven boot and having them stretch to a size 9 in a few months.
However, if you buy uggs that immediately feel too large for your feet, you should consider sizing down because they will not get any smaller. Because of this, it is always smart to get uggs that fit comfortably tight when you first try them on.
When you size your Uggs, make sure that your toes are close to the top of the boots and your heel doesn’t shift around when you walk.
Over time, Uggs can stretch up to a half size larger than they are when you first get them. However, this half-size isn’t usually super noticeable.
Certainly, don’t size up in uggs because, as we’ve already established, your shoes will stretch out over time.
Uggs sizing is unisex, so you should refer to their sizing chart to determine what size to buy.
Here’s a video of how your Uggs boots should fit:
Comparing Your Shoe Size to Uggs Size Chart
Most people are aware of their shoe size, but if you’re not sure, you can easily find your shoe size by going to a shoe store and having an associate help you. They also have metal feet measures that you can use if you prefer to do it independently.
Since Ugg is an Australian brand, the sizing on their website is generally in Australian sizes. While this seems intimidating, they have a size guide online to help you choose the right size for you. You can download their Adult Size Guide here.
Should You Wear Socks With Uggs?
Whether you should or shouldn’t wear socks with your Uggs is up for debate. Some people prefer to because it’s what’s most natural for most people. Others forgo the socks all together with these shoes.
You don’t need to wear socks with Uggs, but you can if you want. Ugg designed the shoes to be worn without socks. This means the wool on the inside is there, so you don’t have to. It will naturally remove moisture and allow for proper air circulation, which keeps your feet dry.
If you choose to wear socks with your Uggs, you’ll need to consider the fit. Switching between wearing socks and not wearing socks can cause the fit to change.
How Do You Stretch Uggs?
As we’ve talked about, your Uggs will stretch out over time. This doesn’t happen overnight and will take years to happen fully. The more you wear them, the faster the stretching timeline moves.
Since the sheepskin material makes stretching of the shoes possible, there are many reasons customers want their Ugg boots to stretch sooner rather than later.
Some of these reasons include you buying a pair of Ugg boots that are a little too small, wanting to wear thick socks with them for whatever reason, or you buying them for a child who has outgrown their current size a little.
Children grow fast, so shoes can be tricky. Luckily, you can stretch Uggs enough that you shouldn’t have to buy them a new pair right away.
Regardless of the reason, hope isn’t lost if your Uggs are slightly too small. Don’t worry. These boots are easy to stretch out over time. Plus, there are some things you can do to speed up the stretching process if you need a quick fix.
Over time the inside of your Ugg will begin to flatten and adjust to the size of your foot. This will make them more comfortable to wear.
Here are some helpful tips for stretching out your Ugg boots:
- Get new insoles – new insoles will not only be more comfortable for you, but if you get smaller ones, the shoes will fit better. Therefore, you’ll wear them more since they fit better.
- Wear thick socks – While you don’t need to wear socks with your Ugg boots, wearing a thick pair can help them stretch out faster.
- Use a hairdryer to warm the shoes – Using a hairdryer to warm the boots will allow the material to stretch easier. You can do this before wearing them so that they’re warm when you start walking around.
- Use the freezing water method – You’ll take a plastic bag and fill it with water. You’ll place the bag of water on the area of the Ugg you wish to stretch and then place both elements into the freezer overnight.
- Use a wooden shoe stretcher – Not everyone has these lying around, but they work in a pinch if you have one. You can easily purchase them at shoe stores or online via Amazon.
- Use potatoes – You read correctly. You can take a few potatoes, place them in a bag, and then shove them into the boots. You’ll want to leave them in the Ugg boots for at least a few hours to see results.
- Use shoe stretch liquid sprays – Did you know that there is a product that is designed to help you stretch shoes by spraying a liquid on the shoes? You’ll spread the liquid on the shoes until they’re damp, and then wear a pair of thick socks to increase the stretch.
- Take them to a professional – This isn’t the cheapest option but still one to consider. Taking your Ugg boots to a shoe repair professional who knows how to stretch the material without damaging them can help them fit better.
- Use rubbing alcohol – You can use rubbing alcohol on the inside of the shoe to stretch it out. You’ll put enough rubbing alcohol in the shoe before walking around in them to help stretch them out.
- Let time take its toll – This is the long method. As we’ve covered, Uggs will stretch over time. If your Uggs are too small, you can always play the long game and wait for them to stretch out.
Once you stretch your Uggs out, you’ll be set, and these Uggs should last you for the next 20 years.
Final Thoughts
If you’re thinking about buying a pair of Ugg boots for yourself or someone else, you won’t regret it.
These stylish boots go with many outfits and can last you for around 20 years or more as long as you properly take care of them.
When purchasing a pair of Ugg boots, you’ll want to get a pair that fits snugly on your feet.
With many boots, people go with a size larger than their actual size due to wearing socks or wanting there to be wiggle room for thicker socks. You don’t want to do this with Uggs.
Your Ugg boots will stretch over time. Therefore, you’ll want a snug size so that when they do stretch, they’re not overly big on your feet. They’ll continue to fit well, despite stretching if you buy a snug pair from the beginning.