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Soeren Stache / EPA file
UGG boots may be a health risk as well as a fashion hazard.
Cari Nierenberg writes: Some women are paying a price for sporting UGG boots beyond their $140 price tag.
When worn regularly, the uber-popular, sheepskin-lined boots may make feet miserable.
UGGs can be ugly to your feet and ankles, causing pain and throwing your walk out of whack so problems extend to the knees, hips and back. The plush lining also can create an ideal breeding ground for foot fungus.
The bulky, hobbit-looking boots are so comfy-cozy that fans rarely take them off, but they weren't actually made for long-distance walking.
"UGGs have little to no arch support," explained Krista Archer, a podiatrist and foot and ankle surgeon in Manhattan.
Karina Morris found this out the hard way.
The easy to slip on and off footwear seemed like a perfect fit for the busy 27-year-old mother when running around after two young boys. And UGGs kept her toes toasty, to boot, on wintry mornings while waiting for her son's school bus.
"They felt like slippers walking around on the outside pavement," said Morris.
But after wearing the trendy footwear from dawn to dusk for about a month, the Huntington, N.Y., native noticed that the arches of her feet and her heels were killing her.
"I had to stop wearing them," admitted Morris, who owns two pairs of the boots and even UGG clogs.
Still, when she sought the help of Archer, the podiatrist, Morris was surprised to hear she had developed posterior tibeal tendinitis and that her UGGs and flat feet were to blame.
When flat-footed people slog around in a loose-fitting boot like UGGs, their ankles roll inward and their arches and tendons collapse outward with every step. (You can actually see the lopsided wear on one side of the rubber soles.)
Archer is especially worried about the boot's roominess in the ankles and heels now that the boots are popular with both tweens and toddlers. (Baby versions of the boot run $90.)
"Kids seem to shuffle around in them," she pointed out. They make that irritating foot-dragging sound called the "UGG shuffle" by the Urban Dictionary.
Skin infections like athlete’s foot and dermatitis also can be a problem with UGGs, Archer adds, since bare feet can really sweat in the fur. She urges devotees to wear socks and spray the liner with an anti-fungal spray once a month.
After being fitted with custom padding to support her arches, Morris is back in her UGGs -- pain free. (If you try drugstore arch supports, Archer suggests placing them underneath the boot's sheepskin inserts.)
Although UGGs bring patients to her practice, Archer owns three pairs of the boots herself (but adds arch supports to them) and two pair of slippers.
With New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady signed on to become the brand's new spokesperson, only time will tell whether more guys will wear UGGs and if they'll be hurting their feet.
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Women (and I am one despite my screen name) are soooo dumb about shoes.
@Gregorovich, I agree women are vain but not dumb about shoes. When a woman goes to try on a shoe she "knows" if the shoe fits (to quote Johnny Cochran)....if it doesn't fit and she likes the shoe, she's going to make the shoe fit some kind of way.
I only wear comfortable shoes...however, last year I bought some UGG knockoffs and noticed that they had no arch support. So, they don't have arch support -- you go BUY ARCH SUPPORT. The podiatrist did not tell the woman to buy arch supports, or the woman didn't think to buy them. That's the simple answer.
For all you UGG lovers have you ever read what they do to the sheep that provide you with these stupid boots. The tails of the sheep are cut off without any anesthetic and then there horns are cut off. They lay bleeding in their pen until they are shot or the neck is slashed. So next time you put on these stupid boots thinks about the innocent animals that was slaughtered for your EGO. God help us - stupid humans and their fashion.
Sheep aren't slaughtered to make UGGS, they're SHAVED. Wool is a renewable resource. Sheep are killed for food, might as well use the complete sheep if they're gonna get killed anyhow.
Oh my god are you serious TA2468 ?
Have you ever seen an Ugg boot. What do you think that smooth outer layer of the boot is? Just the fabric that they glue the sheeps wool to? Cause its the sheeps skin (leather) so unless they are sheering the sheep and its first few layers of skin down to their muscles then skin grafting them back together, the sheep are most certainly being killed. Also a side note- cows do not donate their skin either and continue to live.
my feet are fine, but they hurt my eyes.
They seem to suffer from a very low brain to shoe size ratio of 1-1. At least these women aren't having surgery to fit their size 7 feet into size 4, 10' spike heels.
Has this woman never heard of socks?
Hurry save the sheep and toss the boots, crazy animal rights people are everywhere, run and hide.
the boots are the inside out skins of sheep, sheep are killed to make food and the hides are made into shear-ling for other things like boots coats and car seat covers.
Why did no one ask my opinion? I'm a Clown Shoe Repairman for goodness sake and should be consulted. Has anyone informed Tom Brady that he is risking his future by being an UGG spokesmodel? Sounds like he will be lucky if he can still walk by the time the playoffs are here. Arch support and socks...problems solved. Why do we need a podiatrist for this article?
Will men wear UGGs? They've been wearing them for longer than women. I saw Neil Young wear them at a concert about 20 years ago.
SHUT UP PHYLLIS. Damn tree huggers.
Liberalscum you are so funny and so right. They are everywhere. We eat the meat of the sheep and the skin is left to make clothing. It's simple.
OMG Phyllis, I worked and lived on a sheep farm for many years...and that is NOT how it happens. You have watched too many PETA propaganda films....I highly recommended you spend a month working as a hand on a sheep farm.
1) crimping or banding the tails, while at first it is painful - is a necessity - and the sheep get past it fast. Sheep are prone to infections in their bums if you don't remove the tail (flies lay eggs, maggots, infections, nasty nasty - remove the tail problems reduced drastically). So would you rather we leave it on, and let the poor animal rot to death....ass first? Next!
2) I never saw an animal have its horns removed, if the animal was a problem or a continuous danger we ate it first. Delicious. Just how nature intended it.
3) I never once saw an animal left to bleed out on the farm. I saw plenty of animals die or need to be put down - but its a last resort - and if the animal can't be saved, it is handled quickly. No farmer wants to watch an animal bleed out or writhe in pain. These animals are their lively hood, protection of the flock/herd is the most important aspect of raising any animals.
4) UGG boots are just plain ugly and unflattering...but I guess its all about comfort.
While I think UGGs aren't necessarily ugly, and have a pair , I'm glad you tried to set Phyllis straight, (after all most sheep ranches would go belly-up if they docked sheep's tails, and "de-horned" them just to stick them in a pen and watch them die. You don't kill them to shear them, or dock them, any more than a groomer kills dogs to clip their hair. As for Taylor, I like roast beef and steaks and believe they aren't mooing when I eat them. Most leather shoes, purses, and coats are made of cow hide not sheepskin. Ergo, dead cows. As for my UGG boots, (a gift) they fit me perfectly, I wear them all the time, have an unrelated serious back injury, and do not get pain in my back or anywhere else from wearing them. In fact they seem to help.
I would not own a pair of these boots because THEY ARE UGLY. Animal rights issues be damned. Damned PETA always has to stick their nose in.
I found a company making high quality sheepskin boots with FULL arch support, and with the styles of fashion boots, so they are not UGLY. Go check it out at www.myyuk.com. Maybe it can save a lot of pain of those women needlessly suffering for misguided comfort
university sorority gals wear their flannels and boots to nutri-science 10o'clock lectures and i call them
"slumpy scuffers" because they're tall and feel self-conscious and they are nice people with good outcomes
There is a better brand of "ugg" like boots out there that is a no kill company, Emu Australia. All of their sheepskin is from natural deaths. Also they have arch support and a natural anti-microbial properties in their sheepskin. The heel also does not do that horrid slump, water resistant and has better fashions.
After hearing that those ugly boots caused serious damage to that woman's body, why would she continue to wear them? The first thing I would do is throw them out. Some people are beyond stupid.
Ladies, stop being the sheep of the fashion industry!!!!
I've been wearing Uggs for 15 years and believe me they are a classic like jeans. You obviously haven't worn them. They're fabulous. I don't know about flat-footed people -- they have problems with all kinds of shoes-- but they are wonderful for people with standard feet. Furthermore, you don't wear them with socks and my feet (which are really sweaty and stinky most of the time) are as dry as a bone. Shearling breathes and my Uggs don't have any smell at all. The lanolin keeps your heels soft and smooth. Truly they are one of the best things I've ever owned.
At $140, I would find a way to make them work. I bought the knockoffs for $29 at Sears.
I don't get why so many people wear them, they look kind of goofy...and they are oh so UGGly.
They are a fad for those who can afford them and those who feel pressure to keep up with the Jones's!
I'm proud to say that they are made in Australia! I don't have a pair, but my daughter does, and she loves them. Yes, she got them because all her friends had them - what else can I say?
That was my thought-she's going to have to keep spending extra money for extra arch support in shoes that caused her so many problems when she could just buy a more practical pair of stylish boots, say, LL Bean or something similar, that make many fleece-lined versions of boots.
They're made in China, not Australia, as the marketing dept. wants you to believe.
Isn't everything made in China! Well... anyway, it's an Australian company. Perhaps that's why there is no arch support. The Chinese are flat-footed!
Wow, really? We Chinese people are ALL flat-footed? You've made a study of this fascinating phenomenon? I am not flat-footed; I guess I'm not really Chinese in your strange little universe.
knockoffs are exactly that...knockoffs....they can't even be compared to real uggs. been wearing uggs for the last 20 years and they are wonderful...usually the ones who really put them down have never worn them. maybe you don't like the looks but they feel wonderful....and you don't perspire in them because they are all natural wool uppers and wool breathes....and they stay warm even when they are wet. it is amazing to me that people can be so misinformed by one article that they read and then repeat that information without knowing any actual facts. considering the amount of people that do wear them i should think that they would be lined up, out the door and around the corner trying to get into the podiatrist office if it were really an issue. i prefer uggs made in australia, though... i try to stay away from the "made in china" items. thanks stayslick for your comment ;)
And of course msnbc used the ugliest stock photo to set the stage for the story which was rather biased. I have a pair that I love. My boots look nothing like the ones in the photo. They come in many styles and colors, and don't have to look like snow boots. Also, there are UGGs that have wool knit (not sheepskin) uppers. (for those who buy Phyllis's crazy rant on sheep ranchers). Sheep are not raised just so some crazy monster can cut their tails, then move their way up to cutting off their wool, their horns, and then their throats. They are raised for wool, which doesn't require killing the sheep, and for their meat and hides, which of course do. As for using their hides, it would be wasteful and stupid to just throw their hides away, and keep their meat, or to keep the hide and throw the meat. If it hurts your conscience to eat meat or use their hides, then don't, but don't toss out crazy theories about life and death on a sheep ranch.
I've been wearing Uggs for the past 14 years. I keep buying new inserts when they wear out and very rarely have to replace a pair of boots. They are the warmest and most comfortable winter boots I've ever had. I don't think they're cool looking at all and can't understand how they became a fashion statement but they sure are comfortable. I wear mine barefoot 97% of the time and I've lived in Alaska and Wisconsin.
As for the foot fungus, those inserts are hand washable. Why on earth would you not wash them?
I don't have much of an arch but I've never had any issues with them hurting my feet. I do, however, wear a different pair depending on what color I'm wearing. Maybe the constant changing between the boots has worked for me.
The only pain we get from them over here is the price, (typical rip-off Britain I am afraid). Yesterday in our high street, the cheapest classic short UGG boots were £199 per pair, (approx. US$ 322).
Afraid our daughter will have to settle for something else.
The article said UGG's can be ugly to your feet...to me they are ugly to the eye. Tom Brady? Man they must be paying him a lot of money. Why not Justin Bieber? He wears them already.
I read in a magazine (teen magazine) that he (Justin ) doesnt like Uggs he call them "UGGly"
"Stupid is as stupid does"-Forrest Gump
If I am going to hurt my feet in shoes, it will not be these ugly Uggs...don't own a pair or anything like them...yuck. As a woman I have that strange biological love of shoes...and being dumb about them, but I prefer my painful dumb choices in high heels, stilettos, and platforms....makes my feet hurt thinking about them, but they look fabulous! hehe
Really? And none of these problems can happen when wearing other types of shoes? Like fungus in sweaty sneakers and arch/back problems from high heels? I have owned a pair of Uggs (the same pair) for almost 12 years (bought before they became a celebrity fashion statement). I've never had a fungus problem, and I don't have any foot problems...
.....but how will moronic designers make money off the stupidity of the female sheeple, they certainly can't force them to wear ugly Lady Gaga heel less platform monstrosities which make them all one step away from a broken vertebrae......could they?
Sorry, but have you read women's magazines? All their pitches for "hot shoes under $100?" (which equals 70 dollars up to 99 dollars) make most women think that they're getting shoes for a steal. I think somehow, fashion depraved chicks will survive, Lady Gaga-style less.
I have a left over pair from my daughter, which I use when I have to run ..... shuffle..... after my Great Pyrenees in the yard when she refuses to come in from the rain. They are basically giant bed room slipper.
Now really, how fashionable is foot fungus?
Toe(d) stool?
Anyone can get foot fungus, it doesn't take UGGs. By the way, the flat footed woman? What she isn't telling you is that she probably has foot problems in most any pair of shoes not made specifically for her problem. But believe me, those shoes are usually uglier than UGGs, and you can get fungus infections from them too!
why would anyone wear the same foot covering for a month straight? that's what all the styles of shoes are made for - something different every day. these uggs don't go with everything, ya know!
ANY shoe, worn day after day will tend to cause foot fungus, even leather. Guys tend to be the ones who wear shoes day after day. Get yourself 2-3 pairs of shoes (at least) and rotate them, and put shoe trees in them when not in use - it helps the shoe dry out by both absorbing mosture, and letting the air in/out, plus it keeps them in the correct shape, so the leather doesn't crack
Not to mention anti-fungal spray more than once a month, despite what the Dr. in the article mentioned. Once a month, won't cut it.
As stated in the story, the woman wearing the Uggs has flat feet. That is the cause of her problem, and the cause of most sore foot problems. The technical term is excessive pronation, and perhaps as many as 2/3 of the population has it. Uggs are not the problem. They are no worse than the cheap athletic shoes, flip flops, high heels, unsupportive boots or other footwear that does not offer good support for the foot but are so popular. If you have sore arches, heel pain, ankle pain, bunions, etc., you should be wearing good shoes with good support. If not, wear your Uggs. My wife has for years without a problem. As far as the fungus, wear socks, or make sure you dry the interior of the boot to keep the fungus away.
This story singles out Ugg boots as the cause of painful, fungus-ridden feet. Better reporting would have discovered the real cause of the problem, and offered a better solution for this very real problem for many people. Sore feet? Wear good quality shoes with good support, and if possible use a shoe store where they actually know how to fit shoes. More expensive? Maybe, but they will last longer and you will be more comfortable.
They have singled out all ill fitting shoes at one time or another in other articles... Perhaps you should write the articles because I know you are a reporter.
No, not a reporter. Physical therapist.
These are the ugliest boots on Earth. I just do not get the appeal. They do nothing for a woman. I can see it for teens and tweens as a fad, but that is it. I wouldn't be caught wearing them in a bathroom!
If you live in a cold weather area, they keep your feet warm, and are oh so comfortable. If you would rather break your ankles in stiletto heels go for it. To each their own. I won't insist you wear them if you don't insist I don't, OK?
I agree, Uggs are just plain ugly.If someone would like to look like they're wearing a platypus bill on their feet, then go ahead... I don't know why people think that the alternative would mean painful high heels. Did people forget about all the other boots and shoes in a world BEFORE Uggs? I thought Uggs were tolerable on tweens and younger children, but looks ridiculous on adults. There are so many other warm, fashionable options, why look make people relate you to a 12 year old girl when they see you walking from a mile away?
Sorry you arent skinny enough to wear em .
I'm a 52 year old woman and recall the same thing being said about flip flops - bad for the feet. I have been wearing flip flops all summer long since I was a kid and no problems with my feet. I have two pairs of Bear Paws (like the Ugg but cheaper) and absolutely love them. Of course I didn't get them for looks because they are ugly looking but they sure are warm and comfortable (in my opinion) and no I don't wear them without socks. For Canadian winters, they sure work out well.
I will support any charge that gets these stupid WOOKIE BOOTS off the planet. That and over-sized sunglasses. Thanks, Victoria's Secret, for making college campuses look like an Inuit porno shoot.
What a bunch of Kool-aid drinking fools ... these things are not only Ugly > there UGLY ... and over priced ... few years from now this will be another thing people will look back at pictures of them wearing these and think Holy Chit .. what was i thinking ....
agree with you Stayslick... and if people would read about them, since they are made from real sheep wool, they don't make your feet sweat and you SHOULDN'T wear socks... they keep your feet at body temperature... knocks-off are made from synthetic wool and DO make your feet sweat. My husband used to rep this line, so I know a little about the benefits...
A total waste of money! My daughter slogs around in these things in Florida of all places and looks ridiculous, but try telling her that.
right? I never understood cold weather boots in warm weather-I see teen girls all the time wearing UGGs and denim short shorts-are you warm or cold? Make up your mind...put on a pair of flops, or an actual pair of pants.
It's really a no brainer... if your feet hurt wearing ANY shoe, change your shoes! I have had to change sneakers because my flat feet have not had enough support. Stop complaining! If you need to be that fashionable, then suck it up & be quiet.
I have two pairs and probably will get another for Christmas. My feet feel toasty in the freezing weather and I think they are cute. Everybody wants to criticize...they are so ugly...blah blah. I don't wear high heels but I don't make fun of them either.
I am a stylish, 48-year old woman, living in a cold climate (it's 20C out now). I never had a desire to look like a wooly mastedon (sic), which is what these boots do, on top of letting everyone know, before they meet you, that you have no individuality. Hopefully, the possibility of foot fungus, aches and pains will diminish their popularity.
Oh, I'm sure you have your shoes custom-made so YOU will have individuality. What a joke. I feel so much like less of a person now that I own Uggs. hahahaha
20 C I cold. Wow. I wished that I live where you do. That's 68 degrees. I sure woudn't be in boots if it was that hot out.
Neither would I. I probably wouldn't have bought UGGs either, but they were my favorite Christmas present last year. Ugly or not, they keep my feet warm and dry in the cold weather of Alaska. I myself don't wear them when the temp. is over 50, so maybe that's why I don't have sweaty stinky feet or shoes. I see a little more of the "sheeple" in those who insist that no-one should wear them. Stick to what you like, and leave my choices alone.
Instead of Uggs, they should be called Fugglies!
I hate so say this, but, "Duhhh!". You mean flat, boot-like shoes with no arch support or additional cushioning & outersoles are making your feet, knees, and ankles feel good?
I see women and young girls wearing them in snow, running to class, to work, etc. I didn't ever think they were intended for daily, extended-period use. Instead, I figured the UGGs were for occasional events, worn for short periods of time.
UGGs are like cheap flip-flops that look expensive, flimsy faux-boots.
The problem is not just with UGGs. The discount shoe stores have no regard for proper foot support anymore. They lure people with low pricing, but the price is paid later in foot problems, expensive inserts etc. I personally made the mistake of going for one of those "buy one and get the second pair at half price" deals. A few months later, my toes started getting numb. My doctor informed me that my shoes were pressing on a nerve on the outside of my big toe and causing what could become permanent damage to the nerves in my feet. The shoes went in the garbage and I haven't been back to that store since then. There needs to be more accountability in this industry.