REASONS TO BUY
Stylish
Liner feels fantastic
Relatively warm
REASONS TO AVOID
Low heel for a flatter ride
Low waterproof height
UGG Butte Review
The modernized classic vibe helps this stylish waterproof boot excel at cruising winter sidewalks
The UGG Butte boots let you fold the top for a fuzzy look or leave it up for more weather protection.
Credit: Chris Maxcer
By Chris Maxcer ⋅ Review Editor ⋅ November 11, 2025
RELATED: The Best Winter Boots for Men
Our Verdict
While the UGG Butte is the most stylish winter boot we tested, it also outperformed many other boots in warmth, comfort, and quality of construction. With its cuffable top, the upper interior is made from sheepskin-like UGGplush 60% wool blended with synthetics. It feels remarkably warm and cushy against legs. The lower interior transitions to a denser, curly UGGplush wool blend that better resists packing yet manages to feel luxurious. The exterior is made from durable waterproof leather, but UGG doesn't stop there. Rugged toe and heel patches protect high-wear areas from sharp ice or from using one boot to hold down the heel of the other for hands-free exits at home. Unfortunately, this level of fit, finish, and style costs more than many other boots — but the durability might make it a good buy over time.
Our Analysis and Test Results
With the top of the UGG Butte folded down, the fuzzy insulation evokes a classic winter boot vibe that, we must say, tends to look better in person than in most photos. If you don't want to tuck your pants into these boots, though, all you have to do is fold the top into its up position.
With its sheepskin-like top and leather upper, the UGG Butte brings a refined style that rubber winter boots can't touch.
Credit: Chris Maxcer
Warmth
Considering the UGG Butte's relatively trim, lightweight construction, we were flat out impressed by their ability to keep our feet warm. At first glance, we expected the furry top to be made completely from synthetics like so many other winter boots these days, but UGG stays true to its roots and uses a natural 60% wool blend. Better yet, this blend extends to the lower where it's mixed with Tencel Lyocell, which is a sustainable fabric usually made from the wood pulp of eucalyptus trees. UGG rates this boot down to -4° Fahrenheit, which seems fair and accurate to our testing.
We tended to get extra warmth out of this boot when we unfolded the collar, increasing the height of the boot against our legs. This also let us lace the boot snugger at the top, which helped keep warmth in as well.
The lush wool blend insulation feels cozy and helped fend off the cold from an ice water bath in our tests.
Credit: Chris Maxcer
Weather Protection
The Butte weather protection starts with a waterproof interior bootie membrane, supported by a full waterproof leather upper. The gusseted tongue includes a water-repellent coating. In our tests, the leather and bootie did its job, keeping our feet dry and warm despite tromping through snow, slush, and standing in icy puddles.
There is one drawback to this boot's waterproofing: The gusseted tongue doesn't fully extend up the sides of the boot, leading to an issue of perception. While the total height of the boot extends to 11.5 inches, the maximum puddle depth is just 6.5 inches, making it easy to overestimate the depth of a puddle you can step in. With the tongue gusset design, if you step over the maximum depth, water will gush into these boots, saturating the insulation and soaking your socks. The lesson: These boots might look tall, but you'll need to treat them like shorter boots around water.
If you want extra height for additional insulating coverage, simply fold up the top to gain another two inches.
Credit: Chris Maxcer
Comfort and Fit
Made from the UGG's proprietary blend of repurposed wool and several different kinds of synthetic and natural fibers, the insulation feels plush and similar to real sheepskin. Unlike some boots that look similar, the insulation is fused to the leather shell of the boot, so you can't remove it or replace it.
The fit is true-to-size. The lowers do pack a little over time, but it's not as pronounced as most winter boots with thick felt insoles and insulation. Interestingly, these boots feel as if they have a very low heel-to-toe drop. Instead of a raised heel, the footbed is quite flat. If you're not a fan of flatter soles, avoid the Butte — though one benefit is that the footbed feels stable despite very little ankle support.
Stepping into the plush wool-blended interior of the UGG Butte simply feels cozier than typical winter boots.
Credit: Chris Maxcer
Traction
The Butte uses a soft Vibram sole with decent, though not stellar traction characteristics. The tread pattern uses many thin lugs that are too shallow to have quite enough bite to make it lead our charts for off trail or snowy slopes.
As for slick surfaces like icy walking bridges, frozen puddles, or packed snow, our testers have reported mixed results. To be fair, most winter boots struggle on frozen puddles. If there is one thing we'd prefer to see, it's a more defined heel to help grab and act like brakes when stepping downhill.
While the Vibram rubber compound is relatively soft and grippy on many slick surfaces, the shallow tread pattern wasn't the best for biting through deeper snow.
Credit: Chris Maxcer
Quality of Construction
We're very impressed with the premium build quality of the UGG Butte. Out of the box, the leather appears slightly plasticy, but with a mile or so of snow travel, it transforms into a more natural-looking leather. The double-row stitching is nice to see, and the places in the upper with single stitching seem to be stitched with stout thread.
The lacing is fantastic with durable metal eyelets. Seriously, the quality seems top-level here, and we can't identify any cut corners. Previous testers have reported no long-term problems, and our latest retest of this boot remains consistent.
The rugged leather upper is stitched with stout-looking thread and double-stitched in the most important seams. Note the heel protection for those who like to step out of their boots without bending down.
Credit: Chris Maxcer
Should You Buy the UGG Butte?
If you like its look, you can rest assured that the Ugg Butte is more than just a pretty winter boot. It boasts a premium leather upper with warm wool-blended insulation, giving it performance that rivals or exceeds most of the competition. It's surprisingly lightweight, making it great for exploring mountain towns or running errands. If the higher price point is in your budget, it's a strong performer that should keep your feet warm for multiple seasons.
What Other Winter Boots Should You Consider?
If you're not looking for a fluffy, thick upper, the Danner Arctic 600 Side-Zip is a do-it-all winter boot with a distinctive design. It's just as warm and the laces let you dial in the fit in case you want a snug ride for exploring winter landscapes. If you want to stick with classics, the Sorel Caribou pairs a full rubber lower with a quality leather upper. They're quite a bit heavier and larger, which is sometimes handy for pushing snow while shoveling the driveway. Last of all, the The North Face Chilkat V 400 is our favorite overall winter boot. It's not an outright leader in any specific feature, but the sum of its features delivers the best blend of winter performance we've tested so far.
Side-by-Side Comparison
Compare UGG Butte versus top competing products:
—Chris Maxcer
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