Purchasing a pair of slippers is much, much harder than it sounds. You want the coziest pair, a comforting home to introduce to your feet after a long day of whatever comes your way. There are so many options—fur-lined, open-back, moccasins, boots, the list goes on. I tested the UGG Ansley Slipper, wearing them around my apartment for a full week to get a feel for just how comfortable they really are. There was a slight break-in period, but all in all, these moccasins are a great choice is you tend to have cold feet and find yourself needing a pair of slippers that will hold up to the occasional trip outside. Ahead, I broke down all of the pros and cons that come with this option, from the materials to the fit, in order to determine whether or not they’re worth the price tag.
Materials: Suede, rubber, and wool
These slippers from UGG feel luxurious straight from the unboxing. I can tell that these are not cheap (or cheaply made) slippers. The water-resistant suede is soft and functional (more on that later), the fur lining feels like a cloud, and the rubber sole is ultra-grippy and sturdy enough for indoor/outdoor use. The inside of the moccasin is lined in wool—long tufts of UGGpure wool, to be exact. The proprietary material is supposed to naturally regulate heat and wick moisture away. When the slipper is on, the wool crawls up the side and almost on the top of your foot, meaning it’ll keep the entirety of your foot warm. What isn’t made of rubber or wool is made of sturdy leather. There’s a definite structure to these slippers, which is nice if you’re looking for some support in your step. I prefer having a bit of room in my shoe, though, and I found the strong materials to be a bit much for my feet.
Design: Branded and very furry
These slippers are not the style I would choose (closed-toed moccasin), but I can appreciate the design. The color palette is relatively subtle, featuring pastel tones like “sunset” (a pale pink) and “fawn” (light brown). The UGG logo is embroidered onto the side of the shoe, which is quite noticeable. The stitching isn’t hidden, either; some colors even come with contrast stitching. The wool is not isolated to the interior of the slipper, as some of it creeps out the sides of the shoe and up the foot. This was fine for me, but if you have especially sweaty feet, I think it would be a bit much.
Fit: Runs small; order a size up
I wear a solid size 8 women’s shoe—I am always comfortable ordering shoes online as I fall so distinctly into that size group, I almost never have issues. That being said, this shoe was beyond tight along the top of my foot. When I take them off, I have a solid impression of where the slipper lies on my foot. It was also a bit painful after long periods of wear. I would suggest sizing up. The interior of the shoe was quite comfortable, and the wool was super soft. When I sat down, avoiding any pressure on my foot in the slipper, the moccasins were comfortable. There was no tightness in any area other than along the top of my foot. The wool on the inside of the slipper does become a bit matted the more you wear them, so while there isn’t any stretch to the shoe, you will end up with a little more room than when you first put them on—eventually.
Performance: Super sturdy and water-resistant
My apartment has wooden floors, which can get quite slippery, and these slippers saved me from more than one slip or stumble inside. Just as promised, the wool was heat-regulating and moisture-wicking. My feet were warm, but not sweaty. Normally, I would put on the sturdiest of shoes for even a minute outside (I live in New York City), but I had no problem popping these slippers on to spend some time reading on my stoop. The rubber sole feels like any other shoe I would wear outside. The suede is also water-resistant, which means you want to use a blotting method to remove any moisture from the material as opposed to a wiping motion. After (accidentally) spilling nearly a full glass of water on the moccasins, I can confirm that they are, indeed, water-resistant. It took the upper of the shoe a bit to dry—it was quite literally a full glass of water—but after 30 minutes, there were no stains to be seen.
Price: An investment
Paying $100 for a pair of slippers may seem steep, and it is. But you are getting what you pay for in quality. You can find hundreds of slipper options under $50, so it may seem like a hard sell to fork over $100. Given that these moccasins are water-resistant and outdoor-indoor approved, you have to expect to pay a bit more.
Competition: There are cheaper options, but none match the quality
These are investment slippers, but they’ll get you through years of trudging around your home in comfort. You’ll find similar softness with the fleece memory foam slippers from UltraIdeas, but you’re missing out on the warmth a full-shoe slipper can offer. The Cody Sheepskin Slippers from Tamarac by Slippers International is closer in style but doesn’t feel as sturdy as the Ansley moccasin. If you’re willing to pay the $100 for the UGG moccasins, you won’t be disappointed. If warmth is high on your list, the UGG Ansley Slipper is a great option for keeping your toes warm and grounded for years to come. Just save up and size up!
