Quick Answer: Ugg Adirondack XXV Review: The Ugg Adirondack XXV is a waterproof, insulated lace-up winter boot for people who want one good-looking pair for icy sidewalks, slushy parking lots and cold days spent standing outside. It keeps the soft, plush Ugg feel inside, then adds thin, compression-resistant insulation and a Vibram sole made for ice and snow. It is built for town and suburban winters rather than winter hiking, and it comes in one standard width, so wide feet and thick-sock wearers should think hard about size before ordering. Check latest price.
The Adirondack Boot XXV is the newest version of Ugg’s most weather-ready boot. XXV is the Roman numeral for 25, and Ugg says the boot celebrates 25 years of the Adirondack. It replaces the Adirondack III as the current model, though it is not called an Adirondack IV. Ugg also sells a taller version, men’s and kids’ versions and other variants; this review covers the standard-height women’s lace-up.
If you mostly picture Ugg as the pull-on sheepskin boot, the Adirondack is a different animal. It has a laced leather and suede upper, a waterproof inner lining, a cuff you can fold down and a real winter outsole. The idea is one boot that keeps your feet warm and dry on the commute, the school run and the dog walk, and still looks put together with jeans and a wool coat.
Specs
Here are the specifications for the Ugg Adirondack Boot XXV:
| Type | Women’s waterproof, insulated lace-up winter boot |
| Best for | Icy sidewalks, slush, commuting and standing outdoors in the cold |
| Warmth rating | Cold-weather rated to minus 32 C (about minus 26 F), per Ugg |
| Insulation and lining | 3M Xerogel insulation plus a 17 mm UGGplush wool-blend lining and sockliner |
| Waterproofing | Waterproof leather and suede, waterproof membrane bootie and a gusseted tongue |
| Outsole | Vibram outsole with Icetrek rubber compound |
| Midsole and footbed | Sugarcane-based EVA midsole; poured polyurethane footbed |
| Shaft height | 7.5 inches, cuffable |
| Widths | One standard width |
| Sizes | Women’s 5 to 10 in half sizes, plus 11 and 12 |
| Price | $250 at its fall 2025 launch. Check latest price |
Pros
- Thin, modern insulation is designed to keep working even when your weight squashes it, which matters when you stand on frozen ground.
- Waterproof from the leather and suede down to an inner bootie, so slush and puddles stay outside.
- A Vibram sole with a compound made for ice and snow gives it more winter grip than a typical fashion boot.
- The soft UGGplush lining gives the slipper-like step-in feel people buy Ugg for.
- It looks good cuffed or tall, so it works for errands, the office commute and dinner out.
Cons
- One standard width only, which rules it out for many wide feet.
- No half sizes above 10, so some people will need to size up or down.
- The soft, flexible upper gives little ankle support for rough trails.
- Suede shows road salt and needs regular care to keep looking good.
What Ugg changed from the Adirondack III
The biggest change is how the XXV keeps you warm. The Adirondack III relied mainly on a thick wool-blend lining. The XXV keeps a 17 mm UGGplush lining, which is Ugg’s wool and lyocell blend that feels like sheepskin, and adds 3M Xerogel insulation. Xerogel is a very light, porous material that is mostly air, and 3M says it holds its warmth even under compression. For you, that is the important part: the insulation under your feet gets squashed every time you stand, and squashed insulation usually stops working.
The second change is underfoot. The Adirondack III used a White Spider rubber outsole. The XXV switches to a Vibram outsole with Icetrek, a rubber compound Vibram designs for grip on cold, icy and snowy surfaces. Ugg also raised the tongue for more protection in deeper snow, made the shaft slightly taller at 7.5 inches and includes a spare set of laces. What stays the same is the minus 32 C cold-weather rating, the waterproof leather and suede and the cuffable shaft.
| Adirondack XXV | Adirondack III | |
| Insulation | 3M Xerogel plus UGGplush lining | Wool-blend lining |
| Outsole | Vibram with Icetrek compound | White Spider rubber |
| Cold rating | Minus 32 C | Minus 32 C |
| Shaft height | 7.5 inches | 7 inches |
Buy the new model when you walk on icy pavement often or spend long stretches standing in the cold, since the insulation and outsole changes target exactly those situations. Buy the previous model when you find an Adirondack III in your size and your winters bring more slush than ice; it is still a warm, waterproof boot.
Who the Adirondack XXV is a smart buy for
The XXV makes the most sense if your winters are properly cold and you spend that time on pavement, not trails. Dog walks on icy sidewalks, waiting on a train platform, cheering at an outdoor game, the walk from the parking lot in slush: this is the routine the boot is built around. The insulation under your feet is the feature doing the most work when you stand still on frozen ground, and that is where many fashion boots let you down.
It also suits you if looks matter as much as warmth. Fold the cuff down for a shorter, softer look or wear it up for more coverage, and it passes as a casual boot in a way most technical winter boots do not. And if you already love how Ugg feels inside, the XXV wraps that familiar comfort in a sole and insulation package meant for much harsher weather than the classic sheepskin boot.
Who should probably skip it
Skip the XXV if you have wide feet. Ugg makes it in one standard width, and squeezing a thick sock into a snug boot compresses the air that keeps you warm, so a tight fit costs you comfort and warmth at once. It is also the wrong tool for winter hiking, snowshoeing or long walks over rough ground, where you want a stiffer boot with more ankle support. And if your days involve standing in slush, mud or barn muck for hours, leather and suede will ask for more care than you probably want to give.
If that sounds like you, these are better places to start:
- Sorel Caribou: a classic pac boot with a rubber lower and a removable felt liner you can dry overnight, better for long hours standing in deep cold and slush (check price | read review)
- Muck Boot Arctic Sport: a waterproof rubber and neoprene pull-on for wet outdoor chores, where leather and suede would suffer (check price | read review)
Not sure which kind of winter boot you need? Our Free Shoe Finder asks a few quick questions about your feet and your winter and suggests boots that match.
Sizing for socks, the lining and one width
Fit is where most winter boot mistakes happen, because you are sizing for thick socks and a plush lining at the same time. Start with your usual Ugg size, then think about how you will wear it. If you wear thin to medium socks and have a slim to average foot, your normal size is the place to begin. If you plan to wear thick wool socks every day, try a half size up, since a boot that is snug with thin socks will feel tight, and colder, with thick ones.
Ugg offers half sizes from 5 to 10, then whole sizes 11 and 12. If you normally wear a 10.5 or 11.5, you will have to choose between sizing up, which leaves room for thick socks, or down, which may pinch. The XXV comes in one standard width, and the leather and suede upper will give a little with wear but will not turn a narrow boot into a wide one. If standard-width boots usually feel tight across the ball of your foot, look elsewhere rather than hoping this one stretches.
Inside, the UGGplush lining covers the shaft and the footbed, with a wool-blend sockliner on top of a poured polyurethane footbed and a sugarcane-based EVA midsole, the light foam used in most sneakers. The result is a soft, slipper-like step-in. The gusseted tongue is stitched to the sides of the boot rather than floating free, so snow cannot slip in beside it, and front and rear pull tabs make it easy to get on with gloves.
Warm, waterproof and grippy on winter pavement
Ugg rates the XXV to minus 32 C, about minus 26 F. Treat any boot rating as a guide rather than a promise: you will feel the cold sooner standing still on frozen ground than you will on the move. What the Xerogel layer should do is help the boot hold its warmth when you are standing, since it is designed to resist flattening under your weight. Keep your socks dry, too, because damp socks will make any boot feel colder than its rating.
Waterproofing covers every entry point but one. The leather and suede are treated to be waterproof, and inside there is a waterproof membrane bootie, a sock-shaped waterproof layer, so any water that soaks into the outer material still cannot reach your foot. The opening at the top is the exception: snow deeper than the 7.5-inch shaft can spill in, so tuck snow pants over the cuff in deep drifts.
Grip comes from the Vibram Icetrek outsole, a softer rubber compound designed to keep gripping on cold, slick surfaces where ordinary rubber gets hard and slippery. That should make neighborhood loops and trips into town feel more secure. No rubber sole grips glare ice every time, though, so if you face black ice daily, add slip-on traction cleats. Stability is typical for a lifestyle winter boot: you stay close to the ground, but the soft, cuffable upper does not lock your ankle in place the way a hiking boot does.
For care, brush off road salt after salty days and reapply a suede-safe waterproofing spray a few times each season. Salt stains are the main threat to the boot’s good looks, and a little upkeep goes a long way.
Is the Ugg Adirondack XXV good for walking?
Yes, for the kind of walking most people do in winter. Dog walks, school runs, trips into town and walks across icy parking lots are exactly what it is built for, and the cushioned footbed and plush lining keep it comfortable for everyday winter outings. It looks polished enough for the commute or dinner out, though you will want lighter indoor shoes for a full day at a desk, since an insulated boot gets warm inside.
It is not a winter hiking boot. On long hikes, steep trails or rocky ground, the soft upper offers little ankle support, and an insulated lifestyle boot is not built for long distances. For year-round walking outside of winter, our guide to the best walking shoes is a better place to look, and our best winter boots for women guide compares the XXV’s cold-weather rivals.
Ugg Adirondack XXV Alternatives
If you like the XXV but want a different trade-off, these three are worth comparing.
The Ugg Adirondack Boot Tall XXV uses the same Xerogel insulation and Vibram Icetrek sole with a much taller shaft. Choose it if you face deep snow often and want more coverage, though a taller boot is harder to wear under straight-leg jeans (check price).
The Sorel 1964 Pac Nylon is the lighter, more casual pac-boot option, with a nylon upper over a rubber lower and a removable felt liner. It suits you if you want a classic snow-boot look and an inner liner you can pull out to dry (check price | read review).
If you can find it, the previous Adirondack III gives you the same waterproof leather and suede, the same cold rating and the same cuffable look, with the older wool-blend insulation and White Spider rubber sole. It is a sensible choice if your winters bring more slush than ice (check price).
Price and value
Ugg launched the Adirondack XXV at $250 for fall 2025. That is a premium price for a boot you may only wear a few months a year, so value depends on how often you reach for it. What the money buys is real winter capability, with waterproofing top to bottom, compression-resistant insulation and an ice-focused Vibram sole, in a boot that still looks like something you would wear to dinner.
If it replaces both a fashion boot and a snow boot in your closet, it earns its keep. If you only need slush protection a handful of days a year, a simpler snow boot will make more sense. Check latest price.
Final verdict
Best for: people in cold, icy places who want one stylish, waterproof boot for commuting, errands, dog walks and standing around outdoors.
Avoid if: you have wide feet, plan to hike or snowshoe, or spend hours working in mud and standing water.
Fit: one standard width; start with your usual Ugg size and consider a half size up for thick socks.
Verdict: The Adirondack XXV is the most winter-capable Adirondack yet on paper, with smarter insulation and a sole designed with ice in mind. It keeps the soft Ugg feel and the good looks, which is why it works as an everyday boot rather than just a snow tool. Get the size and width right and it is an easy boot to live with all winter. Check the latest price.
Frequently Asked Questions for Ugg Adirondack XXV
XXV is the Roman numeral for 25. Ugg named the boot to mark 25 years of the Adirondack, and it follows the Adirondack III as the current version.
Yes. Ugg uses waterproof leather and suede with a waterproof membrane bootie and a gusseted tongue. Snow deeper than the shaft can still get in over the top.
Ugg rates it to minus 32 C, about minus 26 F, using 3M Xerogel insulation and a wool-blend lining. Treat the rating as a guide, since standing still or damp socks will make it feel colder sooner.
Start with your usual Ugg size. It comes in one standard width, and a half size up can help if you wear thick winter socks.
Its Vibram Icetrek outsole is designed for grip on cold, icy and snowy surfaces. No rubber sole grips glare ice every time, so add traction cleats if you walk on black ice often.
Yes. The shaft is designed to be cuffed, so you can fold it down for a shorter look or wear it up for more snow coverage.
