Mysteries of the Universe: Sheep are Waterproof, Why Aren't Uggs?

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It's pouring rain outside our window in downtown New York today, so even though it's perfect woolly-fuzzy-boot wearing weather (read: really cold), we're not wearing our Uggs outdoors. Why? Because even though they're (ever so kind-of) water-resistant, in anything more than a tiny sprinkle, Uggs get wrecked. Mysteriously, sheep seem to be much more able to stand up to the H20—so you'd imagine sheepskin would as well. Not so fast, Sherlock!

"You're working with a far thinner material for a start—it's really only the top layer of skin and the wool," says Charlotte Cole of Celtic Sheepskin. "Also, a lot of the water resistance that a sheep's fleece has results from the fact that it produces natural oils when it's alive. However, once the wool and skin is processed and treated, although it retains its insulating qualities, it doesn't retain its waterproof ones."

Luckily, Ugg's released the "Belfair," a new, waterproof style that's perfect for winter slush and downpours. Yay, our feet will be back in fuzzy sheep in no time.
· Sheep can stand the rain...so why can't Uggs? [Daily Mail]
· Ugg "Belfair" waterproof boots [Zappos]