Ugg Bluetooth Earmuff review

Natalie Hemengül

3-11-2023

Translation: Veronica Bielawski

Earmuffs are super cute. Hairdo-friendly fluffy ear warmers have been on my wishlist for some time. But it wasn’t until recently that I found out about Ugg’s model with built-in, wireless headphones.

I’m a headband gal. I love that the winter accessory protects my ears from the freezing cold without bulldozing my hairstyle. There’s just one drawback: my soft cashmere headband, which once belonged to my mother, doesn’t mix well with the make-up on my forehead. That’s why I’ve been looking for a pair of earmuffs for some time now, a combination of headband and fluffy ear warmers. Seen The Grinch? Then you know exactly what I’m talking about. They seem to be very trendy in Whoville, the little town that lies inside a snowflake. And rightly so, if you ask me.

But finding a pretty, high-quality model in the real world isn’t so easy. They’re in short supply. Scouring the web, the earmuffs from Ugg come closest to my expectations. I didn’t even realise they had built-in Bluetooth earphones until fashion editor Laura Scholz drew my attention to it. This calls for a test!

Headbands

Ugg Bluetooth

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FYI: Ugg also makes non-Bluetooth earmuffs, but unfortunately the logo on the sides is too big for my taste.

First impressions

Peering into the black, round box sends my euphoria into the corner of shame. The box contains large floof of sheepskin resembling a hairball. I grab my pet fur remover and keep rolling until the earmuffs look reasonably shapely. But there’s no hiding that they hair, especially on black cardboard. The brown leather, on the other hand, seems high-quality.

I try on the one-size earmuffs, curious to see if they’ll fit, given they’re not adjustable like my headphones. The length suits me, but the hardware in the round cushions presses really hard against my ears. A no-go for anyone with cartilage piercings. I take the earmuffs off again and remove the many labels around one of the ear cushions. They’re not only visually very present, but also physically uncomfortable.

Next, I attach the earmuffs to the power supply. According to the instructions, it takes two and a half hours to fully charge them. I search in vain for a light signalling the charging status.

Wearing (dis)comfort

The power button is located on the same side as the small metal logo and the micro USB port. Simply press the centre of the muff for three seconds. The device can then be easily paired with your phone. I listen to a few songs on Spotify, and the sound is quite alright.

Of course, the sound quality is far from exquisite (for whatever that’s worth), but it’s enough for a short train ride or a winter walk. I’m pleasantly surprised. I can also make phone calls with the earmuffs, though I wouldn’t dial into any meetings, as the microphone occasionally cuts out. There are no volume controls or the like on the earmuffs, but that doesn’t bother me.

Time to put the earmuffs to the outdoor test. After 15 minutes and a bunch of lint on my dark blue coat, I abandon the experiment. My ears can’t take it any more, they’re in pain from the pressure. What’s more, the ear cushions press against the upper part of my jaw, making speaking difficult. But I have to hand it to them: they do keep you warm. As far as the battery life is concerned, I left the music on and the headphones were still running after 11 hours.

The lowdown

I somehow imagined the experience to be more comfortable. And cosier. I don’t think the easy-to-use headphone function is bad at all – if only it didn’t come at the expense of wearing comfort. What’s more, I don’t have a large head, and yet the earmuffs pinch down too hard. I’d rather go back to my headband – or my Bose QuietComfort headphones. The latter don’t press down on my hair or my ears, are adjustable, offer good sound quality and provide relatively good protection against the cold. They’re just not as cute as earmuffs. And so, the search continues.

Natalie Hemengül

Senior Editor

Natalie.Hemenguel@digitecgalaxus.ch

As a massive Disney fan, I see the world through rose-tinted glasses. I worship series from the 90s and consider mermaids a religion. When I’m not dancing in glitter rain, I’m either hanging out at pyjama parties or sitting at my make-up table. P.S. I love you, bacon, garlic and onions. more

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