REASONS TO BUY
Unparalleled aesthetics
Quality leather construction
Great foot security
Made to last
REASONS TO AVOID
Not great in water
Less ideal traction on gravel
Hard on the wallet
OluKai Mea Ola Review
This ornate pair of flip flops are among the most stylish sandals we’ve seen yet, just keep them away from water
The Mea Ola offers a great, dressy aesthetic and even boasts all-day comfort.
Credit: Zach Lovell
By Zach Lovell ⋅ Review Editor ⋅ May 20, 2025
RELATED: The Best Flip Flops for Men
Our Verdict
The OluKai Mea Ola is an exceptionally stylish flip flop that still boasts the great comfort and support that OluKai is known for. Throughout our testing process, we loved the footbeds of this model, with raised outside edges cradling our feet securely, especially while walking long distances or traveling across uneven ground. With a full-grain leather construction, this is a particularly durable sandal, though substantial water contact is likely to cause damage. With canoe lash whipstitching and laser etchings on the footbed, this is undoubtedly one of the most decorative flip flops we've ever tested, though it also comes with a premium price tag that's twice the cost of most flip flops. Check out the full review on men's flip flops to see how the Mea Ola compares to the competition.
Compare to Similar Products
 This Product
OluKai Mea Ola | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awards |  Best for Style |  Best Overall Flip Flop |  Best Bang for the Buck | Best on a Tight Budget | |
| Price | $114.89 at Amazon Compare at 3 sellers | $80.00 at REI Compare at 3 sellers | $34 List $34.00 at Amazon | $25 List $24.99 at Amazon | $50 List $34.99 at Amazon |
Overall Score  |
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| Star Rating | |||||
| Bottom Line | This stunning pair of flip flops is sure to turn heads, just stay out of the water and avoid technical trails | A sandal that’s bound to be your next go-to flip flop if you prioritize support and durability | A comfy model that’s half the cost of the competition, offering great value for shoppers needing a pair of flip flops for everyday use | These dirt-cheap flip flops are great for shoppers who prioritize price first and foremost | A slip-on that offers iconic style on a budget with a customized fit |
| Rating Categories | OluKai Mea Ola | Olukai Ohana | Teva Mush II | NeedBo NDB | Cushionaire Lane Co... |
| Comfort (35%) | |||||
| Support (20%) | |||||
| Traction (20%) | |||||
| Versatility (15%) | |||||
| Style (10%) | |||||
| Specifications | OluKai Mea Ola | Olukai Ohana | Teva Mush II | NeedBo NDB | Cushionaire Lane Co... |
| Footbed Material | Leather | ICEVA | EVA | EVA | Leather, cork |
| Sole Material | Leather and Rubber | Rubber | EVA | Rubber | EVA |
| Strap Material | Leather | Synthetic | REPREVE recycled polyester | EVA | Vegan upper |
| Measured Weight (per pair) | 16.95 oz | 18.7 oz | 6.45 oz | 11.0 oz | 22.1 oz |
| Available Sizes | 7-15 US | 7 - 18 US | 7-16 US | 6 - 17 US | 8 - 13 US |
| Animal Products | Yes | No | No | No | Yes |
| Percentage of Length as Toe Box | 19% | 17.0% | 20% | 17.2% | 17.3% |
| Measured Length | 11" (size 9) | 11.8" (size 10) | 11.25" (size 9) | 11.6" (size 10) | 11.5" (size 10) |
| Length of Toe Area | 2.1" | 2.0" | 2.25" | 2.0" | 2.0" |
| Unique Features | Fully leather-wrapped construction, canoe whiplash stiching on toe straps, laser etched designs on footbed | Quick drying lining, non-marking rubber outsole | Quick drying toe webbing, fast molding EVA, very low weight | Wide sole to accomodate wider feet | Moldable cork and leather footbed |
Our Analysis and Test Results
The Mea Ola was an absolute joy to test, with a great blend of performance and style. The high arch and all-leather construction kept our feet happy and supported, especially after a couple weeks of breaking them in. Continue reading to learn more about these well-made sandals and whether or not they're the right option for you and your needs.
From afternoons lounging outdoors to evening social gatherings, we loved the aesthetics and unwavering comfort of the Mea Ola.
Credit: Zach Lovell
Comfort
Comfort is a priority for most shoppers, so we paid extra close attention to the performance of the Mea Ola in this metric. After logging weeks wearing this pair of flops, we're happy to report top-notch scores and consider comfort a big plus of this model.
The Mea Ola offers a sculpted footbed with a supportive arch and cupped heel that cradled our feet very well. The all-leather construction and a compression EVA midsole also gave us some break-in customization, with an improved fit after about a week of wearing these sandals. When compared to other models from this manufacturer, we actually found this option to have a more modest arch height that worked for a wider variety of feet, though the width was narrower. Fortunately, the strap is also made of leather and stretched out throughout the break-in period, but if you have wider feet, we suggest looking elsewhere.
We greatly appreciated the sculpted footbed of the Mea Ola, hugging our feet even on varied ground.
Credit: Zach Lovell
Support
The Mea Ola boasts a stiffer midsole and, as previously mentioned, has a generous arch. This collectively makes it a very supportive flip flop and we scored it very highly in our review, coming in towards the very top of the charts. While some flip flops had too much arch support, this model finds a nice middle ground that'll work for many different arch shapes and sizes.
With raised outside edges on the footbed, the Mea Ola kept us from rolling our ankles or having our feet slip off the footbed. When also considering its arch, this model was dubbed an all-day flip flop, and we highly recommend this as your next sandal if support is a priority.
Unlike some of the options from OluKai, the Mea Ola's arch support finds a nice middle ground that is likely to work for a variety of feet.
Credit: Zach Lovell
Traction
Traction was a particularly fun metric for us to test, taking the Mea Ola into terrain that's debatably not appropriate nor recommended for flip flops. Our team bravely scrambled and climbed across granite rock slabs and went on lengthy hikes to see how this option scored in this metric. Ultimately, the Mea Ola offers decent traction in many settings, though it's less ideal on gravely trails.
The Mea Ola has a unique leather-wrapped outsole with rubber traction pods that do most of the traction's heavy lifting. The rubber is non-marking and we found it to perform very well across a variety of surfaces, from wooden decks to slickrock sandstone. It also did well when the surface was wet, but please keep in mind the Mea Ola shouldn't be actually submerged in water. This option's scores went down when hiking on more chunky, gravel-riddled trails, with the leather wrappings coming in contact with the trail surface and causing us to slide in steeper terrain. Besides a few specific surfaces, many shoppers will find the traction of the Mea Ola to be confidence-inspiring for their day-to-day (or vacation-to-vacation) use.
We found the rubber lugs to be dependable, but in terrain where the leather made contact with the ground, the traction wasn't as inspiring.
Credit: Zach Lovell
Versatility
The Mea Ola is an aesthetically stunning sandal, but its all-leather construction limited its versatility. While other options can handle dry and wet settings, this option is really meant to be kept on dry ground.
Prolonged contact with a river or ocean will cause irreversible damage to the Mea Ola. Water bonds with natural oils found in the leather, pulling those oils out as the sandal dries, leaving behind a dry and brittle leather. Fortunately, the Mea Ola's aesthetics make it ideal for more formal occasions where open-toed footwear is still appropriate, and it can still handle long days outdoors…just keep it from getting wet. OluKai advertises this model as a flip flop designed for sandy beaches, and while we agree that it's great in those settings, we think it's great for many more applications.
Style
The Mea Ola is among the most stylish flip flops we've had the pleasure of testing here at GearLab. The quality leather construction and intricate canoe whiplash stitching really stands out, and we were able to even wear these with dress slacks.
While we all recognize how subjective style is, the Mea Ola was continually voted as “most aesthetic” from our review team and their respective communities. The whiplash stitching and high-quality leather made for a mature, dressy look.
Depending on the occasion, these are likely to even work with a pair of dress slacks.
Credit: Zach Lovell
While it's hard to see the laser etchings on the footbed while wearing it, we loved the artisanal flair of the entire flip flop, with the leather-wrapped outsole even offering a nice look.
Even the footbed of the Mea Ola was stylishly designed.
Credit: Zach Lovell
Should You Buy the Olukai Mea Ola?
If you're seeking a flip flop that offers style and functionality, this is a worthy option if it's in your budget. However, if you need a flip flop for watery activities, we would strongly steer you towards another option.
What Other Flip Flops Should You Consider?
The Olukai Ohana is a must-view flip flop if you like the Mea Ola but need to be able to get your sandals wet. It's also substantially less pricey. If you're wanting a leather-built option that's easier on the wallet, the Reef Voyage Le is a beautiful flip flop that won't break the bank.
—Zach Lovell
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