Olukai Ohana Review

The 'Ohana possesses all of the qualities we look for in a pair of flip flops. First and foremost, the feeling of slipping these on after a hard day of hiking, running, or working is amazing. The comfort is off the charts. After hurdling the critical comfort step, the 'Ohana proved to be durable, grippy, and versatile. There are no gimmicks, just a simple, well-made flip flop that speaks for itself.

Comfort

Like most flip flops, the 'Ohana sole is formed from compression-molded EVA, but it also has a unique ICEVA drop-in footbed. The footbed really is the “ICEVA on the cake.” Olu Kai advertises the next-to-skin feel of the footbed to mimic walking barefoot on the beach and while it isn't a spot-on match, we found it to be a very inviting feel. These are comfortable right out of the box and after months of wear, they only become more formed and supple.

Our past experiences with comfortable flip flops led us to believe that often comfort is achieved with the sacrifice of durability. The 'Ohana proves that theory wrong by keeping our feet just as happy over a year after first wearing them.

Support

The attention to detail and ergonomics are exceptional on the 'Ohana for providing solid and consistent footing. The combination of the firm, grippy footbed, high arch support, and dense, tacky sole adds up to superior support and stability all around. Our main tester even uses these flip flops while at his standing desk as they provide excellent ergonomics and all-day wearability.

As with any high-arch footwear, the 'Ohana won't work for everyone. If you need a more modest arch, this option might cause pain or discomfort, so we'd recommend that you look elsewhere. Flip flops, on a macro scale, are frequently built with no arch at all and all of our testing team greatly appreciated the support of the 'Ohana.

Traction

The “coral reef lug” outsole on this flip strikes a nice balance between having big grippy lugs without them being so big as to lose traction on wet, smooth surfaces, and the non-marking rubber grips incredibly well. This option came in towards the top of the charts.

The 'Ohana rubber stacks up admirably to grippy rubber found on climbing shoes. We find this flip worthy of scrambling around the wet granite boulders of our favorite swimming hole, something we wouldn't do in just any ol' pair of flip flops.

Versatility

The 'Ohana has mastered all of the elements that make a flip flop highly versatile. The sole is grippy and durable, the footbed offers plenty of support, and the straps are snug but soft to keep uncomfortable rubbing at bay. Most notably, this model is equally happy in wet or dry environments, while still offering enough style to be worn in more urban settings.

On top of the outdoor versatility, the non-marking rubber soles let you transition indoors without scuffing up the floor. Of note: after splashing around in puddles and streams, we did notice a significantly longer drying period for the footbed than some other flip flops.

Style

We have long been impressed with the aesthetics of the 'Ohana when considering its performance in other metrics. Is this the most stylish option out there? We don't think so, but it still looks great for around-town hangouts.

There are a plethora of different color schemes to choose from with the 'Ohana, and even the color options are understated and appropriate for a wide variety of occasions. Our testing team and their respective communities all found this option to offer decent looks, whether wearing the 'Ohana with jeans for a dinner party or rocking swimsuits on a boat.

Should You Buy the Olukai 'Ohana?

The 'Ohana carries your dollar very far, especially considering that these can double as your around-town sandals and meet your outdoor recreation needs. Most importantly, our team has found these to be a very durable pair of flip flops, sometimes lasting twice as long as budget options. At the end of the day, the 'Ohana belongs in your shopping cart if you don't mind its high arch and heavier weight. It's a phenomenal choice for your next pair of flip flops.

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