REASONS TO BUY
Great style
Top notch cushion
Slip on design
Decent warmth
REASONS TO AVOID
No tightening method
Slower drainage
Olukai Moku Pae Review
A model that proves you can have both style and function in a water shoe
Credit: Carrie Mueller
By Zach Lovell ⋅ Review Editor ⋅ October 31, 2024
RELATED: The Best Water Shoes for Men
Our Verdict
The Olukai Moku Pae is among our favorite options we've ever tested in the context of style. Water shoes have historically been a particularly unsightly class of footwear, but options like this prove that we've entered a new era in water shoe aesthetics. The Moku Pae also offers decent performance across multiple metrics, boasting a comfortable mid-sole and effective traction. While we wish there was a method to adjust the lacing system, the slip-on design makes it easy to quickly take these on or off, whether on a boat or hanging on the beach. For shoppers hunting for a water shoe that can handle a day on the water or a night on the town, the Moku Pae is worthy of your consideration. For comparisons, see our full review article on water shoes for men.
Our Analysis and Test Results
The Olukai Moku Pae was a joy to test, offering an excellent blend of comfort, performance, and style. These aren't as ideal for intense water sports, but this slip-on footwear does surprisingly well in many settings.
We tested the Olukai Moku Pai alongside every other option in the lineup, creating as comprehensive of a water shoe review as possible.
Credit: Zach Lovell
Comfort
Simply put, the Moku Pae was a joy to wear. The generously cushioned midsole kept our feet happy for at least a couple miles of hiking, as long as the trail didn't get too technical. For in-water use, we were well-protected from rocky and sharp ocean bottoms and didn't experience any unwanted rubbing. The arch support also was a crucial aspect of all-day comfort, since many days on the water entail hours standing on one's feet.
After logging miles in the Moku Pae, we were thrilled with the cushion and arch support, which kept our feet happy all day long.
Credit: Zach Lovell
One of the most noticeable setbacks of the Moku Pae was the lack of a true lacing system. While there are laces, these are effectively just aesthetic and cannot truly be adjusted. Fortunately, we were able to still go on hikes and several other sports, but these aren't as ideal for more technical use, whether on a white water trip or scrambling along a coastline.
Traction
The Moku Pae boasts an intelligently designed outsole that offers decent friction while also offering channels to usher water away from the contact points of the ground and shoe.
The rubber offered decent friction while the actual sole grooves helped maintain traction on wet surfaces.
Credit: Zach Lovell
As previously mentioned, the lack of fit adjustment may cause a less secure feel, particularly when really testing this shoe's traction. While the outsole itself offers excellent security, it's best if you don't max out its traction in steeper terrain, as you run the risk of your heel sliding out of the shoe.
For brief scrambling sections, our feet stayed inside the shoe, but any more technical terrain caused our heels to slide out. The traction itself of the outsole was excellent.
Credit: Carrie Mueller
Warmth
With a more robust and multi-layered mesh upper, this shoe offers more warmth than many other shoes that utilize mesh. While the shoe overall didn't drain particularly well, the robust midsole offered a bit more insulation from the ground. Outside of simply being in cold water, we mainly got cold feet in the Moku Pae when waiting for the shoe to fully drain and dry, which was a common issue among any of our well-supported shoes.
While we were generally warm in this shoe, it got chillier when back on land waiting for them to drain and dry.
Credit: Carrie Mueller
Versatility
The Moku Pae offers excellent versatility in casual water sports, whether fishing, SUPing in mellow water, or hanging out on boats in tame water. As mentioned previously, the lack of fit adjustability makes this shoe less ideal for more rigorous sports. One added benefit to the Moku Pae's style is that it can be used around town effortlessly, helping it slightly in this metric.
Sensitivity
The well-cushioned midsole of the Moku Pae was a joy for our testers, and it surprisingly still gave some sensitivity, though it prioritizes protection over sensitivity. If your intended use involves some sharper surfaces or you like a more cushioned water shoe, this is worthy of your consideration.
The sensitivity of the Moku Pae struck an excellent blend of feel and protection.
Credit: Zach Lovell
Quality of Construction
The Moku Pae offers a fairly durable construction that held up to our rigorous testing process. The most robust parts of the shoe were the outsole and midsole, with the cloth and mesh upper more easily frayed/impacted by abrasion. This option is among the lighter shoes in the lineup, so we were particularly impressed with how well it held up in testing. However, if you're hunting for a pair of shoes for more intense use, we'd recommend you look elsewhere.
At 1 pound, 5.9 ounces, we were impressed with the overall quality of construction, since lighter footwear often means decreased durability.
Credit: Zach Lovell
Should You Buy the Olukai Moku Pae?
If your intended water shoe use is more casual, and you need a more stylish shoe for around-town hangs, look no further. As long as we weren't getting into too intensive of an environment, we loved the blend of performance and aesthetics of the Moku Pae and find it well worth the money.
What Other Water Shoes Should You Consider?
If you're hunting for a more casual aesthetic like the Moku Pae, take a look at the Astral Loyak AC, which boasts excellent style and performance. The Astral Loyak even includes a better lacing system, allowing you to adjust the fit as you need.
Side-by-Side Comparison
Compare Olukai Moku Pae versus top competing products:
—Zach Lovell
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