REASONS TO BUY
Comfortable
Versatile
Stylish
Great arch support
REASONS TO AVOID
Heavy
Expensive
Olukai Ohana Review
Versatile and so comfortable they feel as if they were tailor-made for our feet
Olukai Ohana
Credit: Olukai
RELATED: The Best Flip Flops for Men
Our Verdict
Season after season, our gear testers absolutely love the OluKai 'Ohana flip flop. No matter what your go-to activities are, you can't go wrong with this flip. We romped through the desert, belayed at the crag, did some gardening, kicked it at the park, and always felt comfortable. The compression-molded EVA footbed is among the most comfortable we tested and only became more comfortable and foot-forming as the testing went on. The rugged design, durable materials, and good looks did everything we asked of them and aged with grace.
Compare to Similar Products
 This Product
Olukai Ohana | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awards |  Best Overall Flip Flop |  Best Bang for the Buck | Best on a Tight Budget | Cork Footbed on a Budget | |
| Price | $75.00 at REI Compare at 3 sellers | $28.99 at Amazon | $50 List $34.99 at Amazon | $25 List $22.99 at Amazon | $50 List $29.99 at Amazon |
Overall Score  |
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| Star Rating | |||||
| Bottom Line | Take these flops everywhere and your feet will love you for it | Light and comfortable no matter what you're doing, this well-priced flip is ready for casual warm weather hangs | An inexpensive flip-flop that's confidence-inspiring on the trails at the cost of style | A casual, affordable option with a wide footbed, but not the greatest traction | A slip-on that offers iconic style on a budget with a customized fit |
| Rating Categories | Olukai Ohana | Teva Reflip | Kiiu Thong Sandals | NeedBo NDB | Cushionaire Lane Co... |
| Comfort (30%) | |||||
| Support (20%) | |||||
| Traction (20%) | |||||
| Versatility (15%) | |||||
| Style (15%) | |||||
| Specifications | Olukai Ohana | Teva Reflip | Kiiu Thong Sandals | NeedBo NDB | Cushionaire Lane Co... |
| Footbed Material | ICEVA | EVA | Rubber | EVA | Leather, cork |
| Sole Material | Rubber | EVA | Herringbone rubber | Rubber | EVA |
| Strap Material | Synthetic | REPREVE recycled polyester | Synthetic nubuck | EVA | Vegan upper |
| Measured Weight (per pair) | 18.7 oz | 9.7 oz | 15.9 oz | 11.0 oz | 22.1 oz |
| Available Sizes | 7 - 18 US | 7 - 14 US | 7.5 - 16 US | 6 - 17 US | 8 - 13 US |
| Animal Products | No | No | Not Specified | No | Yes |
| Percentage of Length as Toe Box | 17.0% | 16.2% | 17.0% | 17.2% | 17.3% |
| Measured Length | 11.8" (size 10) | 11.5" (size 9) | 11.8" (size 10) | 11.6" (size 10) | 11.5" (size 10) |
| Length of Toe Area | 2.0" | 1.9" | 2.0" | 2.0" | 2.0" |
| Unique Features | Quick drying lining, non-marking rubber outsole | Impressively light, quick drying toe webbing | Herringbone rubber outsole, shock absorbing midsole | Wide sole to accomodate wider feet | Moldable cork and leather footbed |
Our Analysis and Test Results
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.
Performance Comparison
The footbed on these flops is soft out of the box and grippy even when wet.
Credit: matt bento
Comfort
Like most flip flops, the 'Ohana sole is formed from compression-molded EVA, but it also has a uniquely comfortable ICEVA drop-in footbed. The footbed really is the “ICEVA on the cake.” They are comfortable right out of the box, but 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 holding up as well as our Editors' Choice while retaining top-notch comfort.
The gears of war would come screeching to a halt if everyone on earth had a pair of 'Ohanas. The powers that be would be so chilled out because of the comfortable footbed the omnipresent angst for the enemy would melt away.
Credit: Brian Martin
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.
The 'Ohana sticks to rock like few other flip flops. Combined with the grippy footbed and perfect strap the support and stability is fantastic.
Credit: piper
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. The 'Ohana rubber stacks up admirably to grippy “stealth” rubber-like you can find 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.
Even a 40-degree granite slab isn't too slippery for the 'Ohana. There are “approach shoes” that would slip on this surface...
Credit: Brian Martin
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. This is basically the Captain Planet of flip flops, combining the power rings of grip, durability, comfort, and style to defeat evil.
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.
The fact that the 'Ohana is comfortable, grippy, and looks good makes it very versatile. Comfortable enough for an afternoon of wandering around shops and durable enough to be used as a camp shoe for summer backpacking.
Credit: Brian Martin
Style
Beauty and the Beast isn't just a strange children's movie — it's also a statement that perfectly sums up the 'Ohana. Simple but attractive lines and the ability to stomp on crustacean shells (not live ones, we aren't monsters) without cutting through into your feet was a pleasant surprise.
On top of that, 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. The bulk of our testing took place in Tucson, Arizona, where the flip flop is king, and the 'Ohana rarely came off of our feet.
The lugs on these flops are deep enough to grip dirt and gravel, yet still stick to bare rock slabs as well.
Credit: Matt Bento
Should You Buy the Olukai 'Ohana?
These aren't a budget pair of flip flops, but they perform so well that we think the cost is warranted. The price-to-performance ratio of the 'Ohana is actually very high, and these are versatile and comfortable with a simple and understated style that never seems to become outdated. If you can afford the price tag, we highly recommend them.
What Other Flip Flops Should You Consider?
If you like the style of these, you might also like the Reef Santa Ana, which can often be found for about half the price of the 'Ohanas. For a true budget pair, check out the Teva Reflip or NeedBo NDB.
Our testers loved hanging out in these flops at the end of a long day.
Credit: matt bento
—Brian Martin
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