OluKai Ohana - Women's Review

The Ohana excelled in almost all our rating metrics. It's an incredibly comfortable and supportive shoe that provides decent enough traction to impart confidence and security if you end up on an impromptu hike. It does run a bit wide and loose, so if you are a half size, you may want to size down, and if you have narrow feet, be prepared to have extra wiggle room. While it looks great with a casual dress, it has a sporty and athletic vibe that pairs more naturally with shorts or activewear. All in all, we love this flip flop and feel it's a durable and reliable item.

Performance Comparison

Comfort

The Ohana elicits an “oooooh ahhhh” factor when you first put it on. Its cushy inset ICEVA footbed is intended to mimic the feeling of standing barefoot in wet sand. It's a pretty unique textural feeling unlike any other flip flop in our test suite.

While the footbed material doesn't repel or absorb water as quickly as some of the other models we tested, it continues to feel pleasurable to have on and walk around in when wet. The synthetic nubuck leather straps are wide enough that they don't dig into the foot, and they have a bit of padding underneath for added comfort. The fit on the Ohana is broad and roomy, something to keep in mind if you have narrow feet or you're a half size, as it can cause the shoe to feel less supportive and secure.

Support

The Ohana has a gracefully contoured footbed with decent arch support, giving it far more support than a minimal flat shoe.

Our chief tester has narrow, size 8.5 feet. We ordered a 9 and an 8 to compare the difference. The 9s ended up feeling less supportive because of the looser fit and added width. This is a trend we see discussed repeatedly in online customer reviews as well. While we still felt confident and secure in the 9, the size 8 felt much more supportive and not too tight, so we suggest sizing down if you are between sizes and have narrower feet.

Traction

We assessed traction for our flip flops by considering both how sticky the bottom outer sole felt as well as how effectively the internal footbed gripped our feet. The Ohana finishes well above average because of the soft yet grippy ICEVA footbed.

When completely saturated, we had some brief moments of insecurity in the Ohana, but this is true of almost any flip flop. And once the water absorbed into the footbed, we went back to feeling confident and at ease, more so than with most other pairs in our review.

The outsole traction is impressive as well. While it is not the best in our test suite, we found that the soft rubber paired with grooves is effective in its ability to get a grip on the ground, even if it's loose or wet. Overall the traction of this flip is suitable for most conditions, but like many other flips in our test suite, you're not going to want to be going on any crazy hikes.

Versatility

The Ohana scores a little above average in the versatility department. It is a well-made, casual shoe that looks great with everything and is comfortable enough for long walks. That being said, you may want something a little heartier and with a heel strap if you plan to hike steep mountains or cross rushing rivers.

The footbed of the Ohana absorbs water as opposed to repelling it, which results in a rather long drying time. But as long as you are not wading through a river or constantly dousing it, the footbed remains very grippy. Despite all the obstacles we put the Ohana through — everything from mud pits to river beds to sharp rocks — we found that the darker colors barely looked a day past brand new when all was said and done. The lighter colors, on the other hand, didn't fare as well in the mud pits. No surprise, but keep that in mind when choosing your color.

This flip flop is best on flat terrain but the grippy footbed helps the foot stay put if you have to tackle a hill or two. Generally speaking, this shoe is most at home on long city park walks or casual outdoor adventures, rather than steep loose terrain. However, regardless of how you use these flip flops, the rubber and synthetic leather meet high-quality construction, making for a highly durable warm weather companion.

Style

Style is decent for the Ohana but nothing over the top. We polled a group of women to determine style rankings, and repeatedly this flip ended up in the middle of the pack.

While this sandal isn't unattractive by any means, it does have more of a sporty, active look which is why it pairs best with more casual clothing. That being said, if you like to sport an active flip with a simple summer dress for a picnic in the park, the Ohana will work just fine. We don't expect you'll be choosing this option for a fancy dinner or a night out on the town though.

Should You Buy the OluKai Ohana?

Honestly, we can't think of too many flip flop scenarios where we wouldn't want to be wearing the OluKai Ohana. They shone across our metrics and made our feet feel like they were walking on clouds. They're fantastically comfortable, well-constructed, and able to deal with all kinds of conditions. While the sporty look isn't for everyone, this is still a decently attractive shoe that offers great support, traction, and durability. It runs a bit wide, so if you're a half size we suggest sizing down, and folks with narrow feet should be aware that the sandal might feel a bit loose. If you're looking for a classic sporty sandal that will regularly make your feet feel like royalty, this is a great one to consider.

What Other Flip Flops Should You Consider?

If you want something slightly less sporty, you might like the Clarks Breeze Sea, which are adjustable and available in wide array of colors. We also love the leather strapped Birkenstock Gizeh with their comfortable cork footbeds that mold to your feet as they break in. Finally, the Chaco Classic Flip is a tried and true pair that offers decent traction and good durability.