The Olukai Ohana flip flops is one of the best sandals with arch support available, but also look extremely stylish while giving off a beachy casual vibe. It’s constructed with a sturdy and durable EVA midsole, an ICEVA footbed that feels natural and a synthetic upper strap.
It’s relatively lightweight and comparable to similar brands, weighing just about 8 ounces. As far as color choices, you have more than a dozen design options to choose from and coordinate your style that best suits you.
Arch Support
The Olukai Ohanas offer a considerable amount of arch support as far as flip flops are concerned, which makes them ideal for those suffering from heel pain. The high arch offers a semi-rigid structure with a bit of give so that it’s not entirely intrusive and bothersome to those with sensitive flat feet.
Most competing footwear typically has a rather flat surface for your arches to sit on, while these Olukai sandals have a clear and formidable contour. What’s more, the footbed is made of their molded ICEVA material, which is resilient towards wear and tear and offers a good amount of shock absorption for the entire footbed.
The straps are made with jersey-knit lining that are also water resistant and look rugged, outdoorsy and stylish at the same time. They are snug, non-chafing and keep the foot latched on the footbed nice and secure so you can maintain that proper arch support all day.
Heel Support
The Olukai Ohana flip flops offer a modest heel cup that cradles your feet nicely, but in a different way than some other sandals. As the design trails off from the arch to the heel, it gives the appearance that the heel is not secured. But wearing them, you’ll definitely notice the lip on the back that secures your foot from slipping around. It’s subtle, but functional like most others. And it’s especially beneficial as it makes the arch supports feel more supportive.
The midsole is compression-molded EVA and has an drop-in footbed for comfort and shock absorption abilities. The material offers a good amount of cushioning for your heels to rest against, unlike others where the footbed feels plastic and rigid.
Outsole
The rubber outsole in these Olukai flip flops offers a good amount of traction, as you can see by the lug pattern. They’re noticeably deeper than some of your typical store-bought flip flops that offer a cheap outsole with a few small ridges. These are hefty and offer a good amount of grip, sufficient to take on any number of outdoor activities.
And since it’s a firm and non-flexible outsole, you get plenty of stability when trekking in this sandal. It’s going to take a good amount of abuse for these to wear down, so you can expect them to hold up. Add to that the fact that they’re waterproof and handle well in wet conditions, and you have a really versatile flip flop.
Overall Feel
When you try these Olukai Ohana sandals on, you’ll first notice how comfortable they really are. Despite having some of the best arch supports you’ll find in a flip flop, there doesn’t seem to be a feeling of intrusiveness that you get from some other comparable brands. It’s not rigid at all.
On top of that, the material in the footbed feels fantastic and your feet will definitely be comfortable resting on them all day. The material is such that you won’t be sliding back and forth, which you sometimes feel in the harder, slick midsoles. It also feels rugged and durable, so there’s no worry about the strap popping off or the outsole bending in two when you step on a rock. In the heel, the back tapers off instead of cupping your heel, but it’s still stable and comfortable.
Use
The Olukai Ohana flip flop are a classic nature sandal that looks best on your feet while you’re hanging out in a hammock on the beach. On the other hand, they look casual and cool with several design styles that make this excellent in almost any garment. You can throw them on with a pair of shorts to enjoy the summer weather, or wear them with any number of pant styles.
Having such a sturdy outsole and being water resistant gives them much more versatility than most of your other flip flops. You can literally walk anywhere in these, including the sand, in the water at the beach, on the trails, in and around the home.. practically anywhere. They function well in all conditions. But keep in mind that the footbed material may get a little slippery when drenched in water. Drying them out shouldn’t be a problem, however.
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Online User Reviews Overall Experience
- May require some break-in period
One of the few issues people have with the Olukai Ohana flip flops is that they may require a short breaking-in period of a few days. For most, the commentary wasn’t negative and not related to a stiff arch support, rather the pains of dealing with a brand new product that usually requires a few days for the straps to open and the footbed to settle.
- Very comfortable
A lot of customers mention the excellent comfort that the Olukai Ohana flip flops have offered them. Most of them claimed that these are the best and most comfortable pair of flip flops they have ever used.
- Great arch support
A large number of reviewers also mentioned that the Olukai Ohana flip flops offer enough arch support that they were able to relieve foot pains caused by plantar fasciitis. Many of them find almost immediate relief, while others have switched over from other brands – or simply needed an alternative to walking barefoot around the house. These Olukais end up being the ‘go-to’ for many people that need arch support in a good-looking sandal.
- Pretty durable
Many reviews mention the durability of these flip flops. Having a strong outsole seems to be good for a few, but the fact that they seem to last a long time is enough for others. On top of that, it seems to be able to take some abuse. But some comments warn not to wear them in the salt water everyday if you want them to last. Even though the Olukai Ohana flip flops are considered expensive by most buyers, they also added that the product is worth the price since it can last for a very long time. Most of them were glad about the durable construction that the flip flops feature. Some even mentioned that they’ve been using the pair for several months already without seeing any noticeable signs of wear and tear at all.
Pros:
- Features a non-slip rubber outsole
- Good flip flop for flat feet – if you aren’t sensitive to high arches
- Many excellent reviews for relieving plantar fasciitis
- Lots of color and design styles to choose from
- Made of 100% vegan materials
- Excellent traction on a variety of surfaces, including wet
- Good flip flop for wide feet – mostly positive
Cons:
- A bit costly compared to other flip flops
- Some issues with straps breaking prematurely
- Few complaints of sole coming unglued after a few months of use
- Arch support may be too high for some