OluKai Ohana - Women's Review

The Olukai Ohana features a super comfortable and durable construction that we found to be one of the most supportive in our award-winning lineup. Crafted from high-quality materials and featuring a contoured foam footbed that provides arch support and shock absorption, these flip flops offer all-day comfort and are made with water-resistant leather.

Comfort

After testing many flip flop options that require a long and uncomfortable break-in period before the shoe molds to your foot, we love the out-of-the-box comfort provided by the Ohana design, especially for those with wider feet. While some Olukai designs can run tight and narrow, the Ohana features a wider fit with a thicker, more flexible toe strap, along with a super soft, ICEVA footbed that hugs your feet. No uncomfortable toe post is to be found in this design as the soft nylon sits comfortably between your toes, and the straps have a comfortable, quick-drying jersey knit lining that prevents blistering or chafing during all-day use.

Olukai does not offer half sizes in this shoe, and throughout many seasons of testing on different feet, our team has found that your foot volume and width will determine whether in-betweeners will want to size up or down. During the latest round of testing, our lead tester was happy with her normal street shoe size, which fit perfectly, even leaving a little space for movement without feeling sloppy thanks to the contoured footbed and supportive arch. The Ohanas are our favorite shoes to stash in the car for after a long day of climbing or hiking, as the comfortable reprieve from closed-toed shoes is just too good to pass up.

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Support

The unique support provided by the Ohana footbed is one of the standout features in the construction thanks to the molded EVA with soft ICEVA drop-in footbed that feels like a shock-absorbing, soft foam beneath your feet. The support is nice for those with higher arches while the contoured footbed provides much more support than your average flat and minimal flip flop.

Our lead tester was struggling with Achilles pain during the testing period and greatly appreciated the anatomically designed footbed, which provided enough support for a day of errands without pain. So long as you nail the sizing, we think the Ohanas are on par with the most supportive flip flops that we've ever tested and are a great choice for those seeking a little more toe freedom for their day-to-day.

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Versatility

Our testers love the versatility of the Ohana design. One tester who lives in Yosemite Valley loved wearing them around her campsite, to the village to shop for groceries, in and out of the Merced River, and finally to the wellness center where she showered after yoga class. The sporty look is great for casual outings and supportive enough to take you from one activity to the next without any real discomfort.

While they do function wet or dry (and even float), the footbed can easily absorb water and require a much longer drying time than your average rubber flip flop. And all the high-quality materials in the design create quite a heavy construction, but we didn't find this to be a big deal, as they are still less than one pound and pack easily into your gym bag or backpack for an extended trip. We love the variety of color choices that range from neutrals to bright teals, pinks, and blues, depending on your mood. If you're looking for a sporty design that is water-friendly and highly packable, the Ohana doesn't disappoint.

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Style

The Ohana design is definitely more high-end and stylish than your average rubber flip-flop, but it definitely veers to the sporty side. While it may not be everyone's cup of tea, the durable materials like the EVA and water-resistant synthetic leather make the Ohana a classic.

We love the active look that works best for casual outings around town, when you're headed to the beach, but they would also pair well with a casual summer dress just fine. If you want something for date night or a night on the town, we'd recommend something a bit more polished, but for a versatile and supportive sandal, we love the active and sporty look.

Traction

In order to objectively measure the overall traction of each flip flop design, we noted the performance within the bottom of the outsole as well as how effectively the footbed held onto our feet. Every iteration of the Ohana that we have tested kept our feet firmly on the ground. The molded drop-in footbed feels grippy underfoot, while the soft, flexible toe strap helps keep our feet in place without being too tight or causing discomfort.

The non-marking rubber outsole features a design that's inspired by coral reefs and performs best on flat terrain; however, it is functional enough to grip stairs, cobblestone, or light trails pretty well. This comes in handy when the path to that secluded beach gets a little hairier than expected. When the shoe was wet, we had a slippery moment or two, but as the shoe dried, we became more confident in our stride. To be fair, we are talking about flip flops, not hiking shoes, and moments of insecurity happen with most of the designs that we test.

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Should You Buy the OluKai Ohana?

The Olukai Ohana is definitely more expensive than your average rubber flip flop, but we think the sporty style, water-friendly versatility, and exceptional arch support make it worth the extra dollars. The rubber outsoles perform well whether you're traveling through wet or dry surfaces, and they are super packable and easy to throw into your gym bag or backpack on your way to the beach or a trip into the mountains. The all-day comfort is perfect for any casual warm-weather activity, and the high-quality construction keeps them performing season after season. If you're after a little extra support from your summer footwear and are tired of buying a new pair of flip flops every spring, we highly recommend checking out the Ohana.

What Other Women's Flip Flops Should You Consider?

If you like the sporty look and supportive footbed of the Ohana but want a faster drying design that's better suited for the beach, we recommend the OluKai Ho'opio Malua. The Malua has a slimmer, minimalist fit than the Ohana, making it a better choice for narrow feet. If you're after support on a budget, we'd recommend the Archies, which have a contoured footbed that molds to the shape of your foot, putting them a step above your average rubberized flip flop, but are still very affordable. And if you're after a little more structure and timeless style, we recommend the Birkenstock Gizeh.