Tough Flip-Flops for Tough Girls: OluKai ‘Ohana Review

The first time your flip-flop breaks when you’re out in public, you realize that maybe cheapest isn’t always best. There I was at the RC car track a few years ago — I was running to flip over a car that had taken a tumble during a race, and then I realized … I was still running, but one of my shoes had been left behind.

As I went back to inspect what had happened, I saw the strap had come loose from the footbed. There wasn’t a way to fix it, and I didn’t have an extra pair of shoes in the car.

Was it embarrassing? Yes. But was it a realization moment for me? Also yes. That’s when I first started thinking that I needed to find a true, quality, ride-or-die pair of flip-flops that was tough enough to hold up during all of my adventures.

In short: The OluKai ‘Ohana proved to me that they were one of the most well-made flip-flops I had ever owned and could stand up to my hard use on the boat, at the beach, by the pool, in the yard, traveling, or just in my everyday use running around town. OluKai ‘Ohana Flip-Flops are a little more expensive than some, and may cause a little sticker shock at first. However when you add up the cost of frequently replacing cheaper flip-flops — as opposed to having a quality pair that lasts much longer — these really aren’t a huge investment long term.

OluKai ‘Ohana Flip-Flops Review

My love of the OluKai ‘Ohana flip-flops started as soon as they came out of the package. I slipped them on my feet and immediately felt the comfort. Unlike some flip-flops I’ve tried, there was absolutely no break-in period with these. They felt as good at the time I first put them on my feet as they do now 5 months later.

Built Durable and Tough

One thing that really stood out to me about these flip-flops is that they are built tough. Unlike those shoes at the RC track that left me barefoot in my tracks, the attachment points where the straps connect to the footbed on these are super secure. I’ve pulled and tugged and haven’t felt the slightest bit of insecurity to make me question the durability of these.

The toughness of the straps didn’t sacrifice anything in terms of comfort, though. The straps have a jersey knit lining that dries super quickly. The nylon toe post was also positioned comfortably between my toes and didn’t cause any irritation.

Another defining factor of the toughness of these is the enhanced grip of the rubber outsole. When I was stepping on rocks at the river, I didn’t feel it through my shoe like I did with other thinner flip-flops — the toughness and durability really shows in the sole.

The tread on these shoes made me feel secure both in and out of the water. I wore these by the pool, walking the shoreline picking up shells and out on the boat — and I always felt like I had good traction on whatever surface I was walking on. The soles of these shoes seem pretty hefty, and even though I can be pretty rough on shoes, these appear to be as tough as me.

Good for Land and Water Adventures

The OluKai ‘Ohana are flip-flops that are made to be worn in and around the water. My only complaint about them is that they do have that dreaded foot squeak when they get wet. It’s annoying for a few minutes, but luckily they dry quickly, so it doesn’t last too long.

Another thing I did notice is that the footbed got hot when I left these out on the pool deck. The black pair I tested may have been warmer than I wanted, but the good thing is that since these are so water-friendly, I just threw them in the pool to cool them down quickly — problem solved!

OluKai says its footbeds were inspired by the sensation of bare feet walking on wet sand. I didn’t get that exact impression from them, but I can say they were super comfy. When I’m walking on wet sand, I’m used to my feet making those imprints on the shore.

My feet definitely weren’t making imprints into the footbed of these sturdy shoes. The footbed isn’t as textured as some flip-flops I’ve tried, but the smoother surface still has some substantial grippiness to it and stays firm — further giving credit to why I trust these in the water.

Matching Flops for Her and Him

If you can’t tell by now, I kind of love these (a lot). When I was testing these, my boyfriend started getting FOMO because of how much I was raving about them. On his everyday flip-flops, you could definitely see that imprint of where his foot had left its mark.

He said that’s actually started happening pretty quickly on others he had in the past, and he was jealous that wasn’t happening on mine. He saw how well mine had held up to all I’d put them through, and he started asking lots of questions.

When I was out shopping one day, I saw the men’s OluKai ‘Ohana at a local store and picked up a pair for him too. He has foot problems and has had issues with some shoes in the past. I was hoping he would like these, because let’s face it — they aren’t cheap!

He’s had the exact same experience as me with them though, and hasn’t seen that weird foot imprint he saw in others. He was also happily surprised with the additional arch support that is found in these shoes and loved that feeling.

Now, I guess we’re officially an OluKai household. Yep, we’re those people… the couple wearing the same shoes. At least I went with a different color for him. There are actually several color options available for both men and women.

Who These Are Good For

The OluKai ‘Ohana is a sportier style and performs well in tough situations —  including all of your water activities. These were made to be tough flip-flops for adventurers, that could also serve as a perfect pair to slide on to run errands, too.

If you’re looking for something fancier for a special event, these may not be the ones. These aren’t dressy flip-flops, but I’ve still thrown them on with a sundress while strolling through town, and they looked great. 

Conclusion

The OluKai ‘Ohana is a great choice for those looking for an all-purpose quality flip-flop that will last for a long time. If you want one shoe that’s going to be there for you and serve multiple purposes, this is the one.

Don’t let the $75 price freak you out. No, these aren’t the cheapest flip-flops, but there’s a reason for that. Once I got past the price, I realized these are ones that are going to last a long time.

Do the math — if you’re used to having to buy new go-to flip-flops frequently, you’re actually spending quite a bit over time. These are tough shoes made for tough girls, and are a quality product that will last a long time. In the end, these could end up being a better long-term investment for you.

Aside from these being your everyday ride-or-die flip-flops, these are also ones that are perfect if you’re boating, hanging by the beach, fishing, or basically doing anything near, in, or on the water. The stability and traction these provide will give you confidence in those situations.

These flips are great shoes for outdoor adventurers, and I’ve seen these for sale at fishing and boating stores and beach shops. They’re also available at REI, Amazon, and on OluKai’s website.