Why Do People Rave About Olukai Shoes?

Considering a pair of Olukai shoes or sandals? Here’s what you need to know about buying a pair of Olukai womens shoes before you buy.

I think the first time I was introduced to Olukai was when I first moved to Hawaii. It was one of those brands where people would be like “Oh these are OluKais” and I would just nod my head, because it just sounded so cool. 

While the brand itself is synonymous with the tropical lifestyle of the Hawaiian Islands and best known for sandals, OluKai designs footwear for all seasons at the intersection of comfort, sustainability and quality craftsmanship.

All of the brand’s styles are designed with the “Wet Sand Principle,” inspired by the way feet are naturally cupped in wet sand, to design contoured footbeds for lasting comfort and support.

OluKai Shoes

I’ll be honest – I was skeptical. How fashionable could ‘made for comfort’ shoes really be? Today I’m sharing my full review of Olukai shoes (I’ve tested many styles at this point!) and what to know before you buy.

OluKai Womens Shoes

My first experience with OluKai shoes was actually through my husband. He raved about the comfort of their shoes (loved that they could be worn with the back up or down), and durability. We aren’t easy on shoes at the Hanson house 😉 He has multiple pairs, but his favorite include the sneakers and boots (pictured a little further below while we hiked through Kenya!).

He had been an avid wearer for years before I took the plunge myself. What can I say, I like to see how things go for someone else first (kidding, kind of), but I can honestly say that since trying out OluKai flip flops, slippers, boots, and sneakers – this brand is a winner. 

Here’s why I recommend OluKai shoes:

Comfort. This is the brand’s primary selling point for a lot of people, but I’ll take it a step further and say that the support I feel while wearing these shoes is simply unmatched. I sound twice my age saying this, but the older I get, the more important it is to take care of my body, and that starts with supportive shoes, especially when it comes to sandals.

Olukai Flip Flops

Quality. It’s one thing to buy a nice pair of shoes that are comfortable. It’s entirely another to have them last forever. I’m proud to say that every pair I own looks as good as the day they arrived in my closet.

They’re easy to clean. More on this below, but keeping them clean is super simple. It is very natural in Hawaii to go from land to sea, and back again, so the brand has designed shoes that follow that premise. You need shoes that are going to go with you (and look decent) super quick. 

OluKai Review

The moment I became the biggest believer in OluKai shoes was during a work trip to London in 2019. 

I needed a versatile pair of shoes that could be worn both on the plane and throughout the city in addition to two events with a smart-casual dress code. The forecast for London showed temperatures in the 40-50s with an outside chance of rain, which added an additional element of complexity considering I live in Hawaii and my closed-toe shoe options are severely limited.

I ordered a pair of OluKai booties that arrived two days before I left, which left no time to properly break them in. I took the ultimate travel gamble and packed them anyway, hoping for the best, but fully anticipating blisters and regret.

I wrote about the entire experience for TODAY.com, but basically, I walked 10 miles around London in a single day while wearing brand new shoes without pain. I was amazed.

Other things I love about the company overall is that they’re a certified B-Corp and they run their own non-profit that gives back directly to Hawaii-based organizations in need.

In the spirit of keeping my feet comfortable no matter where life takes me, OluKai slippers have been the latest addition. Don’t tell Dane, but I think I’m going to get him a pair for Christmas, especially since I blast our A/C.

Considering gifting the shoes to either yourself or a family member? My answer is probably obvious: DO IT.

Is OluKai a Hawaiian brand?

OluKai crafts premium, Hawaiian-inspired footwear and all the official ambassadors are based in the Hawaiian Islands. They have two stores here as well. That said, the shoes themselves are made in Asia and shipped from California. 

How do you clean your OluKai shoes?

I think my favorite part (of all my pairs of OluKais) is that keeping them clean is really simple. They have a full cleaning guide based on shoe type, but in the spirit of being honest, I usually just use a wet wash cloth and have always cleaned mine that way. 

What is OluKai sizing like?

In my experience, OluKai runs true to size. The good news is that their return policy (as well as that when ordering via Nordstrom) is seamless.

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