The Olukai Tuahine Flip Flops, two years in and going strong. Photo: Dylan Heyden//The Inertia
In theory, a good pair of flip flops is pretty straightforward. Slap together an outsole, insole, and a few straps, slide ‘em between your toes, and you’re off. But, spend any serious amount of time in a crappy pair of flips (read: all of five minutes) and low-quality materials and shoddy design make themselves quickly known by way of blisters between the toes or on the instep, a bit of fishtailing, or a bum heel. The simplicity of the humble flip flop’s design, I would argue, is precisely why the perfect pair is so elusive. There are a lot of pretty good flip flops out there. But, they all feel like you’ve got to sacrifice something. Do you want cushion or structure? Style or support? Buttery softness or hardy construction? You get it. Not so with the Olukai Tuahine ($100).
Over the past two years, I’ve had the opportunity to put many a pair of flip flops through their paces in and around coastal Orange County, where flip flops are a bit of a religion. And from long beach days to cruising around town, kids’ birthdays to summer date nights, the Tuahines have consistently been the pair I reach for first for their perfect blend of comfort, structure, style, and durability.
From beachside surf checks to evenings out on the town, the stylish versatility of the Tuahine is unmatched. Photo: Dylan Heyden//The Inertia
Bottom Line: I’ve been rocking the same pair of Tuahines with regularity for two years now, and while they’re well broken-in at this point, they still have plenty of miles left to give and have only gotten more comfortable over time. All this to say, while the price tag may be a bit steep compared to other flip flops on the market, the Tuahines are a worthy investment for those who wear their sandals well and demand a lot out of each pair.
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My Experience with the Olukai Tuahine Sandal
Material: Waterproof full-grain leather with a compression-molded EVA midsole and nonmarking Wet Grip rubber outsole
Sizing Recommendation: For half sizes, we recommend sizing to the next size up
Pros: Waterproof, premium materials, comfort that improves with time
Cons: Price
Checking out the Tuahine online for the first time, what I noticed right away was its classic silhouette with understated branding. Having worn my fair share of Rainbow’s ubiquitous leather Single Layer Arch sandals into the ground in the past few decades, they’ve sort of become the baseline by which I measure all other leather flip flops. The Tuahine, particularly in the Toffee colorway, definitely has comparable overall styling – a great look that’s fairly low-profile, straps that aren’t too thick or too thin, and a decent amount of arch support.
The Tuahine’s “wrapped” construction contributes to a pre-broken-in feel. Photo: Dylan Heyden//The Inertia
As soon as I first got the sandal in my hands, though, the attention to detail of the Tuahine and some of the key differences became pretty evident. While many leather flip flops have a sort of layer cake look – nubuck leather glued on top of a layer of foam, glued on top of a rubber outsole – the outsole of the Tuahine actually wraps up around the rear of the sandal to cradle the heel. The effect is that out of the box, an established heel cup pairs with ample arch support to provide a pre-broken-in feel. Another feature I appreciated from the jump was the rugged sidewall that surrounds the Tuahine, which is the sort of added protection that shows these things are built to last. The outsole with raised patches of knobby, grippy leather was also a major upgrade compared to other similar styles like the Rainbow Double Layer Arch or Hari Mari Fields, for example.
Leather sandals at the beach, what more could you ask for? Photo: Dylan Heyden//The Inertia
Testing the Tuahine
Coastal Orange County was the primary location for testing Olukai’s Tuahine sandal. And while the place may be praised for its weather, a temperate climate is only part of the reason that the OC makes for a good testing ground for flip flops. Good weather also means it’s socially acceptable to don flip flops pretty much anywhere. Cruising around town from a morning surf to a grocery store run is a no-brainer. But, what about situations that might toe the line elsewhere? What about a nice meal out? How about a bar? No issue ‘round these parts.
My point is this: a place that leans hard into flip flops all day, every day is a place that’s ideal for testing because it creates a lot of competing demands. Your footwear has to be comfortable enough to kick around in for a full day and sturdy enough to hold up, but stylish enough to pair with jeans for a more civilized outing.
Over the last two years, I’ve spent countless full days in the Tuahines. Being that flip flops are designed as casual footwear and are most at home performing activities that never get above a walking pace, the test for the Tuahines has been all about how well they fit into the rhythms of daily activities, identifying where they fall short, and seeing how they feel on the feet over an extended period. This meant slipping on the Tuahines for packed weekends – a morning trip to the beach to get in the ocean here, getting back home to run some errands there, kicking around in wet grass after carting kids to sports practices and games, maybe an outing for dinner or a movie. Incorporating the Tuahines into daily life over the last few years, I’ve seen how they wear over time and can confidently report on how they feel underfoot.
Plenty of arch support for all-day wear. Photo: Dylan Heyden//The Inertia
What I like about the Tuahine
Comfort With No Break-In Period
Pick up most leather flip flops out there, and you’ll notice the same thing: straight out of the box, they’re pretty flat. Sure, they’ll have varying degrees of arch support, but under the toes and heel, a fresh pair won’t have any contours. One of the primary selling points of Rainbow’s Single Layer Arch, their Double Layer Arch, the Hari Mari Fields, or other similar styles is that over time your foot will break down some of the foam layer sandwiched between the leather layer and the rubber outsole, forming a custom fit with a heel cup. But this takes time. Depending on the style of sandal, many leather flips also fit fairly tight from the start and need to be walked in to gradually break in and stretch the straps for the appropriate fit. If all of this sounds like a hassle, it definitely is and requires a bit of patience and some confidence that a couple of blisters early on is worth the investment in the long run.
Olukai’s Tuahine flips the idea of breaking in your flip flops for maximum comfort entirely upside down. And the difference comes down to the construction. Instead of a layer cake of rubber outsole, foam, and leather, the Tuahine’s leather upper is sewn onto an anatomically contoured footbed, and the outsole wraps up and around parts of the sandal. The curves include a nice heel cup, ample arch support, and some slight curves right around the ball of the foot. Olukai says the contoured footbed is inspired by the sensation of bare feet in wet sand. The result is comfort straight out of the gate with no break-in period.
Well-worn, but with plenty of life left. Photo: Dylan Heyden//The Inertia
Waterproof Leather
One of the most significant upgrades to the classic leather flip that Olukai incorporated into the Tuahine is that it’s constructed using waterproof leather. Over the years, I’ve had my fair share of leather flip flops get soaked, and after they’re just never the same. Especially for sandals geared toward ocean enthusiasts, that the Tuahines are built to withstand a little moisture is pretty ideal. In testing, I was able to get a handle on the Tuahines waterproofing by slipping them on after the beach or pool, and while hosing down boards and wetsuits. And through all of this, they held up incredibly well. Still, call it my aversion to waterlogged leather flip flops, but even though the Tuahines are fully waterproof, I don’t know how well they’d hold up if fully submerged on a regular basis. For on-water activities, I would take a closer look at the Olukai Ulele, which is made with synthetic materials for fast drying and is made to float.
The Tuahine (top) forgoes the more traditional “layer cake” construction of leather flip flops like the Rainbow Double Layer (middle) or Hari Mari Fields (bottom). Photo: Dylan Heyden//The Inertia
Drawbacks
Not Very Plush
In the last few years, especially, there’s been a bit of divergence on the market in terms of expectations around comfort in footwear. On one hand, you’ve got overall support, and in the case of sandals, how the material feels on the foot, etc. On the other hand, though, you’ve got an affinity for plush bounciness built on the idea that comfort is based on how well a sandal pads your stride and how much spring you get when the foam snaps back. Spoiler: Olukai’s Tuahine is not the squishy, plush, walking-on-a-cloud-feeling sandal that other brands are going for. Instead, the Tuahine is built for cradling and supporting the natural curves of the foot. There is some cushioning, sure, but walking in the Tuahines, you still feel the ground with every step.
Practically speaking, I found that any time I spent a day or two in running shoes or footwear with ample foam and considerable stack height, my feet had to readjust to the feeling of the Tuahines. For those who care less about ground feel and a low-profile look and are looking for bounciness and support, I would highly recommend taking a look at the KLLY Lunar flip flops that have the stamp of approval from the 11-time world champ of surfing, Kelly Slater himself.
Leather flip flops and SoCal surf checks go together like… Photo: Dylan Heyden//The Inertia
Cost
At $100, the Olukai Tuahine runs close to double what other leather flip flops on the market cost. I would say for the comfort and durability alone, the investment is easily worth it for those who tend to beat their sandals to hell. The waterproof leather, rugged construction, and thicker rubber outsole make the Tuahines built to last, and the contoured footbed ensures they are comfy for all-day wear.
On the other hand, for those who don’t live in their flip flops and don’t wear through them quickly, the added features likely aren’t entirely worth it. I’ve already mentioned Rainbow’s Single Layer Arch or Hari Mari’s Fields as good alternatives to the Tuahine with a similar style, albeit with a little less support and a less rugged outsole. Both run between $60-$70. Finally, if you’re looking for Olukai comfort and durability in a more affordable package, their Ohana sandal features the same contoured footbed as the Tuahine, has an equally rugged outsole, but is made with synthetic materials instead of leather. The Ohana retails for $80.
The knobby rubber sole provides solid traction and is non-marking for boat activities. Photo: Dylan Heyden//The Inertia
Final Thoughts
The Olukai Tuahine is an ideal flip flop for everyday casual wear for ocean enthusiasts. It’s packed with features that hardcore flip flop wearers who are regularly in and out of the water will appreciate, like waterproof leather and a still-grippy-when-wet burly outsole, but they’re not so performance-oriented that they sacrifice on style. The Tuahine is a worthwhile investment for flip flop devotees who demand a lot out of their footwear, however, a more casual wearer may not need the extra features that command the higher price point.
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