REASONS TO BUY
Beautiful colors
Ages well
Easy to dress up or down
Great water resistance
REASONS TO AVOID
Straps stretch out
Toe post takes breaking in
Pricey
Olukai Paniolo Review
This is a beautifully designed flip flop that handles water amazingly well and will always keep you looking stylish
Credit: Backcountry
RELATED: Best Flip Flops for Women of 2023
Our Verdict
The OluKai Paniolo is an elegant flip-flop with saddle-inspired stitching covering the footbed. It's a head-turner and can easily be dressed up or down, depending on the occasion. Despite the expensive leather, this shoe (like the other OluKai options in our test suite) handles water with ease, the footbed drying amazingly quickly. While it took some time to get used to the hand-sewn toe post, the break-in period for this beauty was still minimal. It is indeed an investment, but the Paniolo only looks better with age and should have no problem lasting the right person for many, many years.
Compare to Similar Products
 This Product
Olukai Paniolo | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awards |  |  |  | | |
| Price | $90.00 at REI Compare at 2 sellers | $71.07 at Amazon Compare at 3 sellers | $74.95 at Amazon Compare at 3 sellers | $50 List $39.95 at Amazon | $35 List $33.74 at Amazon |
Overall Score  |
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| Star Rating | |||||
| Bottom Line | The gorgeously stitched model is durable, water-resistant, comfortable, and a real treat for classy feet | Stylish, comfortable, and highly supportive, this is an amazing and durable sandal that can handle more activities than you might think | A superbly comfortable flip flop that handles water well and provides good support | A great way to experience the amazing contouring of a classic Birkenstock without forking over a ton of money | While it may lack contour, the yoga mat footbed makes for a pleasantly comfortable experience and the wide straps are just the icing on the cake |
| Rating Categories | Olukai Paniolo | Birkenstock Gizeh | OluKai Ohana - Women's | Birkenstock Gizeh E... | Sanuk Yoga Mat |
| Comfort (30%) | |||||
| Support (20%) | |||||
| Traction (20%) | |||||
| Versatility (15%) | |||||
| Style (15%) | |||||
| Specs | Olukai Paniolo | Birkenstock Gizeh | OluKai Ohana - Women's | Birkenstock Gizeh E... | Sanuk Yoga Mat |
| Sole Material | Gum rubber infused with burlap | EVA (ethylene vinyl acetate) | Non-marking rubber or gum rubber | EVA | Rubber |
| Footbed Material | Compression molded EVA, full-grain leather | Cork lined with suede | Molded EVA with soft ICEVA drop-in footbed | EVA | EVA |
| Strap Material | Full-grain leather | Birko-flor (PVC) lined with fleece | Water-resistant synthetic nubuck leather lined with quick-drying jersey knit | EVA | 95% synthetic/5% polyester |
| Weight (per pair) | 12.9 oz (size 9) | 13.5 oz (size 39) | 13.7 oz (size 9) | 6.5 oz (size 40) | 5.0 oz (size 8) |
| Length | 10.75" (size 9) | 10.625" (size 39) | 10.75" (size 9) | 11" (size 40) | 10.25" (size 8) |
| Length of Toe Box (just above toe post) | 1.75" | 1.50" | 1.75" | 1.375" | 1.50" |
| Unique Features | Saddle-inspired stitching on footbed | Adjustable strap, contoured footbed that molds to feet | ICEVA (soft EVA) drop-in footbed | Adjustable straps | Made from real yoga mats |
| Animal Products? | Yes | Yes | No | No | No |
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Our Analysis and Test Results
Anyone who wants a beautiful summer shoe that can still handle variable terrain and weather should consider the Paniolo. The saddle-inspired stitching on the footbed is eye-catching and also helps supply some internal traction. This flip flop dries quickly, breaks in easily, and is highly durable — a reliable option for the fashionista in all of us.
Performance Comparison
Who doesn't love a gorgeous summer shoe that will get better-looking and more comfortable the longer you wear it? The Paniolo is an impressive leather flip with artful detailing.
Credit: Penney Garrett
Comfort
The Paniolo isn't the kind of shoe that's squishy and welcoming right from the get-go. The toe post takes some breaking in, and the footbed takes time to mold to your feet and get soft. And even then, this won't ever be a pillowy-feeling shoe. But for those that like a firmer footbed and can be patient with the time that leather takes to get lush, this flip will mold to your feet and heart.
While not as plush as other flips in our review, the Paniolo is still comfortable and gets more welcoming the longer you wear it.
Credit: Penney Garrett
Support
This isn't an overly supportive sandal, but it's decently firm and stable. We would have awarded it higher scores if the straps had been more snug instead of stretching out a bit with wear. This issue is mentioned often by other users online, some people claiming their straps stretched so much as to render the sandal unwearable. That certainly wasn't our experience, but the straps are noticeably looser than many other models we tested.
While the Paniolo provides decent support and stability, it isn't overly impressive.
Credit: Penney Garrett
Traction
Traction isn't a strong suit for the Paniolo, though it is decent. When compared to some of the more outdoorsy or supportive models in our review, it doesn't quite measure up, but on its own merits, this flip did just fine and will serve you well for any urban adventure or simple trek in the outdoors. The stitching on the footbed provides a bit of additional internal traction as well.
Even the sole of this shoe is attractive. It isn't the stickiest, but in most situations, it's perfectly adequate.
Credit: Penney Garrett
Versatility
It's easy to look at the Paniolo and think it's a just good-looking sandal without much more to offer, but that's not the case. Don't let the supple leather and fancy stitching fool you; this Hawaiian-based shoe can hold its own around water or rough terrain. We walked through barren New Mexican desert and straight into chilly Colorado streams, and it always came out unscathed. The durability and craftsmanship are highly impressive, and the thick leather becomes more attractive with age. We've worn the Paniolo for years now, and every part of it wears in beautifully. That said, while it's nice to know this shoe can handle whatever you might get into, it's just too lovely and too expensive to buy solely for adventuring. It's definitely more at home paired with a dress in the city, but you can rest assured that if your day takes a turn onto a trail or into some puddles that this flip flop can handle it.
After walking in a cold Colorado river, the Paniolo's footbed was dry to the touch in under 2 minutes.
Credit: Penney Garrett
Style
No surprise the Paniolo scores well here. Simple yet classy and elegant, this is an easy flip to dress way up; in reading user reviews online, we found someone even bought them for her wedding. Our testers love this shoe as well and think that it would be a welcome addition to almost anyone's closet.
Classically beautiful and well-made, the Paniolo has an easy elegance that's a wonderful addition to any wardrobe.
Credit: Penney Garrett
Value
This flip flop is pricey, it's true. But if you're looking for something beautiful that will retain its elegance and integrity over the years, then it might make sense. The full-grain leather and stitching wear gracefully, and the footbed molds to your feet over time. The price tag on this isn't so outrageous as to not be reasonable for the right individual.
Conclusion
All in all, the OluKai Paniolo is a well-constructed flip flop that is easy on the eye and comfy on foot. It's pricey but handles water well, feels stable, and is quite durable. This is a special flip flop that will surely dress up your summer wardrobe and be ready for almost anything, year after year.
The Paniolo will keep you looking good wherever you may wander.
Credit: Penney Garrett
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Penney Garrett
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