Olukai Paniolo Review

For anyone who wants a beautiful summer shoe that can still handle variable terrain and weather, the Paniolo is a great one to consider. 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?

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 like the OluKai Ohana, our Best Buy for Comfort. 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.

Support & Stability

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 in other buyer reviews online, some people claiming their straps stretched so much as to render the sandal unwearable. That certainly wasn't our experience, at least in our time with the Paniolo, 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.

Durability

OluKai always impresses us in this category. High-quality materials and good craftsmanship do add up to a durable final product. Despite the intricate stitching and soft leather of this flip flop, it came out looking just fine even after all manner of rough adventures from our testing team. Though our testing process was just over a matter of months (intense though they may have been), we've seen other Paniolo models after many years of wear and the leather wears in beautifully. Our only issue is the fact that the straps seemed to stretch a bit.

We took this fancy flip-flop all over the desert, through a river, and to many dusty campsites, and it never stopped looking good.

Water Resistance

This is the other category that OluKai shoes always seem to excel in. Don't let the supple leather and fancy stitching fool you; this Hawaiian-based shoe is no stranger to the water. After walking through a river on a sunny day, the footbed of the Paniolo was dry to the touch in just under two minutes. The straps took about 20 minutes to dry, and you could still feel slight moisture with weight on the shoe until around 30 minutes. This shows more water absorption and wicking than true resistance, but the entire leather shoe was still dry in an impressive time.

After walking in a cold Colorado river, the Paniolo's footbed was dry to the touch in under 2 minutes.

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 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 footbed traction as well.

Even the sole of this shoe is attractive. It isn't the stickiest, but in most situations, it's perfectly adequate.

Style

No surprise the Paniolo scores well here. Simple but 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. The only model that scores higher is the Lala.

The Paniolo is a great addition to any closet, easy to pair with both casual and fancy clothes - as well as everything in between.

Best Applications

This lovely flip is best suited for more mellow excursions, from the beach to the bar to a nice dinner. It will certainly fare well camping and jaunting around in the forest as well, as we saw in our time with it. But there's no reason to use such a pricey showpiece for more serious outdoor adventures — there are better models in our review for that. This is the kind of shoe to buy so that you can dress up and still be wearing a flip flop.

Classically beautiful and well-made, the Paniolo has an easy elegance that's a wonderful addition to any wardrobe.

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 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.

The Paniolo will keep you looking good wherever you may wander.