If you are interested to know about well-known brands that offer good-looking shoes for outdoor adventures, companies like Olukai and Sanuk fall perfectly in this category.
Sanuk was founded almost a decade before Olukai but both brands gained rapid popularity due to their sustainable practices and high-quality, supportive footwear.
In this blog post, we are going to explore more about these companies and evaluate which makes the better shoes overall. Without further ado let’s get started:
| Sanuk | Olukai |
|---|---|
| Founded in 1997 | Founded in 2005 |
| Good arch support | High arch support |
| For short-distance walking | For long-distance walking |
| Affordable | Pricey |
| No athletic options | Choices for runners and athletes |
| Breathable | Highly breathable |
| For lounging, hanging out, surfing, camping | For running, long-distance walking, traveling |
Overview of Sanuk:
The word “Sanuk” in Thai means “happiness,” and every Sanuk product is created to make you smile. Their whole line is a must-have for people who want comfort and quality in their shoes because it has a lot of choices and excellent materials.
In 1997, Jeff Kelley desired to build a shoe brand that would make people happy, it was intended that the shoes should bring people delight on their journeys with their fun and comfortable designs.
The first Sanuk footwear was hand-made from recycled inner tubes and pieces of indoor-outdoor carpet.
Sanuk has now many different kinds of shoes for men, women, and kids in which most of the styles are slip-on, which makes them easy to put on and take off. Their footwear also has a casual, easy-going look that makes them great for going on outdoor adventures and more.
With many popular offerings, their Women’s Yoga Mat Flip Flops with thick, squishy soft footbeds made out of real yoga mat material and comfortable synthetic leather straps are one of their best-selling models with 4.9-star ratings.
Additionally, Sanuk has always been dedicated to improving the world and fulfilled its commitment to the planet by cutting down on gas emissions, recycling, and benefiting its employees.
Also, the brand has collaborated with many foundations to help provide people of all ages and walks of life with the products they need to enjoy life happily.
Overview of Olukai:
Since its beginning, it has always been a priority for Olukai to fulfill the company’s original mission which is to “make footwear that blends durability for the ocean lifestyle, waterman, and a brand that has strong values and roots with comfort, style, and craftsmanship.”
The brand was founded in 2005 by Bill Worthington and his business partner Matt Till, who intended to design a multifunctional pair of sandals as flip-flops grew in popularity.
The shoes are designed to be casual, supportive, and comfortable while being attractive enough for daily wear.
With their super soft genuine shearling-wrapped upper and straps, the Kpe’a Heu Sandals are a top seller among women and consistently receive excellent reviews.
The brand is also connected to the history of Hawaii and embraces the meaning of Ohana and Aloha. The company even gives its products Hawaiian names, including terms from the Hawaiian language.
It is a Certified B Corporation that has always prioritized sustainability by designing products to last a lifetime and minimizing its carbon footprint.
In the belief of giving back to the community, the brand formed the Ama OluKai Foundation, which provides financial support to organizations committed to preserving Hawaiian heritage and culture.
In this way, the company produces high-quality shoes while staying true to the values that have been passed down through Hawaiian generations.
Major Differences between the Brands:
Now, I’ll highlight the different features offered by both brands and share my findings so you can decide which shoe brand is the most suitable for you.
1) Comfort:
The construction of Olukai shoes consists of a blend of high-grade materials and contoured shapes that provide a comfortable fit. Also, the anatomical footbed is the core of all footwear which is a biomechanically developed structure that supports and aligns the entire foot naturally, enabling it to go through the stride comfortably and properly.
No matter what shape your foot is, these shoes will make you feel relaxed because they cup the heel, fill the arch, and spread the toes, becoming a top pick for anyone looking for a lightweight yet comfy pair of shoes to wear for an extended time.
Alternately, the simplistic design of Sanuk shoes provides you with good support. Their soft foam sole gives the sensation of you’re walking on a cloud while giving you the right amount of bounce with every step.
Sanuk shoes have a padded collar and molded EVA footbeds for extra comfort, reducing the chance of foot-related issues. These footbeds can also be taken out and treated with an antimicrobial agent to prevent smelly feet.
These shoes are feather light and you won’t even feel like you are wearing anything, which is the most comfortable feeling of all.
2) Popularity:
In a short time, Sanuk shoes became a hit among local surfers, musicians, and frequent beachgoers. Due to their rapid achievement in popularity, their footwear is now a staple in closets around the globe. Also, “Forbes, PRNewswire, and Rolling Stone” have all appreciated the brand’s efforts to be green and make good quality shoes.
Conversely, Olukai shoes are popular among adventurers who enjoy traveling and visiting different locations. The brand became a public benefit corporation in 2014 and received B-Corporation certification.
Forbes, Surfer Magazine, and other well-known media publications have featured the brand’s attractive and eco-friendly footwear.
3) Price:
Olukai has a wide variety of shoe options, with prices ranging from about $65 to around $170. Whereas for Sanuk, you can expect to pay from $30 to more than $100, and most of their slip-on designs are less than $50 making them an affordable choice as compared to Olukai.
4) Target Market:
Olukai offers many colors and styles for men and women in their 20s and 30s who want stylish, comfortable shoes for outdoor activities. Whereas, Sanuk shoes are intended for active persons between the ages of 15-30, in search of a slip-on shoe design for walking around the beach or city.
5) Design:
Every Olukai shoe design features authentic, hand-crafted artwork that highlights island culture. In addition to water-friendly sandals and beach town flip-flops their footwear selection includes upcountry boots designed to deliver the most luxurious feel.
Likewise, if you enjoy feeling the breeze on your feet, you may wish to avoid wearing socks, all of the brand’s slip-on shoes and sneakers were created for barefoot wear by incorporating breathable, skin-friendly materials that did not induce sweating or unpleasant rubbing.
Generally, their product line is made from high-quality, long-lasting materials and has a distinctive design that makes them ideal for “running, hiking, beach walking, and many other outdoor adventures”.
Sanuk shoes, on the other hand, were designed with the idea that the foot should move naturally. The brand started as a basic pair of sandals, but the company has since expanded to include all forms of lightweight, aesthetically beautiful, and undoubtedly efficient footwear designs, as well as their unique walkway surfers made of thick canvas and sturdy soles.
Their footwear collection was also created with consideration for sustainability and features eco-friendly materials.
Also, whatever shoe style you choose will undoubtedly have high-quality orthotic characteristics for arch support, and you can rely on these shoes while just lounging, camping, surfing, or trekking.
Conclusion: Which Is Better For You?
As we mentioned before, Olukai and Sanuk have been committed to environmentally-conscious practices. They outline clear goals to improve their standards while still offering a wide range of footwear with the best quality possible.
I will give a slightly higher rating to Olukai shoes in one aspect as they are more supportive for long-distance walking, running hiking, etc. whereas relaxed styles and comfortable fit of Sanuk are better suited for casual wear rather than distance walking or impact-based activities.
Overall, the two brands offer quite similar styles that will last a long time, so in our opinion, they are worth trying.