Welcome to Talking Points, a series that looks at what makes certain products worth talking about, brought to you by Gear Patrol Studios.
There’s an argument to be made that slippers are the absolute best kind of footwear out there. The blend of comfy-coziness and easy-breeziness truly is a winning combo. But the perfection of the slipper traditionally only goes as far as the front door: once you’re out in the wide, wonderful world, usually that means that you have to leave the idyllic comfort of the slipper behind.
Enter OluKai’s Kipuka Hulu: a slipper that’s ready to take on the world.
OluKaiThe Backstory
OluKai: Island-Inspired Footwear
OluKai began with the idea to channel the spirit of an ocean lifestyle and into conscious, comfortable footwear. For the brand, that means each shoe is crafted with ocean style, maximum comfort, durable craftsmanship and strong values at its heart (and sole). A certified B Corporation, OluKai puts community, environment and workforce first, from preserving Hawaiian cultural heritage through its foundation to creating products that are well-made and long-lasting.
The Gist
When Is a Slipper More than a Slipper?
The “Olu” in “OluKai” literally means comfort in Hawaiian, so it’s no surprise that the brand puts comfort first. The Kipuka Hulu slipper ($130) is lined with dreamy-soft shearling and sports a anatomically contoured footbed, meant to emulate the support you feel when walking barefoot in wet sand.
But it’s the exterior of this shoe that sets it apart from all those other indoor-only slippers. The outer is a highly durable pebbled nubuck leather, and it’s paired with OluKai’s non-marking Wet Grip rubber outsole, which will keep you surefooted as you venture far afield. All this is wrapped up in a stylish, beach-casual package.
A nice finishing touch: the heel of the shoe is designed to fold down when you want more of a slipper feel and pop up to provide the more full-coverage protection of a shoe.