There is a little secret up here in the Pacific Northwest, and it’s called sunshine. Every once in a while, in the middle of winter, or early spring, we get a few weeks of glorious weather. This year, it started in mid February and lasted until today. Sunny skies, sixty degrees, the perfect weather for me to try out the Nohea Lace Mesh by Olukai.
Made with a breathable mesh upper, these shoes are an ideal choice for warm weather travel. They are comfortable to wear with or without socks and the versatile drop in heal lets you slip into them when you just can’t be bothered with bending over to tie your shoes (for instance, at any airport in the U.S.A.). In my opinion, the drop in heal is super handy even in the most mundane situations, such as when you hear the garbage truck coming down the street and realize you did not take out the trash yet.
Another feature I really appreciate about these shoes is the shape of the toe box. It feels like the perfect width, at least for me, and this adds to the overall comfort. The shoes widen out just where they need to, letting my feet rest in a neutral position. I like that these shoes do this without looking too wide or overly sensible. In fact, I think they look sharp, especially in the color pictured here. I like the bright yellow sole with the matching interior and the palm colored side panel (which is more green than grey) goes well against the black. I’ve been wearing these around whenever I can and I have to say I’ve been very pleased. The only issue I’ve encountered is that they run the slightest bit long, so consider that when ordering.
For the vegan’s* among us, I should also mention that these shoes are made without any animal products and they also come with a removable/washable insole. A feature we all can appreciate. Too bad the rain has returned to the Pacific Northwest. Guess I’ll be boxing these back up until summer truly arrives.
the good:
- comfortable
- breathable air mesh upper (perfect for summer)
- drop in heal
- well designed toe box (wide without looking wide)
- stylish
the bad:
- sizing runs a little long
Available in multiple colors from Olukai for $95.00
The more you know: The term, vegan, was coined by Donald Watson, who established the British Vegan society in 1944.
boreing stuff: Olukai provided me with a free review sample. This in no way affected the opinions expressed in this review. All images via Olukai’s website.