There may be numerous cool gear within the golf gear world that doesn’t at all times match neatly into Most Wished Exams or Purchaser’s Guides. You continue to need to know the way it performs. In our We Tried It collection, we put gear to the take a look at and allow you to know if it really works as marketed.
What We Tried:
The Olukai Mākena golf shoe, the newest golf-focused footwear providing from my favourite sandals model. Sure, it’s OK to have a favourite sandals model. You’ve received to let the dawgs breath, ya really feel?
Who Tried It:
Connor. Director of Content material and resident sneakerhead. I’ve tried a few of Olukai’s different golf shoe choices and have by no means been too impressed. The Mākena has me excited and hesitant.
Meet Mākena
Based on Olukai, “mākena” interprets to many, quite a few; usually, a lot.
If the title is any indication of how steadily I’ll be grabbing this pair over the quite a few others in my overflowing golf shoe closet, then that’s signal.
Let’s get this out of the way in which. The Mākena will not be my favourite golf shoe ever. However it’s Olukai’s finest ever by far and that offers me hope for the model as they proceed to evolve their golf footwear.
When in comparison with Olukai’s preliminary golf choices, the Mākena is leaps and bounds forward. For that, I need to give Olukai main props. They lastly made a severe golf shoe.
Right here’s what I imply.
First issues first
I can typically let you know whether or not a golf shoe is sweet or not based mostly on eyesight alone. There are a couple of “tells” of types that key me right into a golf shoe’s efficiency earlier than I lace it up.
The very first thing I seen in regards to the Mākena was the TPU outsole. One of these outsole is mostly (however not at all times) reserved for spiked sneakers. One, to offer stability and, two, to offer the spikes someplace to sit down.
On a spikeless shoe just like the Mākena, it permits for torsional rigidity (resistance to twisting) which provides the much-needed stability that so many spikeless sneakers are lacking.
The opposite “inform” that keyed me in was the higher building. The Mākena has an artificial higher, full with a skinny TPU coating for waterproofness. Whereas I’m usually a fan of leathers and suedes, a syntethic higher just like the one discovered right here lends itself nicely to real-world golf shoe efficiency.
It’s not that leather-based can’t be good but it surely’s tougher to implement accurately. It was good to see Olukai select artificial right here and supply actual waterproofing. It’s price noting that regardless of the change to artificial supplies, the worth level right here continues to be pretty steep.
Cushion you’ll love or hate
In the event you’re a fan of Olukai’s sandals, you’ll probably be a fan of how the Mākena feels on foot. Whereas it has a larger-than-most stack of fluffy foam, many of the underfoot really feel comes from the included PU footbed. It’s positively on the firmer aspect however that’s what I’ve come to count on as somebody who wears Olukai sandals every day.
In the event you’re anticipating HOKA-level squish and luxury, you’re higher off taping your pillow to your foot. The Mākena takes the extra middle-ground strategy. It’s neither too gentle nor too agency.
Difficult traction
Reviewing the traction on the Mākena is a difficult activity. I’m usually not a fan of traction patterns that focus extra on the sample than they do the precise traction. For instance, the Mākena has a wavy, ocean-inspired traction sample. Whereas it seems actually, actually cool, it might have been simpler had Olukai gone with a extra tried-and-true sample of nubs.
Skepticism apart, the traction carried out nicely sufficient in dry circumstances. I’d be leery in case you usually play in moist circumstances, although … which is ironic contemplating the quantity of moisture that a lot of Hawaii will get on a yearly foundation.
If I had one huge gripe with the shoe, it might be the traction. Waves are cool however performance-driven traction is cooler.
A lot improved
In comparison with Olukai’s different choices, the Mākena matches the invoice because the flagship golf shoe. It’s not the very best golf shoe I’ve ever worn but it surely’s most positively the very best Olukai has put out to this point, and that’s factor. Progress is progress, irrespective of how shortly you get there.
As for me and my toes, the Mākena gained’t crack my present rotation. However it would keep in my closet due to my affinity for the model and the off likelihood I get again to Hawaii quickly for a spherical.
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