Montrail Molokai
$69.99 at Running Free
The technical:
Weight: 5.8 oz / 164g
Reinforced grid outsole pattern provides long-lasting tracion and surface protection
Synthetic-backed strap and slender toe post for on-foot comfort
Textured thermo-moldable PRFRM™ footbed creates a customized fit by conforming to the contour of your foot.
My 2 cents:
I love sandals and currently have four pairs of “good” sandals and a bunch of cheap flip flop style for hanging around the pool with. I have heard good things about the Montrail Molokai and thought it was worth trying. I didn’t really need another pair of sandals, but in the summer my feet sweat a lot so I figured rotating all my sandals might keep them all “fresher”. I got my Montrail Molokaihome and thought I should wear them around the house to break them in. Immediately after putting them on I was amazed by the amount of natural support. I am suppose to wear orthotics in my running shoes and these felt great. I liked them so much that I wear them daily INSIDE the house. I noticed that initially the support was almost over exaggerated in places as the arch is very high. If you have plantar faciatiis the support may be too much in that area. In fact after wearing them constantly in the house, my plantar area started to get sore. Unfortunately I also started running in a new pair of shoes so it is hard to say which was the culprit.
Comfort: The more I wore the Molokai, the more they seemed to form to my foot and the more comfortable they became. Notice the heel support and arch support in the picture below. I recommend heating the Molokai and forming the footbed as described later.
Grip: The sandals seem to grip well on hardwood and tile likely due to the fairly aggressive grid pattern on the sole (see picture below). I can’t give any feedback on outside use but imagine they would fair well in the environment as well.
My plan is to purchase another pair so I can have an indoor pair and outside pair. I think the Montrail Molokai would be ideal to take with you to change into after a race. They would provide support, comfort and let your feet breath. The strap and slender toe post are comfortable and so far are still holding up well. They don’t irritate the part in between your big toe.
Another neat feature about the Montrail Molokai are that you can actually put them in the oven, heat them up to 225 degrees for 3 minutes. You take them out, then stand with full even weight for 2 minutes. You can then walk around to finish the molding process, and viola…custom footbed. I would recommend this for people who have plantar issues as the arch out of the box is very high and will put pressure in that area is you are sensitive to it.
Considering I have only worn the Molokai inside, it is hard to make comments on durability. Once I get my next pair and actually wear these outside I will update my review to comment on that aspect.
In summary, I think the Montrail Molokai are a great sandal and I would even go so far as to call them my favourite sandal, even more so than my old birkenstocks! For the price, I don’t think you can go wrong. The fact you can mode the Molokai can increase the comfort by providing a custom feel but may not be needed.
Pros: great support, comfortable, reasonable price
Cons: no half sizes
Sizing: Feels true to size
Width: Feels true to width
