OluKai Men’s Moloa Kohana II – $130

If you live in a temperate area summer probably isn’t such a big deal to you. It’s just a notable demarcation on the calendar. However, for those of us who live in areas that are definitely marked by four distinct seasons, summer time is always something that’s anticipated and greeted…warmly. It’s time for shorts, short sleeves, shoes without socks, a visual inspection of how pathetic your tan is, and it’s time to get outside and soak up some much needed sunshine!

With that being said, it was great to receive a pair of shoes from OluKai. After visiting their booth during Fashion Week in Las Vegas in February of this year, I was excited to have spring and summer get here so I could begin wearing the Olukai Moloa Kohana II shoes.

ABOUT OLUKAI

OluKai is a footwear company that takes its inspiration from the beaches of Hawaii. Their motto is that “everybody, no matter where they are, can live Aloha.” They offer footwear for men, women, and children, all inspired by the feeling of bare feet in wet sand.

“It started as a different approach to a footwear company. We wanted to create footwear that combines durability for the waterman, ocean lifestyle, and a brand that has strong values and roots with style, comfort, and craftsmanship.”

We have had the privilege of reviewing for Olukai in the past too. If you’d like, you can check out that review here.

CONSTRUCTION & FUNCTION

The Men’s Moloa Kohana II is a beachy slip-on, made with laser cut full grain leather. The outsole is a combination of leather and rubber for traction and durability. It’s stitched with contrasting nylon thread with the flexes at the ankle via embedded elastic.

The insoles are a contoured polyurethane gel covered with cork. The footbeds are totally removable and washable, which is great since I tend to wear these barefoot most of the time. The contoured insoles are made to imitate the feeling of bare feet in wet sand, I must say they have achieved their goal. The shoes are incredibly soft and the insoles make the shoes comfortable to wear without socks in most casual environments.

One of the most unique aspects of this shoe is what OluKai calls the “Drop-In Heel”, an angled seam at the back of the heel that allows the wearer to slide into the shoe with ease. This is a great function for beachgoers and I’ve found it to be incredibly useful…in spite of the fact that I don’t live anywhere near a beach. It’s just a nice feature to have…slip ’em on, slip ’em off with ease.

I have experienced a few stray “threads” popping out here and there…but nothing that has compromised the integrity of the shoe or the aesthetic. I’ve simply trimmed it back and moved on. Sizing seems to be pretty spot on. I’m always on the border between sizes with an 11 or 12. I received a size 11, which was a little snug at first. But, they have stretched a little bit and are now extremely comfortable.

AESTHETIC

The Moloa Kohana has a very relaxed, beachy look, which is a natural given the overall Olukai vibe. The shoe elicits a sort of huarache style with geometric cutouts on the vamp that add ventilation and visual interest. It’s the perfect go-to summer shoe and is at home in any low-key environment. It comes in two colors, rum and khaki. My khaki pair is a nice sandy brown color that wears well with any casual outfit.

CONCLUSION

The OluKai Moloa Kohana II is a great option for summer footwear, with thoughtful details and a sturdy construction. Competitively priced at $130, you will get several comfortable summers out of these unique shoes.

July 9, 2016November 14, 2019

TRAYVAX ELEMENT WALLET & KEYTON KEYCHAIN Black Edition REVIEW – $84.99 & 14.99

Our last look at a Trayvax wallet proved wildly popular among our readers and nabbed the staff pick for best wallet of 2015 here at BestLeather. Trayvax is at it again with a new special Black Edition Trayvax Element version of the original, plus the Keyton Bottle Opener Keychain. If the good ol’ bifold just isn’t honking your horn anymore, read on.

CONSTRUCTION

On paper, the Trayvax Element Black Edition is virtually identical to the standard Element. The main difference is Cerakote (a baked on ceramic layer that makes the metal appear black) provides more corrosion resistance after exposure to weather and use over time. The recipe still utilizes 5oz chrome tanned, top grain leather around the stainless steel frame. Mil-spec 550 type III paracord binds the leather to steel. As always, the Element is 100% Made in the US.

The same US sourced leather is used for the Keyton as well as 304 stainless steel for the loop/bottle opener.

FUNCTION

The Element shines through as a utilitarian tool for carrying your cash and cards. The leather snap secures your contents in place, allowing the wallet to tp be carried in virtually any manner without risk of losing anything. The grommet at the top makes for a perfect option to run some paracord through so you can wear it around your neck, or attach a carabiner and have it hanging from your pack. Cash is stored in the built in clip, allowing for quick access. Still not as convenient as a bifold but you compromise for the space savings. This wallet also has RFID protective qualities which is a nice assurance with today’s security issues. Card access remains straightforward, thoughtful card placement will save you time as you access frequently used cards and the money clip keeps your cash safe and tidy.

The Keyton is a simple device that loops through your belt, just make sure you put it on before your belt as it won’t unsnap. There is a Philips screw holding the leather together which can be removed, but I wouldn’t see the need. You will pretty much have to have some sort of quick detach device like a carabiner to allow unrestricted key retrieval. I think a sturdy spring release snaphook would have been more convenient than the fixed loop and a button to allow removal of the Keyton without taking off your belt would have made this device a home run. Sometimes though simple is better, the lack of those features also makes the Keyton pretty much indestructible. Did I mention it has a bottle opener hidden under the loop? Well now you know, and knowing is half the battle

AESTHETIC

The Element and Keyton go together like Kleenex and Steel Magnolias. The models reviewed are both tobacco brown. The tough metal wrapped in leather really adds serious character. Admittedly, the Keyton will usually remain unnoticed and is pretty simplistic anyways but the straightforward, no BS design has a certain appeal. The Element on the other hand refuses to go unnoticed. It’s so unwallety (yep made that word up) that people usually ask questions. The black Cerakote finish is great for getting that “Murdered Out” look so popular among EDCers.

One look at the Element and you just know that was the wallet in Arnie’s back pocket when he defeated the Predator.

CONCLUSION

Every Once in awhile a product comes along that offers a fresh take on a well worn idea. While the price tag will leave you with a lot less to put in your new wallet, you can bank on it lasting a long time. Simply put, the Trayvax Element Wallet & Keyton Keychain are a great option for anyone who’s sick of a plain old bifold and bunched up keys in your pocket.

July 2, 2016December 19, 2017

NutSac Satchel Pro Review — $149

I’m a minimalist. The sort of guy who strives for less-is-more. For example, I use a tablet with a bluetooth keyboard as my main writing device. I wanted something to carry it to work and meetings, something smaller than a normal laptop bag (it just seems weird to carry a mostly-empty bag). I found the perfect thing, the NutSac Satchel Pro, and it has become my go-to carry for just about everything.

About NutSac

I spoke with Greg, one of the founders, on the phone. I couldn’t help but ask about the brand’s name. He laughed and said, “It’s pretty funny to us, but we’re just a couple of nuts trying to sell bags.” Then he added, I suppose with tongue in cheek, “And nobody ever forgets our name.”

NutSac does high-end, affordable, American-made bags. I could tell you how they get their leather from Massachusetts and their canvas from New Jersey, but the most telling detail is posted on each of their product pages—a table titled “Transparent Pricing.” They list the costs of each product down to the penny, including the labor, materials, and freight costs. Then they show you their markup, less than 50%. This gesture is amazing to me—their willingness to be so candid with their customers, an integrity mirrored in their products.

When I asked Greg about this radical transparency, he said, “We want to be different in how we do things. Our job is to provide customers with the best information possible, to help them decide whether they want our products or not—their decision.”

Construction

I’ve been carrying this bag daily for the last seven weeks. It’s rugged, durable, and handsome. It’s made of heavy materials. The leather footing across the bottom lends it structure, even when empty. The strap, which is plenty long, also feels sturdy, more than other bags I’ve tested. I’ve even used the canvas as a drying rack for my lunch-time plasticware, and it does a fine job. The drops just dribble off.

Function

The Satchel Pro is scrubbed down to just the essentials, a feature I love. None of this extra-pockets-all-over-the-place business. Greg mentioned that this keeps labor costs down. It also makes the bag handier to use (you never forget which pocket your keys are in). One caveat though: there’s a pocket on the outside of the bag, under the flap, that I’ve never used or opened. Maybe you will. Who knows.

The flap has a magnet inside which keeps the top closed, a nice touch (though the magnetism is not super powerful). The clasp is awesome too and latches snugly over the peg. I like the design. That said, I often don’t bother to close the flap, just because it gets tedious if you’re accessing your stuff very often.

The strap attaches just a tad low on the bag, which means I’ve picked it up and upended my stuff a couple times. It was frustrating at first, but it doesn’t happen if you know to watch out for it.

As far as space goes, it fits my Pixel C tablet easily and could fit a device a few sizes up too. In fact, it snugly fits my 13″ MacBook. I’ve also used this bag to carry lunch to work, and it’s big enough to fit a change of clothes or tuck a pair of shoes (if you don’t mind them poking out the top).

Aesthetic

American men shy away from carrying small bags, but internationally it’s commonplace, particularly in Europe and Asia (which explains why NutSac bags are so popular overseas). Personally, I have to admit that I felt a little chagrin when I first started carrying this. Kept worrying someone might ask, “Is that a murse?” (man + purse). No one ever did, but I’ve still got my comeback ready: “No, it’s a NutSac.”

The bag is clean, simple, and not gaudy, or presumptuous. But when you look close, you see the workmanship is sturdy, almost like it’s a vintage military piece handed down from your grandfather who fought in WWII.

BestLeather Conclusion

The NutSac Satchel Pro costs $149, a reasonable price for quality product. If you’re a minimalist looking for a rugged travel companion, this is a sure bet. I’ve enjoyed mine a ton.

June 26, 2016December 19, 2017

Albatross Natural Bifold Review – $39.99

Sometimes it’s easy to dismiss a leather product as poor because of a low price, but that’s the notion Albatross is trying to dismiss with their Natural Bifold and other aggressively priced, full grain, vegetable tanned leather goods.

ABOUT

The Albatross Brand was founded in 2013 over a glass of bourbon. A leather maker and industry insider decided to team up. They aimed to use their combined experience to offer economically priced leather goods without compromises. Costs are kept low by cutting out typical cost creating factors such as retail sales and advertising designs. They stand behind their products, too. Each design is used for six months to a year before release and comes with an impressive three-generation guarantee.

CONSTRUCTION

The Bifold is made of 3-4oz full grain, vegetable tanned, USA sourced leather. Thread is thick, 3 cord waxed polyester. Assembly is done in Mexico, stitched on Campbell sewing machines. Leather is die cut for accuracy.

Construction quality is overall very good, and materials are all top quality. One corner of a card pocket wasn’t set perfectly flush with the rest of the burnished edge. My finger would occasionally notice this, but overall it wasn’t an issue. Stitching is uniform and sturdy. Edges are mildly burnished, giving some smoothness but with the grain still showing.

FUNCTION

While bifolds are great for holding everything you need, the primary drawback is that they can be quite thick. The Albatross Bifold is designed to be about as thin as a quality leather bifold can be. The 3oz interior leather is very thin (though still strong enough for a wallet), and the card pockets are specially designed to allow cards to lay flat. As a result, the closed wallet is noticeably thinner than many other bifolds I’ve used.

The cash pocket needed a bit of wear-in to be at its best. I rarely use cash, and the new, unfinished leather interior makes sliding in cash a bit tricky. However, quality leather wears in over time and will adapt to your usage. The interior slowly starts to smooth out and becomes easier to use.

The feel of the leather and overall usage of the wallet is highly satisfactory. Card pockets are easy to use, and the hidden pockets are great for some extra less-used cards. As a big fan of minimal card wallets, the relatively thin design of the Natural Bifold appealed to me.