OluKai vs Reef:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, OluKai had more branded searches than Reef among flip flop brands worldwide. OluKai had about 201,000 branded searches, while Reef had 90,500. OluKai made up 1.3% of all flip flop brand searches we track, and Reef accounted for 0.57%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about flip flop brands, both OluKai and Reef appeared in all five answers. OluKai was mentioned before Reef in three out of five answers.
Who do people search for more?
OluKai, about 2 searches for every 1 for Reef
Who does AI mention more?
Both are mentioned in every answer we collected.
Who does AI recommend more?
OluKai, named ahead of Reef in 3 of 5 answers
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Top flip flop brands in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, both OluKai and Reef showed up in all five answers. OluKai was listed before Reef in three of them.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
- OluKai5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
Reef5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
Archies4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
Havaianas3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
Birkenstock2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
OOFOS2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
Vionic2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
Sanuk2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
Teva2 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
Crocs0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about flip flop brands
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which flip flop brand should I buy?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best flip flop brands?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best flip flop brand for summer casual wear?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“best flip flops”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“sandals brands”
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 19, 2026.
Is OluKai or Reef more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for OluKai and Reef by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all 12 flip flop brands we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.
Share of searches by month for OluKai, Reef. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Crocs | Birkenstock | Havaianas | OOFOS | FitFlop | OluKai | Reef | Vionic | Sanuk | Ipanema | Archies | Teva |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 52.5% | 35.1% | 7% | 1.7% | 1.4% | 0.95% | 0.35% | 0.64% | 0.23% | 0.04% | <0.01% | <0.01% |
| Nov 2025 | 50.9% | 34.1% | 10.2% | 1.7% | 1.1% | 0.92% | 0.28% | 0.5% | 0.18% | 0.03% | 0.04% | <0.01% |
| Dec 2025 | 47% | 31.5% | 17.2% | 1.3% | 1% | 1% | 0.25% | 0.47% | 0.17% | 0.03% | 0.04% | <0.01% |
| Jan 2026 | 50.2% | 33.5% | 10% | 2% | 1.6% | 1.1% | 0.41% | 0.74% | 0.27% | 0.05% | 0.03% | <0.01% |
| Feb 2026 | 50.7% | 33.9% | 10.1% | 1.4% | 1.4% | 1.1% | 0.61% | 0.61% | 0.22% | 0.05% | 0.02% | <0.01% |
| Mar 2026 | 52.1% | 34.9% | 7% | 1.4% | 1.4% | 1.4% | 0.94% | 0.63% | 0.23% | 0.06% | 0.01% | <0.01% |
| Apr 2026 | 47.4% | 38.8% | 7.8% | 1.6% | 1.3% | 1.6% | 0.86% | 0.57% | 0.21% | 0.06% | <0.01% | <0.01% |
| May 2026 | 41.7% | 41.7% | 10.2% | 1.7% | 1.4% | 1.4% | 1.1% | 0.5% | 0.23% | 0.1% | <0.01% | <0.01% |
| Jun 2026 | 44.4% | 36.6% | 13.4% | 1.5% | 1.2% | 1.2% | 0.98% | 0.36% | 0.2% | 0.13% | <0.01% | <0.01% |
| Jul 2026 | 44.5% | 36.7% | 13.4% | 1.5% | 1.2% | 1.2% | 0.81% | 0.36% | 0.16% | 0.13% | <0.01% | <0.01% |
| Aug 2026 | 44.4% | 36.3% | 13.3% | 2.2% | 1.2% | 1.2% | 0.66% | 0.44% | 0.2% | 0.16% | 0.01% | <0.01% |
| Sep 2026 | 47.3% | 38.7% | 7.7% | 2.3% | 1.3% | 1.3% | 0.57% | 0.57% | 0.21% | 0.08% | 0.03% | <0.01% |
How has the OluKai and Reef comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- OluKai was ahead of Reef in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, OluKai’s share of searches among flip flop brands worldwide moved from 0.95% to 1.3%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 135K to 201K.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Reef’s share of searches among flip flop brands worldwide moved from 0.35% to 0.57%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 49.5K to 90.5K.
How did search popularity change for flip flop brands worldwide in September 2026?
2 changes
How are branded searches counted?
2 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using OluKai’s and Reef’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.
Other head-to-heads among flip flop brands
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