The Straw Hat crew could still fight Haki users because Haki is powerful, but it is not an instant win button, and the crew has had ways to counter it through strategy, speed, teamwork, and their own growing abilities.

Why they could keep up

  • Matchups matter. Not every fight is decided by raw Haki strength; Devil Fruit abilities, terrain, and timing can decide the battle.
  • Teamwork helps a lot. The Mugiwara often win by combining roles, distracting enemies, and creating openings rather than relying on one-on-one brute force.
  • Some members do have Haki. Luffy, Zoro, Sanji, Jinbe, and Usopp are all described as having at least one form of Haki, which means the crew was not Haki-less overall.
  • Experience and training closed the gap. After the timeskip, the crew became much stronger, and Haki became a normal part of how top fighters in the New World operate.

In practice

Early on, Haki users had a big advantage, especially against Logia-type opponents, but the Straw Hats could still win by using clever tactics and exploiting weaknesses. Later in the story, stronger Haki clashes became normal, so the crew’s own progress mattered as much as their opponents’ power.

Simple way to think about it

Haki is like armor and radar, but it does not make someone unbeatable. The Mugiwara survived because they are a crew built around flexibility, unusual powers, and smart fighting styles, not just Haki duels.

TL;DR: they fought Haki users by mixing their own Haki where needed, using teamwork and tactics, and leaning on unique abilities that let them beat stronger opponents anyway.