All right, brace yourself, but this piece of kit is for down time, not the fight (although, I have seen guys roll out on QRF in these.) Behold the Reef Fanning flip flops with an integrated bottle opener! This piece of gear has completely changed my life. No more searching high and low for a bottle opener, trying my hardest to open a beer with my can of Copenhagen (years of lessons and I still can’t do this!!) or banging my beer against a railing to crack open that refreshing goodness. Now, just like my spare magazines perfectly placed on my kit, I now had the means for a “speed reload” while decompressing after a hairy mission.
While I was in Baghdad, the beer we got most often was Corona. Not my favorite, but it does the trick. Obviously being contractors, we were allowed to drink (I am, in no way, condoning active military breaking the rules and drinking beer!) There was always a lull in the action as we all did our various “tricks of the trade” to open our beers, until the discovery of this wonderful invention. Now, the “reload” was as simple as grab, lift the strong or weak foot (yes, ambidextrous), crack and enjoy.
I realize that these have been around for quite a while, but just like Marines and their radios, we’re always the last to get something new! They are, all joking aside, very comfortable and durable for flip flops. Yes, Gucci “cool guy for the sake of cool guy” kit is perfectly acceptable for R&R!
Kit Up! contributor Bill Janson is a former Recon Marine and is the founder of Eleven 10, a tactical gear manufacturer.
{ 33 comments… read them below or add one }
We used to have some pretty legendary parties down on the South Carolina shore during the Q-Course. I remember asking for a bottle opener and a young 18-Xray slipped off his flip flop and opened my beer. One of the few times in my life that I was rendered speechless!
Bill,
I loved my pair and used them often on Baja surf expeditions! The only draw back is that most of the flip flops out there use odor absorbing rubber. This is the main reason I swapped these out for my Havaianas. This is a true classic of flip flop innovation though….. http://us.havaianas.com/
As soon as I saw the picture of the flip flops, I was expecting you to talk about the benefits of airing your feet after wearing boots all day and good hygiene for in the shower block.
But your article is much better! I need a pair of those.
I'm wearing my flip flops here and its COLD!
Awesome article “Kit-Up”. Why don’t you talk about your other important piece of kit, your man thong.
Kit-Up just keeps on going further and further down hill.
Kerry-happen to feature yours if you send it in.
***-hit the road. :)
In all seriousness guys. This site is Standard issue and beyond. I you’ve ever served overseas then you know that a good pair of flip flops are priceless.
Shower shoes are the most critical piece of gear you can own when sharing communal showers.
That is all.
Back to basic kit that every soldier should have.
For the brief time that I was in, flip flops were a necessity.
I think flip-flops are required kit even CONUS. Anywhere you have shared showers and other environs. Keeping fungus off the feet and getting them air and UV (sun) to kill what you've got is as important as dry socks.
a "contractor" chessing on his favorite flip flops…. ………. ………………….. ……………………………..
Yawn.
OK – Anyone out here have any good insight on Art "Shower Shoes" Wilson? Sounds like the old man of combat flip-flops…
Whine, whine, whine. Carry on Bill & Brandon.
Bob/Seth- Thank you
if you air your feet with Chaco sandals, you can still run for cover!
Nice Chris!
I’ve been wearing my reefs for 7 yrs now, same pair. They’re beat up, but they are the shiznit!
Keep up the good work Brandon!
Thanks SFMedic. Credit goes to Bill on this one!!
Attention to detail!
Keep up the good work Bill!
Beer opening pluggers should be standard issue military or not ! :) right on
Wow… some people here have serious issues. Thanks for the write up on something light-hearted and something I'll actually buy/use far more regularly than most of the tactical kit… at least when I'm invading Key West or Cancun. I love the weapon/gear writeups as much as the next guy but I'm not going to get my panties in a bunch when a former Recon Marine wants to post up about something more fun than the 150th itteration of multi-cam.
Great piece of kit, have them myself. My only apprehension is this: After I pop the top on my beer, I don't want all that grime, piss from standing at the urinal, or other crap on the mouth of my beer. Sure, I can use my shirt to wipe it off, but I'd rather have a clean opener and bottle. But, in a pinch, I'll use my flops!
I agree with Chris. Chacos are great, you could even climb in them.
Nice… but still… $58!? 10$ flip flops and a $1 bottle opener on a key chain do the trick for me.
Bill – Cool "cute" story.
Now the bit about Marines getting gear last is pretty much a myth for almost 20 years now. Today's modern Marine has different and unique kit from the bottom of his feet to the tip of his bayonet.
Haters gonna hate.
Got to agree with grill It's bad enough having athlete's foot I don't need athlete's foot-in-mouth, I'll leave that to Penn State
lol
I would love to see Magoul's "Art of the tactical beach bum" coming soon. "Art of the tactical soccer mom" would also be pretty great lol.
Seriously lighten up guys I love seeing some r&r kit featured on here especially when it's stuff Iove!
Hay Hay good foot wear is vital to any solders ops.
I firmly believe there are two types of people in the world. People that see something they don't like on the internet, and go find something they do like, and people who see something they don't like on the internet and whine about it. Guess which type of person other people actually like?
I'm the dork that wears flip flops in winter with socks, and doesn't even realize it. I've worn out two pairs of these and am working on the third. They are great, to quote Tony. First pair was a Christmas gift from my nephew. A couple of years later he gave me a pair with a flask in the sole. I felt great when I gave him advice, and got a few ounces of whiskey out of it, and kept him out of trouble at the airport, on his way to the islands. Reef has great products and ideas. I wonder if the CEO has a giant beer-gut and wears a Hawaiian shirt every where he goes?