Reef Phantoms, Men's Flip Flop

Product Information

This flip flop is the epitome of durability and comfort, and will get you through your day in style from the beach to the bar

When you need a stylish flip flop that stays on your foot no matter what the conditions or situation, look to this one Far from being all business, the Fanning Flip Flops also feature a bottle opener built into their rubber outsoles, which allows their wearers to open a cold one whenever and wherever they are. Now 30 years later, we’re still at it, encouraging people around the globe to embrace the fun, freedom and spirit of the beach while living life by one simple rule: Beach Freely. Whether you’re surfing, barb-queuing, metal detecting, sand castle building, day drinking, guitar playing, or just hanging at the beach...beach any way you want. Our products are designed to make you feel comfortable, relaxed and free in any environment, whether you’re at the beach or not.As someone who lives in the tropics and wears flip flops for almost all outdoor activities, I find the Fannings to be unsuitable for certain surfaces and environments. Throughout this review, we'll use the terms flip flop and sandal interchangeably, although it is important to know the difference. Every flip flop is a sandal, but not every sandal is a flip flop; it's a bit of a square/rhombus situation. It's easy to find sandals that look like flip flops (in that they have a thong between the big and second toe), but they will also have auxiliary straps meant to add stability or style. For this review, we're not interested in those. We just want the free flipping and flopping slip-ons. Their built-in bottle openers, while a nifty feature, can leave scuff marks on hardwood and tiled floors. For most people in surfing and beach partying circles, REEF is as familiar a brand as Nikon is for photographers. It's rare to find a bargain basement flip flop that will hold up to any abuse, but the NeedBo NDB is just that. While these certainly don't have the durability of the burlier models in this review, they are pretty comfortable and worlds better than your average cheapo flip. They will surely hold up for your next vacation, and if you lose them, it's not that big of a deal because they cost about as much as taking your significant other out on a cheap date.

While it is one of the more plain-looking flip flops in its segment, the REEF Men’s Fanning Flip Flops do have a lot going for it. The OluKai Hokua is similar to the 'Ohana, but a few exceptions make it stand out. For one, the liner of the strap is made from a synthetic textile that feels similar to neoprene. This provides extra grip when wet, so much so that it caused a blister on a particularly long, wet hike. The footbed is also lined with a synthetic fabric that provides more grip than any other competitor. Despite the blister, our testers were blown away by how well these flip flops adhere to the feet, even when running up steep trails. They were, in fact, the only ones to do so. While gender can somewhat be taken with a grain of salt regarding footwear, our expert female testing team has a detailed assessment of the best women's flip flops and top-rated women's sandals. We've tested a wide variety of footwear beyond that, too, ranging from our favorite water shoes to the best men's hiking boots to top men's trail runners. If you need something a little more sturdy than a flip flop, be sure to have a look at our review of the top men's sandals as well. This flip offers a sleek and classic design and recycled EVA footbed, providing lightweight comfort as you explore your worldMost flip flops on REEF’s extensive lineup have built up a cult following over the years. That said, one stands out head and shoulders above the rest—the REEF Men’s Fanning Flip Flops.