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Reef Fanning Review

A great, durable flop that will handle any terrain and can open your beer
reef fanning flip flop review
Reef Fanning
Credit: Reef
Price:  $65 List
Manufacturer:   Reef
By Brian Martin ⋅ Review Editor  ⋅  Jul 20, 2020
64
OVERALL
SCORE


RANKED
#9 of 15
  • Comfort - 30% 6.0
  • Support - 20% 6.0
  • Traction - 20% 7.0
  • Versatility - 15% 7.0
  • Style - 15% 6.0

Our Verdict

The Reef Fanning is a good all-around flip flop offering decent durability, comfort, and grip on slippery terrain. The materials feel like quality synthetics without being unnecessarily heavy, and the straps are wide, ergonomic, and comfortable. On top of being a good all-arounder, the Fanning keeps a nice party trick hidden in the sole in the form of a bottle opener. Maybe it's gimmicky, but it sure is fun as long as you haven't stepped in any yard snickers recently. Gimmicks aside, this is a comfortable and functional flip flop at a reasonable price. If you're like our testers and want to spend every appropriate moment and some inappropriate moments in your flip flops, these are certainly a fine option.
REASONS TO BUY
Durable
Good traction
Bottle opener on sole
REASONS TO AVOID
Heel "airbag" feature seems unnecessary
Bottle opener is slippery if you hit it just right

Compare to Similar Products

 
reef fanning flip flop review
This Product
Reef Fanning
Awards  Editors' Choice Award Top Pick Award Best Buy Award Best Buy Award 
Price $40.98 at Amazon
Compare at 2 sellers
$75 List
$75.00 at REI
Check Price at Backcountry$40 List
$39.95 at Backcountry
$25 List
$24.99 at Amazon
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Pros Durable, good traction, bottle opener on soleSuper comfortable, excellent grip, good arch supportSuperior traction, comfortable footbed, stay on whether wet or dryLightweight, recycled materials, comfortable fit wet or dryWide footbed, bargain basement price, many styles
Cons Heel "airbag" feature seems unnecessary, bottle opener is slippery if you hit it just rightPricey, heavyExpensive, heavy, may cause blistersPoor traction, less supportiveTraction isn't great, not as versatile, less durable
Bottom Line A great, durable flop that will handle any terrain and can open your beerThis flip flop is the epitome of durability and comfort, and will get you through your day in style from the beach to the barWhen you need a stylish flip flop that stays on your foot no matter what the conditions or situation, look to this oneThis flip offers a sleek and classic design and recycled EVA footbed that will provide lightweight comfort as you explore your worldIf you're on a tight budget but need a flip flop that will handle most casual situations, look no further
Rating Categories Reef Fanning OluKai 'Ohana OluKai Hokua Teva Reflip NeedBo NDB
Comfort (30%)
6.0
9.0
7.0
9.0
7.0
Support (20%)
6.0
9.0
9.0
7.0
7.0
Traction (20%)
7.0
8.0
9.0
7.0
6.0
Versatility (15%)
7.0
9.0
8.0
7.0
6.0
Style (15%)
6.0
9.0
9.0
8.0
7.0
Specs Reef Fanning OluKai 'Ohana OluKai Hokua Teva Reflip NeedBo NDB
Sole Material Icon Herringbone rubber outsole Rubber Rubber EVA Rubber
Footbed Material Injection molded EVA ICEVA ICEVA EVA EVA
Strap Material Synthetic nubuck upper Synthetic Synthetic REPREVE recycled polyester EVA
Weight (per pair) 17 oz 18.7 oz 18.4 oz 9.7 oz 11 oz
Available Sizes 4 - 17 7 - 18 7 - 15 7-14 6 - 17
Animal Products? No No No No No

Our Analysis and Test Results

If you're loyal to Reef, the Fanning is a nicely-priced model to consider. There are certainly cheaper options available, but if you like the idea of a built-in bottle opener and can tolerate the odd high-heel configuration, this might be your dream flop.

Performance Comparison


reef fanning flip flop review - the fanning is a great overall flip flop at a reasonable pricepoint.
The Fanning is a great overall flip flop at a reasonable pricepoint.
Credit: Brian Martin

Comfort


To start with the negative attributes of the Fanning first, the arch support and high heel angle aren't our favorite. While doing a close examination, we noticed the heel is almost an inch higher than the rest of the footbed — seemingly to accommodate the special "airbag." This put us on the balls of our feet a little too much, and we found ourselves doing a fair bit of shifting from the extra pressure. The arch support is of a low/medium height and doesn't offer quite the support of some of the other flip flops we tested.

Now for the good. The wide straps and footbed of this flip offer a snug and comfortable fit. The Fanning has visibly wider straps than most other models in our review and, in turn, spreads the pressure out across a large area. Additionally, these straps are made from a synthetic nubuck upper that is comfortable, vegan, and quick-drying. Compared to others, the quick-drying upper helps keep the wet chafing to a minimum.

reef fanning flip flop review - while the bottle opener on the sole of the fanning is novel, we...
While the bottle opener on the sole of the Fanning is novel, we could do without it if it meant a better-formed arch and lower heal height.
Credit: Brian Martin

Support


The Fanning landed firmly in the middle of the pack in how much support it provides. Despite the forward slope from heel to toe creating some pressure points underfoot, the heel does create a secure cup and provides a stable platform not prone to rolling. Additionally, the extremely wide and ergonomic strap do an excellent job keeping the foot in place even when moving at a clip. The arch is pretty medium in height and the overall forward slope makes the flip flop feel less stable than it otherwise might without such an angle.

reef fanning flip flop review - while not as stable as some other options, the fanning is decent all...
while not as stable as some other options, the Fanning is decent all around.
Credit: Brian Martin

Traction


With some seriously chunky treads showing up this year, the Fanning looked like it might not stack up. This was absolutely not the case. The relatively plain-looking tread design on the sole channels water extremely well and provides great grip in the wet. The wide straps are snug enough to keep your feet secure even when walking on steep granite slabs around Yosemite. The raised microgrid on the footbed also channels water and sweat well enough to keep the foot solidly in place when on the move.

The one big negative regarding traction is the hard plastic cup that contains the bottle opener. While it rarely connects with anything, when it does, it kicks off balance and is quite slippery. This isn't a constant issue — mostly just when connecting with larger rocks while on trails — but it is worth keeping in mind if you plan on wearing these flip flops on anything but smoother surfaces.

reef fanning flip flop review - even though the sole doesn't have huge rubber lugs like other...
Even though the sole doesn't have huge rubber lugs like other models, the Fanning grips onto even the smoothest granite slabs.
Credit: Brian Martin

Versatility


The Fanning is a middle-of-the-road performer in every metric we tested this year. It offers decent performance over a variety of terrain from rocky trails to the beach volleyball court. The synthetic uppers dry quickly and don't gather an uncomfortable amount of sand between foot and footbed, which is a nice bonus. That said, this flip has a leg up on the competition in the versatility category due to the built-in bottle openers on the bottom of the soles. We especially liked kicking off our flop and popping the top on a kombucha. It may sound ridiculous, but it is strangely satisfying to open a brew with the bottom of your shoe.

reef fanning flip flop review - the fanning is quite versatile. the grippy soles, comfortable...
The Fanning is quite versatile. The grippy soles, comfortable straps, and bottle openers let us cruise beaches, trails, and backyard parties.
Credit: Brian Martin

Style


The style of the Fanning lands somewhere on the spectrum between Gisele and Quasimodo, but hey, we all do. It doesn't have the styling of a retro head turner, and it doesn't seem to be trying to make any statements except that you don't want to be caught without a bottle opener. The muted earth tones look good with pretty much any casual clothing or swimwear.

reef fanning flip flop review - killer tread pattern on the fanning. also, church-key bottle openers!
Killer tread pattern on the Fanning. Also, church-key bottle openers!
Credit: Piper

Value


While the Fanning isn't exactly cheap, they do represent a decent value. Offering everything more costly flip flops do at a significant discount, they also dish out a fun bottle opening party trick. At this price point, there are many flip flops that fall apart quickly, offer little or no traction, especially in the wet, and just aren't comfortable. The Fanning exceeded our expectations, and we feel it offers a lot for a little.

Conclusion


If you aren't put off by gimmicky additions like heel airbags and bottle openers, the Fanning is a great flip flop. It offers versatility, traction, a reasonable level of comfort, and isn't too flashy. Our biggest frustration is the raised heel putting a bit too much weight onto the ball of the feet, but that is a relatively small concern compared to the positive vibrations these flops give off.

reef fanning flip flop review - the fanning doesn't climb splitters, but we know they want to
The Fanning doesn't climb splitters, but we know they want to
Credit: Brian Blum

Brian Martin
 
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