Multitasking Bottle Openers
It’s summer, and the livin’ is easy. So should opening a bottle of your favorite beer. But oftentimes, especially when you want to pack light—like when you’re camping or going to the beach—the bottle opener gets lost or forgotten.
From head to toe (literally), here’s a collection of a half-dozen multitasking items that will assure you always have a way to crack open that cold one, while not having to keep track of your bottle opener.
De-capping Caps
Sure, part of the attraction of a good beer is the buzz that goes straight to your head. Well, you can start there, with a collection of baseball caps that not only shade you from the sun’s glare, but assure you always have a bottle opener at the ready, because one is built into each hat.
One selection sports the bottle opener right on the rim of the cap, for all to see. A similar version places the opener on the top of the cap’s visor. If you want to be the go-to guy or gal for all your friends’ bottle-opening needs, these caps are for you.
For those who want to be a bit more discreet, another version places the opener under the visor, with just a small metal “button” on the visible part of the cap to hold it in place. All three styles come in a variety of different (unfortunately, macro-brew only) logos, plus a couple of beer-related themes online at several websites.
The Eyes Have It
If you have a few hundred dollars burning a hole in your pocket and you’re looking for some fashionable, UV-blocking sunglasses, why not select a pair that also will ensure you have a bottle opener at the ready?
Reef Eyewear’s Open Pro has a sturdy, stainless steel bottle opener inconspicuously built right into the sunglasses’ left side. The eyewear is available in regular and polarized lenses, too.
A Belt for the Bottle
Who hasn’t seen the guy who opens a bottle with his belt buckle? You don’t have to be that guy—and risk damage to some pretty important body parts—when you have the belt buckle with a bottle opener built right in it. Choose the sleek, sporty style that has a tasteful, rectangular metal buckle with a subtle bottle opener that looks more high design than multipurpose [coolmaterial.com]. Or make a statement with any number of large belt buckles that have a bottle opener built right in, with everything from “Got Beer” signs to shapes of fish, bottle openers and even bottle caps [bizrate.com/mens-belts-suspenders/beer-opener-buckle/].
Sit on It
Here’s one way to keep from losing your wallet: Make sure it has a bottle opener attached to it as well. Fossil makes a billfold of full-grain leather that features eight slots for ID and credit cards, one large compartment for your bills and a handy slot on the outside for the bottle opener, which is included. And it’s designed in a way that doesn’t add any extra bulk. [coolmaterial.com]
At Your Feet
Nothing says summer like flip-flops, so it would figure that a few ingenious (and thirsty) innovators would devise a way to build a bottle opener into this ultimate summertime accessory. Choose the Reef Fanning model, dedicated to pro-surfer and consummate drinker Mick Fanning, in a variety of colors and materials. It features a nice foot bed with arch support, plus a bottle opener hidden on the bottom [reef.com]. Or, if you’re squeamish about opening your beer with something that has been tread upon all day, choose an “up-top” model that has the bottle opener conveniently attached to the sandal’s upper thong area [wearyourbeer.com].
This columnist isn’t recommending that you dress yourself in each one of these handy articles of clothing (please just say no to that idea), but one is sure to fit your lifestyle and make you the hit of the summer parties. ■
