Trib Tested: The Extreme Magic Opener
The claim: The Magic Opener combines the three most common types of beverage openers into one easy-to-use product. It can tackle bottle tops, aluminum pull tabs and metal caps. Ergonomically shaped and designed to firmly grab caps for more leverage, Magic Opener is perfect for any age and provides relief from painful straining and joint pain for those suffering from limited hand strength or arthritis. No more cutting fingers, chipping nails or straining hands on stubborn bottle tops. With a magnetic top under the smooth plastic grip, it's can be stuck on a refrigerator door, tailgate or grill cart.
Cost: $24.99
Where: buymagicopener.com
Funny thing about Magic Opener: It's harder to remove it from the outside of my refrigerator (thanks to its four strong magnets) than it is to use it to remove pop-bottle caps. It easily handled twist-off caps, although I had to apply a little effort for pry-off lids (but it sometimes takes me two tries with a “church-key” style opener, anyway). Water-bottle lids surrendered with no effort, and beverage-can pull tabs didn't break any of my nails. And, as there are no protruding points, Magic Opener will be easy to tuck inside a cooler or picnic hamper for upcoming excursions.
I have a couple of friends who favor beer that comes in twist-off caps who might appreciate Magic Opener as a gift. The only “negative” I can find is that it's not big enough to handle the type of bottle lid that gives me the most trouble: juice/sports drink bottle tops that are closer in size to a 50-cent piece.
The Magic Opener is at its best opening water bottles and other glass and plastic bottles that have caps of a similar size. The device gives small or impaired hands the leverage needed to twist off caps. There is also a slot on the sturdy metal back for inserting the tabs of soup or soda cans that works with little effort. On the bottom is a standard glass-bottle opener.
The Magic Opener does what is says and does it well, but it is not the solution for opening all things that its target audience needs help with: large-mouth jars, for one. There are a lot of testimonials on the company's website from people who bought the opener for an older relative who needed a little help. If this is something you are considering for a person with disabilities, there is a lot of room for supplementary devices.
One of the best features of the device is the magnet. While not revolutionary, it does eliminate the need to search through a drawer of random kitchen gadgets for an opener. If I were in the market for a can opener, I might take a look at the Magic Opener. But at $24.99 for the “Extreme” model, the average person might find that price a bit above average for similar multifunction tools.
With nails as flimsy as paper, a simple task like opening a can of soda will cause breakage. Wrenching open a 2-liter bottle roughs up the skin on my index finger. And — boo hoo! — even with twist-off beer-bottle caps, I need to use a dish towel to get a good grip.
Yes, life is hard, but the Magic Opener brings relief to my kitchen torture. The size is right to get a good grip for turning, twisting or popping. Even those infrequently used bottles of flavored vinegar or specialty oils can be nudged open more easily.
But for larger opening efforts like pickle jars and salsa, I still have a husband standing by.
