# Looking for a decent Grabber-Reacher **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 11, 2022, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-decent-grabber-reacher/962675 "2022-04-11T17:38:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2022, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-decent-grabber-reacher/962675/1 "2022-04-11T17:38:34Z")
As shown here: [![](https://i5.walmartimages.com/asr/23b86305-26fd-4ef0-bb64-8dbfa5308bfa_1.5309c5ef382cf3bca0a2c0c2264564c0.jpeg) ](https://i5.walmartimages.com/asr/23b86305-26fd-4ef0-bb64-8dbfa5308bfa_1.5309c5ef382cf3bca0a2c0c2264564c0.jpeg) I need one that will grab and hold something heavier that a small bag of feathers without losing the grip or even stripping out. I have had bad luck with the last couple I ordered-they couldn’t lift very much and they broke easily. Any suggestions? ---
**Author:** ![BippityBoppityBoo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bippityboppityboo/32/5745_2.png) [@BippityBoppityBoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BippityBoppityBoo)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2022, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-decent-grabber-reacher/962675/2 "2022-04-12T04:10:05Z")
In my experience as a home health nurse, a reacher/grabber is one of those things where you get only what you pay for. Consider going to a medical supply store and trying out various ones. An occupational or physical therapist might also have some good recommendations. Again, IME, the slightly more expensive ones that have discs on the ends, rather than pincers, work better. Consider getting a specialized magnetized one for picking up small metallic things if you might need to do that-the two purposes rarely co-exist in successfully in the same reacher/grabber. The only thing that folding ones do well is collapse at the worst possible moment. ---
**Author:** ![dummygladhands71](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c0e974/32.png) [@dummygladhands71](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dummygladhands71)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2022, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-decent-grabber-reacher/962675/3 "2022-04-12T05:05:12Z")
Arcoa Industries, E Z REACHER These are the ones the Parks and Grounds guys use around here. The place I retired from sold them to the municipalities. The little pads are replaceable. They are excellent and come in 2 lengths.[https://arcmate.com/ezreacher-outdoorstandard.aspx](https://arcmate.com/ezreacher-outdoorstandard.aspx) ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2022, 5:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-decent-grabber-reacher/962675/4 "2022-04-12T05:45:17Z")
The one my clients usually get is the [Dragon](https://www.hdis.com/media/catalog/product/cache/d96bafed0eaf2da7a78921bd99d8ba4f/r/e/reacher_2.jpg). Everyone sends happy with them when I call and ask them if they’ve received it. ---
**Author:** ![GaryM](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garym/32/241_2.png) [@GaryM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaryM)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2022, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-decent-grabber-reacher/962675/5 "2022-04-12T14:03:17Z")
I have several like the one shown in the OP. They are good for most stuff. Our pantry has shelves most of the way to the ceiling, so years ago I bought a grabber similar to what’s used in stores. It’s about 5’ long with pincers on the end. It’s spring loaded shut, so squeezing the lever opens the pincers to grab the item. You don’t have to hold the lever to keep the item secure. Looking on Amazon and Google, I can find nothing similar though. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2022, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-decent-grabber-reacher/962675/6 "2022-04-12T14:36:42Z")
My wife, Pepper Mill, recently pulled something reaching into our deep washing machine, and couldn’t reach in far enough to get things after that. I got her a Grabber-Reacher from our local Walgreen’s drug store, from the section where they have the canes, walkers, and other such access stuff. It was inexpensive. While not top-of-the-line, it’s good for getting things out of the washer. ---
**Author:** ![Jaydubba77](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Jaydubba77](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jaydubba77)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2022, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-decent-grabber-reacher/962675/7 "2022-04-12T16:42:43Z")
I’ve used the Unger Nifty Nabber and it works quite well all though it’s not cheap. The one I used was very well made and could grip pretty good. ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2022, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-decent-grabber-reacher/962675/8 "2022-04-12T18:55:23Z")
This is the one. The Mohawk Trash Gator G4. It will pick up and hold anything from a dime to heavy blankets and books. > **[Amazon.com: G4 Trash Gator (40") : Health & Household](https://www.amazon.com/Mohawk-Usa-G4-Trash-Gator/dp/B00U97EOYC)** > > Amazon.com: G4 Trash Gator (40") : Health & Household When I was laid up after back surgery, and was forbidden to “Bend, Lift, or Twist,” this thing helped me reach and pick up what I couldn’t reach. I learned to use it to put on and fasten my velcro shoes. My wife cable-tied an s-hook to my walker, and cable-tied a cable-tie loop to the grabber so I could hang it on the walker 'til I needed it. Every other grabber I’ve seen is wimpy compared to this one.