Our Favorite Grabber Tools for Reaching Things High and Low

New York Times

20-05-2025

I'm a writer at Wirecutter covering health and fitness, accessibility, and baby and kid gear. I'm the author of our guides to running armbands and UPF clothing.
For this guide: I researched 50 grabber tools and tested 24 models around my home. I carted the tools around for almost a year, taking them to a community beach cleanup and testing them with friends and family.
I spoke with people who use grabber tools frequently for everyday tasks and others who have used them more sporadically, such as when recovering from an injury or surgery, to better understand what makes a great — or disappointing — grabber tool.
I interviewed a physical therapist and an occupational therapist for their tips on use, safety, and design.
I consulted a panel of 10 testers with different body types and a variety of dexterity and mobility levels, who we paid for their time, for feedback on the most promising dozen models. One of the testers, who has low vision, helped me evaluate grabber tools with built-in lights. In fall 2024, I sent the four top contenders to three additional testers, who used the tools in their daily lives over several months.
Like all Wirecutter journalists, I review and test products with complete editorial independence. I'm never made aware of any business implications of my editorial recommendations. Read more about our editorial standards.
These simple tools have a basic function: to help you more easily grab lightweight items that are otherwise out of reach.
Monique Caruth, a physical therapist and spokesperson for the American Physical Therapy Association, highlighted grabber tools as particularly useful for anyone with limited mobility, including people recovering from surgery, wheelchair users, and those who have difficulty bending over due to joint pain or conditions that affect their breathing. An occupational therapist, Karen Jacobs, told me that at her height of 5-foot-1, she's started using grabber tools to help reach in her washer and dryer.
Even light objects can feel heavy and unwieldy when you're holding them at the end of a 32-inch stick. Every grabber we tested required some grip strength to maneuver, and testers with arthritis in their hands said they might use the tools more sparingly. Both Caruth and Jacobs recommend not lifting anything heavy or breakable and paying attention to your balance when reaching for objects.
Sarah Gannett/NYT Wirecutter
To find the best grabber tool, I pored over owner reviews and collected feedback from Wirecutter colleagues on their favorites. Based on my interviews with physical and occupational therapists and people who frequently use grabbers, I narrowed a list of 50 promising options to an initial 24 to test. We focused on 32-inch models, which both experts we interviewed suggested as a good starting length for most people.
Four qualities separated the better models from the just-okay (or truly terrible): Comfortable: The trigger should be easy to pull and comfortable to hold while gripping an object. Grippy: The claw should be able to keep lightweight objects from falling or rotating. Models with rubber or textured tips make grasping small or smooth objects easier. Lightweight: Even the lightest objects feel heavy when held at the end of a 32-inch stick, and a heavy grabber tool gets tiring quickly when picking up trash. A reacher should add as little weight and strain as possible while still being hefty enough to get the job done.
Even the lightest objects feel heavy when held at the end of a 32-inch stick, and a heavy grabber tool gets tiring quickly when picking up trash. A reacher should add as little weight and strain as possible while still being hefty enough to get the job done. Sturdy enough: We don't expect grabbers to rival cast iron skillets in durability, but we eliminated models that bowed when holding a 5- to 10-pound object, had obvious weak points, or broke during testing. A panel of testers with different body types and disabilities tried out a dozen grabber tools, evaluating their strength, ease of use, and comfort. Marki Williams/NYT Wirecutter
We also took into consideration several other nice-to-have features that make using the tools easier, such as rotatable heads, magnetic tips, and foldable designs.
I evaluated these models myself for basic function and comfort, reaching for pill bottles and the television remote on my coffee table, picking up my wallet and keys from the floor, grabbing toilet paper and sweaters from high shelves, and retrieving cat toys from under the couch. Although I did not try to lift heavy cans or glass jars, I did see how the grabber tools fared in lifting my (securely locked) travel mug, and I evaluated how much their shafts bent under the weight of an 8-pound bucket of salt.
After I ruled out some clear duds, a panel of 10 testers with a diversity of body types and disabilities, who we paid for their time, used the tools to pick up trash, television remotes, pens, keys, clothes, and light household objects. We hauled jeans and orphan socks out of cardboard boxes set up to mimic front- and top-loading laundry machines.
I continued testing the grabber tools in different contexts, such as at a community beach cleanup and with seven friends and family members, including my 100-year-old grandfather and others with arthritis, limited grip strength, and low vision. I sent the four top models to three additional testers, who used them over the course of four months to pick up trash, do their laundry, retrieve pet toys, reach pill bottles, drag items across the bed of a pickup truck, and other tasks. A tester with low vision also helped us test models with built-in lights.
Michael Murtaugh/NYT Wirecutter
This grippy reacher tool has a comfortable trigger and is sturdier than its flimsy competitors. We also liked its magnetic tips, rotatable head, and foldable design.
From nabbing stray bobby pins to pulling wet jeans out of the washing machine, the Ezpik Pro Foldable Grabber (32-inch) stood out for its secure grip and strong shaft. Two testers who use these tools in their daily lives said the Ezpik Pro was 'by far the best reacher I have used' and 'better than the grabber sticks I've bought myself.'
It's more reliable and maneuverable than any other model we tested. The aluminum shaft did not bow when moving bulkier objects, and the jaw's textured rubber lining made it easier to hold onto smooth items. Though experts we spoke with discouraged lifting anything heavy with a grabber tool, one tester reported that Ezpik reacher's strong grip allowed her to lift a jar from a top shelf in the kitchen without worrying about dropping it.
Its full-handed trigger is the best for small or achy hands. The shorter distance between the Ezpik Pro's trigger and handle made it easier for testers with small hands to deploy. You can pull the trigger with all four fingers, versus two or three with our runner-up. This reduces stress on any one finger, which testers with arthritis appreciated. The even pressure distribution also allows you to have a steadier grip on heavy items.
Its jaw can handle the full spectrum of bulky to small items. It was easier to grasp thick sweaters or rolls of paper towels with the Ezpik Pro than with our runner-up, the Vive Folding Reacher Grabber. And it can nab small items, too. The grabber's tips angle out slightly, which one of our panelists found handy for picking up thin or small pieces of trash in her neighborhood but challenging when gripping wide, heavier objects, like a full vitamin bottle. The Ezpik Pro Foldable Grabber's magnetic tips let you pick up some small metal objects without pinching the jaw. Michael Murtaugh/NYT Wirecutter Its trigger is easier to grasp for people with small hands or pain from arthritis. Michael Murtaugh/NYT Wirecutter We like that the Ezpik Pro folds in half (or in thirds on longer models) — it's a lot more portable than others we tested. Michael Murtaugh/NYT Wirecutter The latch that you lock or fold the grabber with can be tight, so the Ezpik Pro is a little more difficult to collapse than our runner-up. Michael Murtaugh/NYT Wirecutter The Ezpik Pro Foldable Grabber's magnetic tips let you pick up some small metal objects without pinching the jaw. Michael Murtaugh/NYT Wirecutter
The magnetic tips are stronger than others we tested. I was able to lift my two house keys attached to my wallet using only the magnetic tip, a load that proved too heavy for the magnets on other grabbers we tested.
It folds and has a rotatable head. The 32-inch Ezpik Pro folds in half (longer versions fold in thirds) and can fit in a tote bag or backpack, so it's more portable than others we tested. The grabber's rotating head also increases its versatility, allowing testers to reach into challenging areas without adjusting their wrists.
It comes in different lengths. Although we recommend starting with the 32-inch model, our shorter and taller testers appreciated that the Ezpik Pro comes in different lengths, from 26 to 43 inches. Our 6-foot-6 tester found the extra length more comfortable for picking items off the ground, while our 4-foot-10 tester said it was helpful for reaching high shelves. A panel tester tries out the Ezpik Pro at our Long Island City, New York, office. Marki Williams/NYT Wirecutter The Ezpik Pro excels at picking up small pieces of trash, like napkins. Marki Williams/NYT Wirecutter A panel tester tries out the Ezpik Pro at our Long Island City, New York, office. Marki Williams/NYT Wirecutter Flaws but not dealbreakers
The trigger requires more force than that of our runner-up. While the full-handed trigger is easy to reach and allowed testers to spread effort over four fingers instead of two, it does require more force to hold down. One tester described using this reacher to pick up trash as 'an arm workout,' compared with the Vive grabber tool.
Some of our triggers squeaked. We tested eight grabbers from Ezpik — four 32-inch models and four in other lengths. Of those eight, two squeaked when we closed the grabber's jaw, an issue we noticed in grabbers from other companies as well. Putting a couple drops of WD-40 in the center joint of the claw immediately resolved the problem.
The folding mechanism is tight. The latch that secures the Ezpik Pro in a folded position requires more finger strength to open and close than other models we tested.
Michael Murtaugh/NYT Wirecutter
This foldable 32-inch grabber weighs a tad less than our top pick, and its trigger requires a gentler touch. Testers with small hands gave it poor marks for comfort, though.
Depressing the trigger of the Vive Folding Reacher Grabber required the least hand strength of any model we tested, except for the notably flimsy RMS Featherweight grabber tool. The Vive grabber's trigger was polarizing, though, and it may not be right for everyone. Even though it takes a lighter touch, its trigger only has space for two or three fingers to sit comfortably, so you're putting more strain on any one finger than you would with the full-handed trigger of our top pick. And the distance between the handle and trigger was too long for testers with small hands, who found our top pick, the Ezpik Pro, more comfortable.
It's light and has an easy trigger. Our testers gave the Vive grabber high marks for comfort, citing its light weight and responsive trigger. It weighs 8.2 ounces compared with the Ezpik Pro's 9.2 ounces, and you can feel the difference. While other triggers felt jerky or required a forceful tug, the Vive grabber's trigger felt smooth and only needed a light touch.
It's grippy and feels secure. Its claw is lined with rubber that's textured at the tips and extends past the hard plastic edges to form a flexible lip. This extra rim helped me pick up trash like damp receipts and cigarette butts that eluded other grabber tools, but we found it can also collect dirt. The Vive grabber's jaw is 3.5 inches wide when fully opened, a tad narrower than the Ezpik Pro's, but we didn't find this difference limiting during our testing. The grippy rubber lining on the Vive Folding Reacher Grabber's jaw makes it adept at picking up slippery items — but also dirt. And unlike our top pick, it doesn't have magnets at the tips of the claw. Michael Murtaugh/NYT Wirecutter The trigger is among the easiest to pull, but its wide setting can put more strain on your fingers than our top pick, especially if you have small hands. Michael Murtaugh/NYT Wirecutter Its foldability is one of many features that make it a great tool to bring along for picking up litter. Michael Murtaugh/NYT Wirecutter We found that the folding mechanism on the Vive grabber — a button rather than a latch — requires much less dexterity than that of our top pick. Michael Murtaugh/NYT Wirecutter The grippy rubber lining on the Vive Folding Reacher Grabber's jaw makes it adept at picking up slippery items — but also dirt. And unlike our top pick, it doesn't have magnets at the tips of the claw. Michael Murtaugh/NYT Wirecutter
It folds and unfolds more easily than our top pick. You can fold this grabber by pressing on either side of a large circular button with your fingers or the heel of your palm, which requires less dexterity than the Ezpik Pro's hinges.
It's one of the few we tested with a warranty. The tool is covered for one year from purchase. Flaws but not dealbreakers
The trigger is hard to reach for small hands. The distance between the Vive grabber's trigger and handle is much longer than our top pick, so it's hard to get more than two fingers on the trigger. In order to reach the trigger, one tester with short fingers had to place her hand in an awkward position that led to the trigger pinching her finger.
The two-finger grip may aggravate achy hands. A tester with arthritis in her hands reported that a two-finger grip put more strain on her hands than the four-finger grip she used on other triggers, like our top pick.
Its rotating head is fussier than that of the Ezpik Pro. As with our top pick, you can rotate the Vive grabber's head 90 degrees to align the jaws with different objects. Unlike the Ezpik Pro's head, however, the Vive reacher's is jerky to adjust and only rotates in one direction. When we forced the jaw to rotate in the wrong direction, it temporarily jammed.
Its weight distribution can feel off. Our pick from Vive feels weighted towards its center hinge, not towards the handle. One tester with arthritis found the resulting downward pull more taxing on her wrists compared with the balance of grabber tools weighted towards the handle.
It lacks magnets. We wish the Vive grabber tool had magnets, a feature we appreciated in our top pick for nabbing keys and other small metal objects.
The DMI Reacher Grabber Tool and RMS Featherweight The Original Reacher are the lightest grabbers we tested, and their triggers require little force to operate. They do not, however, provide a secure grip, and the exposed fabric cable connecting the jaw to the trigger feels flimsy. Both are better suited for use as hooks than grabbers; we were able to lift coats and hangers using the shaft itself or the small posts affixed to the tip.
The foldable Dumsamker Reacher Grabber Pickup Tool has a comfortable full-handed trigger, magnetic tips, and a grippy rubber-lined jaw. It was a favorite in our initial testing, but the trigger detached from the handle after a couple hours of use.
You can grip or brace the handle of the Easy Comforts Easy Grip Reacher in a number of configurations, including using a wrist or forearm to pull the trigger. But it's heavy, has a jerky trigger, and did not securely grip objects during our testing.
The GrabRunner Reacher Grabber Tool's trigger requires more strength than that of our runner-up. One tester liked that it has a shoe horn at the end of the handle — not for putting on shoes, but because it provided her extra support to brace her wrist against when lifting objects. (None of our testers thought they'd use the shoe horn for putting on their shoes because the claw and shoe horn are on opposite ends of the tool. If you use the claw to reach for a shoe, you have to flip the grabber over to use the shoe horn, which can be unwieldy.)
The light switches on the Luxet Grabber Reacher Tool, Jellas 32 Inch Grabber Reacher Tool, and Kekoy 32" Reacher Grabber Tool with Light were difficult to find and manipulate. They're also located by the reachers' claws, so you have to flip them over every time you want to use their lights.
We tested four so-called suction grabbers: the Gopher II Pick-Up and Reaching Tool, a previous version of the TSY Tool Reacher Grabber,the Uline Standard Trash Picker 32", and the Vive Suction Cup Reacher Grabber. The suction cup tips rarely made more than glancing contact with the objects we tried to lift, and the Gopher reacher's trigger pinched the skin between my thumb and forefinger. The thin rubber of the tips was helpful for picking up pieces of paper off the ground, but the rubber tips of non-suction grabbers we tested accomplished a similar result. The TSY Tool grabber's locking feature, which is supposed to let you carry an object without having to continually hold the trigger, was intriguing, but it wasn't secure and required inordinate finger strength to adjust.
Though its roughly $1.25 price is eye-catching, the Tool Bench Hardware Long Reach & Pick Up Tool performed too poorly to recommend for picking up anything heavier than a small cat toy. Its head rotated when lifting a petite television remote, and its jaw isn't even wide enough to pick up an aluminum can.
Neither the Unger Nifty Nabber Trigger Grip nor the Unger Professional 36' Nifty Nabber was as comfortable as the Unger Grabber Plus. Testers broadly disliked the Unger 32' Total Reach Grabber because its jerky trigger and unwieldy claw made it difficult to grasp larger objects. One tester appreciated its light weight and precise tip for picking up garbage, but she lamented that this tool doesn't fold and that the cutouts in its handle dug into her thumb.
The Zayad 2024 Upgrade Grabber Reacher Tool and the RMS 34 Inch Extra Long Reacher Grabber are comparable to our runner-up, but their triggers require more grip strength. The Zayad Reacher Grabber Tool held items less securely than the Ezpik Pro, and testers found its trigger less comfortable.
This article was edited by Claire Perlman and Kalee Thompson.
Monique Caruth, physical therapist and spokesperson for the American Physical Therapy Association, phone interview, March 26, 2024
Karen Jacobs, occupational therapist and clinical professor of occupational therapy at Boston University, phone interview, March 18, 2024