Top pick
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 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.
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.
