Customer Reviews

Duro-Med 32 Aluminum Reacher with Magnetic Tip

5 star:		(47)
4 star:		(19)
3 star:		(12)
2 star:		(7)
1 star:		(13)

 

 

I was given one of these reachers after a surgery I had over 15 years ago. We have since accumulated 3 of them and 2 of the 3 are still going strong (my oldest one just broke). It can pick up very small items or "large" items like a full can of soda / canned goods. The mouth opens to about 4" so a can is about the largest thing that will fit. However, this thing is built like a tank and can pick up just about anything your wrist can handle. I've picked up a gallon of milk with it and other heavy items. The magnet is very useful for picking up paper clips and the like. With a little practice, you can even pick up a grain of rice with it! One thing this thing has real trouble with is picking up paper. The jaw is made of hard plastic and has a hard time picking up anything that is flat on the floor. I recommend the reachers with the suction cups (not the folding kind) for things like paper.

I have used a number of reachers or grabbers as some call them. It's important to understand that there are some reachers that are built for specific jobs such as reaching jars or large heavy items from shelves. This item will not grab full large mouth jars or bottles. It will however grab medium weight and size items. So if you need a reacher to grab those larger heavier jars and bottles then this is not the reacher for you.
Unless you also need a reacher to grab every other thing imaginable. Where other reachers fail this one shines. It can grab single sheets of paper, a wool blanket, balls of every size, pillows, remotes, etc etc. I use it to do my recycling and it is indispensable for that job.
I titled this as a "disabled buyer review" because I wanted to point something out. The handle and lever mechanism on this reacher is very easy to use. I have severe arthritis and heavy grabbers are so hard to operate that they are almost useless. They also tend to have a locking mechanism which doesn't operate properly causing the heavy grabbers to lock when they shouldn't making a quick clean of the living room floor a frustrating job. The Duro Med doesn't have a locking mechanism and it operates so smoothly my arthritis has actually improved since I got this one.
AND this is actually my second one. I had my first one for at least three years. They are durable. They last for a very long time. My last one got ran over by a power chair and while it still worked even bent it eventually succumbed to it's injuries so to speak.
I love this reacher obviously.

Length:: 0:08 Mins

I'm very pleased with this grabber. I have a total of 4 grabbers stashed around the house, two of this type and two of a different one, with little black dishes on it. They all work but no one grabber can do everything. What pleases me about this Duro-Med is that it can pick up things that are almost flush with the floor, like a coin -- see the video. I also like the magnet -- it is fairly strong.

But if you are like me, restricted from bending way over due to recent surgery (or similar cause), I think it is work spending a few bucks to get several of these gizmos. I stash them all over the house so one is handy when I need it.

A most helpful tool and a must for people that have trouble reaching. My only complaint is they do not offer a heavy duty model (string has a tendency to break - a light wire would be better.

I'm 5'5" and found the 26" reacher too short for me; I have to stoop to use it. If you're my size or taller, I recommend the 32".
I like the product overall but find the knob at the top of the handle annoying. It's there so you can hang it, but the knob is uncomfortable in my hand.

The item you ship is made by a different manufacture with a longer reach to the trigger than previous model, the stud placed futher back on the top than the previous model , the grabber pad on the bottom of the bar made out of hard plastic instead of soft rubber. All making it difficult to use.

If you want a reacher for VERY light duty, then this one is fine. I wanted it to use at the market and it is practically useless. It takes a lot of pressure to operate. Does not have a lot of capacity and is extremely light weight.

I was not happy with this product because it does not open wide enough to pick up common items such as jars. It would be of no use to me at the grocery store as I am trying to reach items up above me.

It is okay. I have in my possession a reacher purchased from North Coast medical, Incorporated, 20 years ago. It seems much sturdier than the new one I just purchased, but I'm still happy with the purchase.

and I got the cheaper one. The one I got is not the same one as in the picture, and part of the grabber end is yellow compared to the black one pictured. The one I had before this one had stronger rope connecting the trigger to the claw, while this one has stretchier rope and only has a fraction of the gripping power that the old one had. The magnet is also a lot cheaper, as the old one had a neodymium magnet, while this one has a weaker magnet. So this explains some of the other one star reviews compared to some of the higher ratings.