Wanted: good quality long-handled reacher

Hi Everyone,

Trouble sleeping again, so I decided to get up and do a tiny bit of picking up around the apt. Found myself wishing I had really stolen my friend's reacher as I joked that I was going to. She has the best one ever. Very strong, rubber grips at the ends so stuff doesn't slip out, handle is not too hard for me to pull (lots of joint pain in hands), and a whole lot better than hurting my back or nearly falling over to pick up stuff. But, hers is a decade old, and oddly, has no markings on it with a manufacturer or anything. I have seen some in stores, but they are either so cheap I'd have it broken in a matter of days, or so expensive that I am not sure about spending the $ on something I know nothing about (as far as quality goes).

Any suggestions of good companies or products? Needs to be sturdy and lightweight, easy to grasp and use. At this point, obviously less expensive would be nice, but for a good one, i'll find the extra $.

Was diagnosed with fibromyalgia this past Monday, hasn't quite sunk in yet. Kinda just add it to the pile of dx. Just started another med for a GI issue, so waiting a few days to start the Lyrica. And tomorrow I have to call a few of my docs for appts and followups and who knows what...the GI doc (office visit and set up endoscopy), urogyn. to meet and go over the questions about her part of surgery, pain doc, primary care doc, psychiatrist to get blood levels done for lithium etc.

Sometimes I dream about taking all of my docs (lost count around #10) and locking them in a conference room. They will have access to all of my medical info and any resources they need, (and I suppose I'd have to feed them and stuff to keep them energized) and I will only let them out after they have all worked together to understand what's going on and the best way to treat it all. I am 36 years old, and I've been dreaming of doing that for 16 years. Thankfully, communication has gotten better with quite a few of them, and I've dumped the ones who apparently couldn't send messages or call each other even though they worked at the same hospital, out of the same clinic even!!!

Ok, got WAY off topic. Sorry about that. Long-handled reachers: got one you like, or know of a good one, advice in finding a good one? Let me hear it!!


Thanks much. Even though I don't generally get a lot of responses, maybe cuz i write too much or maybe I am just weird, but I do appreciate the feedback I get and just knowing that I am not alone. Very grateful for that.

Sunny look online at Amazon or some place like that. A lot of times they offer free shipping. We have several that my husband bought somewhere, they are plastic but they do the job & so far none have broken & they are a good 2-3 yrs old. He has one that he keeps out int he garage for when he is out there tinkering around. They do get used frequently too. So, don't be too quick to dismiss the ones made of plastic. Another place to check is drugstores & medical supply places. You will probably be able to find a metal one at either of these places.

I have several reachers. They are marketed as "Gophers". You can buy them in almost any store. They work great. They are about 3 foot ling and has a lever on the handle that opens and closes the gripper on the end that has rubber tips. I use them to pick up things off the floor and to reach the top shelf in the cabinets. They run about $10.00 each. Google Gopher reacher.

Post Edited (nitat) : 11/15/2014 8:05:06 AM (GMT-7)

Thanks for all the info and responses!! I will check into all of the suggestions!

When i had my 2 spinal cord surgeries (in 3 week time period) and then had an open wound & had to have someone "pack it" every day, etc., I ended up using a giant set of tongs meant for use on the grill. Worked ok, but a bit heavy. And after I recovered, Dad took them for the grill!!

Made a tie-fleece-blanket for my best friend yesterday, she just found out Friday that she needs a really big and really awful surgery on her leg, same type of surgery they do for bone cancer. She was really upset so I found just perfect fabric for a couple of our "inside jokes" and did the whole thing yesterday. Really really sore hands and back today! Will likely start the Lyrica tomorrow or the next day--just want to check it out w/ one more of my docs first. Hope it helps!

Thanks again for the suggestions.

Have a good day!!