Rugged Reacher

I recently purchased the Unger Professional 42.5” Rugged Reacher Grabber Tool with Rotating Head, and I’m genuinely impressed with its performance. The build quality is excellent—sturdy, well-balanced, and clearly designed for durability and everyday use. The aluminum construction feels strong without being heavy, making it easy to use for extended periods. The rotating head is a standout feature. It adjusts smoothly and locks into place, allowing me to reach items from multiple angles with precision. The rubberized jaws provide a firm, reliable grip on everything from small objects to heavier items, without slipping or causing damage. At 42.5 inches, the reach is perfect for accessing high shelves, behind appliances, or picking things up without bending. Overall, the functionality, comfort, and rugged construction exceeded my expectations—especially at this price point. I highly recommend this grabber tool to anyone looking for a dependable, well-made reacher that delivers excellent control and convenience.

I still give it 5 stars despite its not being lightweight , but because it isn't a cheap , inferior tool that can be found at any large retail store . The jaws of the grabber are really strong, and hold quite a bit of weight , so long as your wrists are also strong . After a Summer storm, I've been able to lift small branches up to about 3 inches in diameter, and about 2 feet in length without the grabber failing , or bending or even twisting under the sheer weight . But because the jaws are so strong , the end of the tool can seem a bit heavy after a half hours work. I've learned to use my other hand to grab the shaft midpoint, to assist in lifting heavy limbs when necessary . The pistol grip style is much more comfortable to use than the handle on the other brands ,that are positioned in-line with the shaft ( on the grabber that I had purchased prior to this one ). I highly recommend this product if you have reason to use a heavy duty grabber on regular occasions , such as a property like mine that is surrounded by large Oak trees , where i NEED to pick up lots of small branches before I can mow the grass .

I would have made this 5-stars as I have with other Unger products. It has the same obvious thoughtful performance and design elements that show the Unger designers well aware of how their products are used and who would be using it. However there are some differences to the standard Unger grabbers that people should be aware of. It is noticeably heavier and not made for just walking around and picking light things up here and there--a small jar on a shelf, or a scrap of paper or a dime dropped on the floor. it is for bigger things like scraps of 2 x's or bricks or bundles of tree limbs and such. It has a foam grip on the tube, but that only emphasizes the fact that it is really made for two-handed, hefty lifts. I also found the squeeze-trigger built into handle more awkward, giving less leverage than the handle triggers they use on their lighter models. This 42" model less useful than the 32" or 48" models in their lighter models. I bought 2 of these rugged grabbers, thinking they would be same as the regular models, with some added reinforcement., but I returned one of them when I saw the difference. The reinforcement is there, but it limits the functionality of the tool. Still a good product, but be aware of the difference from the lighter models and your specific uses for it. My 4-stars is only because I think Unger could have made a heavy-duty model that was lighter and with a better trigger mechanism, making it both more rugged and more versatile .

This is my heaviest grabber. It’s also my sturdiest. The settings are stuck on beast mode. This grabber is pretty much your go to for when you are grabbing something very heavy. It can pretty much be used like a shovel when you have to grab and lift. I bought this for a Garage clean out and organization of a minor hoarder of farm supplies. I have lifted 1 gallon jugs, bowling pins, grabbed half or full 5 gallon fuel cans and drug them around, pulled very heavy tractor parts out of cabinets and deep shelves. These are not very precise grabbers as the grip surface is slightly curved with kind of a bubble jaw surface. The curve works very well though for getting a solid grip with little effort. This is also very heavy for a grabber, it is built like a tank. I wouldn’t use this primarily for general waste cleanup, but for heavy lifting it outclasses all the rest. This is more of a specific heavy lifting scenario type grabber, and for that function it is perfect.

This grabber has a couple of keys flaws that only make it suitable for light duty use. The first thing is the thrust ratio between the handle and the jaws. It doesn’t take much movement of the handle to make the jaws close all the way. This looks good on paper, but the result is that the grip force between the pads is poor. You could put a toddler’s finger between the jaws and squeeze the handle with all your might and the kid would giggle at the funny game you were playing. I bought this grabber to use while on my lawnmower so I wouldn’t have to get off my mower to pick up deadfall and the occasional tool left behind. It took me three attempts to pick up a shovel due to the pads slipping off of the shovel. I wasn’t trying to pick up the entire weight of the shovel, I just wanted to pick up the handle high enough for me to grab it. The jaws just kept slipping off of the smooth surface of the shovel. Which brings up the other “flaw”. The pads are a hard rubber which makes them durable, but reduces their ability to grip. Maybe Unger should give you slip-on sleeves made of silicone rubber? I guess the tool is OK if you can get the jaws to wrap all around the item you need to pick up, but my opinion is that they’re only good for picking up soda cans and cigarette butts. I think a tool (especially one touted as “rugged”or “professional”) should work the first time every time (In this case, without having to think about how best to grab the item in your way so it only takes one attempt).

I was very pleased when I unwrapped this tool! I previously had a good Reach Grabber Tool but when it stopped working I couldn't find another one of good quality... I finally found this one on Amazon and although I spent a bit more than others I had seen, I am very happy with how Rugged and Durable this tool is. I use the tool to pick leaves, twigs and other debris out of our pond and waterfall feature, and for general yard clean-up without having to bend over to do so. I like the long reach and ability to pivot the grabber for the best angle for easy pick-up. Great Product, very Heavy Duty Professional tool that I am sure will last years.

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It works

great product but hard to grip things as hand is not strong enough to grip clamping handle hard enough to hold larger heavier items

Buena calidad me llegó a tiempo , proveedor confiable , en mi caso difícil de operar por lo largo Saludos