We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Learn More ›
A good grabber tool can save your back or save you from injury. These handy tools let you pick up litter off the ground while standing upright and reach items off high shelves without having to scale a step stool or ladder.
After testing several grabber tools, I found the Vive suction cup grabber tool’s novel and sturdy design to be a clear standout. With its novel design, it can pick up objects of various shapes and sizes and grip them more securely and with less effort than any other grabber tool I tested.
Vive 32-Inch Suction Cup Grabber Reacher
Photo: Amazon
The Vive grabber reacher tool uses a very different design than other grabber tools. Most grabber tools use a serrated jaw to grip items. Vive departs from this popular design with its suction cup grippers. Though these little suckers may not look as menacing as those serrated jaws, they’re effective.
The suction cups conform to just about anything I can fit inside the jaws, including glass candles, sets of keys, travel mugs, books, and remote controls, and simply won’t let go. While odd-shaped items might slip out of the serrated jaws of other grabber tools I tested, the Vive refuses to let them go.
The Vive also makes it easier to grip and hold heavier objects thanks to its gripping mechanism design. The Vive consists of four thin pieces of aluminum sheet metal. As you pull the trigger, the metal bands bend, applying tension and gripping power to the suction cups. Unlike other grabber tools, you don’t need to supply all of the gripping force with your hand, which means you get a tighter grip on whatever objects you grab. During testing, I was able to grip heavier items like books and canned goods without having to put a death grip on the handle.
The Vive’s design also makes the trigger mechanism smoother than most. Since the mechanism operates with very little friction, there’s less resistance to overcome with your grip.
Along with its effective gripping mechanism, the Vive is also just darned strong. I experienced no bending in its sturdy aluminum square-shaped shaft, even when picking up heavier objects. The VIve is also a few ounces lighter than most of the grabber tools I tested. While that may not sound significant, it can make a big difference for those with mobility issues.
If I do have a complaint with the Vive grabber tool, it’s that, at 32 inches, it’s a little on the short side. I’m 5 feet 11 inches tall, so this didn’t limit my ability to reach higher cabinets, but it wasn’t quite long enough for my 5-feet-2-inch wife. On the flip side, it suited her better for collecting items off the ground, while I found myself having to bend over slightly to do so. I’m just able to reach objects on the ground without having to bend over. The Vive would be more effective if it were a full 3 feet long.
The Vive suction cup reacher tool costs about the same as other reacher tools but surpasses them with its innovative design and rugged construction.
Vive 32-Inch Suction Cup Grabber Reacher
Photo: Amazon