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Posted by Francis Whitehead on October 6, 2023
This article was updated on 22/04/2024.
Welcome to our handy guide that’ll help you choose a reacher that’s right for you! With so many choices on our website, it can be easy to get overwhelmed when trying to figure out which one will be best suited to you, but Ability Superstore is here to debrief you on all the benefits and options on some of our most popular reachers!
A reacher is a handy daily living aid that enables you to pick up and grab things from a distance, whether it be a mug, a TV remote, even your car keys! These are especially useful for those with limited reach and mobility.
Our biggest supplier of reachers is The Helping Hand Company, who have been busy making inspirational and innovative products for over 60 years. NHS approved, they work directly with healthcare professionals to design extremely useful daily living aids that have a wide range of uses and benefits to your independent lifestyle.
They’ve even won a Queen’s Award for International Trade in 2019! So today, we would love to show you some of the fantastic offerings from Helping Hands and run through all of their features that can benefit you.
The Classic range consists of Helping Hands’ most popular and iconic reacher designs, starting with the Classic Pro Reacher.
Aside from its easily recognisable black and yellow colour scheme, the Classic Pro Reacher’s non-slip jaw ensures a firm hold on anything you might want to grab. Not only that, but it doubles in functionality as a dressing aid, with its hooked trigger and dressing post great for pulling up socks and getting dressed respectively. For grabbing small items, the magnetic tip at the end is great for keys and hearing aid batteries too!
Available in lengths of 66cm (26 inches) or 81cm (32 inches), you can be sure nothing is out of reach.
The next addition to the Classic range is the Folding Classic Pro Reacher, which has all the features mentioned above, but you can fold it away for easy storage! This makes it easy to store it in bag, rucksack, or beside your wheelchair. Simply find the folding point on the reacher and split it in two, easily halving its own size!
This reacher is available in two lengths of 68cm (27 inches) or 89cm (35 inches) for that extra bit of distance.
Last but no certainly means least in the Classic range is the Classic Max Reacher, which has all the features you’d expect but with another specially designed touch. This being the unique moulded gel handle and straight trigger, with offers the best grip out of the range, and helps offset hand tremors.
This makes it ideal for those with Parkinson’s, arthritis or weakened dexterity. This inclusive device ensures anyone can grab anything out of reach.
So, to sum these fantastic devices up, here’s a table to remind you of all the unique features each one has.
The other selection from Helping Hands is the Handi-Grip range, known for it’s distinct claw grip. This range kicks off with the compact Handi-Grip Pro.
The Handi-Grip Pro has a rotating Handi-Grip gripcert claw and jaw, perfect for picking up bottles, tins and jars out of cupboards, small items on the floor and even drawing the curtains. Its hooked trigger also acts as a great dressing aid to pull and hang shirts.
It comes with a free yellow stick clip which can be used to attach this handy tool to your walker, or wheelchair, so you can take it wherever you go. Available in 66cm (26 inches) or 81cm (32 inches).
The Handi-Grip Mini has the gripcert claw and jaw you can expect from this range, but at just 18 inches in length, this compact and lightweight reacher is perfect for limited arm and shoulder movement.
Its small size can easily fit into a bag or side compartment, making it ideal children and wheelchair users.
The last item in the Handi-Grip range is the Handi-Grip Max Reacher. Much like the Classic Max Reacher, this is designed with the unique moulded gel grip and straight trigger, which can aid those with weakened dexterity and tremors. Not only that, but for extra reassurance, the grip can be locked in place so you don’t have to keep squeezing as it’s held!
Available in 66cm (26 inches) and 81cm (32 inches).
To reiterate, let’s run down the features of each reacher again.
With those unique features discussed, the main question is should I buy a reacher in the Classic range or the Handi-Grip range?
Without a doubt, the Classic range is better suited to smaller, finicky items, and the exclusive magnetic tip makes it ideal for keys and cutlery. The unique dressing post can also assist with the task of getting dressed too.
However, the Handi-Grip range is better for larger items, and the locking grip of the Max reacher is perfect for those with weakened strength. While there is no foldable reacher in the range, the Handi-Grip Mini is naturally small and compact in size.
But most of all, it is just a matter of preference! No matter which one you choose, you can be assured of a top-quality daily living aid that can assist your daily life, time and time again.
We hope this guide has been informative to you when it comes to which reacher is best for you. If you have any questions or inquiries about any of the products mentioned in this guide, please don’t hesitate to ask! Our friendly customer service team can point you in the right direction. Thanks for reading!
Kate Makin qualified as an occupational therapist (OT) in 2001 with a BSc (Hons) in Occupational Therapy. She is a member of the Royal College of Occupational Therapists (RCOT).
As a registered occupational therapist (OT), Kate is a science degree-based, health and social care professional, taking a “whole person” approach to both physical and mental health and wellbeing. This enables individuals, of all ages, to achieve their full potential and lead as independent life as possible.
Click here for Kate’s registration with the Health and Care Professions Council.
Throughout her career, Kate has worked in many different clinical settings, in both the public and private sector. Kate has been running her own independent occupational therapist business since 2009. She is passionate about disability aids and adaptations, with a specialist interest in postural management and seating.
As Ability Superstore’s resident OT, Kate is on hand to offer professional advice and answer any queries.
