****** - Verified Buyer
4.5
The only thing that keeps this from being 5 stars is the plastic part that holds the rod. I’m not sure how well it will hold up compared to my other (older) one that has everything made of metal.After spending several years trying to find a good pick-up tool and having them all break in a matter of months, I bought the Grappler in September of 2011. Over 10 years later and it is still working perfectly and has not broken in any way. I highly recommend.I pick up a lot of garbage after other people because many people are garbage and I don't like living in a place that's full of garbage. It's unfortunate that so many enjoy living in piles of garbage, but that's the human condition I guess. Or maybe just my condition. Well, I've used a few different tools to clean up after my fellow humans and this one is pretty good. It's lightweight, simple, and sturdy. Now, I haven't put a lot of miles on it yet so this is subject to revision. But for now it's great for picking up the usual soggy newspapers wrapped in plastic, half-full large beer cans, McDonalds bags, blunt wrappers, etc. I will say that this tool is not ideal for picking up tiny things. The claw is like clamping two big fingers together and grabbing something with the fingenail. Tiny gum wrappers and such are better removed using an Unger Nifty Nabber. This one and the Nifty Nabber are my favorites.The other consideration when evaluating these tools is hand fatigue. I used an Unger Deluxe Trash Picker and it nearly ruined my hand in one 2-hour session of cleaning up after moronic slobs at the beach. My tendon is all out of whack now and it going to take weeks to heal. This Grappler is designed so that you pull a trigger with your index finger or both your index and middle finger. So far, it hasn't caused a lot of fatigue or strain on tendons. I'll have to put a few more clicks on the odometer but so far it's the best for hand fatigue that I've found. I typically use a 5-gallon bucket with this to remediate human detritus. I know Grapple makes a handle for 5-gallon buckets that allows the bucket to be carried lower and at an angle that would make it easier to transfer flotsam into the bucket, but I have not tried it yet.It's the most expensive pick-up tool I've purchased, but at $35 it's not too bad. Good grip on heavier items too.I bought this grabber to use after my lower back spinal fusion surgery. This grabber is lightweight, sturdy, easy to use and longer than the one given to me by the hospital after surgery! I can use it to put laundry into and out of the washer and dryer without picking up more weight than the doctor reccomends. (In my case 5 pounds) I never have to bend (another post surgery no-no) to pick things up, can easily grab a full 16 oz coke from the bottom of the fridge, pick up papers from the floor, grab lightweight items that I'm too short to reach (I'm 5 feet 3 inches tall), grab a pair of sneakers, safely pick up my cell phone or remote controls when I drop them, and so much more. Thin items like paper, pens, socks and snack bags can be easily grabbed with this grabber. I am so glad that I purchased this before I went in the hospital and had it waiting for me when I got home. It's heavy duty without being heavy weighted. A true post-op must have!Use these for work and have for 6 years now. This most recent pair I have had has lasted for two years now and being aluminum you can see the wear on it but also being aluminum if it gets bent you can just simply bend it back in place. It does indeed pick up small things when you actually have a brain that functions. I can very easily pick up tooth picks with these, cigarette butts, straw wrappers. They are heavy of the slightest being I am mid 20’s but I reckon if you are 80’-90’s they could be heavy. They sit in the back of my truck year round “safely” meaning that as in they don’t get bumped or moved around much but are in the full elements of Texas year round and plastic parts hold up well. They do squeak between the plastic and metal grip but lube them with a bit of motor oil and all works well. “Wd-40 wears off to fast” but solid 5 stars. If you get a urge to go crazy on a pile of leaves it can indeed tire your hand out so good side note on that but that would be in my opinion the only con of this productTired of the crappy grabbers from other countries? This one is super sturdy and strong. No cheap hinges and joints that collapse under minimal weight. I can easily pick up a 12 pack of triple roll toilet paper from the top shelf with no problem with this beast! Spend a couple extra bucks on quality and stop throwing junk into the landfill.I have 4 of these . They are strong for heavy weight items . Yet can use to pick up nails etc. on the ground .Had knee replaced and these took care of all my reaching to ground problems.Knees better and still use them in house , shop, and carry in vehicles .Got to grab something that rolls under car or where cant reach . This picks it up easyI lifted heavy like 5-6 pound items with no problem .These are as close to the pickup grabbers the forest service uses that you can buy as a civilian !I wasted lot of money on other pickup tools that eventually broke or couldnt pick up what I needed .My first one of the 4 been used in the shop for 3 years now and still works perfect and is used constantly !It is perfect length tooI will use a pail with it to pickup screws and nails and debri in the drive and yard and you can put what picked up right in the pail . Get to long one and cant do it !When I need a heavy duty pick up tool that will last I get a Grappler !It will pay for itself over and over !
