As anyone with limited hand function knows, things end up on the floor, often. I function on my right side as a weak C6 and on my left as a decent C7 with a triceps, and over the years, reaching for dropped items has become more difficult, especially since my power wheelchair is higher off the ground. That’s why I was excited to review the Grip-Free Grabber from KFK Designs. It’s one of the adaptive tools designed by Kelly Ferguson, a person with weak or limited hand function and a degree in mechanical engineering. The company’s website says its grabber “allows anyone with weak or limited hand function to use a device to reach objects.”
The Grip-Free grabber comes in three lengths: youth (30 inches), standard (36 inches), and long (48 inches). I tested both the standard and long versions. Pressing a plunger on the top of the grabber opens the grippers on the bottom, and my left hand could do this easily. However, operating the standard-length grabber from my power chair proved difficult and time-consuming. For me, the long grabber was quicker and easier to use. It’s definitely a better choice for power chair users.
Other things to note about the Grip-Free Grabber:
- The grip of the no-grip clamp. The clamps of the clamp close when the plunger is released. If you can maintain a decent amount of pressure on the plunger, you can keep them open enough to carefully grab an object. Otherwise, they can crush more delicate items like food, paper, pills, etc.
- The Grip-Free Grabber is affordably priced at $48 for the standard model, $42 for the youth model, and $55 for the long model.
- The gripless grasping device requires the use of both hands, one to stabilize the device and the other to push the plunger. It can be used with either hand. The functionality of the gripless grasping device varies from person to person, as no two spinal cord injuries or disabilities are the same.
Overall, I find the Grip-Free Grabber to be a well-designed, lightweight reaching device for people with limited hand function, especially considering its affordable price. However, I find that it requires more functionality, strength, and balance than the QUADTOOLS Reacher (reviewed below). For more information and to order, visit the website KFK Designs Website.
QUADTOOLS Reacher: more expensive and more functional
Before trying the Grip-Free grabber, I had been using the QUADTOOLS Reacher. It is also an extended reach grabber that can be used by people with limited hand function. It is made of lightweight aluminum and steel, and is available in lengths from 17 to 48 inches.
The gripping mechanism opens and closes completely by extending the wrist. I find it easy to use and modulate the amount of pressure, allowing me to grip delicate objects without crushing them. Since the QUADTOOLS Reacher only requires one arm and tenodesis, the other arm is free to move the chair or stabilize the upper body.
The main drawback of the QUADTOOLS Reacher is the price. Depending on the length and whether you purchase the lightweight or heavy-duty model, the price ranges from $229 to $299. Visit the website QUADTOOLS website to learn more and check out their other products, including wrist-activated barbecue tongs and a kitchen knife fit for four people.
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