Gearing Up

REACH OUT AND GRAB SOME THINGS: Over the years, I have had to travel assisted by a wheelchair. Unfortunately, one of those times is now (missed a step, broken leg, bleh). But what a fabulous(ish) opportunity to sleuth out the latest greatest mobility aide. My hands down (and out) choice for most valuable adjunct helper (other than my wheelchair) is the new PikStik TelescoPik Reacher/Grabber — which I have fondly nicknamed Fetch. Fetch (or rather TelescoPik) isn’t the first pole with a hand-operated trigger that makes a jaw at the far end clamp onto an out-of-reach object. But it is the first to offer adjustable length, an especially useful feature when traveling. Take your pick of The TelescoPik 30- to 44-inch Adjustable Reacher, or the Mini TelescoPik 20- to 26-inch Reacher. Both are made of a strong but lightweight (less than a pound) aluminum polycarbonate material and lock securely at your chosen length with a simple turn of the locking ring collar on the shaft. The 5.5-inch-wide jaws can rotate 90 degrees to fit vertically or horizontally into tight or awkwardshaped spaces. An integrated foam rubber insert enables the jaws to grasp objects as small as a dime (yes, really, I tested that claim). I found the ergonomic trigger grip easy to squeeze, yet it works so powerfully with the jaws that the TelescoPik can hoist objects weighing up to 5 pounds (yup, I tested that, too, though 5 pounds might be beyond the strength of the person lifting the lifter). By any measure, the PikStik TelescoPik ranked way ahead of the dozen other reacher/grabbers I tested for its combination of dexterity, reliability and range of length. When I’m up and running, Fetch will remain a handy tool to extend my reach.