Grip Toggle and Topple Tray Review

For those of us who have limited hand strength or struggle with upper body mobility, some of the most mundane tasks become a challenge. Much of that frustration involves not being able to hold onto objects the way they were designed to be held.

For example, I have to use my feet to do things, and squeezing one's toes together hard enough to securely hold a knife while chopping vegetables is …. Well, I let my husband do most of the cooking.

But there are lots of other items that people with arthritis, disabilities, muscle weakness, and other conditions find frustratingly difficult to maneuver, even with hands. Luckily, there are products available today to make gripping and carrying a little easier.

Over the last couple of months, I have spent some time with two grip aids from a company called Single Handed. The first is the Grip Toggle, (available at Amazon) and the other is the Topple Tray.

I am not necessarily the intended user for the Topple Tray; when I carry things with my hands I hold them against my body, and the tray doesn't help in this situation. However, I roped my 6-year-old daughter into helping me put the tray through its paces.

What is a Grip Toggle?

The Grip Toggle is a flexible little tool with a loop on one end and a weak suction cup on the other. Its stretchy silicone material extends quite far, so I found I could attach this piece to most small objects I use in my day to day. For example, it fits my electric toothbrush, a kitchen knife, a makeup brush, and a hairbrush.

I was most excited to use this little tool with my Dyson Airwrap curling iron, as the barrel of the Airwrap is large enough that I have trouble gripping it with my toes. I was able to attach a Grip Toggle to it, although it was difficult to put on. I wouldn't try to stretch the toggle any larger than about 2 inches in diameter.

On the other end of the loop, there is what appears to be a flat, disc-like surface. After some tinkering, I realized the flat surface is just concave enough to function as a weak suction cup if you touch it to the right surface at the right angle with the proper amount of pressure.

I can definitely see this product being helpful with certain types of doors and cabinets, as you could have the loop end attached to a finger, attach the suction cup to the door, and pull. The weakness of the suction cup is intentional, so it doesn’t take much force to remove it from any surface it suctions to.

What is the Topple Tray?

I have to admit I didn't quite understand this product when I first took it out of the box. I was honestly expecting something along the lines of a tremor spoon, which compensates for shaking and unsteadiness with its own opposing movements. However, this tray is much simpler in both concept and execution.

The handle extends up from the tray at an unusual angle, and the surface of the tray sits slightly off center. These two features add up to a nicely balanced surface that limits sloshing movement and makes it easier and safer to carry drinks and food with one hand.

What I like about the Grip Toggle and Topple Tray

The toggles and tray are versatile

Both the Grip Toggles and the Topple Tray are versatile pieces.

The Grip Toggles are small enough to be used anywhere, and the tray’s handle folds down quickly for storage or transport. While the tray only helps with carrying small items, the Grip Toggles’ combination of loop and suction cup allows for all kinds of uses. Toggles also come in two sizes, so users should be able to fit one over most small objects where a secure grip is required.

While the Grip Toggle is small enough to go unnoticed when using it out and about, the Topple Tray will definitely catch some attention in a good way. Its design is elegant, and even the most able-bodied among us will be able to immediately understand its usefulness. It does not feel like an adaptive product, even though it very much is.

Both products are affordable and durable

Arthritis products, grip aids, and other adaptive wares are notorious for being expensive. It's an unfortunate trend, but Single Handed has kept its pricing reasonable on the Grip Toggle, Topple Tray and other items the brand sells.

Both the tray and the toggles are also easy to wash and can stand up to quite a bit of abuse.

What I don’t like about the Grip Toggle and Topple Tray

The toggles could come in more sizes

While the toggles do come in two sizes, the larger size barely fits over my Dyson Airwrap, which is a bummer for me personally because it's actually larger handheld items that I struggle to hold onto. Having the toggles available in larger sizes would benefit me a great deal.

I do see how the smaller sizes would probably be used most commonly for someone who struggles with fine motor skills, but for those of us who battle with grip in general, it would be nice to have an option to suit larger items that are still considered handheld.

The suction feature is tricky

As I mentioned above, the suction side of the toggle is a little fiddly. I could try over and over to get it to suction to my dining table and then all of a sudden it would, and I couldn't figure out why. I think this is because the cup is so close to being flat that you have to attach it to the surface of whatever you're attaching it to at a nearly perfect perpendicular angle.

A deeper suction cup might find more uses, though of course it would be harder to remove. As the design exists now, sometimes it would suction and release almost immediately, but other times it would stay stuck until I peeled up one of the edges. It’s possible the placement would become more predictable the more one uses the toggle.

Should you buy the Grip Toggle or Topple Tray?

If you struggle with dexterity in your hands, absolutely

I firmly believe just about anyone could find a use for one or both of these items. If you've ever tried to carry too many things at once and ended up dropping a can of soda or a bowl of soup, the tray is for you.

As for the toggles, their versatility and portability mean they can help with holding almost any small item. I am confident that if you have some Grip Toggles in your house, you will eventually find a use for them.

If you’re living with arthritis or any condition that limits dexterity, the toggles do a great job making drawers easier to open and small objects simpler to hold.