The 10 Best Back Scratchers

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This wiki has been updated 21 times since it was first published in April of 2018. You know the feeling. You're focused on the task at hand when suddenly a spot you can't reach begins to itch. It taunts you, causing you to rub up against the wall or throw your arms back over your shoulders in vain. Fortunately for you, we've assembled this list of the best back scratchers available, so you can avoid that discomfort and take care of business right away. When users buy our independently chosen editorial choices, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki.

1. Bearback Original

2. BambooWorx Traditional Set

3. Reach That Itch Best

Editor's Notes

May 01, 2020:

Everyone has their individual pain threshold and deals with different levels of itching, so what works for one person may not work for another. That's why we loaded this list with a variety of scratchers in a host of designs and materials. You'll find wooden, metal, and plastic options with tines, nubs, notches, and more. Our priorities for our considerations included a fair price, quality materials, smart designs, aggressive heads that scratch without hurting, and warranties and satisfaction guarantees in case an item doesn't work out.

We said goodbye to a fair few units today, including the One2T Thai Body Massager, Unis Telescopic, What On Earth Basswood Cat, and J Farnsworth Woodworks Back Rake. In their stead, we wanted to add a few designs that are a bit different. To that end, you'll find that the higher-end Reach That Itch Best and Bearback Original eschew the typical rigid design in favor of a curved one, and both fold down for compact storage and travel. Each sports hinges that are reinforced and tough, so you can angle your scratcher to get to the area you need. The Bareback model we love for its soft rubber grip and the fact that you can use it over bare skin. It sports two rigid knuckles on the other end for pressure point relief and its lifetime replacement warranty doesn't hurt either.

We also brought on the Attom Tech Health Therapeutic, a simple, yet sophisticated-looking choice for those who don't want to resign themselves to something clunky or unattractive. It gets the job done relatively well, but like with any wood scratcher, if you apply too much pressure it can snap. Finally, we added the travel-friendly Flanker-L Metal, which have an economical price tag and are ideal for those who deal with moderate itching. They're pretty sturdy considering they telescope to over two feet, and they have a soft handle that is nonslip and comfortable.

People like items that do double-duty, and so users will appreciate the Laifugo Four Ball and BambooWorx Traditional Set, which feature rollers that can work in lieu of a more expensive handheld massager when you want to relieve muscle tension. The BambooWorx set is great for families that will be sharing, and is a solid value for money considering what you get.

Special Honors

Novica Cat-Themed Novica is a company that sources handmade, unique items from artisans working all over the world. This back scratcher from Bali is created by Nengah Sudarsana, a craftsman who works with sugar wood. It's carved by hand to expose a beautiful natural grain, with the face of a smiling cat adorning the top. Every item comes from a certified clean packing environment, is quality tested and verified, fair trade, and backed by a 100% happiness guarantee. novica.com

Itchthatbitch Original Despite the company's unsavory name, these back scratchers are high quality and handcrafted from electropolished stainless steel in the USA by an experienced craftsman. Each item is unique and comes with a serial-numbered dog tag that can be engraved and personalized. They're also backed by a lifetime warranty. In addition to the popular original model, customers can choose from heavy-duty and junior varieties with silver and copper accents. itchthatbitch.com

4. Laifugo Four Ball

5. Attom Tech Health Therapeutic

6. Wovte Bear Claw

7. HaHa Brand Redneck

8. Cactus On a Stick

9. Flanker-L Metal

10. Maple Landmark Moose


Gia Vescovi-Chiordi
Last updated by Gia Vescovi-Chiordi

Born in Arizona, Gia is a writer and autodidact who fled the heat of the desert for California, where she enjoys drinking beer, overanalyzing the minutiae of life, and channeling Rick Steves. After arriving in Los Angeles a decade ago, she quickly nabbed a copywriting job at a major clothing company and derived years of editing and proofreading experience from her tenure there, all while sharpening her skills further with myriad freelance projects. In her spare time, she teaches herself French and Italian, has earned an ESL teaching certificate, traveled extensively throughout Europe and the United States, and unashamedly devours television shows and books. The result of these pursuits is expertise in fashion, travel, beauty, literature, textbooks, and pop culture, in addition to whatever obsession consumes her next.


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