The 10 Best Back Scratchers

Anyone with dry or touchy skin should start with the Bearback Original, which scratches with flexible nylon bristles instead of metal claws. Each bristle ends in a small rounded bead, so it reaches deep without raking skin raw. The handle folds in half for a drawer or a bag, and the head pops off for a wash on the dishwasher's top rack. If you like a hard, raking scratch, the bristles can feel too mild.

For an older parent or anyone with stiff shoulders, the Flanker-L Extra Long stretches past two and a half feet, enough to reach the lower back without twisting. A soft rubber grip helps weaker hands, the rake tips are rounded, and it collapses short enough for a pocket, with a cloth bag to keep it in. The catch is the thin steel rod. It flexes at full stretch, so pull it out only as far as you need.

Cheap enough to buy a few, the Wovte Bear Claw does the basic job well: a steel paw with rounded prongs on a rod that pulls out from pocket size to arm's length and then some. Keep one in the car and another by the bed. Dozens of sellers offer near-copies, and this one has been a steady seller for years. The thin shaft can bend if you lean on it, so don't use it as a cane.

The Cactus Scratcher swaps the rake for a soft, rubbery head covered in spikes, long and firm on one side and short and mild on the other, so you flip it to pick how hard it scratches. That head also works as a scalp scrubber, and the seller says it suits pets too. The pole telescopes and comes in several bright colors. Spikes don't dig in like metal tines, so it can feel blunt to anyone after a sharp scratch.

If you'd rather have wood than steel, the BambooWorx Traditional Set puts four bamboo tools in one box: two classic claw scratchers, a ball-end massager and a roller. Each hangs from a string loop, so the set works as a gift or as a way to keep a scratcher in several rooms. Bamboo is light and warm in the hand, but it can crack or splinter with years of use, so check the claw tips now and then.

For an itch that spreads across the shoulders, The Ultimate Back Scratcher covers a wide patch at once with an oval head packed with hundreds of little nubs. The head has a firm side and a soft side that swap in seconds, and a curved, ribbed handle gives a steady grip. It's one stiff piece of plastic with no joints to work loose. It doesn't collapse, though, so it takes up real room in a suitcase.

The Aznrszy Oversized Telescopic pairs a wide steel rake with a thick wooden handle that's easier to hold than a skinny metal rod. Its head carries more teeth than a typical bear claw, so each pass covers more skin, and a small roller ball on the handle end doubles as a massager. It extends to about two feet and packs into a cloth pouch. The brand is young, and the rod flexes when it's fully extended.

Shaped like a long, gentle bow, the Itchstix Curved Bamboo follows the line of your back, so the head lands flat between the shoulder blades. Instead of a few claws, it has a comb of many stiff plastic teeth set into the bamboo for a firm, even scratch. The design is patented, and the maker says it's assembled in the U.S. Those teeth are aggressive, and they can feel too rough on tender or dry skin.

There's nothing to break on the Tomorotec Hardwood, a one-piece stick of oiled wood with five rounded teeth and a hole for hanging it on a hook. The dark finish looks nicer on a nightstand than bare steel or plastic, and it suits anyone who doesn't want moving parts. It's on the short side, so the lower back is a stretch, and an oiled finish can get slick in a damp hand.

The Maple Landmark Moose is a gag gift that still does the job: a hardwood stick topped by a cartoon moose whose antlers do the scratching. Maple Landmark makes it in Middlebury, Vermont, and finishes it with a plant-based coating. It fits a cabin, a camp or a stocking better than heavy daily use, because the antler points are short and gentle. Stock runs thin at times, so it can sell out before the holidays.