I looked at a lot of these on Amazon before I decided on this particular one. I have a lot of trees on the property and gravel roads. Bending over all the time was getting old in a hurry. This reacher was the ideal tool. I used it for a few days many hours per day. I was able to pick up things as small as a BB easily. The 32" model was perfect length for walking around and picking up things. I picked up stones along the driveways, trash in the ditch area, sticks on the lawns and bigger branches. The bigger branches are an issue but this tool is not really made to pick those up. I was just testing it's limitations. The black suction cups that screw to the end of the reacher showed no signs of wear. I was picking up things so fast that sometimes the reacher would bounce off the ground. I always was able to pick up whatever it was I was after. I even tried picking up different size rocks. I would say the limitations for weight is about 5 pounds on a guess. The reacher is constructed of box aluminum , plastic handle, rubber suction cups, (not sure what the screw is made of that is used to attach it to the reacher) and the metal bands that bend seem to work fine. I really don't know of anything that can break except maybe the cable or whatever it is that pulls the cups closed and back open. I did not try using it ona light bulb. I'd guess the bulb would break. I rate the 32 inch D.O.T. Reacher 5 stars. I bought a 32" one here and after a few days use I ordered a 40". When I am riding on the John Deere gator with a box on the back and I'm picking up stuffthe longer reach will save me from getting off the machine as much. I also ordered an extra pair of black suction cups.