Top 18 Best Reflex Hammers for Nurses Reviews & Buying Guide 2020

Reflex hammer is an important medical tool, especially for doctors and nurses who are working at the Department of Neurology.

It is primarily used to test various superficial and deep muscle, tendon and skin reflexes for quick identification of neurological conditions. You can also check bone fractures and some other medical conditions.

There are various reflex hammers available on the market that vary in quality and price. That’s why I’ve made my list with some of the best reflex hammers on the market.

The 18 Best Reflex Hammers for Nurses

#1 MDF Trömner Hammer – HDP Handle

This versatile 4-in-1 dual mallet-type reflex hammer is designed to effectively elicit various reflexes. The head is made of chrome-plated zinc alloy while the HDP handle is lightweight and precisely balanced for improved ergonomics and better control when eliciting reflexes.

The head is outfitted with both large and small mallets made of soft silicone for precise tendon percussion. There’s also a pointed tip at the bottom of the handle for eliciting Babinski reflex on toes. On the other side of the tip, there is a brush which is revealed after you unscrew the tip.

#2 ADC Taylor Neuro Hammer

American Diagnostic is a brand known for various different medical tools and supplies. If you’re looking for a cheap reflex hammer, this can be a great option.

The ADC Taylor Neuro Hammer has a handle made of chrome with triangular synthetic rubber head for eliciting reflexes. Although the hammer doesn’t have a Babinski-style tip on the bottom of the handle, the bottom is pointed and sharp so it can also be used for eliciting reflexes.

The hammer is 7.5 inches long and comes in 6 different colors, including an all-black variant with a black handle.

#3 Prestige Medical Taylor Percussion Hammer

The Prestige Medical Taylor Percussion Hammer is a great tool to check reflexes and fractures. It has a chrome-made handle that is 7.5 inches long with a triangular rubber head on top. The bottom half of the handle is wider so it can rest in the palm of the hand easily.

The tip of the hammer’s handle is pointed and intended to be used for superficial and cutaneous reflexes. The weight and size of this hammer are perfect for getting a precise hit while doing a reflex examination.

#4 MDF Babinski Telescoping 2.0 Neurological Reflex Hammer

This is another great reflex hammer from MDF which features a durable telescoping handle. Because one size doesn’t fit all, they’ve made a handle that has a changeable length. The telescoping handle allows a more flexible reach when eliciting reflexes on different body parts.

The articulating head of this hammer is a disc made of chrome-plated brass covered with silicone bumper for increased patient comfort. The head is lightweight so you can strike precisely and with ease.

Just like their Tromner Reflex Hammer, the bottom has a Babinski-style tip as well as the brush for finer cutaneous and superficial responses.

#5 Healthstar Buck Neurological Reflexes Testing Hammer with Needle and Brush

This reflex hammer made by Healthstar has a dual-sided head with different-sized mallets for more precise percussion. There is a bigger mallet on one side and a smaller one on the other side. Larger mallet is intended for stretch reflexes while the smaller one is for myotonia elicitation.

The bottom of the stainless steel handle has the mini screw-on brush which is discreetly hidden and stored in a built-in compartment. There’s also a needle included for more precise reflex testings.

#6 ADC Tromner Neurological Reflex Hammer with Built-in Brush

The ADC Tromner Hammer is a versatile instrument that has a chrome-plated head with two silicone rubber mallets for more precise reflex exams. The weight of this hammer is nicely balanced and distributed for better ergonomics and easier use.

The bottom of the lightweight handle conceals a screw-in brush for superficial and cutaneous reflexes. With the overall length of 8.5 inches, it’s longer than many reflex hammers, allowing you an easier approach to the patient when doing examinations.

#7 MDF Queen Square Neurological Reflex Hammer

Another great reflex hammer made by MDF with some additional and upgraded features. The manufacturer claims that it has redesigned the chrome-plated head and made a softer silicone bumper for more comfortable and effective testing.

The nylon plastic-made handle is long and flexible so you can have an optimal testing strike when eliciting reflexes. The bottom part of the handle also has a removable grip which will improve ergonomics and provide better control.

The far end of the handle ends with a tapered point which is suited for plantar and abdominal reflexes. It can also be used in visual field tests since it is colored in bright red.

#8 Precise Canada Buck Hammer Pink

If you’re one of those nurses who care about the design and color of their medical tools and is looking for something more girly and pink, this hammer can be a great option. It has all of the features of a reflex hammer but comes in a nice pink color.

This pink-colored hammer has everything you need for reflex examinations. The whole hammer feels sturdy thanks to solid chrome steel material used. The dual-sided head has a needle on the top, while the bottom hides a brush for more precise reflex elicitation.

#9 Elite Medical Instruments Platinum Series Tromner Neurological Hammer

EMI’s reflex handle is designed with maximum precision and care. The weight of this hammer is nicely balanced and distributed for better ergonomics and it has a long handle for an easier approach.

It can accurately and effectively elicit almost any type of reflex thanks to its dual-mallet head and Babinski-type tip at the base of the handle. The tip also hides a built-in brush which is intended for cutaneous and superficial reflexes.

#10 MDF Professional-Grade Taylor 2.0 Neurological Reflex Hammer

The MDF’s Taylor neurological reflex hammer is a great tool for percussion and eliciting reflexes. Unlike other traditional Taylor reflex hammers, this hammer has a much longer handle so you can have the right approach to perform tests easily.

The triangular mallet has the right weight for correct contact resistance and more effective testing of muscle stretch reflexes. It can also be used for provoking myotatic responses, obtaining chest sounds, and percussing the abdomen.

Also, the patient won’t feel uncomfortable thanks to the sandblasted silicone head with a soft base and rounded apex.

#11 Elite Medical Instruments 2-piece Reflex Hammer Set.

If you’re not sure which type of reflex hammer suits you more, maybe you should consider getting this 2-piece reflex hammer set by Elite Medical Instruments. The set comes with 2 different types of reflex hammers – Taylor-type and Buck-type.

The Buck-type hammer features a dual-sided head with different-sized mallets. The handle of this hammer is made of chrome and included removable need and brush on the bottom.

The Taylor-type hammer has a triangle rubber head on a chrome handle which is 7.5 inches long. This type of hammer is usually used to test bone fractures or joint reflexes.

#12 Ever Ready Group Neurological Reflex Taylor Percussion Hammer

This neurological hammer is a great value for the price since you get two reflex hammers for the price of one.

The triangle head made of thermo-plastic-rubber has a beveled apex and base that will provoke myotatic responses more precisely. Also, the head is designed so it can be used for obtaining chest sounds or abdomen percussion.

The far end of the handle is pointed so it can be used for Babinski and other reflexes that require a sharper tool.

#13 Prestige Medical Ergonomic Diagnostic Hammer

This reflex hammer made by Prestige Medical is all about ergonomics. The metal handle is curved for better handling and ergonomics. The hammer rests nicely in your hand and there is also a concave sphere in the lower part of the handle for better grip.

The Prestige Medical Ergonomic Diagnostic Hammer is also equipped with a unique retracting filament for testing the nervous system responses.

If you’re looking for a great Taylor-type reflex hammer that has great ergonomics, this reflex hammer is a great option to consider.

#14 Zellamed Pediatric Reflex Hammer

If you’re working in a pediatric department, you know how kids can be scared from basic neurological hammers. Moreover, most of them are too big and heavy so you may hurt the child. This is when a Pediatric Reflex Hammer by Zellamed can be helpful.

Unlike other basic reflex hammers, The Zellamed Pediatric Reflex Hammer has a smaller and lighter head, perfect for use on infants and children. The whole hammer is designed to look like a clown so kids won’t be scared from it.

There is only one rubber mallet but that is expected since you don’t need a bigger one as you need for adults. The handle has a sharp tip on the bottom for exams that require more precise, sharper tool.

#15 Elite Medical Instruments Buck Neurogical Hammer

This is a Buck-type reflex hammer made by Elite Medical Instruments, a company known for various high-quality medical tools and supplies.

The hammer features a dual rubber head for reflex testing and a chrome plated handle that has a removable needle and brush. The metallic handle has a lower half that is thicker for better grip and handling.

#16 Zorvo Neurological Reflex Buck Hammer

This mallet-type hammer made by Zorvo has two mallets made of soft TPR for comfortable and precise tendon percussion. The mallets have different sizes- one is larger while the other is smaller.

The handle has a retractable brush hidden in the bottom and it is used as an additional stimulus for cutaneous reflexes. There-s also a screw-in pointed tip for pinprick test of cutaneous reflexes.

#17 Newsfana Medical Hammer

The Newsfana Medical Hammer is a 4-in-1 product that can be used for a variety of neurological tests. The head has two mallets of different size that are made of rubberized material for more comfortable and precise tests.

The handle has a flat but narrower bottom half for better grip and there’s a pointed tip on the bottom too. This tip can be used for superficial and cutaneous reflexes which require additional precision.

The hammer is 8.46 inches long and comes in 4 different colors. However, you can’t choose colors since they’re randomly sent to the customer.

#18 Prestige Medical Supplies ‘Queen Square Hammer’

Developed at the National Hospital for Neurology in Queen Square London, this reflex hammer by Prestige Medical is a perfect tool for eliciting a wide variety of reflexes.

The disc-shaped head has a bumper ring made of durable and soft PVC plastic for comfortable examinations while the tapered base of the handle allows you to easily do the plantar reflex testing.

Conclusion

As you can see from my list, there are various reflex hammers on the market that have different features and prices. Some of them are more feature-packed but pricier while others are more basic and cheaper.

In my opinion, it is better to have a more basic reflex hammer that does the job right than getting a feature-packed product that isn’t useful.

On this list, you can only find products that are high-quality and useful so you’re not going to regret whatever choice you make.

Read more about our best stethoscope for nurses here