If you’re comparing pooper scoopers, Arm & Hammer is probably on your shortlist — it’s a trusted name you’ll find in most pet aisles. But a familiar brand on the box doesn’t always mean the best tool for the job. In this honest, hands-on Arm & Hammer pooper scooper review, we put their popular rake-and-bin design head to head with the GoGo Stik® XP Pro, so you can see exactly where each one wins before you spend a dime.
The Two Designs at a Glance
These tools take fundamentally different approaches, and that’s the whole story:
- Arm & Hammer uses a classic rake-and-bin system: you rake the waste into a pan or bin, then tip it into a bag. The tool touches the waste directly.
- GoGo Stik XP Pro uses a patented no-touch bag system: a heavy-duty bag mounts on the frame and becomes the scooping surface, so only the bag ever touches the waste — never the tool.
That single difference — whether the tool gets dirty — drives almost everything below.
Round 1: Cleanliness
With the Arm & Hammer bin, the pan contacts waste on every use. Soft stool smears across it, and you’re left hosing and disinfecting the tray after cleanup or storing a dirty bin in your garage. The baking-soda branding helps with odor, but it doesn’t change the fact that the tool needs washing.
The XP Pro sidesteps this entirely. Because the bag is the scooping surface, you tie it off and toss it, and the tool stays clean. There’s essentially nothing to wash. For hygiene, this is a clear win for the no-touch design — and it’s the reason we cover a whole routine in our guide to cleaning a pooper scooper (a chore XP Pro owners mostly skip).
Winner: GoGo Stik XP Pro.
Round 2: Large Dogs & Capacity
The Arm & Hammer bin holds a fair amount, but the thin pan-liner bags are its weak point — they can tear under a big load, and the plastic rake tines flex when you push into a large pile. The XP Pro pairs with very-large, leakproof Heavy Dootie bags built for exactly this, handling a Great Dane’s mess in a single pass. If big dogs are your reality, see our full roundup of the best pooper scoopers for large dogs.
Winner: GoGo Stik XP Pro.
Round 3: Your Back
Both tools have long handles, so both let you avoid deep bending — a genuine plus for the Arm & Hammer too. The edge goes to the XP Pro’s 37-inch handle and one-motion scoop, which keeps you fully upright without the two-handed rake-and-tip maneuver. If cleanup comfort is your priority, our guide on picking up dog poop without bending over breaks down the technique.
Winner: Slight edge to GoGo Stik.
Round 4: Price & Value
Arm & Hammer scoopers are competitively priced and easy to grab on a store run. The XP Pro is in the same ballpark, comes bundled with 100 Heavy Dootie bags, and is backed by a 5-year warranty — so the value math favors GoGo Stik once you factor in the included bags and the years of use.
Winner: Even on sticker, GoGo Stik on total value.
Head-to-Head Summary
| Arm & Hammer (rake & bin) | GoGo Stik XP Pro (no-touch) | |
|---|---|---|
| Tool stays clean | No — pan needs washing | Yes |
| Bag strength | Thin liners | Very-large, leakproof |
| Large dogs | OK | Excellent |
| Hands / one-motion | Two-handed rake & tip | One-motion scoop |
| Warranty | Limited | 5 years |
Round 5: Everyday Convenience
Convenience is where daily use is won or lost. The Arm & Hammer bin is a two-part, two-handed routine: rake the pile into the pan, carry the loaded pan without spilling, tip it into a bag, then deal with washing the pan later. It works, but it’s several steps, and the “carry a full open pan across the yard” moment is where spills happen.
The XP Pro collapses all of that into one motion. The bag is already on the tool, so you scoop, tie the bag’s handles, and drop it in the bin — done, one hand, nothing to carry separately, nothing to wash. Over a year of twice-daily cleanups, that difference in steps adds up to real time saved and a lot less hassle. It’s the kind of everyday friction people don’t think about in the store but feel every single day at home.
Winner: GoGo Stik XP Pro.

When Arm & Hammer Might Suit You
In fairness, the Arm & Hammer bin is a reasonable pick if you have a small dog, a flat lawn, and you don’t mind rinsing the pan — and you want something you can grab in a physical store today. It’s a competent tool. Our position is simply that the no-touch design solves the two things people dislike most about scooping: the dirty tool and the flimsy bag.
Our Pick: The XP Pro
| Product | Why we recommend it | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|
| XP Pro Pooper Scooper 37″ + 100 Heavy Dootie Bags | No-touch, no-wash, leakproof bags, 5-year warranty | $22.95 | Order Now → |
| XP Scooper & Dootie Rake Set with Dootie Bags | Adds a rake for yards — the direct upgrade over a rake-and-bin | $33.99 | Order Now → |
Prices shown at time of writing; current promotions apply automatically at checkout.
FAQ
Is GoGo Stik better than Arm & Hammer?
For cleanliness, bag strength, and large dogs, yes — the no-touch design keeps the tool clean and uses far stronger bags. Arm & Hammer is a fine budget rake-and-bin for small dogs on flat ground.
Does the Arm & Hammer scooper need cleaning?
Yes. Its pan contacts waste on every use, so it needs rinsing and periodic disinfecting. The XP Pro’s tool never touches waste, so it essentially doesn’t.
Which is better for big dogs?
The XP Pro, thanks to very-large leakproof bags and a sturdier build that handles heavy loads without tearing or flexing.
Can I use my own bags with the XP Pro?
It’s designed around GoGo Stik’s very-large Heavy Dootie bags for the best fit and leak protection, and the starter set includes 100 of them, so you’re stocked from day one.
Bottom Line
Arm & Hammer makes a decent, store-shelf rake-and-bin. But if you want a tool that stays clean, uses bags that won’t tear, and lasts five years, the GoGo Stik XP Pro is the better buy — for about the same price, with the bags included.







