The brush most households actually need every week is the plain pin brush, and it is the one most people skip in favour of something with a marketing story. Fine metal pins set into a solid wooden handle lift loose hair out of the coat and work through the light tangles that form behind the ears and under the legs, which is the maintenance job that stops small knots becoming mats you have to cut out.

The wooden handle is worth more than it sounds. Grooming sessions fail when the person's hand gets tired or the brush twists in a sweaty grip, and a shaped wooden handle stays comfortable long enough to finish the job properly. The pins are rounded at the tips so they part the coat rather than scratching the skin, which is what keeps a suspicious cat sitting still, and regular brushing spreads the natural oils along the hair for the glossy finish people credit to shampoo.

• Fine metal pins with rounded tips
• Solid wooden handle shaped for grip
• Lifts loose hair and eases out light tangles
• Suits cats and dogs, short to long coats
• Three sizes: S, M and L
• Wipe clean and store after use

On what this does and does not do. A pin brush finishes the coat and takes out loose hair from the top layer. It will not strip the dense undercoat from a husky or a german shepherd in moult, and if that is what you need, buy a proper rake rather than expecting this to do it.

Who it's for: Owners doing regular weekly maintenance grooming on a cat or dog, rather than tackling a heavy seasonal moult.