This mechanical sucker could one day help robots retrieve objects where others can't, namely underwater. Inspired by the sticky foot of seasnails, this artificial sucker is made of an elastic polymer that allows the structure to inflate with air. Upon contact, the sucker deflates and creates a suction cavity that keeps tied until the sucker is reinflated. Inside, hundreds of tiny quartz beads allow the sucker to squeeze into imperfections like cracks, to stick to uneven surfaces. The adhesion strength of the sucker is estimated to be 28 kilopascals, wet or dry, about as much as commercially available tacky adhesives. Altogether, these features make the sucker useful as a standalone tool, or a component of more complex devices or robotics for transporting and handling goods or exploring harsh environments.