Apr
Okay so Furls hooks
I bought my first Furls Crochet Hook in spring 2022 because everyone on Instagram kept posting about them and I was like, are these actually worth $30+ for ONE hook? Spoiler: kind of yes but also it depends what you’re making and honestly your hand situation.
The thing with Furls is they come in different styles and I didn’t realize this at first. There’s the Odyssey line which is the wooden ones, the Streamline which are resin swirl things that look like candy, and then the regular metal Crochet Candy hooks. I got an Odyssey 5mm first because I was working on a baby blanket with Lion Brand Heartland in Yosemite and my regular aluminum Boye hook was making my thumb do that weird crampy thing after like 20 minutes.
The ergonomic thing everyone talks about
So the handle is way fatter than regular hooks, like significantly. It’s this teardrop shape that’s supposed to fit in your palm better. When you hold it, you’re basically gripping this wooden bulb thing and the actual hook part extends from the narrow end. First time I used it I was watching Succession and had to rewind because I kept looking down at my hand like is this right? It feels weird but also my thumb wasn’t screaming at me.
The Odyssey hooks are hand-turned wood and each one has different grain patterns. Mine has this cool dark swirl in the middle. They seal them with something, lacquer maybe? So they’re smooth but not slippery. After using it for probably 6 months pretty regularly the finish is still perfect, no chips or anything.
How they actually work when you’re crocheting
The hook itself is inline style, which I didn’t know was a thing until I started reading about why my stitches looked different. Regular Boye and Susan Bates hooks are tapered differently. Inline means the hook part is in line with the shaft so your stitches end up more uniform. I noticed my tension was more consistent but that might also be because the fat handle makes you hold it differently.
I used that 5mm Odyssey for a whole blanket in summer 2024 using Wool-Ease Thick & Quick in like three different colors, the gray one and two blues I can’t remember the names of. The blanket was for my couch because my cat destroys everything and I needed something I could just throw in the wash. Worked up fast because chunky yarn obviously, and my hand never got tired. With my old hooks I’d have to stop every 30-40 minutes.
But here’s the annoying part: the hook can be TOO smooth sometimes. If you’re using splitty yarn or anything with a loose twist, the yarn can slide off the hook before you pull it through. This happened to me constantly with some Red Heart Super Saver in that perfect pink color, I think it was called Pink or maybe Light Pink? Real creative naming there. The yarn would just slip right off and I’d have to redo the stitch. With a regular metal hook that has a bit more grip texture this didn’t happen as much.
Different Furls styles and what they’re actually for
After the Odyssey I got curious about the Streamline hooks because they’re resin and people said they’re even smoother. Got a 4mm in this purple and white swirl situation. These are lighter weight than the wooden ones, and the resin is slicker. Good for yarn that tends to drag or squeak against metal hooks, like some acrylics do that squeaky thing that makes your teeth hurt? But yeah, same problem with splitty yarn sliding off.
The Crochet Candy hooks are metal with resin handles, so you get the regular hook feel but with the fat ergonomic handle. I borrowed one from a friend to try and honestly it might be the best combo if you’re used to metal hooks and just want the hand comfort. The hook has more tooth to it so yarn doesn’t slip off as easy.
Price situation and whether it’s actually worth it
Okay so one hook is like $32-38 depending on the style and size. A whole set is gonna run you $200-300. That’s insane compared to like a $6 Clover Amour hook or a $2 basic aluminum one. But if you crochet a lot and you’re getting hand pain, it might be worth trying ONE hook in your most-used size first.
I don’t think you need a whole set honestly. I have three Furls hooks now (the 5mm Odyssey, 4mm Streamline, and I got a 6mm Odyssey later for bulky projects) and I still use regular hooks for smaller thread work because the Furls don’t come in tiny sizes, smallest is 2.25mm I think.
What to actually use them for
Big projects where you’re gonna be working for hours: blankets, sweaters, big shawls. This is where the ergonomic thing matters. I made a cardigan last fall with Caron Simply Soft in like four skeins of Dark Sage and two of Off White, used the 5mm Odyssey the whole time. Took me three weeks of evening crocheting and my hand was fine the entire time.
Amigurumi and small stuff: honestly just use a regular hook. The fat handle gets in the way when you’re working in tight rounds and trying to see your stitches. Plus most amigurumi uses smaller hooks and the Furls selection for small sizes isn’t great.
Lace or thread: nope, use a steel hook. Furls doesn’t really do that category well.
Specific yarn pairings that worked or didn’t
Worked great with smooth worsted weight stuff: Cascade 220, Lion Brand Vanna’s Choice, most of the Lion Brand Heartland colors I tried. The hook just glides and your stitches look super even.
Worked fine but not amazing: Red Heart With Love (a little squeaky but manageable), Bernat Blanket (so chunky it doesn’t really matter what hook you use honestly), Paintbox Yarns Cotton DK.
Kinda annoying: anything splitty like I mentioned, that Red Heart Super Saver, also this cheap acrylic I got from Michaels that was their store brand Loops & Threads. The yarn would catch on itself but slide off the hook at the same time which doesn’t even make sense but it happened.
Really bad: I tried using the Streamline hook with some mohair blend from… I wanna say it was Lion Brand Scarfie? The fuzzy kind. Total disaster, couldn’t see the hook in the yarn and everything slipped everywhere. Went back to a regular Clover hook immediately.
The learning curve thing
It takes maybe 20 minutes to get used to holding it differently. You’re not gonna pick it up and immediately crochet better. Your first rows might actually be worse because you’re thinking about the hook instead of just working. I frogged the start of that baby blanket twice because my tension was all over the place while I adjusted.
If you do pencil grip the adjustment is easier. If you do knife grip it feels weirder at first because the fat handle changes the angle of your whole hand.
Durability and maintenance
The wooden Odyssey ones need basically no maintenance. Don’t leave them in a hot car I guess? Mine live in a fabric hook roll and they’re fine. I’ve dropped the 5mm on tile floor twice and no damage.
The Streamline resin ones are pretty tough too. No cracks or anything after a year of regular use. The resin can get like a film on it if your hands are lotion-y but it wipes off.
One thing that annoyed me is the hook tips can get slightly burrs or rough spots if you’re working with really grabby yarn. I had to use a nail file to smooth out a tiny rough patch on my 6mm after making a blanket with Bernat Velvet, which is that super grabby chenille stuff. Took like 30 seconds to fix but still, on a $35 hook you don’t expect to need to do maintenance.
Comparing to other ergonomic hooks
Clover Amour hooks are cheaper at like $6-8 each and they have a rubber grip thing. They’re good, I still use them for mid-range projects. But the grip is skinnier than Furls so if you have actual hand problems the Furls fat handle is better.
Tulip Etimo hooks have cushion grips too, similar price to Clover. Never tried them myself but my friend swears by them for thread crochet.
The cheap ergonomic hooks from Amazon with the squishy gel grips: honestly they work fine for casual stuff but the grips can get gross and sticky after a while and you can’t replace them.
Sizes and what’s actually available
Furls Odyssey and Streamline come in sizes from 2.25mm up to 12mm I think? Maybe 15mm for the biggest. They don’t have the in-between sizes like 3.25mm or 3.75mm which is annoying if a pattern calls for those specifically. You’re gonna have to round up or down.
The sizing is accurate though. When a pattern says use a 5mm hook and I use my Furls 5mm, gauge works out right. Some cheap hooks say they’re 5mm but they’re actually like 5.5mm and then your whole project is too big.
Real talk about whether you should buy one
If you crochet maybe once a month for an hour: no, not worth it, get a $6 Clover Amour and call it a day.
If you crochet multiple times a week for long sessions: yeah probably try one hook in your favorite size and see if it helps.
If you have arthritis or repetitive strain stuff: definitely worth trying, but know that it’s not gonna fix everything, you still need to take breaks and stretch.
If you just want them because they’re pretty: I mean they ARE really pretty especially the Streamline swirl ones, but that’s a lot of money for aesthetic.
I was working on a graphgan in summer 2024, one of those pixel blankets with a whole chart, using Red Heart Super Saver in probably 8 different colors. Took forever because color changes every few stitches. Used my regular aluminum hooks for that because I was already concentrating so hard on the pattern that I didn’t want to think about my hook at all. Sometimes you just want your familiar tools even if they’re not the fanciest.
Where to actually buy them
Directly from Furls website you get the full selection and they have sales sometimes. I got my 6mm during a Black Friday thing for like 25% off.
Some yarn stores carry them but usually just popular sizes. My local shop has maybe 6 different sizes in stock.
Amazon has them but check who’s actually selling because sometimes it’s third party sellers marking up the price.
I haven’t seen fakes yet but I’m sure they exist? Just make sure you’re buying from a legit seller.
The actual hook shape and technique stuff
The throat of the hook (the part right behind the actual hook tip) is deeper than some other brands. This means you can fit more yarn in there which is good for bulky yarn but can feel loose with thin yarn. When I use the 4mm Streamline with fingering weight yarn it feels like there’s too much space and I’m not controlling the yarn as well.
The tip is pointy but not super sharp. It’ll go through stitches fine but if you’re one of those people who splits stitches on purpose for certain techniques, you might need to be more deliberate about it.
My dog keeps trying to steal the hooks because the wooden ones probably smell interesting or something, I’ve had to rescue my 5mm from her bed twice now.
One project I did with the Odyssey 5mm was a market bag using Lily Sugar’n Cream cotton in Hot Green and White. Cotton is not fun to crochet with normally because it has no stretch and kills your hands, but the ergonomic handle actually made it bearable. Bag turned out great, still use it for groceries.
Hook roll storage thing
Furls sells their own hook cases but they’re like $40 for a fabric roll. I use a bamboo silverware organizer from Target that cost $8 and fits all my hooks fine. Just saying you don’t need to buy all their accessories.
The hooks come in individual boxes that are nice but take up space. I kept one box for the hook I use least (the 6mm) and tossed the rest.
Bottom line I guess
Furls hooks are expensive but actually do what they claim for ergonomics. They’re not magic and won’t make you suddenly crochet better, but they can make long projects more comfortable. The inline hook style makes stitches more uniform which is nice. The smoothness is good for most yarn but can be too slippery for splitty stuff.
Start with one hook in a size you use constantly, try it for a full project before deciding if you want more. Don’t buy a whole set right away unless you’ve got money to burn and are sure you’ll like them.
They’re well-made and durable, I haven’t had any quality issues with mine. The wooden ones are prettier in my opinion but the Streamline resin ones are lighter if that matters to you.
Not necessary for small projects or if you only crochet occasionally, but genuinely helpful for big projects and marathon crochet sessions when regular hooks make your hand hurt. That’s basically it.
