I used to use Boye aluminum crochet hooks, but my hands would quickly start cramping and aching after short crochet sessions. I then tried Susan Bates hooks, and that didn’t help much. So I switched to Clover Amour crochet hooks, and they eliminated the pain in my hands while crocheting! I can now crochet comfortably and pain-free for hours.
What makes them so comfortable is the handles. The Amour hooks have soft, ergonomic elastomer rubber handles, which are much thicker than a regular crochet hook. I find I can hold the hook more loosely and control the hook with gentle flicking motions instead of closing my hand around the handle and moving my whole wrist.
I think the aluminum on the Amour hooks has a different coating on it than the typical painted aluminum hooks. The surface of the metal does not create as much friction, so I can crochet faster. There are 10 sizes of aluminum hooks: B (2.25 mm), C (2.75 mm), D (3.25 mm), E (3.5 mm), F (3.75 mm), G (4.0 mm), 7 (4.5 mm), H (5 mm), I (5.5 mm), and J (6 mm). The largest sizes that I have, K (6.5 mm), L (8 mm), M/N (9 mm), and P/Q (15 mm), all have plastic hooks, but they are higher quality than other plastic hooks I have used. They also sell a 7 mm, N/P (10 mm), and 12 mm, which I do not have yet.
Here is a side-by-side comparison of the Boye, Susan Bates, and Clover Amour hooks. From the side, the Clover hook shape seems to be a combination of the Boye and Susan Bates shapes. I find that the shape of the Clover hook is easier for me to work with and produces fewer missed and split stitches.
From the back, the Boye hook is more tapered, the Susan Bates is straight, and the Clover is slightly tapered.
Aside from the much thicker Clover handles, the grip on the Clover hook is in a very comfortable spot. I think the grip on the Susan Bates hook is too high up on the handle for me. I also think the embossed markings on the Clover hook are easier to read than the others, because the rubber is not shiny. You don’t have to hold it at a certain angle so the light catches the letters and numbers to be able to see what size hook it is.
The Clover Amour hooks are definitely my favorite of all the crochet hooks I have used. They are comfortable and pain-free, and help me to crochet more quickly and consistently.
What is your favorite type of crochet hook?