Susan Bates Silvalume Soft Handle Aluminum Crochet Hook 5.5"-Size J10/6Mm

Susan Bates is one of the best crochet hooks.I've gotten my hands on

I have carpel tunnel, so crocheting can really cause my hands and arms to hurt to the point I can't crochet for days (which I hate). The longer handle allowed me to relax my grip more and to comfortable change between knife and pencil hold - that allowed me to crochet longer, which was my desire.The only negative for me, which again is due to pain, is that the thinness of the hook still hurts more than using a hook with a fatter handle. Also, having use Boye and those similar, getting use to the difference in the neck of the hook and how you have to change slightly your grabbing the yarn took me a minute to get use to. With the head being in line with the hook instead of sitting up slightly, I had to 'reach' more to grab the yarn. Not a huge issue, just something to note if you are use to a different style.

I always love this brand, because it’s so much easier to push through a stitch, it hooks the pull-through more securely without slippage, it’s comfortable, and lightweight.

Have always been a Susan bates hook fan but the extra length and soft grip make these hooks the very best. So comfortable to use even with arthritic hands.

Crocheting a shawl. Very happy with this hook so far.

I didn't learn that crochet hooks were straight or tapered until recently. All of my hooks were tapered and I stitch very tight, so I know I'm stitching far smaller than the hook size. Susan Bates hooks are tapered with straight sides so the part at the end of the hook is the same size through the neck of the hook. When stitching through several loops, this makes a big difference on speed - for example, HDC stitches - you have 3 loops on the hook, wrap and pull through all 3. When the loop at the hook end is smaller, it makes it very difficult to pull through all three evenly and quickly. Susan Bates are great - soo glad I learned about this difference. My only complaint is that the edge of the hook is sharp and has a tendency to catch or slice through yarn. Even so, I highly recommend for use with stitches that need multiple loops.

I bought the H hook like this and loved it, so I bought the I and J. Those are the hooks I use most. These are much more comfortable than the 5 1/2" hook. I have always used Susan Bates, but lately my hand and arm had started to cramp when I used the shorter hook. They did not cramp when I used a 10" afghan hook, either. I am so glad I don't have to give up crochet---thanks to Susan Bates and Amazon!!

I thought they were going to be soft grip but really they’re more like nonslip. They work up some crochet really nice and I like the way the hook is shaped to keep the yarn from slipping.