Furls Odyssey crochet hooks have been one of my favorite hooks for a while now, so I was sad to find out that they were discontinued in August of 2023. Even though you can’t get them anymore, I still wanted to keep this Furls Odyssey crochet hook review here for you to read.
A little disclosure before we get started. This post is NOT sponsored by Furls. They did not pay me to write this review. They did, however, send the hooks free of charge in exchange for sharing my honest opinion of them.
UPDATED: SEPTEMBER 29, 2023 BY BRITTANY
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In this honest review, I’ll share my personal insights after several weeks of regularly using my Lantern Moon Tunisian crochet hooks. But before we get to that, let’s have a look at the list of features:
Furls Odyssey Hooks have a nickel-plated pewter neck and a body that’s painted with “luxurious” automotive paint giving the handle a smooth, pearlescent finish. Furls takes pride in the ergonomic construction and there are eighty 5-star reviews on their website to back them up. They claim the balance of the hook’s construction “will have you cruising through your projects” and many claim to have had improved tension and speed after making the switch to an Odyssey hook.
Before they were discontinued, Odyssey hooks were available in 15 sizes ranging from 2.25 mm to 10 mm in 14 different color options.
These hooks are wonderful to work with. I realize I’m just one opinion of many, but I have a unique perspective – I crochet full-time. I use my hooks for hours and hours a day, and if they aren’t perfectly right for me and my crochet style, I’m less efficient at my job.
What I Love About Them
These are without a doubt, the most beautiful hooks in my collection. They’re seemingly essential for that Instagram-worthy photo (if you’re into that sort of thing). But a good hook has to do more than just look good.
I waited two long years before posting this review. At this price point, I had to really make sure they stood up to the many projects and everyday life I threw at them in order to make sure that they were more than just Instagram props.
They stood up to professional crochet use.
I crochet way more than the average person, and if you’re like me you’ve probably used a really cheap hook before. The handles wear quickly. They can drag on the yarn. The weight balance is off. And they’re just not enjoyable to work with all the time.
With the Furls Odyssey, I don’t have to worry about this. Even after two years I still find them as great as they were when they first arrived. Expect that when you’re paying for something with this quality, you’re going to have a product that lasts.
The handle is as comfortable as they say it is.
Furls put a lot of research into the shape and handle size of their hooks. If you don’t believe me, just listen to this episode of The BHooked Podcast where I interviewed the Founder, Harrison Richards. It shows too. Grasping a handle that’s too skinny might not seem like an issue at first but when you hold that position for hours while you binge your favorite show and knock out some progress on your WIP, your hand will start to feel crampy.
Harrison says the size of the handle is exactly the size needed to grasp with the thumb and first finger and not cause any cramping. I worked dozens of projects with these hooks and I can say from experience, I had no issues with hand cramping from holding on to the hook.
If you suffer from arthritis in your hands, the size of this handle may be exactly what you need to hold onto it comfortably for hours.
Their customer support is top-notch.
Before the gold-plated hooks were removed from their website, the rose gold + white and red + gold hooks would set you back $64 each. The current variety has the same pearlescent handle in a variety of colors with a nickel-plated crochet tip. Each one costs $36. That’s on the high end of what one might expect to pay for a single crochet hook.
When you pay that much for a hook (or hooks), it’s an investment compared to what we’re used to paying for hooks. You need to know Furls will back their products if something goes wrong. Furls promises 100% satisfaction guaranteed for 90 days or your money back, which is honestly something I’d expect for an item of this quality.
Funny enough, I had a chance to test this firsthand….
The hook fell in the space between my thigh and the chair cushion. I was effectively sitting on it but didn’t know it. When I stood up I was mortified to find the hook tip bent. Now this was at no fault of the hook or Furls but they still sent me a replacement. I don’t recommend sitting on your crochet hooks, but that’s customer service that honestly exceeded my expectations.
The nickel-plated crochet tip is smooth to work with.
In addition to the rose gold + white Odyssey hooks, I also have a nickel + black Odyssey. That’s the same nickel plating you’ll find in their current lineup. They say “The nickel-plated pewter neck is chrome smooth, making for easy stitches and great crocheting speed”.
I’d say if you’re already comfortable working with metal or metal alloy hooks, you’ll feel right at home with these. They’re smooth as you’d expect and the yarn glides easily as you work with it. Had I switched to the Odyssey from a wooden or plastic hook, I would absolutely feel the difference in smoothness and speed. But coming from another metal alloy hook, it felt consistent with what I would expect. As for the shape, this is what you’d call a tapered hook and not an inline hook.
Things to Consider
At this point, you’ve realized how much these hooks cost. Without even considering the hook and how it might feel as you crochet with it, right away the price will mean they’re not for everybody. It’s true there are many people who absolutely adore their Furls Odyssey, but many people will never experience them solely because of the price. That being said, as a user, I understand the value of them.
After using them consistently for quite some time, here are a few things to consider…
They’re heavier than the hooks you’re already used to.
The average weight of a single Odyssey crochet hook is 1.3 oz, more than double what a Tulip Etimo crochet hook weighs (0.5 oz). The difference there is noticeable and you’ll feel it when you hold it for the first time. Now is that too heavy to crochet with? Nah, not really. But it’s something to think about.
The nickel-plated pewter half of the hook is heavier than the handle which is an interesting dynamic when you crochet with it. The extra weight at the top works to drop it into position if that makes sense. I wouldn’t be surprised if that contributes to the boost in speed some people see as a result of using these hooks. I find that just releasing my pinkie from the grip will drop the tip down toward my project, which means less wrist movement for me. Less wrist movement means more crochet time.
So, while they’re heavier and they feel different you may enjoy this.
The hook tip is deeper than some crochet hooks.
If you’re used to working with Tulip Etimo or Clover Amour crochet hooks, you’ll notice a difference if you switch to an Odyssey. The “throat” of the crochet tip is deeper than both of these hooks which means it hooks onto the yarn a little better. It’s not a bad thing, but you may notice that the hook “clings” to the stitches. It took about a full project for my muscle memory to adjust to this little change. Again, not a bad thing but definitely worth considering, especially if you have trouble keeping the yarn on the hook.
I personally didn’t notice an improvement in tension or speed.
I’ve been crocheting full-time for several years now so take this one with a grain of salt. Furls, as well as many of the happy Odyssey hookers out there, have said these hooks improved tension and speed. I, however, didn’t notice a difference in either of these areas, but this is more than likely due to the fact that I’ve been crocheting for so long; my tension and speed are already pretty consistent.
From what I’ve heard, these hooks can really improve the consistency of your tension if you struggle a bit in this area. But I can’t speak to this from personal experience. Just have a look at the 50+ reviews on Furls website. You’ll likely find a reviewer like you who can speak to personal experience.
Are Furls Odyssey Hooks Discontinued?
Sadly, Furls Odyssey hooks are discontinued as of August 28th, 2023 as confirmed by the team at Furls in this article.
