In the past few weeks I have had many people ask me what style of hook I thought was best and why. It is difficult to answer this question for other people as their needs differ. However what I can do is tell you what features I think are important and should be considered and prioritized based on your needs.
1) Table Clearance- The width of tables vary at different restaurants and bars which means that your purse hook may not always fit. If you want to be sure that your hook will fit on the table the majority of the time, you may want to consider a hook that I refer to as the “classic style.” (see zebra print hook) This style of hook is available in many different patterns and generally has a wider clearance allowing it to fit on most tables. The one shown has a clearance of 2.5 inches meaning that it will fit on a table that is 2.5″ wide or less. This is compared to a standard folding hook that has a clearance of 1.5″.
2)Design- The beauty of a purse hook is that it can be as simple or as over the top as you would like. The purse hook can be considered an opportunity for self expression. Are you feeling funky? Use the animal print hook. Feeling glamorous? Use the crystal hook (see aqua crystal hook on right). Need to retouch your lip gloss? Use the mirror hook. The best design is completely based on personal preference. The design however, does impact one characteristic. Which brings me to number 3.
3) Weight/max. weight capacity- The weight of a purse hook is usually between 2 and 4 ounces. I mentioned that the design influences the weight of the hook meaning that the crystal hooks weigh more than the blue swirl design. This is because of the crystal itself as well as the construction of the hook which is sturdier and more secure. The blue swirl (see hook on bottom left) is a “starter” hook that does not hold as much weight but is a little cheaper and lighter. This may be something to consider for someone who has a heavy handbag and wants to keep the purse hook light and hassle free.
4) Lastly, the packaging. Most purse hooks include a velour carrying pouch to safeguard your hook in your purse. This makes it easy to find and prevents it from getting scratched. If you are giving it as a gift, see if a gift box is available. Most companies have them and may charge a dollar or two for it, but it may be worth it.
So as you can see it is difficult for me to say which purse hook is the best since they all have features that make them special. I hope this information will help you to make decision on which purse hook is best for you. Let me know if you have any questions!