The 7 Best Car Headrest Hooks

Most drivers only need a cheap, sturdy place to hang a purse, and the Amooca 4-Pack covers both posts of both front seats. Each glossy black hook snaps onto the metal post without lifting the head cushion, then swings forward for a bag by the driver or back for groceries. The deep curve takes thick handles without pinching them. Fit is the weak spot: on some cars the hooks pop off over bumps or won't grip the post.

Heavy totes and purses with fat straps are where the High Road Contour CarHooks earn their place. Each one is a single loop of powder-coated steel wire with no plastic joints to snap, and the padded back loops wrap around a post of any thickness, so fit trouble is rare. High Road, a car-organizer maker in Maine, has sold this design for about a decade. Only two come in a pack, so fitting out both front seats takes two sets.

If a row of plastic hooks would look cheap against leather seats, the AMVOYOA Leather Hooks blend in. A metal core sits inside stitched black faux leather, which is kinder to seat backs and bag straps than bare plastic. They slide onto the post from the side, rest at the base of the head cushion and turn to face either row. A brown pair suits tan interiors. They cost more for just two, and they don't fit every car's posts.

Each strap of the CoBak Double Hook carries two small metal hooks, so one post can hold a purse and a grocery bag side by side. The suede strap lies flat against the seat back, so nothing hard rubs the upholstery, and the hooks fold out of sight when they're empty. A bracket wraps all the way around the post to keep the strap from sliding. It's sized for slimmer posts, so measure yours first if they look thick.

Hooks that drop off the post are the usual gripe with clip-on plastic, and the EldHus Anti-Drop Hooks deal with it directly. A small spring gate snaps shut around the post like a climbing clip, so each hook stays put over potholes and sharp turns. Four come in a pack, and the curve hugs the post so it sits flush. The seller gives two very different weight ratings, so stick to purses and groceries.

Back-seat riders get a spot to prop up a phone for a movie with the SCOVVORD Phone Holder Hook. One side is a bag hook and the other a small cradle that grips most phones, while the base clamps around the post with a twist lock and spins all the way around. Tablets are too wide for the cradle. The hook arm is short, so purses with chunky handles can be a squeeze.

Bags that swing at shoulder height bother some riders, and the Heroway Magic Hooks lower them. A clip grabs the post, and a nylon strap runs down the seat back to a pair of plastic hooks, so a purse rests against the seat instead of dangling. The soft strap won't scuff leather, and the clip turns to face the front seat. It's meant for light loads, and on thick posts the clip can be too small to close.