Hula Hoop Buying Guide

If you’re looking to buy your first hula hoop, you should consider a couple of things before jumping to the first one you come across. A little bit of research will always go a long way, and it is always a good idea if you want to buy the perfect one first time around.

Finding Your Niche

Whether you became inspired by a hooper in your local park, a circus performance, a friend or even a youtube video, you will always have your own immediate preference to style.

You will inevitably collect a small menagerie of hoops by embarking on your own hoop journey, and you will find what works for your style and what doesn’t. By reading this guide you can begin to sift out the cream from the crop and rule out anything that won’t suit your size, shape or ability before you buy it.

The first question you need to ask yourself, is “Why am I learning to hula hoop?”

Maybe to add to another existing circus skill you may have, as a fun, new hobby, to perform at events, for personal fitness, or just to learn a new skill.

Size Matters

The general rule is the larger the hoop, the slower it will rotate. That’s why it is often best to begin with a larger hoop, it should stand at least to your hips; this way the slower movement makes it easier to learn. Once you have mastered some moves, you will find it much easier to pick them up on a smaller, lighter hoop.

Fitness Hoops

If you have been introduced to “grown up” hula hooping through the idea of hoop fitness then you will already be aware of the amazing results regular hooping can do for the body. Not only does it help strengthen your core, help with balance and physical self-awareness, but you can lose around 200 calories in 30 minutes of hooping.

Of course hula hooping with a non-specific fitness hoop will have the same affect, but with the additional variety to learn complex tricks with more ease.

Play Hoops

Play by name and playful by nature, the ‘Perfect’ hoop is the only hula hoop that is made from tubing designed specifically for hula hooping. It’s a great all-rounder, whether you’re playing or performing with this light-weight hoop. It folds down to around 50% of it’s original size, which makes for super easy transport.

There are two sizes of the Play hoops; one with tape and one without. If you choose to buy a ‘naked’ Play Perfect hoop, with no grip tape, it works well to stick a thin piece of around the inner side of the hoop if you want some added grip.

If you want to read more about these hoops, you could take at our previous post, Loz Because on Play Perfect Hoops.

A Hoop Summary

As we mentioned above, you can buy collapsible hoops, as well as solid ones. Depending on how often you intend to take your hoop out and about will probably influence your decision. Travel hoops usually either come apart into separate pieces for easy storage, and ones that fold down into a smaller, more manageable sized hoop like the one mentioned above.

Once you have become addicted to the art of hula hooping, then you may want to experiment with the more ‘flamboyant’ end of the hoop spectrum. Fire and LED are usually the next step for people who are serious about their hooping, they both make great performance hoops.

Hoop Community

If you’re entirely new to the hooping world, you will be pleased to know that there are ample events and workshops that you’ll be able to get involved with; or just turn up at your local park with a group of friends and start your own! Enjoy, and let us know which hoop you go for…

See our full range of hula hoops here.

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