Buying guide for Best weighted hula hoops
When it comes to beloved childhood toys, few are more iconic than the hula hoop. These simple toys have been around since the 1950s and since then, they’ve provided hours of fun for children and adults alike. Now, hula hoops are taking the fitness world by storm — all thanks to active adults who are ready to pick up a fun and familiar piece of fitness equipment.
Weighted hula hoops are the hot new exercise accessory, especially since they provide a full-body workout within minutes. You have the opportunity to hone your hooping skills while breaking a sweat, and when there’s weight added to the hoop, you maximize training sessions with a modest calorie burn.
Weighted hula hoops come in a few pieces that are easily assembled in minutes. Feel free to hoop at your own pace, as you have the option to enjoy a range of high-intensity or low-impact exercise sessions.
Key considerations
How to set up and use a weighted hula hoop
Hoops come in pieces and require assembly, which includes popping the different segments together. They latch together through buttons that snap into place, so sometimes it takes some finagling to make the final pieces match up. Generally speaking, assembly takes a few minutes and once you get the hang of it, you can put the weighted hula hoop together (or break it down) in no time.
If your hoop allows you to change the weight, there’s another round of assembly to add weights. To achieve balance with the weights, the instructions indicate their exact placement. If you happen to put the weights in the wrong place, the uneven distribution makes it incredibly difficult to hoop.
A weighted hula hoop is about as user-friendly as you can get, especially since the repetitive motion of hooping is something you’ve most likely done before. There are many schools of thought when it comes to initiating hooping, such as starting with the hoop against your body, or working to hula and spin the hoop at the same time. It takes some trial and error, especially with the added challenge of weights, but it’s well worth the fun of learning and the calories burned.
Hooping safety
The possibilities are endless when it comes to hooping workouts. Because it’s a fitness activity, you should take basic safety precautions. Try to hoop on even ground so if you happen to fall, you minimize injuries. Be sure to wear flexible but supportive footwear that keeps you grounded and balanced. It’s also important to be mindful of how you feel while hooping; if you find yourself getting dizzy or experiencing vertigo, cease hooping and sit down while you wait for assistance or contact your doctor.
Weights
Weighted hula hoops are either weighted to be a certain amount of weight, or they have the option to adjust the weight instead of buying multiple hoops. Some models have weighted segments of plastic, whereas others use small metal weights that fit into specific sections. There are also some hoops that are fillable — you can choose any type of material, though beans and sand seem to be the most popular.
Expert Tip
If your children do gymnastics, they can use a weighted hula hoop to practice their hoop control and balance for aerial techniques with competition hoops.
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Features
Materials
The actual hoop itself is made of plastic, though it’s significantly thicker than a children’s hula hoop. Also unlike children’s hula hoops, they don’t collapse or pinch when you apply pressure to them. They’re comparable to PVC piping, but are somewhat lighter. Because they’re usually broken down into smaller pieces, the plastic is on par with other fitness equipment.
Some weighted hula hoops have a foam covering to soften the impact while hooping. The extra cushioning is approximately one-eighth of an inch in thickness, which is effective in preventing bruising to your stomach and hip areas.
Smartphone apps
Some weighted hula hoops have jumped on the companion app bandwagon to help hoopers track their progress. The apps work in one of two ways: more basic versions have a dedicated app where you can log your progress for minutes hooped, measurements, and calories burned. More advanced apps — seen in higher-end models — equip the weighted hula hoop with a fitness tracker that transmits real-time information to the app.
Accessories
In addition to companion apps, weighted hula hoops sometimes come with accessories. Since they have to be put together for use, some models come with dedicated bags for easy storage and transport. Other hoops come with a waist belt similar to a hernia belt to provide an additional layer of stomach and waist protection during hooping.
Expert Tip
Wear comfortable, form-fitting clothing while using your weighted hula hoop. The repetitive motion can cause your clothes to twist and shift, which is distracting and may detract from your workout session.
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Weighted hula hoop prices
If you’re thinking about taking up hooping, you can expect to spend between $20 and $150 for a weighted hula hoop.
Inexpensive: Between $20 and $30, you can expect to find models that are designed to be a single weight.
Mid-range: If you want the option of changing the weight, these models are generally found between $30 and $50.
Expensive: High-end models incorporate several weight options, sophisticated smartphone apps, and are made with tough plastic that withstands frequent use without collapsing or buckling. These range between $100 and $150.
Tips
- Change up your abs workout. Instead of spot training your core with sit-ups and crunches, work your entire body with a weighted hula hoop workout.
- Use for Pilates. If you’re familiar with the Pilates ring, try certain Pilates techniques with a weighted hula hoop for a new challenge.
- Challenge your kids to a hooping contest. You can kill two birds with one stone by getting in some exercise while playing with your kids. Tell them to grab their hula hoop and challenge them to keep up with your hooping skills.
- Store it properly. To avoid damage to your weighted hula hoop, break it down and put it away after each use. If you’d like to leave it put together, make sure it’s stored in a space that doesn’t have any items that can lean on the hoop and warp it.
- Take your measurements. Sometimes it’s hard to see progress on the scale, so take your measurements regularly to see if you’re on the right track. Remember, weighted hula hoops are only part of an exercise regimen, so real results are seen with long-term lifestyle changes to your diet as well as fitness.
- Watch an online hooping channel. If you’re looking for new ways to use your hula hoop, defer to fitness experts or competitive hoopers. They often have their own online channels with tutorials that share tips and tricks for hooping.
Expert Tip
Try a thirty-day challenge with your weighted hula hoop. These challenges typically take only a few minutes a day and you can see results after making a month-long commitment.
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Other products we considered
We also enjoy hooping with The Spinsterz Weighted Hula Hoop. These handmade hoops that come in almost a dozen colors are made in America by hooping experts. They focus on making hooping as user-friendly as possible through easy-to-read sizing charts and step-by-step assembly instructions with pictures. More than anything, these hoops are high-quality and geared toward long-term use. You also have a lifetime repair guarantee on your hoop.
The best pick for children’s hoops is Liberry Hula Hoop Set. They come in sets of three that can be easily taken apart. They don’t come weighted by the manufacturer, though they’re designed to be filled with contents of your choosing. Sand, stuffing, and even beans are recommended. Thanks to their heavyweight plastic, the hooks don’t collapse when pinched, so you can enjoy a strong, sturdy hoop for years to come. These sets are also recommended for gymnastics, gym class, and even pet training.
FAQ
Q. Will I lose weight with a weighted hula hoop?
A. Weighted hula hoops are excellent fitness equipment, but using them alone won’t make you lose weight. What they aim to do is make fitness fun and encourage you to exercise in new ways. When you enjoy your workout and find different ways to train, it’s easier to commit to an exercise regimen — and long-term commitment is what delivers the most results.
Q. How long should I spend working out with my weighted hula hoop?
A. The amount of time varies per person if you’re hooping by yourself, in which case anywhere between five and 10 minutes is the average amount of time. If you’re a competitive hooper or participate in a hooping class, you could spend more time using your hula hoop in a session. When it comes to hooping classes, they’re generally structured to incorporate different ways to use a hula hoop, so your type of activity changes frequently enough so you don’t tire out from repetitive movement.
Q. Can I use more than one hula hoop at a time?
A. Technically you can, especially if you’re using them for an activity where they’re not both around your waist. Some people use two at a time, one in each hand, for light resistance and weight training. Because they’re weighted, two hoops may be too much weight with uneven distribution, so it’s best to stick to one for basic waist hooping.
