What makes these hoops different than the cheap, kids hoops at the store?
Well, a lot. The hoops you see at many retail stores and that you probably had as a kid are cheap plastic toys. They are small, light, and will not last very long. Hip-E-Hoops are made with professional grade materials. They are designed for adults (except for kids hoops, of course) and will last. Hip-E-Hoops are much larger and heavier than those store-brand hoops. This makes them easy to keep up and move. They are designed with a hoop dancer in mind: sized and weighted to move through tricks, and with just the right balance of glitz and grip. If taken care of properly, a
Hip-E-Hoop will last a lifetime. Have you tried one of those kid's toys recently? Bet you couldn't keep it up for long if at all.
I'm new to hooping. What size hoop should I get?
Generally, a hoop should stand somewhere between your belly button and your chest. But that is a pretty big area. For most beginners, a 40-42 inch hoop is perfect. The bigger the hoop, the slower it will move, making it easier to hoop with. For most average-sized hoopers, a 40-inch is great. It is big enough to move slowly and learn with, but still small enough that it will be able to move through complicated tricks as you progress.
I would recommend a 42-inch hoop to two types of people: someone who is very tall or a little heavy, and someone who is really worried about being able to hoop. Just about anyone can hoop with a 42-inch hoop. The only problem is if you want to learn advanced tricks. At some point, a 42-inch hoop will hold you back and you will need to downsize. But if just want a fun hoop to dance around in without getting all technical, or if you want to take the whole trick thing slowly, this size will be perfect for you.
I would not recommend a smaller hoop for a beginner unless you are very petite. Even then, a 38-inch hoop is probably the smallest you'd want to go.
What's the deal with this groove hoop thing?
I consider a groove hoop anything over 44 inches. These are nice, slow hoops that you can just relax and groove in. A 46-inch groove hoop is my favorite. I use it when I want to sit back and enjoy some laid back beats. It also really helps me when trying to learn a difficult on-the-body trick that I just can't get with my regular hoop. Even larger groove hoops (50-54 inch) can get an extra person in them. Grabbing a close friend and trying some tandem hooping can make for very fun, interesting afternoon.
How do Hip-E-Hoops collapse?
Collapsible Hip-E-Hoops collapse in an infinity style. They bend down into a figure 8, then folds into itself to form two hoops that are half the circumference of its original size.
How much does a hoop weigh and what is the right weight for me?
The exact weight of a hoop varies some with the size of the hoop, but, in general, standard adult hoops weigh approximately 2lbs and feather hoops weigh 1-1.5 pounds. Standard weight hoops are going to be good for most beginners and for hoopers looking for a good workout.
As hoopers advance and learn more tricks, or want a quick hoop for hooping to quick music, they often want a lighter weight hoop. This is where a featherweight hoop is helpful. It's light and quick. Using featherweight tubing is also great for large groove hoops to keep them from getting too heavy.
There are weighted hoops out there that weigh as much as 5 pounds marketed towards weight loss. These heavy hoops are really only good for core strengthening. They are so heavy that they often cannot be used for very long and cause bruising. A standard weight hoop will give you a great core workout and is great for cardio
because you can keep going and going.
All kids hoops are made with featherweight tubing to protect their small bodies.