I think your argument is really clear and makes a strong and very valuable point. Heavy heavy sports hoops are only good when you can hoop with them, and you can't hoop with them for very long, so you get less track mileage in the long run. I hooped for three and a half hours yesterday. You could never do that with one of them.

Philo sells himself short, although he is correct a weighted hoop is no good until your muscle tone is such that you can use it. I have a 1 lb,a 3 lb and a 5 lb hoop. I use the heavier ones for different purposes than my lighter hoop. If he were in good shape he could hoop for 3 hours with a weighted hoop. Moreover, using a weighted hoop for short periods builds muscle tone and improves hooping with the lighter hoop.
Also if you only have a short time and want to work up a sweat and still hoop they are great. I use my 3 lb hoop between 30 and 50 min per day (but could go hours) and my 5 lb hoop about 10-30 depending on my work out needs . My back is now feeling 15 years younger in terms of strength. I had to work up to it gradually and carefully; but I love my weighted hoops! Catherine

I just started hooping. I was really turned on by the idea that exercise could be fun. I bought a cd workout with a collapsible hoop. The workout experience was great, but I was very badly bruised. Although I still perserve with this hoop (because I'm addicted to hooping), I find myself searching the web for answers. Your article was very helpful, so were these comments. A lighter hoop is definitely in my near future. Now I am wondering if I should build it myself....

Thank you for this article. I am looking forward to getting started with hooping for weight-loss benefits and I didn't like the idea of having to purchase a $70 or $90 dollar "heavy" hoop. Now I will probably just purchase a nice everyday one from Walmart or make my own. I just want to do something that is fun while at the same time getting something beneficial out of it! =)

Hi Ron, thanks for the informative article. I have been making and selling hoops lately and people often ask me about hoops weight and their own weight loss.
Also, just in case anyone is interested, I have been covering my hoops with cloth. I sew a tube of cool cloth, usually batik and slip it on to the tubing before I connect it. Then I hand stitch it closed and I'm done. I really like them and they have great traction compared to the take covered hoops I was making. It also takes a lot less time.

I was very happy to read this article vs. all of the other articles about weighted hoops. About two months ago, I bought probably what is a child's hula hoop in a discount store for 97 cents. I had no idea that heavy hoops existed or the theory behind them. At age 56, it took a lot of practice to relearn hooping, but now I can now hoop like I did back the 50s. No bruises, no pain, just a really great work-out!

I would like everyone to know that anyone can hoop. My daughter came home from a fire spinning weekend with a hoop and a new passion. It was a 10 foot hoop and I am 48 and over weight alot. I was depressed because I just couldn't do it, but I kept looking on line and I read that your hoop should be approx. 4 times your girth so I have an 18 ft and a 15 ft hoop. Yes they are crazy big but I can hoop. I have arthritis in my ankle from a horse riding accident and I have fibromyalgia which is alot of joint pain....hooping is great cardio for me and very low impact and fun, fun, fun. It is almost like meditation when I go out alone at night at hoop.
So happy hooping for all no matter how big or small. We now have tons of hoops around the house, and we have made lots for friends there is always hooping going on at our house now.

Hooping is a wonderful experience. I've been hooping for a month and I've lost 1/2" off my waist. I know a 1/2" inch is not much, but it sure is a start.

Hi - I just tried this for the first time last night - borrowed a friend's very large weighted hoop... today I am in a great deal of pain in an area of my lower abdomen where I have had diverticulitis. I don't believe I ate anything to cause a flareup - is it possible for a grown woman to injure internal organs by using a heavy hoop? Thanks for your input.

I tried using a cheap kids hoop and it was a struggle to keep it up and I saw no benefit after 2 months of using the darn thing. I finally ordered one of the 3 lb hoops online and after only 6 weeks i'm down almost 2 full inches in my waist, but I also feel stronger in my thighs and lower back. I think having some weight in the hoop is definitely a plus.

Help! I love hula hooping and so do many of my clients. I have recently started fitness parties and my sports hoop is definitely the most popular piece of equipment! I was wondering if there are any hula hoop affiliate programs out there that would allow me to make a commission off a sale that originated on my website?

I, too, wanted to exercise with the benefits of core muscle toning and hooping. The first hoop I purchased was recommended by SportsHoop and weighed 5 lbs. I could barely keep it going and after only a couple minutes ended up with the worst abdomen/hip bruising you can imagine--and it hurt for several weeks. I returned it for a 3 lb. hoop and it's going fine (now that I've healed!!). The phone rep advised me poorly with the original purchase. My advice--don't get anything heavier than 3 lbs. for both comfort, ease of motion and still great benefits.

Hi, I'm 60 and started hooping about 4 mo. ago. Started with a no fill then added 3lbs and loved it. I was devastated when it broke (and sand flew all over) but more devastated when I found out how much the better weighted ones were (didn't want a 'cheapie' again). Problem solved - I got 3/4" psi tubing, added sand and joined it with a coupler. I now have a 5lb. 42" hoop I made for $8.00. It took some getting used to but I love the extra weight and it seems I get a better workout around my hips and thighs. I hoop 20 to 30 min. a day. I had back problems and the extra weight has definitely strengthened my back so that I have no more pain.

I too bought a hula hoop from sports-hoop. The 4# hoop was recommended by the company and it began falling apart after 3 days. They would not refund my money. 4# was too heavy and caused a lot of bruising and neck pain. I wish i would have found this web site first. I will stick with a 2# hoop. Maybe make one myself with tape?

Maybe someone can help me. I'd like to purchase a weighted hoop but not sure which to choose. I'm a beginner and I'm very petite. I'm 95lbs and 5'0" tall. I'm looking to work my abs and core so I'm figuring either 2lb or 3lb but I can't find a 2lb or 3lb with a smaller diameter. Should I be looking for a smaller diameter if I'm looking to work my core? Or will the larger diameter(41") work just as well? Maybe I should choose a child's size that is 1.5lbs since I am petite? I've been looking at the hoops on Sports Hoops. Any suggestions would be very helpful! Thanks in advance!

Hi T!
We make hoops (weighted & non-weighted) but our weighted ones are by far the most popular. We never go over 3lbs at the most but usually it is around 2.5lbs. Enough to facilitate hooping without interfering. We make hoops of all diameters and thicknesses. From 1/2", 3/4" and 1". We prefer to use a lighter psi for our water hoops and have found this to prevent bruising. Being slightly less rigid helps beginning hoopers especially to get their timing down. HottieHoops.com will be up soon, until then email me andrew@hoop-love.com - "Luv ur Hoop, Spread the Love"

I bought a 5 lb hoop from Sports Hoop. I will never purchase another hoop from that company again. As soon as I opened the box, the foam was damaged. I closed the box, told them that I wanted a replacement. The told me I needed to pay to have it shipped back and pay to have a new one shipped to me! It wasn't even my fault it was damaged! I would highly suggest you not purchase your hoop from Sports Hoop.

sports hoops is the only place i could but hula hoops that seem comfy and would work but now reading all thes comments i dont know should i buy the 3lbs weight hula hoop. Please help.

Thanks for your hooping insight Ron! Really helpful. I brought a plastic hula hoop a few years ago and have no problems with it. However, have always wondered whether these professional adult weighted hula hoops are supposed to be better for exercise and therefore burn more fat. But as you say clearly, the lighter and smaller the hoop, the tougher it is to keep it going. So I'm going to continue with my trusty hoop and not waste money buying a weighted one :-D

I wish I would have seen this site before I purchased my 4lbs. hoop! I am 5'7" and 135lbs. and in fairly good shape. I can hoola for 5 minutes (just started) before it hurts too bad on my spine and hips to continue! I am definitely going to purchase a 1 lb. hoop and alternate so I can go for longer periods of time. I love it! Thanks for the input!

Is my weighted hula hoop too heavy?It doesn't travel across my chest and shoulders smoothly at all!It actually kind of hurts. I feel it hitting my bones.*ouch* And I can't do any tricks with it! With the lighter hoop I can do more tricks. With the weighted hoop I can only spin it around my waist better. Should I be using a high performance hoop for tricks? Or can you do a lot of tricks with weighted hoops?

For people who make their hoops (or buy them from someone who makes them) the big question is whether to add water (or sand or some other weight) or leave them hollow. I think, for adults, the water-filled ones are much easier to use. The weight gives them such momentum that they almost spin themselves. So, if you're still working on getting the hoop going, try the heavy one. It will build your confidence and form. Then go to the hollow one and you'll probably find you've gotten better at that too (and if you want to try any tricks, the hollow one probably is a must). Have fun! Chezztone

i recently bought a wavy 3lb weighted hula hoop ..my weight is around 57kgs..i want to know what is the amount of time i need to exercise to benefit from it..their website says not more than 10 min per day..is that enough? and should i vary my exercise?or just do the traditional hooping.?

Before I comment I should disclose that I sell 2, 3, 4, and 5-lb hoops, so fee free to suspect me of bias. The opinions of anyone selling one type of hoop or another should be treated with suspicion! I am going to prove my sincerity by not posting my website ;-)

I am writing because I am surprised to hear so many people say that they tried the weighted hoops and became sore and bruised. They shouldn't blame the hoops if they didn't use common sense or reading the manufacturer's recommendations.

We always tell our customers to start with no more than two minutes at a time, and work up gradually. Within about ten days, it isn't at all difficult to hoop for 30-minutes or more, although it hardly seems necessary. We work up a pretty good sweat and heartrate after the first ten, and most people tell us it's just more fun - especially when you incorporate other moves (like squats).

Our experience shows that weighted hoops are simply easier for out-of-shape people to use for longer periods of time. I teach a hooping class for older ladies (60-75!) at my local gym, and they simply love the weighted hoops. They aren't able to keep it up with anything smaller and lighter.

I love hooping, and personally, I alternate between our hoops and a 1-lb hoop that I bought online. Both have their place in my workout routine. But if I had to choose, I'd take my 3-pounder any day.

Connie, I have a suggestion if you want to buy a weighted hoop with a smaller diameter. Find one with button connectors and remove a link. (Check with the manufacturers first to make sure that will work.)

Summary for those starting out with weighted hoops: make sure you buy a padded hoop - you will be much less sore. And take it slowly!

Thanks for the article and everyone's comments. I have been debating the weighted hula hoop issue...to purchase or not. I bought a kids one years ago and have used it some...after doing a weighted hula hoop I had difficulty keeping it going.

At my gym I started using the 5lb hula hoop but wore a waist pad to keep from getting bruised. All the women made comments about bruising. Personally I don't think anyone should do a routine that causes damage. I have since moved down to the 3lb without waist protection and like it much better. I feel that I get more cardio from it and that is good since I mostly strength train.

And Karyn thanks for your insight as well. This is all very helpful.

Hello again! Thanks for all the great comments. Since writing this article in 2007 I have not found anything that would change what I said back then. I still don't recommend more than a 3 lb hoop and find that a lighter hoop is more versatile, less damaging and a lot more fun. I do know that heavy hoops even with a neoprene (soft rubber) coating will cause you to bruise if they are too heavy or after long hooping sessions. Whatever hoop you choose protect yourself and get out there and hoop!
Ron Klint