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10 best weighted hula hoops for exercise
Move over aerobics! Weighted hula hoops have made a comeback as the hottest toning tool on the block. We’ve rounded up the best selection for 2021.
By Tammy Jacks | Last updated Apr 17, 2024
Getting rid of excess belly fat is undoubtedly one of the most popular topics on our forums, with many mums struggling with baby weight or postpartum weight gain for months (or even years) after giving birth. The drastic physical and hormonal changes of growing a child often results in loose skin, weak core muscles and extra ‘padding,’ particularly around the midsection.
The good news is that smart at-home fitness tools like the weighted hula hoop have been specifically designed to tone and trim the waistline, while activating the core and improving overall strength in the pelvic floor region. In fact, studies show that regular hooping burns about as many calories per minute as step aerobics, boot camp or very brisk walking.
If you add one to your exercise regime, a weighted hula hoop can be life-changing according to Mumsnetters. One user said, “Hula hooping works wonders if you keep at it. It really tones your middle and improves your posture and balance. When I used mine regularly, it strengthened my core so that I could walk easily in high heels!”
Keen to try one? Here are the best weighted hula hoops for 2021.
1. Best overall weighted hula hoop: Core Balance Weighted Hula Hoop
Price: £19.99 | Buy now from Amazon
Ideal for beginners and regular ‘hoopers’ alike, the Core Balance Weighted Hula Hoop is the best all-round weighted hula hoop we’ve found, thanks to its versatility and competitive price point.
The smooth rim and foam padding allows you to spin for longer with less chance of bruising around the hips, back or abdominal area, which, according to Mumsnetters, is a major drawback of hooping in general.
Weighing in at around 1kg, it’s light enough to offer a challenging workout (the lighter the hoop, the harder it is to spin), yet feels stable as you rotate.
The hoop is fully adjustable with eight detachable sections that clip in and out with a push button, making it simple to take apart, store or transport. After use, simply wipe it clean with a damp cloth.
If you’re looking for a more challenging workout, the wavy hoop is preferable to the smooth as it features ‘power waves’ designed to intensify the workout and stimulate your core. Be aware though that the wavy version could be painful on your muscles initially as your body adapts.
Key specs
Weight: 1kg
Diameter: 75cm – 98cm with six to eight sections
Can dismantle? Yes
2. Best budget weighted hula hoop: Opti Hula Hoop
Price: £13.99 | Buy now from Argos
“I love my hula hoop. You need a big weighted one to do any good, not the flimsy plastic kids’ one. 10 minutes a day and a wispy waistline will be yours! My hoop comes apart for easy transport.” Greenteandchives
If you’re looking for a good-quality, affordable weighted hula hoop to determine whether hooping is something you’ll enjoy long-term, then the Opti Hula Hoop is a good choice. Users agree it’s easy to assemble and great value for money.
A few key features of this hoop is that it comes with six detachable sections, it’s well balanced and sturdy while it spins, and it’s made with foam padding for extra comfort.
At just 670 grams, the hoop is one of the lightest we’ve found which may not be ideal for everyone as the lighter the hoop, the harder the workout. However, its wider diameter makes it easier to keep up and manoeuvre. Given how affordable this hoop is, you could purchase more than one to exercise with friends or family members.
Key specs
Weight: 670 grams
Diameter: 90cm
Can dismantle? Yes
Related: The best bikes for kids, as recommended by Mumsnetters
3. Best family-friendly weighted hula hoop: Kuyou Hula Hoop
Price: £16.99 | Buy now from Amazon
With a brand ethos of 'doing the best for yourself,' Kuyou believes in having fun while you exercise, which explains why their weighted hula hoop is one of their best sellers.
Another budget-friendly option, this hoop comes with eight detachable sections to fit any age or body shape. Push buttons located just below the padded foam, make it simple for kids to adjust the size of the hoop themselves.
The wave/ridged design may be more painful for some, as it offers extra pressure around the waist which feels like a shiatsu massage, but it’s made with soft, non-toxic foam to offer sufficient padding while you rotate. For additional protection against bruising, try hooping with extra layers of clothing or an exercise belt. Overall, this hoop is suitable for the whole family.
Key specs
Weight: 1kg
Diameter: 73cm – 95cm with six to eight sections
Can dismantle? Yes
4. Best weighted hula hoop for beginners: Smart Adjustable Weighted Fitness Hoop
Price: From £9.99 | Buy now from Wowcher
The Smart Adjustable Weighted Fitness Hoop is different from a standard weighted hula hoop in that it’s a little more techie. It clips in around your waist, fits snugly and won’t drop when you spin. This makes it a popular choice for those wanting a higher intensity workout as it allows you to get into a rhythm and break a sweat. In fact, manufacturers claim it burns fat two to three times faster than your average weighted hula hoop.
As for design, it’s made with an easy clip-and-release mechanism, is fully adjustable with 18 to 24 detachable parts and feels fairly robust. The shock-absorbing massage rings reduce friction around the waist, while the weighted gravity ball slides inside the hoop and rotates as you move.
Due to the rotation range of the ball, you’ll need to steer clear of furniture and ornaments during exercise.
Key specs
Weight: From 0.6kg to 2kg with gravity ball
Diameter: 80-120cm
Can dismantle? Yes
5. Best deluxe weighted hula hoop: Powerhoop Deluxe
Price: £59.95 | Buy now from Powerhoop
“I have a Powerhoop as I went to Powerhoop classes. Probably a bit more expensive though.” dementedpixie
“I have a Powerhoop and it’s great. It’s heavy and will bruise you the first few times you use it, but it’s very good. It helps with my core toning and trimming. I haven’t got a six pack (you have to have a low body fat percentage for that), but I definitely feel a difference when I use it. I hoop while watching TV. Make sure you do it in both directions for an equal amount of time, so you train both sides evenly.” JonHammIsMyJamm
Having won the Indy/Best Buy award in 2020, the Powerhoop is a popular choice on the Mumsnet forums. It’s large diameter is ideal for all body types, and the hoop itself is designed to take you from beginner to advanced as it comes with adjustable weight inserts up to 2.2kg.
While it can initially cause some pain and discomfort as you adjust to the weight, its wavy design will help you build a strong core and the shock absorbing inner compression zones are there to cushion the impact.
Even though it’s durable enough to withstand many drops, some users have reported faint black marks on their hoops, which is residue from the plastic mould used in the manufacturing process.
This hoop comes with an instructional video and users have the option of upgrading to the Powerhoop Deluxe Package which includes a carry bag and workout video.
Key specs
Weight: 1.6kg (no inserts), 1.9kg (one set), 2.2kg (two sets)
Diameter: 102cm
Can dismantle? Yes
6. Best weighted hula hoop for core strength: EVER RICH® FitnessWave Foam Padded Hula Hoop
Price: £15.95 | Buy now from Amazon
With extra foam padding to prevent bruises and the right diameter to activate those deep core muscles, and improve coordination and endurance, this hula hoop is a great choice for those wanting to lose their muffin top.
Made with eight detachable parts, it’s suitable for all ages and is the perfect weight to hoop for longer without losing momentum. However, it can take a while to master the optimum hoop action as it demands faster turning and more energy to make it spin.
The Ever Rich Foam Padded Hula Hoop also comes with a nifty measuring tape to track and record daily or weekly changes.
Key specs
Weight: 1kg
Diameter: 94cm
Can dismantle? Yes
7. Most versatile weighted hula hoop: Flames 'N Games Ultra Grip Pro Hula Hoop
Price: From £23.99 | Buy now from Amazon
“A good circus [brand] like Flames 'N Games is the best way to go. Beginners should go for a bigger hoop (38" to 40") and wider pipe (25mm). If you've already nailed the basics, go a bit smaller as they go faster but are harder to keep up!” lemonzest123
Dance lovers who want to add a fun, effective element to their workouts will appreciate the agility of this weighted hoop. The Ultra Grip Pro Hula Hoop is made from a thick 25mm tube (or a 20mm tube for children) and decorated with a sturdy holographic tape, which is ideal for gripping.
With over 30 colours to choose from, ranging from purple and UV pink to green and white or orange and blue, this is one of the prettiest hoops on our list.
Because it’s lightweight and relatively large, it can handle almost any trick you try but can get damaged if repeatedly dropped on hard floors.
We like that it can be folded to half its size and stored or transported easily. But take note - it doesn’t have detachable parts like many other weighted hoops.
Key specs
Weight: 680g
Diameter: 100cm
Tube diameter: 25mm
Can dismantle? Yes
8. Best smart hula hoop for weight loss: Opard Weighted Hula Smart Hoop
Price: £32.99 | Buy now from Amazon
Truly unique, the Opard Weighted Hula Smart Hoop has been designed to help you burn off excess calories and lose weight. Not only does it stay put, it offers 360-degree magnetic massage with soft silicone massage heads (to offer deep stimulation and speed up fat reduction) and has an LCD screen with a nifty timer.
The hoop comes with a 408g gravity ball, making it suitable for a range of strength and fitness levels. Plus, the rope length can be modified to offer more or less resistance. It also has 16 detachable sections and is made with push button release buckles to take apart and reassemble.
Users particularly like that it offers a smooth, seamless rotation without having to swing the hips too much.
Key specs
Weight: 1.8kg
Diameter: 65cm – 108cm
Can dismantle? Yes
9. Best portable weighted hula hoop: SAHWIN® Smart Hula Hoop
Price: £39.95 | Buy now from Amazon
Another smart offering to make our list, we love how simple and convenient the SAHWIN Smart Hula Hoop is to use. It has a range of clever features including an intelligent counter, a small gravity hammer ball that rotates along the track, durable metal rails on the inside to enhance the rotation, plus a simple locking buckle for safety.
This hoop doesn’t fall either, which means you can exercise while watching TV or flipping through your favourite podcast or workout playlist.
Like all the hoops made with gravitational balls or hammers, you’ll want to clear away valuable objects from the vicinity while using this one.
Key specs
Weight: Not specified
Diameter: Up to 130cm
Can dismantle: Yes
10. Best advanced weighted hula hoop: Opti Weighted Hula Hoop
Price: £17.99 | Buy now from Argos
This one is slightly heavier than the original Opti Hula Hoop which makes it a little easier to keep up and rotate, However, if you’re a first timer, you may struggle to gain momentum as it offers a serious core burn that’s not for the faint-hearted.
Recommended by 91% of customers, it’s clear that the Opti Weighted Hula Hoop is a firm favourite. Its metal frame is very sturdy, and the soft padded foam ensures you’ll have a comfortable hooping experience. While you can assemble and disassemble this hoop with ease, it’s not adjustable, so only choose this model if you’re happy with a bigger size.
Key specs
Weight: 1.8kg
Diameter: 100cm
Can dismantle? Yes but not adjustable
Is a weighted hula hoop a good form of exercise?
In short, yes! A recent study found that hooping with a weighted hula hoop helps to decrease abdominal fat while increasing muscle mass. Hooping has also been shown to boost cardiovascular fitness and lower cholesterol levels.
Additional benefits of using a weighted hula hoop include:
It’s fun, which means you’re more likely to stick to it long term.
It’s convenient. Hoop anytime, anywhere with minimal equipment or space requirements.
It’s time efficient. Studies show that just 12 to15 minutes of hooping a day can make a difference to your waistline over a period of time.
It’s versatile. Using a weighted hula hoop offers strength and toning benefits, plus the chance to burn fat and calories in a single session.
If you really want to maximise results and keep your body guessing, it’s a good idea to combine weighted hooping with an additional exercise such as strength training, walking, running, swimming or cycling.
How long should you use a weighted hula hoop?
This depends on your strength and fitness level. Consensus is that you need to gradually increase your workout time as your body adjusts to the motion, resistance and friction of your weighted hula hoop. If you experience bruising, your hoop might be too heavy. Consider using a lighter weight to start with.
Some weighted hoops are also easier to use than others, which means you can increase your workout time. For instance, two of the smart hoops on our list can be clipped around the waist and won’t drop. Factors like these will play a role in your overall hoop time.
Start with five to 10 minutes a day, three times a week and work towards 20 to 30 minutes a day, three to five times per week for optimal results.
Should I hula hoop both ways?
Yes. Hooping both ways will ensure you have a balanced workout and improve your balance, coordination and strength in both directions.
Because weighted hoops rotate more slowly around the body, it’s easier to focus on a balanced workout.
Hooping both ways in a forward and back or side-to-side motion will also recruit your lower back, glutes, hamstrings, quadriceps and calf muscles. Keep arms raised for an additional upper body burn.
What is the best weighted hula hoop to buy?
Currently, the best weighted hula hoop to buy is the Core Balance Weighted Hula Hoop. It ticks all our boxes as it’s affordable, portable, made with top-quality materials, and just the right size and weight to strengthen your core, improve your posture and offer a good, solid workout. It’s also beginner-friendly, which means less pain and bruising if you’re just starting out.
What is the best weighted hula hoop for beginners?
The best weighted hula hoop for beginners is the Smart Adjustable Weighted Fitness Hoop. A major benefit of this model is that it won’t drop, allowing you to get into a good rhythm right from the get-go.
It’s also simpler to use than some of the other hoops on our list and won’t cause any discomfort or bruising. It’s easy to assemble and disassemble, so less intimidating overall.
How we chose our recommendations
All our weighted hula hoop suggestions came from recommendations on the Mumsnet forums. We also checked independent review sites for opinions about each hoop to ensure we were bringing you an honest, detailed summary of weighted hula hoops in 2021.
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