With claims of enhanced core strength and calorie burning mixed with a touch of nostalgia, the best weighted hula hoops are swiftly turning both heads and hips. Hula hooping has always been a great alternative exercise, but since the pandemic, it's evolved into a full-fledged fitness trend, and it doesn't look like there's any chance of it slowing down.
Before searching for the right hula hoop for you, there is a knack when it comes to using weighted hula hoops. They are heavy pieces of equipment so should be used with caution, especially to begin with. The key is to start slow and light, as you would with wrist weights or dumbbells. At the beginning, it's not a good idea to throw yourself in the deep end with an intense half an hour hula hooping session. Instead, opt for a few minutes a day to get yourself used to the hoop, find your rhythm, and prevent any injuries.
The best weighted hula hoops at a glance:
Best weighted hula hoop overall: Powerhoop Deluxe Weighted Fitness Hoop - View now on Powerhoop
Best weighted hula hoop on a budget: Mirafit Ridged Weighted Hula Hoop - View now on Amazon
Best weighted hula hoop for travel: Proiron Weighted Fitness Hula Hoop - View now on Amazon
Once you’ve got your rhythm in check, you can think about adding a heavier weight or increasing the amount of time you spend hula hooping. You’ll start to see improvement over time, even with a lower-weight and lower-intensity workouts. Just look at celebrities like Catherine Zeta-Jones, Beyonce and Michelle Obama - they swear by adding a weighted hula hoop into their workout routine, and if it’s good enough for them, it’s good enough for us.
Best weighted hula hoop overall
powerhoop.com
Description
Starting with the hula hoop that’s dubbed ‘the world’s most advanced weighted hoop’. The Powerhoop has gained significant popularity among fitness enthusiasts due to its high-quality construction and two adjustable weight options to choose from. Featuring an ergonomic design, this hoop is made from innovative elements like shock-absorbing inner compression zones aimed at getting results.
Another great element of the Powerhoop deluxe is it can be dissembled by one-click links for easy storage if you haven’t got enough room in your home to store a 102cm diameter hoop. Users have praised its smooth rotation and durable design, making it one of the best hula hoops on the market for beginners and experienced hoopers alike.
Pros
- Adjustable weight options so you can choose to set your weight to align with your fitness level. Select from 1.6kg and 1.9kg
- 102cm diameter making it easy to use for hoopers at all levels
- Shock-absorbing inner compression zones
Cons
- A big cost for newcomers
Best weighted hula hoop on a budget
Description
Mirafit’s hoop adds an extra element of intensity to your current workout, engaging your core and targeting key muscles due to its ridged design. From the foam padding to the wavy surface, every element of this hoop is designed for enhanced comfort and muscle stimulation during use, preventing unnecessary discomfort during your workout while maintaining a secure grip. For longer sessions, you may find this essential.
The six-piece design means Mirafit’s hoop splits down in an instant and makes it simple to transport and store. Plus, the vibrant colour option of orange and black adds a touch of personality to your fitness equipment collection.
Pros
- Six-piece design and splits down for easy movement
- Very affordable, the cheapest weighted hoop on our list
- At 1.2kg in weight, the hoop caters to all skill levels
Cons
- The ridged design isn’t for everyone and can take a bit of getting used to
Best ridged weighted hula hoop
Description
Phoenix Fitness’ hula hoop is tailored to those seeking to increase their circulation and flexibility, thanks to the wave groove design of the hoop. Any weighted hula hoop will help with the mobility of the spine and hips. However, it's interesting to note that Phoenix Fitness are targeting another health problem with their design - the durable plastic core which is covered with foam ensures comfort during extended use and makes the hoop easy to clean and repellent to any bacteria or moisture. To assemble the hoop, click the eight sections together or if you’re wanting to adjust the hoop for a little one, use seven sections to make it smaller.
Pros
- Wave groove design to target increased circulation and flexibility
- Foam padded
- Adjustable to make the hoop suit children too
- Affordable
Cons
- Only available in a 1.1kg weight
Best weighted hula hoop for beginners
www.decathlon.co.uk
Description
The Domyos weighted hula hoop has been created for beginners and intermediate users to help strengthen abs, hips and back during fitness sessions. To save space in your home, the tubes come apart with a clip system for easy dismantle. Available in only one weight, 1.4kg, the Domyos weighted hoop may not make for the best option if you’re more experienced at hula hooping. However, if you’re on the hunt for an entry-level piece of kit to work your hips and core, this hoop could make for a great addition to add some versatility to your current workout routine.
Pros
- Ranked as the ‘best rated’ on Decathlon.co.uk
- 90cm diameter which is a benefit for beginners wanting a smaller hoop for better control
Cons
- The weight on the hoop can’t be adjusted
Best smart weighted hula hoop
Description
On initial inspection, this smart hula hoop looks a little scary. But, as a smart weighted hula hoop, it has some advanced features that can make for a nifty little addition to mix up your exercises. Although you’ll be toning by just rotating the hoop on your hips, to assist in this the hoop has soft rubber massage heads and magnetic therapy disks to deeply massage your muscles, in turn working your abs and in general giving you a bit of a helping hand with integrating a hula hoop into your workout routine.
Another way the K-MART smart hula hoop is different to a lot of traditional hoops on the market, is that it will not fall as easily. Classic hula hoops can slip, particularly on bare skin, which is annoying and interrupts the flow of your workout. But, K-MART’s hoop contains 15 to 24 segments depending on waist circumference which means you can set the size to whatever feels comfortable for you, whether that’s a larger diameter or a smaller one to really work your core.
Pros
- Massage heads to assist with waist training
- Each linking segment includes a magnetic disk to ensure it doesn’t fall
- Available in a variety of colours
- Parts are disassembled with the click of a button
Cons
- Can be noisy due to the massage heads
Best weighted hula hoop for travel
Description
The Proiron weighted hula hoop is a frontrunner in the market, and it stands out as a versatile and effective choice. Its hoops are evenly weighted to make sure you tone your core and back in equal measure. On top of this, it’s also covered in a smooth soft foam making it comfortable, easy to clean, and most importantly, protects your body.
The most convenient part of Proirons hula hoop is that it’s portable compared to a lot of other hoops, which are large and bulky to carry around. By pressing the button on one hula hoop piece and snapping the corresponding piece in, all eight pieces come apart and can be stored in the included handy carry bag. The hoop’s easy portability and sturdy construction make it a worthwhile investment in your fitness journey.
Pros
- Evenly weighted for comfort and optimal results
- Easy assemble by pressing a button
- Comes with a carry bag
Cons
- The 1.8kg option is recommended for intermediate users. If you’re looking for a hula hoop as a beginner, this might not be the hoop for you.
Best weighted hula hoop for no-nonsense workouts
Description
The 7PFIEL weighted hula hoop boasts a durable construction and a simple yet effective design. For example, the soft and non-slip foam padding is there to protect your skin and body during your workout and ensures a comfortable grip. Unlike a lot of hula hoops on the market, which are made of plastic, its hoop is made from a sustainable stainless steel, giving it that quality feel some other hoops are lacking. Its straightforward assembly process of snapping in two connectors on each part of the hoop and reliable build quality make this hoop a popular option for individuals looking for a no-nonsense weighted hoop.
Pros
- 6 individual elements which are easily clicked together
- Made from high-quality materials like stainless steel and a breathable foam
- A large diameter of 100cm is a great size for beginners
Cons
- The diameter of the hoop is not adjustable
FAQs
What type of weighted hula hoop is best?
It all depends on your fitness level, preferences and ultimately, your goals. Begin by looking for a hula hoop that’s the right size and weight for your body. An extremely popular type of hula hoop is adjustable ones, like the Powerhoop, as it means that whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned hula hooper, the hoop will cater to all skill levels.
Another decision you’ll have to make when selecting a weighted hula hoop is whether you want grooves or a smooth design – there are benefits and drawbacks to both. A ridged hula hoop can help with increasing circulation and stimulating your core muscles, whereas a smooth design will be a little more comfortable to hoop with and will still work your core muscles.
Our advice would be to start with a smooth hoop as this is the standard design, when you feel in control of your hoop and like you’ve mastered the technique, moving onto a ridged hoop may be the next step to take – it really just comes down to personal preference.
Do weighted hula hoops really work?
Like any exercise, don’t expect results overnight. You won’t pick up your hula hoop one morning and be toned by the next, after all, weighted hula hoops only work if you set manageable and realistic goals. Instead of seeing hula hooping as an isolated activity, add it to your current exercise regime as a fun way of engaging in physical activity, targeting your core, and improving your posture and flexibility.
What is the best weight for a weighted hula hoop?
The mistake a lot of people make is they assume the heavier the hula hoop, the more weight they are likely to lose – this isn’t necessarily true. Although a heavier hula hoop will create more resistance, it will also put more strain on your body and can even be painful to use if too heavy for your own body weight.
Choosing a hula hoop which is heavier than 2 lbs may heighten the risk of injury and will also decrease the amount of time you’ll be able to work out with the hoop for. Weighted hula hooping is all about stamina and the repeated motion of spinning the hoop around to tone, so by opting for a hoop that’s way too heavy, you’re not working your body in the most effective way.
Gemma Lavers is a fitness writer for What's The Best. When she’s not travelling or writing, Gemma loves spending her weekend completing home workouts, or attending yoga, Pilates or Zumba classes.
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