Weighted vs unweighted hula hoops? Which one wins the battle of the hoops? Which one should you get for your first hoop? Help us find out! We want you to take part in our very own mini experiment of weighted vs unweighted hoops using a fitness smart watch.
But first, let’s talk about the theory.
What hula hoop should I buy as a beginner?
Before we start, we’d always recommend picking a weighted hoop when you first start hooping. When it comes to weighted vs unweighted hoops, weighted hula hoops are perfect for beginners. Why? because larger, heavier hoops move around the waist slower, giving you more time to nail your technique. It also has the added benefit of momentum, meaning it can be easier to keep spinning. Still not sure what kind of hoop to buy? Check out our handy guide.
Pro tip – Just like you wouldn’t have a great time walking around in shoes that are too small or big – it’s super important to make sure you have a hoop that is the right size for your waist. This is especially important if you are a plus-sized hula hoop newbie. That’s why we offer a range of hoop sizes, and a hoop size guide in our shop.
Lighter hula hoops are great if you want to dance with your hoop. By being less heavy, you can keep them spinning on different parts of your body, such as around your neck or knees (PLEASE don’t do this with a weighted hoop – you’ll hurt yourself). However, when using lighter hoops you have to move faster to keep them up.
The theory goes that a heavier hoop will help you build muscle and tone your abs, and a lighter hoop will give you more of a cardio workout, as you have to work harder to keep it spinning. But let’s put this to the test and find out for sure either way!
The Experiment
Before we start we want to say that this isn’t a rigorous study in a scientific setting, just some hula hoopers having fun. To do this rigorously, we’d want hundreds of people to do this a controlled environment, as well as getting people to do it a number of times. However, using a fitness tracker such as a FitBit or Apple Watch can still point us in the right direction of finding out which is better when it comes to weighted vs unweighted hula hoops.
You will need
- A weighted hula hoop
- A unweighted MDPE hula hoop (ideally the same size as your weighted one)
- Space to hoop in
- A means of following this HulaFit HIIT workout on YouTube – via your phone, tablet or laptop.
How to get involved
- Make sure your fitness tracker is recording your workout. Set it to ‘cardio’ if you have that option
- Follow the HulaFit HIIT workout with your weighted hoop
- Follow it again with your non-weighted hoop
- Screen grab your results and DM them to the HulaFit Instagram, or email hulafituk@gmail.com
- You get extra brownie points for being rigorous if you do each one three times, so we can take an average – because… science! (this doesn’t have to be on the same day)
You absolutely do not have to be a hooping pro to get involved – as long as you can keep a hoop spinning comfortably on your waist, we’d love for you to join in.
The more people who join in the better our results will be. Tell your hoopy friends by sharing this blog with them. Get your results to us by Sunday 26th March 2023, so we can post the results in time for next month’s blog!
Once we have our results – we’ll update this blog with the results, and be able to put to rest the weighted vs unweighted hula hoop debate. Make sure you get involved, and tell your friends too!
Want to skip to the results? Revisit this blog in April, and we’ll have the answers ready for you!
