Did you know that your clothing plays a HUGE part in your hooping experience? If you’ve never given much thought about what to wear when hula hooping, allow us to give you some tips. You may not have given yourself the best head start if you wore the wrong gear!
Key advice we give to new hoopers, alongside choosing the right hoop, is wearing the right clothing. You don’t need to go out and buy any fancy new clothing, BUT some things you should consider when picking your outfit are:
Wear tight-fitting tops
When you are hula hooping, you definitely want to wear tighter fitting clothes – especially when you first start out. Baggy clothes simply get in the way, so the hoop may fall down more easily – not ideal! So put your chunky knits, hoodies, coats and flowy ball gowns away for your hooping session.
If you’re a beginner, baggy clothes will make the learning process way more frustrating, so make your life easier and go for something tight-fitting so you can enjoy yourself. We’d recommend a slim fit top, like some of our excellent Hula Queen tops, and some leggings or shorts in summer. Body-hugging is best!
Ultimately, the fewer baggy clothes to get in the way and the more body-to-hoop contact you can get, the better.
Here’s pro tip for knowing what to wear when hula hooping in winter: when it’s cold, go for multiple thin layers rather than something bulky. The air between the layers will help keep you insulated. You can also wear a hat to keep your head toasty.
Some leggings are better than others
If you hoop on your legs, you may find some leggings a bit slippy. It’s worth shopping around for a set that feels right for you.
When we asked our hoopy community on Instagram, you told us some of your favourites include: Lucy Locket Loves, Fabletics, Bamboo Clothing, Whirley Times, GAP, Bandit bee, YogaLegs. We love leggings from Blue Booby, which are designed with hoopers in mind so are nice and grippy. Look out for a high, thick waistband so the leggings stay up properly.
Some hoopers love to wear slashed or braided leggings for extra grip on their body. You can buy these from small businesses or make yourself!
Wear trainers, especially with weighted hoops
A really important part of knowing what to wear when hula hooping is making sure you have appropriate footwear. Trainers are your best bet, especially when using weighted hula hoops. This is really important in gyms or outdoors. All hoopers drop their hoops, and weighted hoops can really hurt when they land on your feet! Trainers give your feet the proper support they need while you exercise. They cushion your feet from heavy landings and help to keep you stable.
I think we’ve all seen amazing videos on Instagram of hoopers frolicking around barefoot like a woodland nymph. Do so at your own risk – you don’t know what you might step on! Of course, if you’re in your own garden the risks might be a little lower.
Sandals, heels or any kind of restrictive shoes limit your movement, so it’s best you avoid them. Trainers are sturdy and reliable and super comfy, so get the HulaFit seal of approval!
Hoops love skin!
Hoops are way more grippy against your skin than clothes, so you may want to wear a crop top, or anything else that exposes your middle while you’re learning to waist hoop.
Worried you’ll feel self conscious in a fitness class? Don’t be – everyone’s concentrating so much on their own hooping that they won’t notice what you’re wearing. However, a tight-fitting vest top can be just as good.
If you’d like to learn to hoop on your legs, you’ll want to expose as much bare skin as possible. You’ll want lots of grip tape and the teeniest tiniest shorts. Top tip: learn to leg hoop in summer – in winter it’s way too chilly!
Buy clothes by hoopers for hoopers
There are loads of phenomenal hula hoopers selling merchandise, which have been designed with hooping in mind. We sell our very own HulaFit or Hula Queen tops, outfits made from Blue Booby are designed with hoopers in mind as it is run by super hooper Emma Kenna, and we LOVE these hoop booty shorts from our pal Hoop Hustle Flow.
We’d always encourage you to buy from a small business whenever you can. Supporting small businesses helps them continue to share their skills and passion with people like you :).
Well there you have it! Our top tips for wearing the right clothes for hooping. Don’t forget to check out the HulaFit store for fab tops that will help you feel like a hula queen. Sign up to our newsletter for a cheeky 5% off too!
