Would you believe us if we told you that 30 minutes of weighted hula hooping could burn up to 300 calories? It sounds almost too good to be true.
While anecdotally reaching this burn rate, according to a study by Ace Fitness, 16 healthy women reported an average of 210 calories burned in this period. What’s more, a report published in the National Library of Medicine monitored 55 overweight nondiabetic subjects, half of which hula hooped and the other walked. The hula group saw a significant reduction in fat percentage, an increase in muscle mass and a reduction in waist circumference.
If you’ve found most forms of exercise tedious, you may have been doing the wrong workout. Exercising doesn’t have to be all gym floors and marathons. You can find joy in moving your body, all while improving your fitness levels and achieving your goals – be it losing weight, toning or building endurance and stamina. And you can do it while watching TV.
Hula hooping is a mood-boosting way to benefit your health, mentally and physically. Cardio exercise has been associated with improving strength and flexibility, coordination and motor skills and burning fat. The movement calls on the full body, toning the abs but also strengthening the back, shoulder, glutes and thighs.
As with anything, practice makes perfect. The more that you spin the hoop around your waist, the better you’ll get at keeping it in the right position and the longer you’ll be able to do it. The best weighted hula hoops come in sections and you can add or take off weight as needed. Reducing the size of the hoop makes it easier so you can see real progression by enhancing the diameter and forcing it to become more challenging. It’s also far more purse-friendly than a gym membership.
Feel the burn with the best weighted hula hoops below
PROIRON Smart/Weighted Hula Ring Hoops
Feel the burn with PROIRON’s weighted hoola hoop, which so happens to be one of the highest rated in its category on Amazon. The hoop comes with additional sections so you can make it bigger or smaller as needed and the entire thing can be folded up into a convenient storage bag. There is a rainbow array of colours available, each of which represents a different weight from 0.95kg (grey) to 1.8kg (black). The hoops are sturdy, well made and have a thick foam construction so it’s one of the most comfortable and durable on the market.
Buy now £24.99, Amazon
Opti Weighted Hula Hoop
Opti has two weights of its fan-favourite hula hoop. The blue pictured is the lighter of the two, weighing 1.25kg but if you’re hoping to challenge yourself, the pink weighs 1.8kg. As you shake your body, the hoop works to sculpt your abs, burning calories and improving your stamina, and it’s fun too. The hoops are filled with padded foam and have a larger diameter of 100cm so you can really push yourself.
Buy now £20.00, Argos
DOMYOS Fitness Weighted Hoop 1.4 kg
If you are just dipping your toe into the weighted hula hooping revolution, it is understandable that you don’t want to lay out a hefty sum before you know if you’ll enjoy the workout. That’s where the DOMYOS option comes in. It is from Decathlon and will set you back just one penny shy of £16 but more than just the affordability (which is a lot less than a gym membership), it is a great beginner’s hoop as you can start with lesser weight and a smaller diameter and add pieces as you progress.
Buy now £15.99, Decathlon
Smart weighted Hula Ring Hoops for Adults
This slightly odd contraption is far from the hula hoop that may have defined your childhood. It takes the nostalgic plaything and cranks it up a notch with smart touches. First and foremost there is a timer and a counter which tracks your reps and calories burnt but that’s just the start. The hoop has massage knots and a smaller diameter to act as a targeted exercise for the abs and release tension at the same time.
Buy now £29.99, Amazon
Weighted Hula Hoops for Adults
If you’re looking to find the exercise that brings you joy - and you’ve not had luck in traditional gym floors, enter this hula hoop. The pink iteration is padded with a comfortable foam and weighted with 1.2kg, but there are other colours at 1.4 and 1.5kg too. It has a sturdy construction but there are bumps on the interior that can feel uncomfortable during the first few tries and may cause bruising but you get used to it. Click the parts together to assemble and easily take apart for easier storage.
Buy now £14.99, Amazon
PRO Hula Hoops Weighted Travel Hula Hoop
When you want to take your hula hooping on the move, you need a collapsable option like this Flames 'N Games travel hoop. The striking design is as fun and playful as the activity should be with glitter and vibrant colourways but don’t underestimate its durability - the glitter and grip tape was created to stand the test of time. It has a smooth texture and velcro to customise the size.
Buy now £29.99, Amazon
