Many of us fondly remember hula hoops from childhood, but athletes and amateurs alike have begun to reclaim the humble hoop for core strength workouts.
These new, redesigned fitness aids are heavier than before – usually between 1kg and 3kg – and break up into segments for easy storage.
According to Mayo Clinic, you can burn up to 200 calories in a half-hour hula-hooping session, gaining similar results to other aerobic activities like dancing.
It can also help improve your posture and balance, thus having a positive impact on other sports or activities you partake in.
After much in-depth research and analysis of consumer reviews, we've found the best weighted hula hoops for you to try this year.
The best hula hoops for core workouts
Core Balance Weighted Hula Hoop
With its extensive range of stylish yet affordable home fitness products, Core Balance is a great place to start when looking for weighted hula hoops.
This one gives you the choice of a wavy or smooth design, depending on your ability level. If you’re a beginner, we’d recommend opting for the smooth hula hoop for a low-intensity workout. Alternatively, go for the ridged version to take your workout to the next level.
Both weigh 1.2kg and have a soft, bacteria-resistant foam exterior. They also come in three smart colours: blue, purple and black.
Like all the best weighted hula hoops, this one breaks up into several parts, making it easy to store and transport it.
Just Be Fitness Hula Hoop
When you buy this hula hoop from Just Be Fitness, you get a choice of three weights so you can choose the best one for your fitness level. The pink and orange versions weigh 1.2kg, while the blue is slightly higher at 1.5kg, and the black is heavier again at 2kg.
Whichever hula hoop you choose, you’ll get an EVA foam outer for comfortable cushioning while you exercise.
The hoop has six separate sections, which you can click together to form the full circle, and take apart again when you’ve finished your workout.
Domyos Fitness Weighted Hoop
This Domyos weighted hula hoop may not be the most stylish design on the market, but it’s already earned more than 800 five-star reviews on Decathlon’s website.
At 1.4kg in weight, it’s slightly heavier than some of the other hula hoops available, but you can remove one or two links to reduce the size and weight when you start out.
As you’d expect, the design also includes soft foam padding for protection as you exercise.
66fit Weighted Hula Hoop
This option from 66fit is one of the best weighted hula hoops to buy if you want a choice of designs. The pink version weighs 1.2kg, so it’s ideal for beginners, while the ‘intermediate’ orange hoop is 1.5kg. The blue one is better for advanced users at 2kg.
No matter your level, you’ll be able to access in-depth videos online to find out more about getting the most from your weighted hula hoop.
According to the makers, this hula hoop is easy to put together in under a minute, thanks to the spring-loaded locking mechanism in each section.
ResultSport UK The Original Weighted Hula Hoop
Another highly rated option is this weighted hula hoop from ResultSport. It’s got over 4,000 five-star Amazon reviews, so it’s definitely worth considering if you’re after some new workout equipment.
Like most of the best weighted hula hoops, this one is 1.2kg, but you can remove one of the eight sections to create a smaller and lighter version for beginners and teens.
Everlast Weighted Hula Hoop
This weighted hula hoop comes from the trusted US fitness brand Everlast. Although the retailer hasn’t revealed much information about it, this version has attracted positive reviews. Available for under £15, it’s also cheaper than many others you can get, so it’s a great budget-friendly option.
The pink and grey hoop features a ridged design, making it better suited to experienced users.
USA Pro Weighted Fitness Hula Hoop
Specialising in women’s activewear and gym accessories, USA Pro sells a wide range of fitness products in stylish pastel shades.
Choose the brand’s weighted hula hoop for its subtle ridged design to intensify any workout, and the understated blue colourway, which sets it apart from other brighter designs on the market.
K-MART Smart Hula Ring Hoop
You may have seen weighted hula hoops like this one trending on social media. With its heavy ball attachment, it has a slightly different design to the hoops sold by most fitness brands.
The inner hoop sits close to your waist - you’ll need to add between 15 and 24 of the interlocking segments to fit your body. Then, you move your hips to spin the weighted ball around you in a circular motion.
Thanks to its adjustable sizing, this weighted hula hoop is a great choice if you want to share your workout equipment with other family members. You can even shorten the rope attached to the ball when you’re starting out.
Considering other options? See our favourite ankle weights to upgrade your workouts.