The best weighted hula hoops to upgrade your cardio workout and tone your core

The best weighted hula hoops are far superior to the toy versions you used to twirl around in back in your school days. In fact, they are one of 2022's biggest fitness trends—in part thanks to TikTok, which has sent this fun form of exercise viral. Experts champion weighted hula hooping as an easy way to upgrade your cardio and tone up your abs at the same time.

"If you are hula hooping for more than a few minutes it will boost cardiovascular fitness—since it's harder than it looks—and it is great for your balance and challenging your core muscles," says Rebecca Myer, a personal trainer and founder of app Live Happy. "It also relies on your leg muscles working to help stabilize you." 

Hula hooping is a great addition to a well-rounded fitness routine alongside using the best workout apps. So, get on your best workout leggings and get your hands on a hoop. Not sure where to start? We've done the hard work and rounded up our pick of the best...

How we tested the best weighted hula hoops

If you want to make your at-home workouts or gym sessions something to look forward to, then incorporate a weighted hula hoop into your routine. Here's what we considered when coming up with our top picks:

• Weight—this is obviously a core consideration. Just like choosing the best dumbbells for your level of fitness, it isn't a case of the heavier the better. While you want to choose a weight that challenges your body, you likewise don't want to push your body too far and risk injury. It is worth noting that some hoops allow you to change the weight, while others require you to select a particular heaviness when purchasing.
• Style—we also looked into whether the hoop was smooth or wavy. The former option is more comfortable and better for beginners, while the latter option helps ensure the hoop stays in place so you can focus on twirling and getting your heart rate up. 
• Design—just like the best leggings and best running shoes, we believe gym equipment should also be nice to look at. We considered whether the hoops came with an attractive design, as well as different color options.
• Function—as well as helping aid your workout, we looked at whether there were any additional features to make your life easier. For instance, some hoops can be dismantled into pieces making them simple to transport or store away. 
• Price—we also ensured that our recommendations are value for money. As such, we've included pricier options that we feel are worth the investment, as well as budget alternatives for those simply wanting to dip their toe in the world of hula hooping. 

The best weighted hula hoops, as tested by us

This Core Balance Smooth Weighted Hula Hoop ticks many boxes. Coming in at one kilogram, it's heavy enough to challenge your body but still at a level that's accessible to those still getting to grips with hula hooping. Additionally, the smooth—rather than ridged or wavy—surface is also more comfortable and therefore better suited to beginners. Although, our tester did find this made it slightly less grippy. The reinforced plastic core is covered in special NBR foam padding that is non-absorbent and resistant to bacteria, so it can easily be cleaned after a sweaty workout. 

One of its major plus points is that it can be dismantled into separate parts for easy transportation between home, the gym and the park. This also means the diameter of the hoop can be adjusted to be 75cm, 87cm or 98cm—the wider it is, the more of a challenge it is. As such, our tester really liked that the intensity could be quickly varied.

If you are a dedicated hula hooper and want to treat yourself, the Powerhoop Deluxe Weighted Hula Hoop could be the one for you. This high-quality, long-lasting option not only looks really slick—and will be sure to brighten your day with its multicolored design—but is sure to challenge more advanced users. You can opt to use weighted inserts, meaning the hoop is 1.6kg, or you can add in weighted inserts to bring it up to 1.9kg or 2.2kg. Our tester liked the opportunity this gave for the workout to be more of a challenge, particularly since the diameter of the hoop stays the same at 102cm. They were also a fan of the ridged design which made it easier to keep the hoop in place as you rotate, and the shock-absorbing inner areas made it more comfortable. Additionally, it is easy to dismantle thanks to its two large buttons, making it transportable and better to store. 

The Phoenix Fitness Weighted Hula Hoop is a great all-rounder, and great value for money if you are new to hula hooping and simply want to try out this form of exercise. Coming in at 1.1kg, it's also a great entry-level weight for beginners. What's more, it can be dismantled into sections—making it ideal for transporting and storing—meaning it can be made small enough for a child to try out too. If you do plan to let your kid have some fun with it then you can also have peace of mind that the durable plastic core, covered in soft EVA foam—that's bacteria and moisture-resistant—will be able to withstand a lot of  wear and tear.

Our tester loved the simplicity of this hoop for adults and youngsters wanting to try a new way to increase their fitness, however those looking for a bit more of a challenge might be better off with a slightly heavier option.

Seasoned hula hoopers would do well to choose Bopster's Just Be...Fitness Hula Hoop. There are four weights to choose from, ranging from 1.2kg to 2.1kg, which will be sure to challenge even the most advanced users. However, it's worth noting that you'll need to commit to a particular weight when you buy. Similarly, there's just one diameter to choose from—but, given it's on the larger side, this will also help upgrade the workout's intensity. 

The ridged design helped keep the hoop in place, while the soft EVA foam padding made it comfortable to use. It's also possible to dismantle this one, making it great for transporting and storing. Another plus point is that there are five bright color options to choose between.

The OnBuy Adjustable Weighted Hula Hoop looks a bit daunting at first. After all, it's nothing like the classic hula hoops of your youth—and comes in a much smaller size. However, this means you don't need to worry at all about it sliding down past your hips. Instead, it works with a 'weight' on the end of a string that is thrown around you as you move. The slide rail allows the weight to glide in a circular motion, and the shock-absorbing contact points help boost comfort, although our tester still found it a little clunky to use at first. 

The 'adjustable' aspect of the hoop doesn't relate to the weight, but the width of the hoop—each section is 5.5cm and there are 24 sections to play around with. Our tester believes this option is great for those who tend to find the hoop dropping to their feet a lot. However, others might prefer a classic design as this one is a little fiddly to to grips with.

This Awroutdoor Fitness Hula Hoop is great value for money, coming in at just under a tenner. Its 1.2kg weight should help you push your body, and there's also the option to increase the intensity by making it gradually wider—making it suitable for both beginners and the more advanced. Indeed, it can be dismantled into eight sections, which also means it is simple to transport and store. 

It features ridging to help it stop slipping past the hips, and the soft foam padding makes it very comfortable to use. For its price, our tester felt this was a great option—although those who want a more aesthetically pleasing piece of equipment, in addition to function, might want to look elsewhere.

If you prefer a smooth rather than ridged hoop, then Decathlon's Nyamba Fitness Weighted Hoop would make a great choice. The smooth edge makes it more comfortable to use, although you'll have to work a bit harder to keep it up. One of the main plus points is that you can easily vary the width to make it gradually harder, which is important for those intending to slowly build up their fitness with a hoop. 

This hoop also features a clip system so that it can be quickly assembled and dissembled for transportation and storage. Our tester found the weight to be a good level of difficulty. Another consideration is that the design is a bit plainer and less colorful than some jazzier options—however, as function goes, this is a smooth operator indeed.

Gym equipment has a tendency to be a bit bland-looking—however, the Hoopspin Fitness Hoop gives your workout session a colorful stylish upgrade. There's a host of beautiful, handmade designs available, including black with a striped 'galaxy' design and UV pink with a striped 'rainbow' finish. Our tester really liked that the hoops—made from 25mm MDPE tubing—weren't too heavy. Indeed, the 0.6kg and 0.8kg options, which are that bit lighter than other weighted hula hoops, are intended to lower the risk of injury. However, some more advanced hula hoopers may prefer a bit more weight. That said, the intensity can still be increased thanks to six different diameter options, including 99cm, 101.6cm, 104.1cm, 106.7cm, 109.2cm, 111.8cm. 

While the hoop can't be dismantled into parts, like some others on the market, for transportation and storage, you'll most likely want to keep this pretty piece of equipment proudly on display as it is.

w&h thanks Rebecca Myer, a personal trainer and founder of the health and lifestyle app Live Happy, for her time and expertise.