Few TikTok trends will be life altering. Sure, many of the videos are entertaining, but you can probably live without them. However, the platform has recently taken a larger role in influencing the way we live, shop and play. One glaring example is the breakout success of hula hoop workouts on TikTok.

Photo by Karolina Grabowska from Pexels

Why Hula Hoop Workouts Are Trending on TikTok

Ever since the mandated stay-at-home orders were established last year, we have all been looking for new and interesting fitness challenges to lose weight and get motivated. COVID weight is a real thing, and no one wants to re-enter society in worse physical shape than they were before the pandemic.

Many have taken up boxing in their living rooms, participated in the five-minute plank challenge, or tried online yoga classes. These are all fantastic choices, but some people do not particularly enjoy an intense workout or holding a plank until their abs are screaming for relief. Hula hoops are an entirely different story, and it’s no wonder these workouts have become so popular.

Hula Hoop Workouts Are Fun and Nostalgic

Who didn’t play with a hula hoop as a kid? Those cheap plastic rings provided hours of fun, and we had no idea we were exercising during play time. Now that we are older and wiser, we know that the hula hooping is a great workout. 

TikTok influencers have figured out ways to leverage these nostalgic novelties to create fun workout videos that build core strength and strong abs, with the added bonus of  boosting their followings.

There are two different types of hula hoops for an effective workout – weighted hula hoops and smart hula hoops. 

Weighted Hula Hoop Workouts on TikTok

Videos of weighted hula hoop workouts on TikTok are racking up millions of likes, with viewers raving about their ability to build core strength and trim waistlines.

The good news is that TikTok videos are known for their brevity. You can learn how to use your new weighted hula hoop from a brief video. You can then build yourself up from a short one-minute workout to one that is five to ten minutes. The longer you can keep up the exercise, the better your results will be.

Weighted hula hoops range from about 1-3 lbs. and most are adjustable. Start with a lighter weight hula hoop or even an old-school one that isn’t necessarily designed for these new workouts. As you get used to the routines demonstrated in the videos, you can switch to ones with weight added to build up your strength.

Overall, exercising with a hula hoop is a convenient and simple way to break a sweat in the comfort of your own home. Once you’ve mastered the routine, you can take your hula hoop outside now that spring has arrived.  Wherever you exercise, you’re likely to enjoy this short and affordable workout that delivers excellent results.

If you’re not sure which hula hoop to choose, here are a few options:

Spinsterz Beginner Hula Hoop

This lightweight (roughly 1.3 lbs) hula hoop is ideal for beginners. It comes in two sizes and a variety of colors. They are handmade in the U.S. and are a great choice for someone who wants to learn how to hula hoop or get back into the practice. The hoop also comes apart easily for storage or travel and costs less than $50.

NEOWEEK Weighted Hula Hoop

This is one of the top-selling weighted hula hoops, and it can be purchased for about half the price as the Spinsterz. It weighs 2 lbs. and comes in eight sections so that you can adjust it to fit your needs or take it apart for storage. The outer ring is made from soft foam cushioning, which can help prevent bruising during exercise. You also get a free soft ruler as a gift that you can use to measure your waistline reduction progress.

Dynamis Fat Burning Weighted Hula Hoop

If you’re ready to take your hula hooping skills to the next level, you might want to check out the Dynamis hula hoop that weighs in at 3.6 lbs. More than 50,000 customers have purchased this product since 2014. It’s designed to provide greater resistance with every rotation. It is 35.5” in diameter and 2.5” thick with gentle and soft foam padding. It also disassembles easily, and the price is comparable to others on the market.

Smart Hula Hoop Workouts on TikTok

Smart hula hoops are a new twist on this classic gizmo. Instead of a traditional-looking hoop, a smart hula hoop fits around your waist like a belt. Don’t worry – it’s adjustable to different waist sizes. Attached is a weighted gravity ball that spins around the belt as you rotate your hips the same way you would with a regular hula hoop.

Some smart hula hoops even have a digital tool to keep track of your activity.  One video showing off the smart hula hoop racked up over 800,000 views on TikTok. Since these videos started streaming, online retailers have been struggling to keep these items in stock.

If you are looking for a smart hula hoop to follow along with your TikTok influencers, here are a few you can try:

Mige Tec Smart Hula Hoop

One of the most popular smart hula hoops is the Mige Tec. It is fairly inexpensive and is available in several colors. This is the same one featured in the above-mentioned TikTok video. You may have to wait awhile to get this one though, as its availability seems to be limited due to high demand.

The waist belt consists of 24 detachable parts that you can adjust to fit your waist size, up to 51.96 inches. The sections are easy to attach with the push of a button.

It includes a 0.51 lb soft gravity ball that rotates around an external track as you swing your hips, lighting up like a disco ball as you move. While you exercise, you will also be lightly massaged from the shock-absorbing pieces in the waist belt. Additionally, the product comes with a digital timer that keeps track of your exercise.

Surcult Smart Hula Hoop

The Surcult Smart Hula Hoop is a low-tech version of the Mige Tec at a lower price. You  have a choice of two colors, but you will not get the flashing lights on your weighted gravity ball or the benefit of a fitness tracker.

This smart hula hoop has the same type of waist belt. There are 24 detachable pieces, and it can expand to 52 inches. The gravity ball is 1.5 lbs, which appears to be a bit heavier than the one that comes with the Mige Tec.

Weighted and smart hula hoops are trendy new pieces of workout equipment, and TikTok users and online shoppers alike are thrilled with these unconventional workouts. They are a unique, fun, and effective way to get back into shape after a challenging year.