Hoopnotica Fitness Travel Hoop Combo Kit (incl. Weighted Hula Hoop, Carry Strap, Level 1 Hoopdance DVD)

This hoop is good for beginners who want to be able to take their hoopjoy on the road. Whether you use all six segments or only five, the hoop is large enough to accommodate most adults and to keep up without wearing yourself out as you learn the basics.I found three cons to this product, but none of them should deter you from buying it. I only mention them as a heads-up. First is the clacking noise the hoop makes when you spin it. That happens because it's segmented and the connection spots have a little give.Second is the connectors themselves. If you don't have slender fingers, it takes time to get the hang of disconnecting the segments without hurting a digit.Third is the fact that the tape can get scraped up pretty easily if the hoop hits hard surfaces often enough. This is common to all hoops, however, so it shouldn't be a deal-breaker. To avoid scratching up your hoop too much, hoop on carpet or a mat indoors and on grass outdoors whenever possible.As for the carry strap, it's sturdy and will hold the six segments together snugly until you're ready to assemble the hoop.The DVD that comes with the hoop is a short (about 12 minutes) introduction to the Hoopnotica program. It includes just enough moves shown to whet your appetite for the company's workout and instructional DVDs, but does not have an actual workout on it. It's more informercial than anything else, but it will give you enough info to get you started, so consider watching it before you head out with your travel hoop.

I'll be honest, 30 dollars for a hula hoop? I was far from convinced, but I knew I had to choose something. I HATE the gym with unwavering intensity. It smells, the music sucks the people are snooty (or I'm just going to the wrong gym). My expectations for this product far from high. However, when I got the product, I decided that the time had come to either use this or something like it to get fit or deal with the foul reality that is the gym.I'm usually not one to gush about a product or item, but I LOVE this hoop! It's the perfect weight to make keeping it spinning along your waist easy, but still provide a workout. The detachable parts do make creaking sounds when using the hoop, but as long as you're watching TV or listening to music (which I always am) it's not too noticeable. As far as effectiveness, I definitely saw a difference in a few weeks. Not a huge one mind you, but an increase in core strength that was appreciated. Not a full replacement for the gym, but definitely a part of the larger regime the costly investment of a gym membership.Warning: This can be a little rough on the hips and stomach when you're first starting. This isn't really a fault in the hoop, but a byproduct of the exercise it's used for. Even so, don't be surprised if initially you have some light bruises and tenderness if you go continuously for more than twenty or thirty minutes. I noticed that after continued use, maybe a week or so, it was no longer an issue for me.

I was very excited to find that the pink bundled package here was a lot cheaper than the Hoopnotica site, however, I do still feel like these products are pricey, but I figured what the hell. With that being said, I paid a lot of money for this product and expect to get the whole package! The hoop came, and to my surprise, the DVD did not arrive with it. I contacted the seller, hopefully they will send one with no extra charge!Well, they didn't send me the DVD, they said that it does not come with the pink hoop. They said they would credit $15 to my account, but have not. So I returned it. It cost me $12 for shipping. Ridiculous. Do not buy!I ended up buying from another website - Troo Hoops. Their hoops were prettier, easier and less painful to disassemble and it doesn't make the horrible clicking sound when you hoop with it. The hoops itself cost a little less depending on what you get, and you can design them. However, you do have to pay for shipping.

After purchasing the  Empower Cardio Core Hoop with DVD  and finding it virtually impossible to take apart once all six pieces were locked into place, I decided that in order to make my hoop mobile, I needed to give the highly rated Hoopnotica Fitness Travel Hoop a try.When compared to the Empower hoop, this Hoopnotica offering is considerably lighter and will probably not cause the bruising that first-time or infrequent users will incur from the bumping of the hoop against the upper hip. Other more weighted choices like the Empower are padded and ridged and will stand the test of time; this one is not and most likely will not. In fact it's overall styling while attractive (I selected the gold and pink) may just be too ephemeral, consisting of textured pink gripping tape and gold foil sticker over a base of plastic that will not weather well as, no matter how proficient the dancer, the hoop will hit the ground and sustain scratching from average wear and tear.As a travel hoop, this model can be put together with little or no trouble; the six segments join together easily and click into place with a push button guard that will lock it tightly. Although much easier to get back into segments after use, this hoop nonetheless still presents a bit of difficulty to disassemble. As the push button locks are too small for the ball of the finger to depress easily, it may be necessary to use the eraser end of a pencil or some other soft item to engage the button while pulling apart the two segments. Keep in mind, however, that unlike the Empower, this travel hoop can travel as it does as it promises: comes apart. The accompanying Velcro sling works to contain the six segments with some dexterity on the part of the hooper to get all pieces to fit in neatly and precisely.Hoop dancers have the option to use either all six component segments or only five depending on what kind of exercise is warranted. The smaller hoop will increase the cardio workout while the larger one will allow all dance moves demonstrated on the  Hoopnotica Hoopdance Beginning Level 1  to be practiced without restriction.Bottom line? Hoopnotica's Travel Hoop is a bit pricey when compared to less mobile options. While the "travel" feature does allow hoop deconstruction, the overall design of the hoop is light and flimsy with a styling that will most likely disintegrate over time. Nonetheless, this hoop is easy to use and can be stored in a small space. A DVD depicting beginner moves can be purchased through Amazon or [...]. Note: instructions are not included with this package and must be purchased separately in DVD format (check out Youtube). In general, hoop dancing provides a wonderful core-strengthening aerobic activity that is a great addition to anyone's exercise routine. Recommended with some reservations.Diana Faillace Von Behren"reneofc"