Mini Hula Hoops: What they are, who they’re for, and why you might want a set
Mini hoops are small diameter hula hoops (typically 50cm – 60cm) and used for hand hooping, juggling, off body tricks, doubles, quads, and technical flow. They’re not a beginner hoop and they’re not kids hoops (though of course small children can absolutely use them). They’re a specialist prop that opens up a whole different dimension of hooping once you’re ready for them.
If you’ve been hooping for a while and starting to wonder what’s next? Mini hoops might just be the answer you’re looking for.
What makes mini hoops different?
The short answer: everything that makes a standard hoop good for learning works in reverse with a mini. They’re small, light, and fast. Which means they reward precision and penalise vagueness.
Where a weighted dance hoop is forgiving and grounding, a mini hoop is responsive and demanding. The two hoops sit at opposite ends of the spectrum, and are 100% used for completely different styles of hooping. If you’re wanting to develop a new style of flow and movement into your repertoire, then adding minis into your collection is a solid way to go.
What mini hoops are actually used for
Hand hooping and off body tricks
Mini hoops are built for movement away from your body. Nobody expects you to waist hoop with a mini. Think, spinning on your hands, passing between your fingers, isolations, and technical patterns and sequences. Their small size and light weight make them far more responsive and easier to manage for this kind of play.
Doubles, quads, and multi hoop displays
This is where mini hoops shine! Working with two, three, four or more hoops at once requires hoops that are small enough to manage together without taking up your entire wingspan. Mini hoops are sized specifically for this, giving you enough room to create patterns, passes, and sequences across multiple hoops without constantly fighting for space.
Check out the 4 for $100 deal on mini hoops in our shop.
Juggling and circus skills
Mini hoops cross over naturally into juggling and broader circus skills. If you’re already into juggling or want to start bringing circus elements into your practise, mini hoops are a direct bridge between the two disciplines.
Low ceiling play
This one’s underrated. If you’re working on doubles or mini hoop flow but you live in an apartment with standard ceiling height, a full sized polypro hoop overhead is a recipe for broken lights and other household damage. Mini hoops give you a practical way to drill some of the same skills indoors without redecorating.
Little kids
Mini hoops can also work really well for young children who aren’t quite ready for a full 80cm kids hoop. The 50cm size in particular suits very young or small-framed children who want to join in.
For sizing guidance across ages and builds, our hula hoop size guide covers it all.
Are mini hoops right for you?
Mini hoops aren’t for everyone at every stage, and that’s totally fine. Here’s a pretty straightforward way to think about it.
You’re probably ready for mini hoops if:
- You want to explore off body movement
- You’re interested in doubles, quads, or multi-hoop work
- You want to develop hand hooping and more technical skills
- You’re buying for a young child who needs something sized better for their body
- You hoop in a small space and need something you can practise with indoors
Mini hoops probably aren’t right for you if:
- You’re still working on the fundamentals of keeping a hoop up (unless you are solely interested in off-body tricks and tech)
- You haven’t tried any off body moves at all (just start with your standard hoop first, no need to buy new toys just yet)
- You’re looking for a hoop to learn waist hooping on
If you’re not sure where you’re at in your hooping journey, the beginners guide to choosing a hula hoop will help you work it out.
Mini hoops and material
Hoop Sparx mini hoops are made from ⅝” polypro. They’re thinner than the regular ¾” pipe, making it easier to grip two hoops in one hand. The materials’ stiffness and lightness helps make them responsive and satisfying to work with. HDPE mini hoops aren’t advisable. They’re too heavy, relative to their size, and may not offer the snappy precision you’re looking for.
If you’re new to polypro and want to understand it all a bit more and how different materials impact the hoop experience, our polypro vs HDPE guide explains it all.
Ready to add minis to your collection?
Mini hoops aren’t a replacement for your main hoop, they’re an addition to your collection. Most hoopers who get into them keep their dance hoop or larger polypro for on-body and single hoop flow and reach for the minis when they want something a bit more technical.
If you’re building out your collection and want to make sure you’ve got the right tools at every stage, our complete buying guide covers it all in one place.
Hoop Sparx mini hoops: the practical details
Our mini hoops come in two sizes.
- 60cm outer diameter – available in orange, pink, and purple
- 50cm outer diameter – available in blue
Both sizes suit hand hooping, off body tricks, and multi hoop work. The 50cm is the better choice for very young children or hoopers wanting maximum responsiveness for fast technical sequences. The 60cm suits most adult hoopers working on doubles and juggling skills.
Want many minis? A discount applies when you buy four (or more) and is automatically applied at checkout. Most hoopers working on doubles or quads buy a set rather than a single hoop at a time.
Hoops are made to order, please allow up to 10 days for fulfillment. Wholesale and bulk orders are also available, just flick me an email.
What is the difference between a mini hoop and a regular hula hoop?
A mini hoop is smaller than a standard hoop (50 – 60cm in diameter compared to 75 – 110cm). That smaller size makes them too fast and light for on body hooping, but ideal for off body movement, hand hooping, doubles, and technical tricks. They serve a completely different purpose rather than being a smaller version of the same thing.
What size are mini hoops?
Mini hoops are technically between 50cm and 65cm in outer diameter.
What tricks can you do with mini hoops?
Mini hoops are built for off body and hand based movement. Think isolations, gridwork, multi-beat weaves, flowers, and more poi-style moves. They’re also used for doubles and quad patterns, juggling sequences, tosses, and fan moves. The smaller and lighter weight makes them far more responsive and well suited to this style of work.
Are mini hoops the same as isolation hoops?
Not exactly. However there is a bit of an overlap. Isolations are a trick that can be performed where the hoop looks like it is floating in space. Mini hoops can absolutely be used to perform isolation tricks, and many hoopers use them for this work. The term mini hoops is generally used to refer to a smaller sized hula hoop, where isolation hoops generally refers to a hoop that has been designed and weighted specifically for isolation tricks. These may be made from polished aluminium or polypro, and mini hoops are generally made from polypro.
Are mini hoops good for beginners?
Not for learning on-body hooping like waist hooping. They’re too small and generally not the place someone starts unless they are specifically seeking to learn off-body moves, hand hooping, or technical tricks. If you’re starting out, it’s a good idea to begin with a standard sized dance or fitness hoop and progress to minis once you have the foundations down.
What age are mini hoops suitable for?
For technical skills, mini hoops suit older children and adults who already have some hula hoop experience. For very young or small-framed children who aren’t ready for a standard sized hoop just yet, the 50-60cm mini hoop can work well as a simple play hoop. For a full guide to sizing across ages, see our hula hoop size guide.
How many mini hoops do I need?
It depends on what you want to do. For hand hooping and solo off body work, one or two is enough to get started. For doubles, quads, or juggling patterns you’ll likely want three or more.
Hoop Sparx offers 4 for $100, with the discount automatically applied at checkout.
What material are mini hoops made from?
Hoop Sparx mini hoops are polypro. Read more about polypro vs HDPE if you want to learn more about hula hoop materials.