Hula hoop materials explained: understanding PE, HDPE and PP
In brief: Many people ask which hula hoop material is best. The short answer is: no single material is always best. In Hoopomania’s self-made children’s and dance hoops, the material, tube diameter, wall thickness, hoop diameter, connector and surface all work together. This is why Hoopomania uses different types of tubing for different purposes.
Remember: At Hoopomania, PE typically offers a calmer feel, HDPE is used for a wide range of applications, and PP has a more direct feel. None is inherently better – the intended use is what matters.
Which hula hoops this guide covers
This page only covers materials used by Hoopomania for its self-made children’s hoops, dance hoops and the corresponding undecorated hoops. Massage hula hoops and foam-padded hoops are made externally. They follow different product and material concepts and are therefore not part of this workshop-based materials guide.
Here, materials knowledge means explaining the materials and how they are used in a finished hoop – not publishing the complete manufacturing process. This page is not a construction, assembly, folding or repair guide. Internal dimensions, temperatures, tools and complete working steps are intentionally not disclosed.
PE, HDPE and PP in practical terms
PE stands for polyethylene. HDPE means high-density polyethylene. PP stands for polypropylene and belongs to a different family of plastics. In practice, however, the material name alone is not enough: two hoops made from related materials can feel very different because of their tube diameter, wall thickness and overall hoop size.
| Material used by Hoopomania | Practical classification | Typical role in the current range |
|---|---|---|
| Black PE tubing | typical feel: calmer; comparatively flexible tubing | selected beginner and recreational hoops made from 25 mm tubing, plus matching undecorated hoops |
| Coloured HDPE tubing | typical feel: versatile; retains its shape more readily in handling than the black PE tubing while remaining elastic | children’s hoops, dance/designer hoops, mini/isolation hoops, undecorated hoops and selected collapsible models |
| Transparent PP tubing | typical feel: more direct; in Hoopomania’s practical experience it holds its original shape more strongly and behaves differently from HDPE when being rounded | transparent DIY hoops and the detachable or collapsible versions intended for them |
| Coloured PP tubing | typical feel: light and responsive | currently sold by the metre for individual DIY projects |
“Retains its shape” and “holds its original shape more strongly” refer exclusively to handling and the tendency to remain round. Neither statement is a promise concerning durability, resistance to breakage or service life.
Why Hoopomania also offers PP
PP complements the PE and HDPE ranges where a transparent appearance or a distinct, more direct shaping and movement response is wanted. Transparent PP is suitable for the specifically designed undecorated hoops and connector options. Coloured PP expands the tubing-by-the-metre range for individual DIY projects. PP is therefore not generally better than HDPE or PE; it is an additional material option for clearly defined applications.
Material, tube thickness and hoop diameter belong together
Thicker tubing is not automatically better. With the same hoop diameter, 16 mm tubing is lighter and becomes more flexible as the hoop gets larger than 20 or 25 mm tubing. A larger tube contains more material and usually adds weight to the hoop. This can produce a calmer rotation, but it is not suitable for every movement.
| Tubing group | Confirmed Hoopomania practice | Typical current examples |
|---|---|---|
| 16 mm HDPE | light and easy to handle; increasingly flexible at larger diameters | all self-made children’s hoops, mini/isolation hoops and 16 mm undecorated hoops |
| 20 mm HDPE | versatile dance and designer option; more material and shape retention than 16 mm | designer hoops, undecorated hoops and selected collapsible models |
| 25 mm black PE | larger tube cross-section and comparatively calm handling | selected beginner and recreational hoops, plus undecorated hoops |
| 20 and 16 mm coloured PP | light, direct material option | currently available as tubing sold by the metre |
| 19 and 16 mm transparent PP | transparent tubing with its own shaping behaviour | transparent undecorated hoops and the connector options intended for them |
These examples are a snapshot of the range as at 30 July 2026. Availability, colours and variants may change. The relevant product page remains authoritative.
An undecorated hoop is already usable
An undecorated hoop is not simply loose tubing. It is already a complete, usable hoop without decorative tape or grip tape. It can be used as it is by anyone who prefers a plain surface. Those who want to customise it can choose the surface materials separately.
This clearly distinguishes an undecorated hoop from tubing sold by the metre and individual components: tubing by the metre is raw material for a DIY project, whereas an undecorated hoop is already closed into a ring.
Why children’s hoops are made from 16 mm HDPE
Hoopomania uses 16 mm HDPE for its self-made children’s hoops. This tubing makes it possible to create lightweight hoops suited to a child’s height. Depending on the model, the surface is left plain or finished with decorative tape or grip tape.
This does not mean that 16 mm is always the best tubing for every person or movement. In larger dance hoops, the same tube size can respond much more flexibly. Children’s hoops are therefore designed as their own size and application group, not as scaled-down adult fitness hoops.
Connectors and fastening components
Alongside the tubing, the material system includes connectors and fastening components. Depending on the intended model, Hoopomania uses fixed, detachable or collapsible connections. Not every tube is intended for every type of connection: material, tube diameter, wall thickness, hoop size and connector must be planned as one system.
- Standard connectors join the intended tube ends and form the basis of a closed ring.
- Snap buttons make a plug-in connection detachable when a model is designed to open.
- Blind rivets permanently secure connections that are not intended to be opened regularly. Hoopomania uses selected quality rivets and checks the connection during production.
- Collapsible connectors allow suitable tube and hoop combinations to be packed more compactly while the hoop remains in one piece. According to the manufacturer’s documentation, the Spears insert fittings used by Hoopomania are PVC components.
This describes the function, not the assembly process. The appropriate connection for a particular hoop is determined by that product’s design.
Decorative tape and grip tape serve different purposes
Decorative tape and grip tape change the surface, not the base material of the tubing.
| Surface | Main purpose | Important limitation |
|---|---|---|
| Decorative tape | colour, pattern, shine or visual design | not intended as protection against asphalt, sharp edges or heavy impacts |
| Grip tape | a more tactile contact surface that can support grip and control | intended for contact, not for protecting the tubing |
| Undecorated hoop | plain tubing surface that can be used immediately | already a complete hoop; decoration is optional |
Grip tape therefore changes the contact surface, but it is not a protective layer against asphalt, sharp edges or heavy impacts. When selecting tape, Hoopomania considers factors including stretch, adhesion, appearance, workability and sufficient tear resistance during wrapping. This does not constitute a guarantee of any particular service life.
Heat, cold, sunlight and storage
The following guidance reflects Hoopomania’s workshop and manufacturing experience, not a universal statement of material physics. In the workshop, tubing is easier to shape when warm and harder to shape when cold. PP holds its original form more strongly, while HDPE reacts more flexibly and can be rounded more easily. No fixed temperature limits are derived from these observations.
Direct and prolonged sunlight should be avoided. Technical manufacturer information on polyethylene shows that UV exposure can contribute to material ageing unless the material is suitably stabilised. As the precise additives in every batch of tubing cannot be publicly guaranteed as a general rule, Hoopomania does not promise universal UV or weather resistance.
In practice:
- Do not store hoops permanently in direct sunlight, rain or outdoors.
- Do not leave a hoop heavily distorted for long periods.
- Allow a very cold hoop to reach room temperature before use.
- After opening a collapsible travel model, gently guide it back into its round shape; active heating is not recommended as general customer guidance.
Frequently asked questions about Hoopomania materials
Why doesn’t Hoopomania use the same material for every hoop?
Because children’s hoops, dance hoops, undecorated hoops and individual projects place different demands on weight, movement response, surface and connection. One material could not represent these differences appropriately. The material option is therefore selected for the intended purpose.
What is the difference between PE, HDPE and polypropylene?
PE is the polyethylene material family, while HDPE is a high-density form of polyethylene. PP is polypropylene and belongs to a different family of plastics. Tube diameter, wall thickness, hoop size, connector and surface are also crucial to the way a hoop handles.
Is thicker tubing automatically better?
No. A larger tube cross-section usually means more material and weight and can result in a calmer response. A thinner tube may be more suitable for small, light or fast dance movements. The intended use is what matters.
Why are children’s hoops made from 16 mm HDPE?
This tubing allows Hoopomania to make light, manageable children’s hoops in sizes related to body height. The statement applies to Hoopomania’s self-made children’s hoops and is not a general recommendation for every hoop or every person.
Why aren’t all hoops collapsible?
A collapsible connection requires a planned combination of tubing, hoop size and connector. Not every material or diameter is suitable for this construction. Being collapsible is also not a general quality feature; it is a transport function.
How do heat, cold and storage affect the material?
Heat and cold temporarily affect how easily the tubing can be shaped. Prolonged sunlight, weather exposure and severe long-term distortion should be avoided. A dry place at a normal room temperature and away from direct sunlight is suitable for storage.
What is the difference between decorative tape and grip tape?
Decorative tape is mainly used for visual design. Grip tape creates a more tactile surface and can support grip and control. Neither serves as protection against asphalt or heavy impacts.
Materials knowledge as part of choosing a Hoopomania hoop
Our self-made hula hoops are not produced according to a single formula; they are designed for their respective uses. Materials knowledge is therefore not about declaring one material the winner. It explains why children’s hoops, beginner hoops, dance hoops and undecorated hoops can be constructed differently.
Explore further: About Hoopomania · Undecorated hula hoops · Hula hoop plastic tubing