Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

I've tried at least 6 different models of hoops in the last few years. Most of them work -- they spin on my waist, they look nice. Heavier ones are easier to keep up, lighter ones are easier to move up and down my body if I'm feeling ambitious. But the ridges...they just hurt. It baffles me that people not only buy these hoops, but continue to use them despite their abusive nature. I had a fist-size purple bruise on my waist/pelvis after using this stupid hoop for 5 minutes. Every time it spins, it punches you in the stomach and then the back...on repeat..until you can't take the pain anymore. If you want extra weight in your hoop just get one from Philthy Hoops or Troo Hoops -- anything over 1 lb is enough to give you a workout. If you're having trouble keeping the hoop up, you don't need ridges, you need either a heavier hoop (again, try to go over 1 lb...but anything over 2lb is just going to slow the hoop down and decrease the cardio aspect of the workout) or a larger diameter hoop. I found a 42-44" hoop at about 1 1/2 lbs was the easiest when I first started hooping, and as I got better, I switched to a 39" hoop that was maybe 1 1/4 lbs for a faster workout. My tummy is seriously defined from hooping about 5-15 minutes a day, 2x a week for the last few months. The muscle definition was noticeable after the first couple of weeks, and now I just hoop for the cardio, and to maintain the muscle definition. to recap -- do NOT buy a hoop with ridges. Do NOT buy this hoop. It is a gimmick, and a seriously painful one at that. Who cares if the pain goes away with time...there was never a reason for it. Get a normal, adult-size hoop (38-44", 1-2 lb) and you'll get plenty of exercise minus the regular punches to the gut.