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  • Home
  • Get Started
  • Topics
    • Beginner Hula Hooping
    • How to Hula Hoop
    • Hula Hooping To Lose Weight
    • Hula Hoop Tricks
    • Hula Hoop Health Benefits
    • Hula Hoop for Plus Size
    • DIY Hula Hoops
    • Hula Hooping During Pregnancy
    • Hula Hooping with Injury or Illness
    • Hula Hoop Lifestyle
  • Online Courses
  • Shop
    • Go Getter Hula Hoop Starter Pack
    • Ultimate #RubyFam Combo Package
    • Beginner Hula Hoop
    • Lightweight HDPE Hula Hoop
      • Pair of HDPE Doubles
      • Pair of HDPE Mini Hoops
    • Ready to Ship
    • Clothing
      • I Hoop For Me Tank
      • Hoop Your Heart Out Crewneck Sweatshirt
      • Holographic Logo Hoodie
      • Holographic Logo Tee
      • Rainbow Is My Fav Color Tank
      • Rubae Sparkle Tank
    • LED Hula Hoops
      • Alien Mermaid LED Hula Hoop
      • Birthday Cake LED Hula Hoop
      • Birthday Cake LED Hula Hoop Minis/Doubles
      • Classic 12-Light Rainbow LED Hula Hoop
      • Amethyst Strobe LED Hula Hoop
      • Snow White LED Hula Hoop
      • Sunrise Strobe LED Hula Hoop
      • Electric Butterfly LED Hula Hoop
      • 18-Light Rainbow Fade LED Hula Hoop
      • Build Your Own LED Hula Hoop
      • Festival LED Hula Hoop
      • Candy Blizzard LED Hula Hoop Minis/Doubles
      • Snow White LED Double/Mini Hula Hoops
    • Rainbow Sectional Hula Hoop
    • Rainbow Sparkle Sectional Hula Hoop
    • Rainbow Hula Hoop
    • Weighted Exercise Hula Hoop
    • Tri-Color Hula Hoop
    • Two-Tone Convertible Hoop to Minis
    • Polypro Hula Hoop
      • Pair of Polypro Doubles
      • Pair of Polypro Minis
      • Goldilocks Polypro Hula Hoop
    • Sectional Travel Hula Hoop
    • High Intensity Reflective Hula Hoop
    • Performance Hula Hoop
      • Pair of Performance Minis
    • Big Mama Hula Hoop
    • Budget Practice Hula Hoop
    • Child Hula Hoop
    • Size Shifter Hula Hoop
    • Custom Hula Hoop
    • Bare Polypro or HDPE Hula Hoop (Untaped)
    • Bare Beginner Hula Hoop (Untaped)
    • Extras
      • Color Morph Logo Decal
      • Custom Hooper Silhouette Painting
      • DIY Hula Hoop Dreamcatcher Kit
      • LED Poi
      • Fire Wicks for Hula Hoops
      • Hula Hoop Wax
      • Grip Tape 1/2″ Roll
      • Add Clear 3M Grip Tape
      • Ruby Sticker
      • Upsize My Hoop
      • Extra Charger
      • Extra Hoop Battery
      • Add Clear Protective Tape
  • Ruby Retreat
  • About Us
    • #TeamRuby
  • FAQ
    • Contact
    • LED Care
    • Day Hoop Care
    • Policies
    • Collapse Your Hoop
    • Turnover Times
  • Privacy Policy
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Ruby Hooping
Author

Mama Ruby

Mama Ruby

Beginner Hula Hooping

The Low-Down on Hula Hoop Grip Tape, Wax, and More!

by Mama Ruby August 28, 2018
written by Mama Ruby

An Overview of Hula Hoop Grip Solutions for a Slippery Hula Hoop

When you first start hula hooping, there is a lot to learn.  You start researching what kind of hula hoop to get and before you know it, you’ve gone down a rabbit hole reading about hula hoop sizes, weights, and…grip.

So what do you mean by grip and why do I need it?

If you’ve ever had trouble with a hula hoop falling down, you need it.

Since hula hoops are made of sleek plastic, they are quite slippery in their unaltered state. It’s nearly impossible to learn how to hula hoop with a hoop that has no grip whatsoever.  Hoopers have come up with a variety of ways to deal with this over the years.

I am going to list all hula hoop grip options next, in the order of how commonly used they are based on my experience making and selling hula hoops for the past 6 years.

Most Common Type of Hula Hoop Grip – Gaffers Tape

Gaffers tape, which we often refer to as “grip tape”, is a durable, cotton-based cloth adhesive tape.  It is manufactured for use in the theater, movie and television production industries, to tape cords down and mark spots on the stage floor. 

 

hula hoop grip tape

As with most materials used to make hula hoops, gaffers tape has been brilliantly repurposed as grip tape by hula hoopers.

It’s perfect because it creates a serious amount of grip while adding a colorful pinstripe to your hula hoop.  There are many ways you can choose to apply grip tape.  At Ruby Hooping we generally do it two ways:

Hula Hoop Grip Tape Lined Inside:

hula hoop grip tape lined inside

Hula Hoop Grip Tape Spiraled Around:

hula hoop grip tape spiraled around

Both are suitable for beginners and advanced hoopers.  The style in which you choose to apply the grip tape to your hula hoop is personal preference.  As long as your hoop has grip tape of some kind, you will be fine as a beginner. 

In our Go Getter Starter Pack, which includes a beginner hoop, a dance practice hoop and a set of minis, here’s how we apply the grip tape: on the beginner hoop it is generously spiraled around; on the dance practice hoop is it spiraled but spaced out more, and on the minis, it is lined along the inner rim of the hoops.

go getter hula hoop grip tape

Gaffers tape comes in a wide variety of widths but 1/2″ is most common.  You can get a whole roll of the tape, which will last you several months or more, for cheap.  It comes in tons of bright colors, many of which are neon / UV reactive.  

The reason you should keep a roll of it on hand is because grip tape does need to be replaced every so often.  It will get dirty over time and also peel away from the hoop after months of use.

Generally you can just peel it off of your hoop, clean your hoop with alcohol (and possibly some coconut oil if there is residue that won’t come off easily), and then replace with a brand new strip of grip tape.

Grip tape will add a little bit of weight to your hoop, which is a good thing when you’re just starting out.

Other Types of Hula Hoop Grip Tape

Gaffers tape is not the only kind of grip tape hula hoopers use.  We also use an even more specialized, grippier tape called 3M Grip Tape.  This tape is manufactured for industrial non-slip situations.

It’s clear, so it works great on any hula hoop, and I would say MEGA is the word that describes how grippy this stuff is.  It is definitely more grippy than gaffers tape.

It adds more weight than gaffers tape also, which can be nice as a beginner.  It kind of sucks once you become more advanced though and don’t really necessarily want the extra weight all the time.

Even so, this tape is a great choice for at least two scenarios:

  1. Learning doubles, because it really helps the hoops grip to your hands
  2. Learning leg or shoulder hooping, because it really grips well to your skin and keeps the hoop from slipping so easily while learning these difficult moves

Hoop Wax and Other Non-Tape Grip Solutions

My personal favorite kind of hula hoop grip is hoop wax.  It’s SO grippy!  And it does not add extra weight to your hula hoop which is another huge plus for me.

Our hula hoop wax is made with natural ingredients like coconut oil and beeswax.  It also has essential oils added for a delicious aroma and glitter because..glitter 🙂 

For the small price tag, it’s completely 100% worth trying at the very least.  

If you’re a DIY kind of person, try looking up recipes for surf wax – very similar and will totally get the job done!! 

Keep in mind, hoop wax will get on your hands, so if you’re the kind of person that can’t stand that, then hoop wax is not for you.  Also, it can get a little bit gross in the summertime in extremely hot temperatures!

It does need to be reapplied about once a week if you are a daily hooper.  It’s also easy to clean off using coconut oil and a damp rag or you can scrape it off using the scrapers we provide with our wax.

Here’s our video on how to apply hula hoop wax (or you can click thru to watch it on Facebook).

https://www.facebook.com/rubyhooping/videos/1194380950683505/

Non-Wax Grip Sticks

There are various kinds of grip stick out there manufactured specifically for hula hoopers, and it’s fun to try them all!  

We’ve even seen people rub hot glue sticks onto their hula hoop and amazingly, it works pretty great!

Sanding

And finally, sanding your hoop is a great way to get long-lasting grip without adding weight.  We recommend 60 grit sandpaper swiped lightly across the hoop in any direction you prefer.  For less grip, use a higher grit sandpaper!  You can also sand your hoop and then apply wax to the sanded portion for extreme grip action! 

I really hope this cleared up the very confusing subject of hula hoop grip!  Good luck on all your hooping adventures! 

If you are a new hooper, don’t worry! All of our beginner products (the Go Getter set, beginner hoop and weighted exercise hoop) come ready-made with the grip you will need!  

Don’t forget to join us in our Facebook group to share your favorite hoop grip ideas with us! 

Still having trouble getting your hula hoop to stay up? Try our Six Week Beginner Hula Hoop Challenge to get the best hoop training for your unique body, taught by our founder Mama Ruby.

Now get out there and get your hoop on!

Pictured: the beautiful Rinney from #TeamRuby

August 28, 2018 2 comments
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beginner hula hoop tutorial
Hula Hoop Tricks

Inside Out Whip Beginner Hula Hoop Tutorial

by Mama Ruby May 21, 2018
written by Mama Ruby

One of my favorite beginner hula hoop tutorials!

The inside out whip is a totally flowy super cool illusion you can create with your hoop where it looks like you are rolling a hoop across a table in front of you and weaving it in and out around your body.  I sort of think of this trick as a cross between a weave and a linear isolation.  Check it out!

What size hoop is needed to learn the inside out whip?

For this trick a medium sized, lightweight hdpe hoop would be a great choice.  Use the same size hoop you used to learn basic isolations.  If you have our Go Getter Starter Pack, use the dance practice hoop included in your set! 

How to Do the Inside Out Whip Hula Hoop Trick

For more free tutorials, subscribe to our Youtube.

Become a hula hoop superstar with my Six Week Beginner Hula Hoop Challenge for All Bodies online course! 

May 21, 2018 0 comment
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how to do a hula hoop duck in
Hula Hoop Tricks

How to Do a Hula Hoop Duck-In

by Mama Ruby May 21, 2018
written by Mama Ruby

The Horizontal Duck-In Hula Hoop Trick 

This is a fun and different way of getting the hoop back on your body after you have done some off-body tricks.  You simply pass the hoop around your body from hand to hand and then duck right into it and keep hooping!  This one will feel awkward at first but keep trying and I guarantee you’ll get the hang of it!

What size hula hoop do I need to do the duck-in?

A big hoop is best to learn how to do a hula hoop duck in.  If you have our Go Getter Starter Pack, definitely use the beginner hoop from your set! 

How to Do a Hula Hoop Duck In 

For more free tutorials, subscribe to our Youtube.

Become a hula hoop superstar with my Six Week Beginner Hula Hoop Challenge for All Bodies online course! 

May 21, 2018 0 comment
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how to get hoop up from knees
Hula Hoop Tricks

How to Get Hoop Up From Knees – Hula Hoop Tutorial

by Mama Ruby May 21, 2018
written by Mama Ruby

An extremely fun trick that makes me feel like I’m blasting off into outer space!  

I do consider this a beginner hula hoop trick, although every hooper is different and some may not learn this until they are further into their hoop journey.

It seems as though knee hooping is very easy for some hoopers and a difficult challenge for others.  We all learn each trick at our own pace!  This is one I struggled with for a few months. 

Don’t give up just because it seems hard at first! When you finally nail it, the satisfaction will feel so good!

One Way To Get Hoop Up From Knees

There are actually at least two ways to transition out of knee hooping.  The one I am teaching you today involves using your hand to lift the hoop.  The other method would be to wiggle the hoop back up to your waist, chest, or wherever you’d like to move it.

Best Hoop for Learning How to Get Hoop Up From Knees 

For this trick, as with most beginner hula hoop tricks, I definitely recommend using a beginner hoop or any hoop that has a large diameter.  Since large hoops move slower, it will give your body more time to react and learn the necessary movement.  Once you have it down, you can translate it to a smaller hoop if you want. 

For more free tutorials, subscribe to our Youtube.

Become a hula hoop superstar with my Six Week Beginner Hula Hoop Challenge for All Bodies online course! 

May 21, 2018 0 comment
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Hula Hoop Tricks

Waist to Lasso Hula Hoop Trick Tutorial

by Mama Ruby May 21, 2018
written by Mama Ruby

Lifting The Hoop Up From Waist to Lasso

This is one of the first tricks you should learn once you have learned how to waist hoop.  It looks smooth and impressive once you master it, and it will be useful for transitions and hoop dance as you progress through your practice and learn more tricks.  

The waist to lasso hula hoop trick is the first pre-requisite to learning the vortex, which is a cool hula hoop trick where you continually move the hoop from your waist to up over your head and back down.

We will get to that trick later, though.  First, give lifting the hula hoop up into lasso a try.

What Size Hoop Do I Need for the Waist to Lasso Hula Hoop Trick?

You should use your biggest hoop for this one.  As with most tricks, using a big hoop slows it way down so you can teach your body what to do.  Once you get the hang of it you can translate the movement to a smaller hoop, if you prefer. 

If you need a big hoop, grab one of our beginner hoops.

How To Lift The Hula Hoop From Waist Into Lasso Position

For more free tutorials, subscribe to our Youtube.

Become a hula hoop superstar with my Six Week Beginner Hula Hoop Challenge for All Bodies online course! 

May 21, 2018 0 comment
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escalator hula hoop trick tutorial
Hula Hoop Tricks

Escalator Hula Hoop Trick Tutorial

by Mama Ruby May 21, 2018
written by Mama Ruby

The escalator hula hoop trick is possible for anyone to learn no matter how long you’ve been hula hooping.  It looks so cool, there are tons of variations, and it’s always a crowd pleaser!  

Best Hoop to Use for Escalator Hula Hoop Trick

The best hoop to use to learn the escalator hula hoop trick is a medium-sized hoop.  If you have our Go Getter pack, you would want to use the lighter weight dance hoop it comes with for this trick.  

Most of the time, you’re going to want a bigger hoop to learn most hula hoop tricks.  The escalator is an exception to that.

Even though it’s possible to do this trick with a wide variety of hoop diameters, this particular trick can initially be a little more difficult to learn with a really large hoop.  That’s because of the way the hoop gets flipped above your head when you catch it.  A bigger hoop may go so high you can’t even reach it. 

If you have a beginner hoop but are ready to try a smaller, lighter weight hula hoop for tricks like this one, check out our Lightweight HDPE Hula Hoops.  I would recommend choosing a diameter about 4″ smaller than your beginner hoop.

Learn The Escalator Hula Hoop Trick

Here is my Youtube tutorial on the escalator hula hoop trick.  Subscribe to my channel for more free tutorials.

Become a hula hoop superstar with my Six Week Beginner Hula Hoop Challenge for All Bodies online course! 

May 21, 2018 0 comment
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does hula hoop make you fit
Hula Hoop Health BenefitsHula Hooping To Lose Weight

Hula Hooping Exercise Routines – Most Fun Workout Ever!

by Mama Ruby May 20, 2018
written by Mama Ruby

If you’re new to the concept of hula hooping for exercise, you may be surprised to find out that hula hooping burns as many as 600 calories per hour!  That’s the equivalent to an hour of Zumba or even jogging!

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May 20, 2018 4 comments
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creative way to quit smoking
Hula Hoop Health Benefits

The Most Fun & Creative Way to Quit Smoking: Hula Hooping!

by Mama Ruby May 8, 2018
written by Mama Ruby

You’ve tried every creative way to quit smoking you can think of: quitting cold turkey, bargaining with yourself, even asking your husband or wife to basically babysit you so you don’t try to smoke. You’ve read every book on how to help someone quit smoking.

And there was even that one time you secretly visited a hypnotist.

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May 8, 2018 3 comments
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DIY Hula Hoops

How to Make a Mini Hula Hoop Dreamcatcher

by Mama Ruby November 6, 2017
written by Mama Ruby

We are so excited to share these awesome hula hoop dreamcatchers with you.  This is a fantastic way for us to use up all of our hula hoop tubing (not to mention the hundred pounds of yarn I have from back in the day when I was obsessed with crochet–that was before I found hula hooping).

We believe strongly in repurposing and reusing materials as much as possible, especially to create art and add beauty to our world!

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November 6, 2017 0 comment
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Hula Hoop Lifestyle

Winter Hula Hooping: How to Stay Motivated

by Mama Ruby November 13, 2015
written by Mama Ruby

Got the indoor hooping blues?  Stormi Kammer, sponsored hooper at Ruby Hooping, has some words of wisdom about how to keep the hoop fire burning all winter long. 

A note from Linz: Yes, Florida hoopers, we know you’re all rejoicing that you can finally hoop outside.  Yaaaaay for you guys 😉  For the rest of the world, we’re all super bummed that mother nature is not going to be making it easy for us to hoop freely for the next several months.

One of our customers said….

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November 13, 2015 1 comment
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Hula Hoop Lifestyle

Why You Should Never Take My Advice on Hula Hooping

by Mama Ruby July 29, 2014
written by Mama Ruby

Whether you have gotten to know me in real life, on Facebook or just through reading my posts here at Ruby Hooping, I am sure I have given you hooping advice many times.  Probably more than you even asked for!  That’s what I do.

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July 29, 2014 3 comments
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Hula Hoop Tricks

Beginner Hula Hoop Tricks

by Mama Ruby July 27, 2014
written by Mama Ruby

Here you will find several free Youtube tutorials we have created to help you find your flow!  

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July 27, 2014 1 comment
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cheap led hula hoop
Hula Hoop Lifestyle

Why You Shouldn’t Wait to Get Your First LED Hula Hoop

by Mama Ruby July 2, 2014
written by Mama Ruby

Yes my darling, come closer, for I am whispering those sweet words you’ve been longing to hear!  Go ahead and treat yourself to that LED hula hoop you’ve been having recurring dreams about.  Don’t wait until you’ve been hooping for some randomly selected amount of time.  Why put yourself through that?  The thought of being without my LED hula hoop is traumatic.  You don’t deserve that.

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July 2, 2014 2 comments
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