Reflective ‘Dark side of the Rainbow’ four-coloured collapsible hula hoop: PE, HDPE or polypro tubing

This four-coloured reflective hoop is absolutely stunning in both natural daylight and reflecting direct lighting in darkness. Our Dark side of the Rainbow hoop features reflective Lava Red, Blue Green Lagoon, Blue Odyssey and Ether Purple to create half a rainbow. This hoop can be bought as a twin set with its sister The Bright side of the Rainbow hoop.

!!Please note, this is NOT an LED hoop, and does not light up or “glow” on it’s own: the tape shines when reflecting direct light, working especially well using your camera flash in semi- or full darkness, making your photos and videos light up! If you have any questions about how reflective tapes work in different settings please send me a message.

All of our reflective hoops come with a complimentary layer of crystal clear protective tape.

All hoops are measured by their Outside Diameter (OD) in centimetres. If you would like to order in inches, please choose the closest size and put your request in the order notes. You can see my conversion chart here.

– This hoop does not come standard with grip tape, but can be added by selecting your colour choice from the Hoop Add-ons section.

All hoops come standard with one push button to make them collapsible, unless requested otherwise. For extra push buttons please see the listing in our Hoop Add-ons section. A single push button makes the hoop able to coil down on itself some or all of the way depending on its size and tubing (message me about specifics). It is not recommended that small and medium sized hoops are doubled down on themselves all the way as this can cause the tubing and/or connector to kink or crack. There are techniques to make this more successful that you can google or ask me about.

** If you are unsure about which size or tube is best for you, please get in touch or see the FAQ below **

*****FAQ*****

“WHAT SIZE HOOP SHOULD I BUY?”

• Mini: 30 – 60cm: For toddler age children and more advanced hoopers wanting to explore mini hoop tech.
• Small: 60 – 75cm: This is the size range for preschool age children, or for more advanced adult hoopers ready to move on from their larger hoop and practice more off body tech.
• Medium: 75 – 85cm: This is a perfect size range for older children, and for more experienced adult hoopers as a great all-rounder for hoop dance combining on and off body moves.
• Large: 85 – 95cm: This is the range of sizes most common for beginner hoopers or those wanting to focus on on-body hooping.
• Extra: 100cm and up: This is a perfect size for unsure beginners, learning tricky on body tricks, and those wanting to hoop for fitness and weight loss. The large size slows the hoop’s rotations making it easier to develop co-ordination at your own pace.

**These guidelines are for general advice, and may not always apply. For hoopers who are particularly tall or curvy, a larger hoop can be easier to start with. Please send me a message if you are unsure.

“WHAT TYPE OF TUBING SHOULD I ORDER?”

-PE tubing is what kids hoops are made from and also the majority of dance and beginner hoops; it is hardy and durable, and comes in several thicknesses for different uses:

• 16mm (5/8″) is a narrow tube that is great for small hoops – up to approximately 85cm. This will provide you with a lightweight hoop that is good for small children and off body tricks.
• 19mm (3/4″) is the most commonly used width tubing for dance hoops and works excellently for medium-large sized hoops for those who are beginning or more advanced. Some may find this tubing too heavy for off body tricks, but it is generally a great all-rounder for learning.
• 25mm (1″) is a more heavyweight tubing that is great for large fitness hoops and unsure beginners.

-HDPE tubing offers an in-between alternative to the heavy duty PE and the lightweight Polypro. More responsive than PE and more durable than polypro, HDPE is favoured by a wide range of hoopers from confident beginners to more experienced hoopers wanting a little more weight than polypro offers. It is highly recommended for those hooping in very cold climates as it won’t crack as easily as polypro. I currently stock a small selection of HDPE in 16mm (5/8) and 19mm (3/4″).

-Polypro tubing is specially designed and manufactured for hula hoops and is more lightweight and responsive than PE. Polypro is favoured by more experienced hoopers wanting to learn more complex tricks and challenge their on and off-body moves.
Mermaid Hooping stocks a range of colour options in the following:

• 12.5mm (1/2″) is the skinniest polypro option and is great for mini hoops and for a more speedy lightweight option for small and medium sizes.
•  16mm (5/8″) is a narrow tube that is great for small hoops – up to approximately 85cm. This will provide you with a springy, lightweight hoop that is great for off body moves.
• 17.5mm (11/16″) known as the ‘Goldilocks’ tubing many people find this to be the perfect in between size: whilst the thickness is halfway between the two regular sizes, this tubing is more dense and so combines the thin feel of 5/8 with the weight of 3/4. A must try!
• 19mm (3/4″) is a wider tube that is great for medium-large sized hoops – from approximately 75 – 95cm. These hoops are much more lightweight than PE, so are more challenging for beginner hoopers to learn on-body hooping, but are excellent for a range of off-body moves and suit intermediate – advanced hoopers as a great all-rounder hoop.
• 25mm (1″) is great for hoopers wanting to move on from their PE hoops but still wanting a nice big size and heavy weight for on-body hooping. This thick tubing is suitable for large and extra large sizes and hard to handle for off body tricks.