Tilly Whirls

Looking for your very own hoop? If you’re in the Northern Virginia area, contact me! I can make you a custom hoop. Contact me for questions on purchasing a hoop and hoop sizing at leslie at tillywhirls dot com. I have tapes in many colors and patterns, including exclusive new colors that you won’t find at large hoop supply shops. Let me know what your favorite colors are and I can whip up a couple samples to show you, or surprise you with a gorgeous hoop in the colors of your choice!

Pricing

• Blingy adult hoop – up to two deco colors and two gaff colors: $30
• Basic adult hoop – up to three colors of gaff tape: $20
• Multi-size adult hoop – hoop with an insert to increase/decrease size: add $5
• Six-piece collapsible adult hoop – up to two deco and two gaff tapes: $65
• Performance adult hoop – all metallic tape with inner gaff: $40-$50 depending on hoop size
• Pair of adult twin hoops – one spiral of deco, one spiral of gaff: $50
• Pair of minis – one deco tape, one gaff tape: $40
• Basic child’s hoop – combination of gaff, vinyl and duct tape: $15
• Blingy child’s hoop – combination of deco and gaff tapes $20

Tips for Choosing a Hoop
• When holding your hoop on the floor in front of you, the top of the hoop should come to somewhere between your belly button and chest. The larger the hoop, the easier it is to learn on-body tricks. Smaller hoops are better for learning off-body tricks. Additionally, if you’re wonderfully curvy, you may want to size up your hoop just to start out.

• Most beginner hoops are about 36″ to 44″ from the floor. If you’re petite you may wish to start with a smaller diameter, such as 36″. If you’re curvy or tall you may want a larger hoop, such as 42″. As hoopers progress, they often work their way down to smaller and smaller hoops. If I had to choose one size forever, it would probably be 35″ but really, I love and will play with any hoop of any size.

• Most people start with a fairly heavy hoop—a hoop that is about 160psi and made from polyethylene and covered in tape will weigh approximately 1.5 pounds. This weight hoop is great for beginners, because the larger and heavier the hoop, the slower it moves around your body, giving you time to get used to the movement and motion. The next size down is a 100psi hoop, weighing about 1 pound. Again, many hoopers move down in weight as they progress.

• Eventually many hoopers also change materials. Hoops can be made from polyethylene (PE), pex, high density polyethylene (HDPE) and polypropylene (polypro or PP). My hoops are made from polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (polypro).

• When it comes to hooping on your body (around your waist, around your chest, shoulders, hips, legs), the lighter and smaller the hoop, the faster you have to move to keep it going. The heavier and larger the hoop, the easier it is to keep it going because you can move slower.

If you’re not in the Northern Virginia area but are still looking for a hoop you can try one of these online sources:
• Ruby Hooping
• Hoop Mamas on Etsy.com
• Cosmic Hooper – LED Glow Hoops
• Mood Hoops – LED Glow Hoops
• Hoop Supplies – DIY Hoops
• Astral Hoops – LED Atomic Hoop

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