What Is a Hula Hoop?
The hula hoop is a large plastic ring with a rigid construction that is twirled around the waist or other parts of the body as a form of exercise or play. Hula hoops became a worldwide fad when they were first mass produced in the 1950s, and have remained a popular toy ever since.
Early Hula Hoops
Before being made out of plastic, and on a mass scale, hula hoops were used at various times in human history. Hoops made out of natural materials such as vines or flexible reeds were used as playthings, and molded wooden hoops were a favorite toy during the Victorian era. These hoops could be rolled with the aid of a stick to keep them moving for extended periods, or played with alone in the fashion of hula hoops.
1950s Craze
In 1957, an Australian hula hoop made of plastic was introduced by toymaker Toltoys. The plastic hula hoop was more durable than previous versions made from natural materials and, since plastic was more readily available, could be produced in large numbers without interruption due to shortages. A year later, American toymaker Wham-O began producing plastic hula hoops in the United States, famously selling over 100 million within a year of their introduction. Since the hula hoop did not meet standards of originality to be patented, it was soon manufactured by many other companies.
Uses
The most basic use of a hula hoop is twirling it around one's waist. This requires a sense of rhythm and balance, but can be mastered by most people with a small amount of practice. More advanced users are able to twirl a hula hoop at other points on their body, such as around the neck, arms or legs. Many hula hoopers advance from one hoop to two or several, allowing for many variations and tricks. Performers sometimes use a hula hoop as part of a musical number, with hoops doubling as props with other uses.
Competition
As the hula hoop craze of the 1950s began to show signs of slowing, Wham-O started sponsoring hula hoop competitions to maintain interest in the toy and preserve sales. Competitive hula hooping has since taken on many forms. Some competitions allow performers to add hoops one by one as they strive to keep the greatest possible number of hoops in motion. There are also endurance competitions, which may last several days. Other forms of competition include races, where runners must twirl a hula hoop as they run without allowing it to fall off of their body.
Variations
Several variations on the original plastic hula hoop exist today. Among these is the brand name Wave Hoop, which is essentially a standard hula hoop that is partially filled with water. The motion of the water when the hoop is twirled around the waist makes the process more challenging. Other hula hoops contain plastic beads in their hollow centers to make nose when twirled. For adult users, weighted hula hoops, usually with a greater diameter than a toy hoop, are available to aid in exercise. Hula hoops that glow in the dark or light up are also sold.
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