Ever wonder about all the different types of tubing available for hoops?
Tubing used for hoops is utilized in different industries for various purposes. Water, gas, plumbing, etc all have their own needs. PVC (polyVinyl chloride) tubing is generally used for plumbing and it's actually not sold in coil form. It's extremely rigid and is not ideal for hoops. PE (Polyethylene) is more flexible and is easy to work with. It's available in a few PSI ratings that give hoopmakers a nice range to create hoops of different weights. ⭕️Notice the Diameter? It's thickness is measured in Inside Diameter/ID--whereas HDPE and Polypro are measured in Outer diameter/OD. That's a huge area of confusion when ordering hoops! A 1/2" PE hoop is drastically thicker than a 1/2" HDPE or Polypro hoop.
The difference between HDPE (High Density PE) and PE is industry standard uses--which comes back to the Diameter variation; hdpe is lighter, it's also more durable and rigid than PE. Think of it as better quality overall. It's less likely to sag if you store your hoops in a hot garage for a year like PE hoops tend to (rotate your hoops! Lol)
HDPE is similar to Polypro in a lot of ways when it comes to hoops. The weight is extremely close (think of the weight of a Sharpie marker, that is the weight difference between the two) performance is about the same, but Polypro is more responsive to some of the faster tricks. Personally it feels more buttery and easier on the hands.
A hugely notable difference between these two materials is DURABILITY. Polypro tends to crack in cold temperatures. It also degrades in prolonged UV sunlight exposure--making it more brittle/fragile and prone to break. (STORE YOUR POLYPRO HOOPS OUT OF THE SUN!)
#hoopsforbeginners #hooptubingexplained #pehoop