Do you want to bring your hoop on vacation for the first time and do you want to know the best way?
Here is how-
I am a regular globe trotter, I feel I have perfected the art, if it could be an art, of bringing exactly what I need on a trip and getting through the air ports and customs with the least effort and maximum ease. The first trip I took after I started hooping I did not bring a hoop with me. I thought an awkward hoop would be one extra hassle and might disturb my airport maneuvers. I soon realized when that vacation on the beach was tainted by painful hoop sickness that I had to invest in a travel hoop or figure out some way to take a hoop with me when I travel.
Today when I pick up the travel hoop I bought after that trip, it makes me laugh. Besides the ripped to bits, pieces of what was once metallic tape and the gashed in the PVC tubing, the hoop is huge and heavy, and seriously made with PVC. I need not make too much fun of it because it has served me well. I hooped with it on the beaches of South Beach Miami, Florinaoplis and Itacara Brazil and La Jolla, Carlsbad and Los Angles California.
The definition of a travel hoop is one that breaks down to fit in a suite case or bag. Some have a one joint connector to which you must reapply tape to the joint after every break down. Some have two joint that pivot at the joints and do not come apart. The two jointed hoops usually fold first to a figure eight and then down into two circles on top of each other. There are other travel hoops that break down in to many pieces that you screw together. Each has its own advantages and in my experience the important things to watch for are if it will fit easy in my bag and how it hoops when in its natural hoop form. Some times the precision of the hoop can be lost when it is made to travel.
Since my first travel hoop I have discovered these easy ways to hoop on my vacations.
1) The ultimate travel hoop is made by Cherry Hoops. They make two jointed travel hoops fold up small, quick and easy. My favorite part of Cherry Hoop travel hoops is when they unfold they easily go in to a perfect circle so once the hoop is unwound into hooping form it is precises just like all Cherry Hoops are. If you are unlike me and enjoy making your own hoops here are instructions for making your own travel hoop (how to make a collapsible hoop).
2) Buy or make a hoop bag and check it as luggage separate from your suite case. Hoop Girl sells sweet travel hoop bags which fit around standard hoops. You wont find them on their web site but they can be order by phone at Hoop Girl 415-331-6633. This is how I will be traveling with my hoops on my next trip.
3) Wrap hoops with packaging paper or cardboard and check them as luggage. I am in Hawaii right now from San Francisco and on this trip I got a big box, broke it down and folded it around my hoops. I used packaging tape to seal the box and I checked it as a piece of luggage. Like the travel bag, I could bring many hoops with me and they did not take up room in my suite case and arrived undamaged. The box was not as easy as a travel bag because it had no strap for carrying. If you are going some where exotic make sure you have extra tape for when you return home so you can box them up again.
Having your hoop with you on vacation can make a huge difference in the enjoyment factor of your trip. If you are visiting family or friends who you are not used to being with for long periods of time going off with a hoop is a great way to regenerate and return with a new positive out look. When on vacation it is usual to have more free time and if your a Hooper it is logical you might want to spend some of it with the hoop. Traveling with a hoop makes it possible to hoop in some amazing places, if amazing is your destination which I hope it is. My favorite places to travel with my hoop is to warm exotic beaches. Try it!
Hoopspiration 