i don't have either, so i don't know how helpful i can be.

having said that...

from what i've learned in my own digging, PSI is definitely the way to go.

i've seen that other hoops can get turned off by accident, due to type and location of switches. other hoops rattle when hooping with them. i know there are some LED hoops that are rechargeable, but others that aren't - you have to dismantle them to change the batteries.

i think if you're gonna do it, do it right. *grins* what's an extra $100 when you're talking about a favorite toy? ;)

You are going to Starscape, me too, we will have our hoops with us too ;-)

Yes, they are both led hoops. PSI is just a brand name.

I have tried a lot of led hoops and I gotta say, I don't think the technology is really where I hope it will be yet. I have a psi hoop and a super hooper hoop. My super hooper has brilliant colors and I love that about it but it does rattle. The rattle doesn't bother me so much but the switch does. It sticks up and gets turned on by accident (say, in the car) so that the battery dies before I even realize it's on or it turns off by accident (say, during a backroll, especially embarrasing during performance) when I'm trying to use it. I wish it had another kind of switch. I really like the one on the psi hoop. The other disadvantage is that the battery is not rechargable. You have to cut the hoop apart to replace it. I'm no good at that so now I have a dead super hoop because it got turned on in my car and I don't have the wherewithal to figure out how to change the battery or to overcome the switch thing.

On the other hand, my psi hoop is rechargable and has a great switch BUT I can't tell you how many of my friends have trouble with their hoops keeping a charge. And now it's starting to happen to mine. These are hoops that are less than a year old mind you. I know I've done everything according to the instructions ... let the hoop run down completely before recharging, etc. etc. (which can take a long time at the dull red stage, sometimes days) but it just seems to hold a shorter charge every time I recharge it. I don't know what the deal is but that has been my experience and the experience of many of my friends. It seems like a rechargable battery should last longer than a year ... especially since I don't use it that often.

Oh, I can't remember the spec. It's quite thin. Probably somewhere around 20mm, but your USA tubing sizes are different to those here in the UK. It's not as much as 25mm. I had the middle type of tube. Not stiff, not soft. Half-way house!

I have just posted up some pictures of my new tape job on the hoop. So if you look in my profile at my photos you will see it.

hmm i haven't seen those harmony ones before - another rechargeable model. Anybody know how they compare to the psi?

Actually, the hoops we used at the Convergence were by "Hooping Harmony" of hoopingharmony.com NOT to be (easily) confused with Harmony Hoops which does NOT sell LED hoops.

I loved the Hooping Harmony hoops so much, I got one for myself, and I would vouch for it. It's got a clip connector lets it snap apart to coil down for travel. The switch is located inside the connector, so you won't even accidentally set it off. And comparing the colors between these and PSI hoops, I'd say these hoops are brighter. But, still it's a matter of personal preference ... and budget.
(Thank goodness for economic stimulus checks!)

The sellers name on Ebay is jumbogigante. He was really awesome to work with!