This iOS/Android-connected hula hoop tracks your workouts, calories and more

Well, we have certainly seen our fair share of unique fitness trackers and body sensor technology. But the folks responsible for VHOOP are taking a bit of a different approach. The new connected fitness device is essentially a smart hula hoop designed to make your workouts a little bit more fun while offering up a broad set of analytics via its Bluetooth connectivity.

VHOOP is a large ring made of a durable polypropylene material that creates a waterproof seal. The interior features a silicone foam elastomer, which is said to keeps things comfortable as it orbits around you for extended periods of time. And this does indeed appear to be the case based on various in-person reports, at least with brief trial runs.

Speaking of which, VHOOP lasts roughly 15 hours on a single charge. While there is an auto power saving mode, according to the creators, it will only take about an hour and a half to charge up anyway.

Tracking both clockwise and counter-clockwise revolutions, VHOOP constantly sends data to your smartphone over Bluetooth 4.0. Its built-in sensors not only offer up a slew of fitness data including calories burned and the length of your workouts, but also provide what the company is referring to as personal smart gym tips through the connected app for iOS/Android.

When paired with the VHOOP App it is not just a fitness device but a personal smart gym as well. This App will tell you what and how to improve your workout to achieve the highest level of satisfaction. There is no need to pay for a personal trainer when the smart gym is looking over you.

The VHOOP breaks down into 8-pieces for portability/storage and can be put back together in “less than two minutes”. The smart hula hoop also comes with eight disc sized weights. The small stainless steel coins slide into “designated ports” and allow you to create even more of a challenge for yourself once you have inevitably upgraded your hula hooping skills.

Ok, it certainly isn’t for everyone, but it always interesting to see how creators will implement fitness tracking technology next. Sometimes you need to just let loose and break out the old smart hula hoop in the backyard some days.

While data is still thin at this point, it looks like the initial, crowd funded units are scheduled to begin shipping in April of this year. And it sounds like you can expect the VHOOP to run you somewhere in the neighborhood of $200 when it actually does hit store shelves.