HDPE tubing is recommended as the default option for LED hoops.
HDPE tubing
(more durable material, milky-white diffused tubing)
default tubing for all LED hoops, recommended due to its versatility
Polypro tubing
(stiffer with a bounce, transparent/clear tubing)
lines are more crisp from the clearer tubing, but material is more prone to cracking on impacts & cold weather.
Since LED hoops have batteries and weighted internals, the lightness of polypro is not as noticeable from an HDPE LED hoop made in the same size. HDPE tubing is naturally a more flexible material and absorbs impacts well.
Polypro tubing is stiffer, giving it a different kind of feedback during hoop play. However, polypro tubing is more brittle in comparison, and prone to cracking on impacts or when extremely flexed.
The added weight of LEDs, batteries, and electronics only increases the chance of the tubing cracking. Polypro is extra susceptible to cracking in cold temperatures.
With polypro LED hoops, certain moves like breaks, reversals, or even regular hooping can cause the tubing to crack.
Also, some sort of trauma to the hoop, like a high impact hit or landing on it accidentally when trying to jump through it, is what can result in the hoop tubing becoming cracked.
If you’re at all unsure about whether you want the extra worry of cracking your hoop polypro hoop, HDPE is definitely the better choice, especially for the more flexible 5/8 tubing.