How Long Do HyperSprings Last?

How long a HyperSpring lasts will vary greatly depending on: 

• Whether it's used for springbending, or simple child's play
• Whether the instructions are followed when it comes to care and untangling
• The skill level of the user
• How often it is used
  

In this article, I'll explain how long you can expect your HyperSpring to last based on these factors. I'll also explain:

• Why Breaks Happen
• Why Broken Coils Don't Mean Your HyperSpring is Broken
• How Many Times Can a HyperSpring Break Before It's Too Short?
• How to Maximize Your HyperSpring's Lifespan
• The HyperSpring 30 Day Guarantee

Simple Child's Play

If used like a child would use an ordinary slinky — putting it down the stairs, attempting only basic non-springbending “tricks” which do not involve large amounts of tension — your HyperSpring could last indefinitely, provided it is cared for properly according to the Instructions. 

Notable Care Instructions:

• When unboxing, your HyperSpring will be fused into a single piece. Take care to separate the coils correctly according to the diagram under the lid. Grip from the very ends and pull apart, and the coils will easily separate. If you attempt to pry the coils apart from the middle, they may break. 
• Follow my untangling tutorials, and NEVER just pull on a tangle. HyperSprings have thicker, more durable coils than other toy springs, but blindly yanking on a tangle can still lead to a permanent kink. 
• Avoid exposing your HyperSpring to high heat, such as the inside of a car on a hot day. High heat can cause the coils to deform. 
• Do not use a HyperSpring as a jump rope. If even a small child steps on it, it may cause a permanent kink. 

Springbending

When used for learning the art of springbending, no toy spring will last forever. Once you reach a certain level of skill, coils will eventually start breaking off the ends of your spring. 

Think of HyperSprings like a set of guitar strings: they enable you to learn an amazing art form, but due to the forces involved, they will break sooner or later with normal use. 

Unlike guitar strings, I designed HyperSprings so that they can continue to be used after breaking multiple times. 

Why Breaks Happen

Springbending is based on creating a very powerful wave of tension that travels back and forth through your spring, and twisting it into different shapes. 

This repeated tension and twisting causes micro-fractures to build up inside the plastic where the force is concentrated: right where you grip it. With enough intense practice, eventually these fractures will break through, and the coils in your grip will snap off. 

Above: Micro fractures in the plastic from regular use.

When coils break off the end, it is not due to any manufacturing defect or improper technique on your part. On the contrary, it is an indication that you are using correct technique, and have advanced to a higher skill level that many beginners never reach. Congratulations! 🎉 

Beginners vs. Advanced Springbenders

Beginners will not be able to maintain a very powerful wave in their spring, so your first spring can last quite a long time before its first break – months, or even years for some people. 

Advanced springbenders will be able to put more force into each movement, and perform higher-tension tricks, which will wear out the plastic and lead to coils breaking off faster.

In the highest-skill users, coils may start breaking off after only a couple hours of practicing intense, high-tension tricks. 

This is why I introduced the Pro Springbender 6-Pack, to make HyperSprings available at our cheapest price ever.

Why Broken Coils ≠ Broken HyperSpring

Just because coils have broken off the end of your HyperSpring does not mean that your HyperSpring is now broken and can no longer be used.

⚠️ Just be sure to quickly sand down the ends on any piece of concrete after a coil breaks off, as the ends will be sharp. 

With each coil that breaks off your HyperSpring, your HyperSpring will simply want to move at a slightly faster rhythm, and through a slightly smaller space.

It will take time for your arms to calibrate to this new faster rhythm, so have patience and keep practicing. 

This faster rhythm may make certain tricks easier, and certain tricks harder. 

Flips, where your moving HyperSpring is tossed into the air and allowed to rotate end over end, will be easier to do with a shorter spring. This is because you will not need to toss it as high into the air in order for it to complete each rotation, due to the faster rhythm.

Twists, where your wave of tension is twisted into different shapes that appear to "lag" in the air, may be easier after 2-4 coils have broken off your HyperSpring.

This is because I designed HyperSprings to be slightly longer than the "ideal" length for twists, so that they can last through more breaks before becoming unusably short. 

Once 5+ coils break off, though, you may find Twists harder. The faster rhythm will mean you have less time to complete each twist, and you must have a faster reaction time. 

How Many Times Can a HyperSpring Break Before It's Too Short? 

Different users have different preferences, but eventually you will find that your HyperSpring reaches a length that is too short for most tricks, and keeping up with its faster rhythm will become very challenging.

For me, this is when 9 or 10 coils have broken off of The Original HyperSpring. At this point, I retire it and move onto a new one.

Your old one can be hung from the ceiling as a decoration, or used for art.

My favorite option, though, is to give it away to a young child, who will still be able to get much joy out of it.

How to Maximize Your HyperSpring's Lifespan

When springbending, be sure to only grip 1-2 coils in each hand. As I mentioned earlier, the coils will break right where you grip them. If you develop the bad habit of gripping 5-6 coils, that's how many will break off all at once, and your HyperSpring may be too short after only 1 or 2 breaks. 😔

Also, once you reach the skill level where you're breaking coils, try only putting 80% of your maximum force into tricks, instead of 100%. You will find that you can create just as large of shapes, while extending the life of your HyperSpring. 

The HyperSpring 30 Day Guarantee

I stand by my products and want to make sure you're satisfied. 

No matter what, if you're unsatisfied with your HyperSpring for any reason, within 30 days from the date you received your order, simply email info@hyperspringtoys.com for a free replacement or refund. 

Keep practicing, "Slinky Josh" Jacobs Founder, HyperSpring Toys