10 Best Yo-Yos UK 2022 | Yomega, Duncan and More

For those after a quick look, here is our Top 5:

1. Yomega - Raider for £16.99
2. Duncan - Butterfly XT for £12.94
3. Yomega - The Original Brain for £17.89
4. Yomega - Fireball for £13.99
5. Duncan - Reflex for £13.99

For a more in-depth look at the comprehensive top 10 selection, make sure to read on to learn more about the different types of yo-yo available and understand how our ranking was determined.

This article's chosen EC site price listings are reflective of its publishing date.

1. Choose a Shape and Design That Gives You the Best Performance
2. Pick an Axle Type That Matches Your Experience Level
   
3. Find a Material That Looks and Feels the Way You Want It To

If you couldn't guess from the name, the classic design is how most people imagine a yo-yo and hasn't deviated much in terms of shape since it first gained popularity in the United States in the 1930s. It's comprised simply of two circular discs held together by a metal axel, with the outer edge being curved and the inner flat.

As this design has been around for centuries, nearly all the classic yo-yo tricks were developed with this shape in mind. Using a classic design can make some string-based tricks (like rocking the baby) more difficult, meaning that they're not as beginner-friendly as some other designs. However, they are more suitable for looping and spinning tricks.

Flared gap, or winged, designs have a wide V-like shape to help you catch the yo-yo on the string, which is a common technique used in many tricks like the trapeze or splitting the atom. These types of tricks are the most popular, so it's no surprise to see flared gap yo-yos dominating the market – they're easily the most popular design around today.

While they are great for beginners, it is worth noting that with enough practise, all tricks are able to be performed by other yo-yo designs. This means that you can always choose to move onto classic or modified designs once you've progressed to the more intermediate and advanced techniques.

Looking for ways to nurture your child's creative side? Check out the best LEGO sets!

Many modern yo-yos feature what is referred to as a modified design which, in simple terms, is an updated version of the classic design that features a wider gap and rounded inside edges. This makes it easier to catch the yo-yo on the string while retaining the ability to easily do looping and spin tricks.

If you're only planning on owning a single yo-yo from beginner to expert and want to try your hand at the full range of tricks on offer, then we'd recommend picking up one with a modified design as it's a great all-rounder. They do tend to cost a little more, but not by any serious amount.

When looking at how easy certain tricks are to perform, it is important to have the right type of axle as it determines how well a yo-yo spins. Standard yo-yos have what is known as a fixed axle, which is a simple wooden or metal axle that is fixed to the sides of the toy.

If you're looking for some extra spin, you may want to consider a ball-bearing or transaxle yo-yo which have a lot less friction than a simple fixed axle allowing for much longer spin times. Many yo-yos on the market today will have this axel type as longer spin times are often desired.

You'll then want to determine whether you want your yo-yo to wake up and return to your hand automatically or not. Most yo-yos will have a clutch mechanism to do this, but you may want to opt for a non-responsive axle which is necessary for certain modern tricks. Be warned, however, that you'll need to know some advanced techniques in order to get the most out of this option.

Material-wise, most yo-yos tend to come in either wood, plastic, or metal. If you're looking to keep it old school, wooden yo-yos have a vintage feel and may become something of a collectable in the future, but if you're focused on impressing with your tricks, a plastic or metal option is a better choice.

Most yo-yos on the market today are made of plastic as it's cheap, light and durable. If you're after a great performance for little investment, plastic is the way to go. Plus, you won't have to worry about damaging the toy by practising difficult tricks as they'll be more than sturdy enough to take a few bumps and scrapes.

Metal yo-yos tend to be more expensive than their wooden or plastic counterparts, but have a little more weight to them which can result in a longer spin time. They're also much more unique, so if you're looking to stand out from the crowd, you may want to consider a metal option.

This ranking has been compiled by the writing team at mybest UK via careful evaluation of the points made in the buying guide and thorough research of each product and comparing multiple verified customer reviews across the EC sites used.

Unlike back in the day, we're lucky enough to have a wealth of resources at our fingertips to help us master all sorts of yo-yo tricks from the simple to the mind-blowing. This video sums up the 10 best tricks to get you started and is a must-watch for any beginner! 

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Written and researched by David Sexton