Buying your first fiber optic whip comes down to five decisions. We make the BitWhip, so we will use our own options as examples, but the logic applies to every brand, and where a competitor is the better answer we will say so. (New to whips entirely? Start with what a fiber optic whip is.)
Decision 1: fiber count
Fiber count is the biggest driver of how a whip looks and costs. More fibers means a denser, brighter, fuller ribbon of light; fewer fibers means a lighter whip and a lower price. The market ranges from 80 fibers (FiberFlies PixelWhip 4 standard head) to 130+ (GloFX Space Whip Remix) to our 140, 200, and 300 fiber options.
- 140 fibers: plenty for a first whip; light in the hand, easiest on the budget.
- 200 fibers: the sweet spot for most flow artists; noticeably fuller in photos and video.
- 300 fibers: the densest whip made by anyone; the pick for performers and light painters who want maximum presence.
Decision 2: fiber type (end glow vs sparkle)
End glow fibers carry light to bright tips for clean, comet-like trails and maximum durability. Sparkle fibers twinkle along the whole strand like a starfield but are more fragile. Same price either way on our whips. Full breakdown with photos of each: End Glow vs Sparkle Fiber. Short version: contact-heavy flow gets end glow, camera-facing magic gets sparkle.
Decision 3: length
Standard whips run 5.5 to 6 feet, which suits most people and most spaces. Go 7 foot (our Extra Long) if you are tall, flow outdoors with room to spare, or want the slowest, most dramatic wave patterns. Shorter tails are quicker and easier to control in crowds. Our Uncut option leaves the fiber tips untrimmed at 5.5 feet for a natural taper. If in doubt, standard length is the right call.
Decision 4: control (one button vs app)
This is a genuine philosophy split, and the honest answer depends on you:
- One-button whips (GloFX Space Whip Remix, FiberFlies PixelWhip 4): charge, press, flow. Nothing to configure, nothing between you and spinning. If menus annoy you, this is your lane, and GloFX does it especially well.
- App-controlled whips (the BitWhip is the only one): 16 million colors, 135+ modes, custom playlists, and exact palettes you can save and reload, synced across every light you own. The BitWhip also works fine without the app via three onboard buttons. If you perform to themes, match colors to outfits, or shoot light painting, app control is the whole game.
Decision 5: budget
| Budget | What to buy |
|---|---|
| Under $50 | Nothing. Marketplace clones at this price use brittle fiber that shatters within weeks. Save up one more month. |
| ~$100 | FiberFlies PixelWhip 4 ($99.99): the proven budget entry with upgradeable heads. |
| ~$110 | GloFX Space Whip Remix: one-button simplicity, 8 to 10 hour battery. |
| $149.95 to $169.95 | BitWhip kit: app control, 140 to 300 fibers, removable light that powers 200+ other tools. |
| $29.95 to $54.95 | Already own an RGB Critter BT? The BitWhip Accessory head alone makes it the cheapest serious whip anywhere. |
| $309.95+ | Double BitWhip: two synced whips for doubles flow and performing duos. |
The 30-second cheat sheet
- First whip, tight budget: PixelWhip 4, or a used whip from a real brand.
- Zero-fuss festival whip: Space Whip Remix.
- Most flow artists: BitWhip, End Glow, 200 fibers, standard length.
- Performers and light painters: BitWhip, 300 fibers, and pick fiber type by look; add the app.
- Doubles flow: Double BitWhip.
Choosing a whip FAQ
Is a heavier whip better?
Not better, different. More fibers add presence and a slower, silkier wave; fewer fibers whip faster and tire your arm less. 200 fibers is the balance point most people land on.
Should my first whip be end glow or sparkle?
End glow. It is brighter at the tips, more durable, and photographs cleaner. Buy sparkle as your second head once you know how you flow.
Do I need the app?
No. Every BitWhip works from its onboard buttons. The app matters when you want exact colors, custom playlists, or multiple synced lights.
What if I already own an RGB Critter BT?
Skip the full kit. The BitWhip Accessory head twists onto your existing light for $29.95 to $54.95.
Can I upgrade later without rebuying everything?
On the BitWhip, yes: fiber heads swap, so you can add a 300-fiber head or a sparkle head to the same light. On built-in-handle whips you replace the whole whip to change looks (the PixelWhip's upgradeable heads are the exception).
Made by the Ants on a Melon team in Oregon. We compared our whip honestly against GloFX and FiberFlies, including where they win, in Best Fiber Optic Whips. Care tips live in the BitWhip care guide.
