Heron

Two brands, two philosophies, one yo-yo. Heron is a collaboration between yoyofriends and Mk1 Yoyos, pairing yoyofriends' competition-driven design instincts with Mk1's knack for unique, fun-first play, built on a long friendship between the two teams through parent manufacturer fpm. The result is a bimetal, fingerspin-ready all-rounder with a polycarbonate outer ring for a softer overall feel, an aggressive lock-in fingerspin hub, and steel weight rings pushing the performance up to competition level.

Designer Mark started from Mk1's Diffraction, the company's first project with FPM back in 2018, aiming for a straightforward bimetal build with a wider stance and strong lock-in. The first draft nailed the fundamentals but the manufacturing team pushed for something more, so Mark reworked it with wrap-under polycarbonate rims, pulling the steel slightly inward and softening the yo-yo's overall look and feel. Prototypes arrived in June 2025 to immediate praise from both teams, delivering serious power, stability, and standout fingerspin performance that exceeded everyone's expectations. Between two gap width options tested, the team settled on a tighter 4.54mm for reliable binds in contest situations.

The name Heron nods to two things at once: yoyofriends' history of avian-named throws, and the way finger-spinning the yo-yo makes it stand tall, just like the bird. It's a yo-yo equally at home on a competition stage or hanging out at your local club, and a genuine team effort worth celebrating. Go see what happens when two design philosophies actually work.