Making Your Hoop
Here is a quick and inexpensive way to make a hula hoop. You’ll have plenty of supplies left to make several hoops. I do not add any water or sand to my hoops.
Do not use weighted hoops for these tutorials. Also, there’s no need to measure exactly, using your body to judge what size you might want works just fine. This link has many sizes and colors of tubing available.
A heat gun (700F-1000F) will make the tube ready for the connector in seconds and you can usually find one for around $20. Don’t bother with a hair dryer, they don’t go above 140F and won’t really do much to the tube.
Yeah I have used a heat gun too. I figured most won’t want to spend money on one though. Thanks for sharing!!
As a piece of advice (I’ve been making hoops for 7+ years) the best way to heat the tube is by boiling water. It’s fast, free (as in no tools), doesn’t over heat where you burn your hands, and doesn’t release toxic fumes from the Poly tubing.
Simply stick about 2″ into the boiling water, and insert your coupler. Give it a minute and do the other end. If the water is boiling you will only need to hold it about 15 seconds in the water. The tube heats up plenty to accept the coupler but doesn’t over heat to create flat spots or burning of your hands.
I went to Michaels crafts store and they did not have GAFF tape. What is GAFF tape usually used for? Trying to think of other places to look for it.
I buy my gaff at a local art supply store. The craft places here do not have it either
Try staging and theatrical companies. Gaffer tape is used in the theater/concert industry (Gaffers is job title). Also call “Spike” tape, if you’re coming from the film industry. Comes in many light reactive colors for markings on stage. Easiest to get it online from Identi-tape online.
this is awesome. thanks veena. do you think they would have connecters and tubing at my local hardware store? would i just go in and ask….for connecters and tubing? or do they have specific names? lol
If they have the irrigation tubing then they should have the connectors near by 🙂 so look for irrigation tubing
Couple questions on making my hoop…I want to use some of the newer duct tapes with designs- will that work? How can I make my hoop collapsible for travel -use a softer psi? I bought 160psi but it’s too stiff to collapse.
You would use pieces and cord, there was a discussion on making a travel hoop. https://studioveena1.wpengine.com/forums/view/Does_anyone_have_experience_making_a_travel_or_collapsible_hula_hoop_20120224093305
Thanks Veena – I should always remember to search the forums – they have EVERYTHING!!! I really love this site. xoxo
I just finished making my purple and green hoop! It’s so cute and I can’t believe I made it!! 🙂 thank you so much, Veena for this lesson! I will also add that it is a great shoulder workout sticking on all this tape! 😀
Hope to see a video with it 🙂
These are great instructions! I didn’t have access to a PVC cutter, so used bypass loppers (long-handled thing that you’d use to cut branches that are too thick for pruning shears), which worked easily, although I didn’t get an especially straight cut. I think plenty good enough, though. The boiling water trick is brilliant — this really is an easy project! Thanks!
You’re welcome!!
Veena, I never thought of hooping but you make it look like so much fun. When you said I could do it everyday you had me. Where do I get the tubing? Home Depot, Loews, AceHardware?? BTW, I love your site. Its the best adult playground.
It’s been hit or miss finding that tubing so for the past few years I’ve been ordering from http://hoopsupplies.com They’re great! All kinds of colors and sizes/diameters. As a beginner stick with a thicker hoop. 🙂
Thanks. I love shopping online.
I was never able to hula hoop as a kid. I made mine yesterday following the tutorial and made it 2″ above my belly button as Veena recommended and for the first time in my life I could keep it up and going. Could even switch from sides to front and circling the hips. My husband was quite impressed too:). Looking forward now to learning these other hoop moves and making hula hoops to fit my granddaughters next time they come to play.
That is so great to hear! I really like to hoop as a warm up for pole!
That sounds so much more fun than warming up by mopping the floors:)
Made hula hoops this week for me and my daughter! Ours have ended up being weighted a bit to one side, as our hardware store only had copper connectors (and we’re only allowed to order online and pick up but not actually go in). Thanks for the video!
That sounds exciting. I hope you both have fun with the hoops!
Yesterday I sort of tweaked something in my groin area practicing fan kicks so I thought, what can I do while I rest it… and I suddenly remembered hooping. I bought a couple hoops during covid but they were lost due to..life. Just ordered a new 36″ one and then remembered you offer tutorials! Very excited to do these and I think I will give making my own hoop a go too, if I can find the materials 🙂
Hopefully your groin feels better soon!
If you’re in the US you should be able to find irrigation tubes at any hardware store. You can also order colored stuff here https://www.hoopologie.com/diy-hoop-tubing/colored-hdpe-tubing
I’m in New Zealand and a small city too but we have a big hardware store and I think I’ll be able to find these things. I’m actually so very excited to try making a hoop! Especially a nice big one to avoid frustration hehe. Will take awhile for the one I ordered to arrive too. And thank you! I hope it heals quickly. I like the idea of using hoop to warm up in future.
Ah ok! Also don’t use ice on the groin, stick with heat and massage 💜
thanks for the tip, its winter here so I’m happy to avoid ice heh. Massage seems to be helping a lot <3
ouh worldwide shipping- nice!