DIY Weighted Hula Hoop

Date Made: 6/22/2012

Items we used

1. Hula Hoop (bought at Target for $3.99)
2. 3/4" Flex PVC Pipe (approx. 9' piece about $4-5). The amount we have in the picture is a lot longer. We bought it a while ago, and we are always finding uses for PVC.
3. PVC Pipe Cutter (or anything you can find to cut with)
4. Tin Snips Cutter (or any heavy duty cutter). We have many tools, for our many projects =)

Measurements & Cuts

1. Measure the circumference (length all the way around) of the Hula Hoop. Formula: diameter (distance across the hoop from the outside curve to the opposite side) multiplied by pi (3.14), we measured in inches. Our hoop's diameter measured 33.5" x 3.14 = 105.19" which is the circumference. 
2. Then we cut our Flex PVC to 107" just to give it a little extra length in case it would become too short at exactly 105.19" since it is going to wrap around the hoop.
3. We cut the PVC with Tin Snips on the outside curve so that when we placed it on the hoop, the part of the Flex PVC that touches our body will be smooth since the cutter left burs behind. We also made sure that we cut the length just long enough so that the Flex PVC is snug on the hoop.

Finishing Touches

If you feel comfortable with the weight of your Hula Hoop, you can put pretty tape around it and decorate it however you like. Since I won't be taking it out and showing it off, I don't care what it looks like, because it does the job that I want it to do and it turned out the way I wanted it to. I am not going to be taping mine because I like the ability to be able to take the Flex PVC off and use the Hula Hoop by itself, and we still have to take out the noise makers inside the hoop, because after a while the noise can get annoying.

Video

Please enjoy my short video =)