You can either use 1" or 3/4". I recommend 160 PSI. Especially for the 1" polytubing.. if you choose that size, anything under 160 PSI could kink up and be unstable. 3/4" at 160 PSI is what I use and it works for me. Plus, the 3/4 is the inner diameter so it's just a little under 1 inch. Most important is a high PSI. I also recommend calling and contacting the supplier to make sure it is what you're looking for. Best of luck! Finding the material is the hardest part!

That's black "polyethelene" tubing, if any of the people you contact don't know what you're talking about. I've asked for just plain "poly" tubing, and I get directed right to the PVC.
It's used for irrigation sytems. I prefer the 3/4", as well. The PSI is subject to debate. Some folks prefer the 160 PSI, but I've made hoops from lesser psi's (but not lower than 100...to light and flimsy) and found them to be just as nice, if not a little less hard on the hips and shins (and arms and neck, and...add other body parts here.)
Good luck finding the stuff. It's nearly impossible in LA.

I use 3/4'' polyethelene gas piping called SDR11 (it's a little heavier than irrigation tubing but it still works great) It can be found at an irrigation store called Aqua Flow.
They are located all over southern california.--Including: Santa Barbara, Goleta, Ventura, Torrence, Covena, and Santa Clarita.

If you're not in s. california call your local gas man for a supplier. Oh, and don't forget to ask for the barbed fitting to
put it together.

Tools

Just to let you all know, i did a websearch on Lowes and it is just a dead end. The only store on thier online store that said they had it was the Livermore store. I called my local store to see if they would do a 'tranfer' and bring some of the product closer to LA. They said it was impossible because the store was 'out of thier district'. Then, the Livermore store came back with a, 'oh, we don't even have that product in stock anymore'. Just trying to save some of your some time in your quest for the right tubing.

Buy 2 – 3 ready-made children’s hula-hoops. These can be purchased at toy sections in many stores such as Toy’s R Us and Wal-Mart. Maui Toys, Inc. makes a nice one that is already covered in holographic tape called the ‘wave hoop’. They also make the ‘classic hoop’ that is made of colorful tubing. (You can make 2 finished hoops from 3 child size hoops)

Cut up hoops with the ratcheting PVC cutter and re-connect them with several 1/2” internal coupling connectors for PVC. I like to use a little silicone glue in addition to duct tape to re-seal the hoop.

Decorate with colorful fabric and/or electrical tape.

These make nice lightweight hoops. They allow longer hoping times because they do not cause bruises as easily as some of the other tubing such as the heavy yellow polyethylene gas line.

I never found black polyethylene tubing in town (though I didn't go to a ton of places) so I settled on white PEX 160 PSI, 3/4" tubing and LOVE it.
It's pricier than PE tubing, but the guy told me PEX is higher quality and will hold up better than PE (though he didn't know I was talking about hoops...haha...probably thought I was redoing the water pipes (It's hot/cold water tubing) in my house.)
:)

ahh! i ran out of connectors and can't find any place in manhattan that sells them.


what am i looking for in mcmaster? does anyone have the product number on hand? or the link?
I need connectors in 3/4."



or if anyone has extras in NYC, I'll buy em off you.


this is as far as I got:
www.mcmaster.com/

so i have used everything from 1" 100 psi to 3/4" 160 and 100 psi. . . the latest i got was the 3/4" 100 psi to make a collapsible hoop. ( didn't have much luck in making that one considering I can't find bulk bungee) but anyhoo. . . . my question is with the 3/4" 100 psi tubing what can i do to make it heavier besides water and lots of tape? i am on a budget so the taping would be to expensive and through wandering through other posts the general consensus it water is not the best idea because of weight distribution and bruising. These problems stray me away from rice or beans or whatever else I could fill with. Does anyone have any suggestions or should i just make a bunch of smaller hoops for kids?

I am in the process of making a 'jasonunbound' hoop with polyethelene tubing. I was wondering about the thickness of them. I have seen hoopers on Utube and whatnot, with smaller hoops. Are those professionally made? the pipe insulators are kind of thick. And my hoop seems far thicker than the ones on the videos, I haven't yet tried it but wonder how my hands will hold it with all that action!

also, the insulation splits, as it is supposed to, to go around pipe. Do you tape it completely shut with duct tape then decorative tape? or not worry about the gap it leaves, taping it with decorative tape anyway?

Thanks!

For those of you making bigger hoops and having trouble with them being not rigid enough, I was making mine of 100 PSI 1" black Silverline stuff from Lowe's and having the same issues. I also tried splicing pre-made hoops but they were too thin I think and actually too light-weight and still ended up not holding a round shape when spinning. I went back to Lowe's and talked to a guy who led me to the PEX (and I see Annie has used it with good results). I bought a few 10-foot sticks of 3/4" x 7/8" H/C PEX tube (white with lettering that appears it will come off pretty easily) for less than $5 each. The first hoop I made was one full piece with probably another 2-2.5 foot section, using 1/2" ribbed connectors (they are not tight but I will add glue when I find my perfect size) and duct tape, and I'm pretty darned pleased with how well they hold their shape in action! On a whim, I took one 10-foot section by itself and connected it, and shazam! I can hoop with that too. Perhaps even distribution of the weight may be what I needed (rather than water or sand sloshing around and making dead spots?). This makes me very happy. Now I don't hoop in slooooow-motion *all* the time. :-D

These are denser/heavier than the black stuff, but I personally prefer it right now. I do note the label says to not install in direct sunlight, so there may be an issue of these decomposing/cracking sooner if one hoops outdoors much. Guess I'll find out some day. lol.