Introduction: Hula Hoop: How to Make a Collapsible Travel Hoop

By The Spinsterz
About: The Spinsterz is your source for top of the line hula hoops and flow props. We've been in business for 14 years because we ship faster than anyone else, have amazing customer service and offer the best warrant…

In this tutorial, you will learn how to make a simple hula hoop that has a push button connection so that you can coil it down and make it smaller for travel. Having a hoop you can take anywhere and fit in your luggage is such a benefit when you want to bring your hoop with you.

Hi, my names Brandon and I'm the owner and founder of The Spinsterz. I've been hula hooping for 20 years and building hoops professionally for 14 of those years.


I've made and sold tens of thousands of hoops and in that time I've learned what makes a great hula hoop as well as how to teach you how to easily make one at home.

The total cost of materials to build approximately 10 hoops is only $63.84

Step 1: Gather Your Supplies

For this project, you are going to need to get a few things, some tools, and some parts.

Tools & Supplies Needed

  • A way to cut your tubing. Tubing cutters are preferable.
  • 3/4" 160 PSI PE Tubing
  • 1 HDPE White Connector
  • 1 Rivet
  • 1 Snap Button
  • Cloth Measuring Tape
  • Scissors
  • Sharpie
  • Screw Gun
  • 1/4" Drill Bit & and 1/8" Drill Bit
  • Rivet Gun

For the tubing, I'd suggest getting it at Lowes, this is the stuff you want - ADS 3/4-in x 100-ft 160-PSI Plastic Coil Pipe

The HDPE Connector and Snap Buttons, you can get those from The Spinsterz Hoop Supplies

Rivets and rivet gun are best bought at Harbor Freight Tools, it's the cheapest place for them. You can also get the specific size rivets needed for this project from the link above - The Spinsterz.

Step 2: Prep Your Tubing

In this step, you are just going to cut off the tape that is binding your freshly bought tubing together. Grab your scissors, cut the tape off and remove it from the tubing. Allow the tubing to naturally begin to "stretch out" and uncoil itself. This is a good thing that you want to have happen. You don't need to force the tubing open, just let it happen naturally.

Step 3: Determining Your Hoop Size & Measuring

While your tubing is relaxing you can think about what size hoop you want to make and do the math so you know what size you are going to cut.

If you are a brand new hooper, I'd suggest making a hoop somewhere between 38" - 42" in outside diameter. For the purposes of this Instructable, our diameter will be measured from outside edge to outside edge. If you are unsure of what size hula hoop to make, take a look at this article I wrote on How to Find Your Hoop Size , it should guide you through knowing what size hoop is best for you.

Once you know the hoop size you want to make, it's time to do some math and convert that size into something we can use with your measuring tape.

I'm making a 38" diameter hoop.

We need to find the circumference that we going to measure and then cut. The formula for finding the circumference of a circle is pi (3.14) * Di (diameter). In our case this is 3.14*38 = 119.32". We're going to round this number to 119" just to make it easier on ourselves.

Step 4: Measure and Cut Your Tube

For this step, you will need your measuring tape, tubing cutters, and your tubing.

  • Hold the measuring tape really tight as you are measuring around the tubing.
  • Cut into your tubing just a bit and then spiral your cutters, this makes a more even cut.
  • Watch your fingers when you are cutting in the above step!

Step 5: Inserting and Securing Your Connector

For this step you will need the following supplies and tools:

  1. 1 White HDPE Connector - buy it here.
  2. Sharpie
  3. Measuring Tape
  4. Screw gun and 1/8" drill bit
  5. 1 Rivet
  6. Rivet Gun

In the video you see me using my arm to hold the hoop while I rivet it, it's much easier if you just put the hoop on a table so you have something to push down on.

Step 6: Drilling and Inserting the Snap Button

Keep your drill gun and switch out the bit for a 1/4" drill bit.

Get your snap button and that's all you need for this step.

You'll notice a point where it says, "If you wanted to tape your hoop, now would be the time." If you do want to tape your hoop, you would want to do this right after the hole is drilled for the snap button, but before you put the snap button in the tubing.

If you are not taping your hoop, you can watch this video until the end and follow all the steps.

If you do want to tape your hoop, check out our Instructable on How to Tape a Hula Hoop , if you need help with that.

Once your hoop is taped, watch the next step on how to finish it.

Step 7: Your Done!.......or Are You?

The next step is only necessary if you decided to tape your hoop. If you just have a bare hoop, then you are already done. Congratulations!

This hoop may be a bit slippery when using it as there is no "grip" on it. One of the ways a hoop becomes easier to use is by putting some grippy gaffer tape on it. Gaffer tape is a cloth tape used by all sorts of industries to make things grippy. If you watch our How to Tape a Hoop video, you'll see gaffer tape being used there.


If you are interested in learning How to Hula Hoop, we'd love to share with you a series of 5 videos that will take you from never hula hooping to being able to do a few basic moves. You can view these how to hoop videos here .

If you've got any questions or comments you can leave them below or hit us up on Messenger to get a super-fast response.

Step 8: Finishing Your Taped Hoop

Assuming you taped your hoop, the last step you would have seen in the taping video is cutting around the break in your hoop so that you would be able to pull the two sections apart, we are going to continue on from that last step.

Tools Needed:

  • Screw Gun with a 1/4" bit and 1/8" bit
  • Rivet Gun
  • Sharpie

Supplies Needed:

  • White HDPE Connector (should already be inside your hoop)
  • Snap button
  • Rivet

After all that, if you'd rather just buy a hoop from The Spinsterz and save all the hassle, you can use the code "INSTRUCTABlES10" to save 10% on your purchase.