7 Ways to Reuse Old Bike Tubes

Whether it’s a snapped valve, a blowout, or just a patch-on-patch Inception scenario, sometimes there’s just no way to get a tube back on the road again. But that’s no reason all that rubber should be filling up a landfill. Here are seven things to do with your old inner tubes after they’ve retired from active bike duty.

Got a worn-out mountain bike tube? Got some worn-out pants that slide down while you ride? An inner-tube belt is happy to kill both of these birds with one carefully crafted DIY stone. You can go simple or add as many sewn-on fabric flourishes as you’d like to this useful project—here’s how to get started.

There’s something very “Gift of the Magi” about having to blow all your cash to buy a wallet. That’s why making one out of used bike parts is so satisfying–you’ll end up with a cool homemade pouch and have money left to stow inside of it. The wallets pictured here from Etsy have a few extra sewn on bells and whistles, but if you want to make a simpler version, here are step-by-step instructions.

If you’re lucky enough to live somewhere it rarely rains, spending a lot on fenders can feel like overkill. Then again, when the sky does open up every once in awhile, you’re going to need some sort of wheel guard to keep mud and water from doing terrible things to your pants. Rig up a little DIY rain protection with an old mountain bike tube and some wire following these easy steps.

If you need something waterproof to keep a flame going, wrap an inch-wide strip of tube around some kindling and set it afire. Here’s a video that shows the longevity of inner tubes as tinder. Save this trick for when you’re truly desperate, though—burning rubber releases nasty toxins into the environment.

Talk about the ultimate campfire craft to work on while bike touring—this doormat was crocheted from used tubes using a tent peg for a hook. Like knitting, crocheting involves pulling loops of material through other loops using needles or a hook. Watch this video to learn the basics, and when you’re ready to tackle the mat, check out this step-by-step guide.

Keep your wrenches and screwdrivers from rattling around by making a little tool roll for them. This seven-step guide shows you how to make a separated tool pouch to organize your gear, which you can then roll up and stuff in your bike bag.

Repair an old broken outdoor chair, or just weave a bouncier, more comfortable seat for one. If you don’t have enough old tubes on hand for this project, your local bike shop will probably be glad to help you out—and if you don’t have a chair frame to work with, you can probably score one for cheap at a thrift store. Here’s what to do.

Have you made anything cool out of old tubes?