PSA: Stop buying expensive craft foam for armor, a $3 yoga mat from Goodwill works just as well.

I see so many folks drop $20 on EVA foam sheets when a thrifted mat cuts the same, sands the same, and holds heat shapes perfectly. Has anyone else made the switch and noticed a difference in durability after a full con day?

3 comments

3 Comments

simonsingh28d ago

My local hardware store sells these big rubber floor mats for five bucks. I used one for a pauldron last year and it held up through three sweaty convention days without a crack. It's wild how many perfect materials are just sitting in plain sight, labeled for something else. I've seen people make amazing stuff from old car floor mats and even those foam pool noodles. The best part of this hobby is the clever reuse.

sean_davis28d ago

Ever try those interlocking floor tiles from a home store? I lined a whole helmet with them once and it was still solid after getting knocked around in a packed vendor hall.

rileynguyen27d ago

Check the gardening section for those cheap kneeling pads. Cut one up for knee armor and it's both flexible and tough as hell. Half the stuff we need is already sold as something boring and practical.