DIY Slosh Pipe

Greetings from Keystone, CO! I would be out snowboarding but, honestly, riding down ice is so played out (personal opinion here) and sitting in one of their village cafes while blogging sounds more fun. Speaking of fun, what’s the most fun you can have while working out your core and getting the neighbors to think you’ve lost your DIY marbles? It starts with “slosh” and ends with “pipe.” (Mom, if you’re reading… a “slosh pipe” has nothing to do with smoking pot.)

"Fun" is Zercher carrying a slosh pipe

At rescue practice, they tell us (as 6 of us carry a 200 lb litter down a mountain,) “If you’re not working hard, you’re not working hard enough.” So as difficult as a slosh pipe is to carry, I question whether I’m working out hard enough because half my grunts are actually girly glee giggles.

A slosh pipe is a 3-4″ diameter and 8-10′ long PVC pipe filled with water. Any deviation from completely centered sends a little bit of water, then a lotta bit of water, then the whole dang pipe full of water sloshing (get it?) to one side. Good luck keeping those obliques contracted. Even more luck to you trying to get back to centered only to have all the water slosh to the other side. Things get complicated when you start to walk with the slosh pipe because it’s practically impossible NOT to deviate from centered. Anyone able to do otherwise could probably land a high paying job with the circus.

Things start to get really complicated when you try to step forward and down into a lunge. They say you can use a slosh pipe for the same exercises you use a barbell for. But, for the record, I have not attempted to bench press a pipe full o’ sloshing water over my face nor have I attempted anything overhead. I’m just not there yet. (Full disclosure… I dig it.)

I mean, seriously, I haven’t had THIS much fun since Zumba!!! And you can make a slosh pipe for cheaper than dinner and a movie. Giggles and fun with 5 ingredients for less than $30… I’m making this slosh pipe deal sound like a cheap date. But, really, who doesn’t like a cheap date?

Here’s how:
(Here is my DIY Slosh Pipe printable PDF)

WANT SOME TIPS?
1.  If you have petite hands, go for a 3″ diameter PVC pipe.

2. You could build this using hard plastic end caps for both ends. However, the rubber end cap with adjustable steel clamp will allow you to easily pop that end off and adjust the water levels whenever you want.

3. If you live in cold temperatures, add some salt to the water so it doesn’t freeze in your pipe.

4. Don’t sniff the PVC cement.

WANT TO READ MORE ABOUT SLOSH PIPES?
T-Nation’s “Sloshing Pillar of Pain” by Dan John – HERE.
Mark Sisson’s “Build Your Own Slosh Tube” – HERE
Common Sense Warrior’s “Build Your Own Slosh Pipe” by Mike Norris – HERE

HOW ABOUT SOME DISCLAIMERS:
DIY at your own risk. I am not responsible for injury that you may incur as a result of following these building plans nor am I responsible for any injury, or death for that matter, that may result from using a slosh pipe.

Special thanks to Ryan for helping me navigate Home Depot and for taking the time to help photograph.