Tentacles

So, how do I make a larpsafe tentacle? Is there a recommended material? And a recommended length to prevent it being too whippy?

The natural options seem to be pipe lagging (which is probably too flexible) and pool noodle (which is the opposite), tipped with camp-mat or open cell in the desired shape. But I’m looking for advice from anyone who’s done it before before I jump in and make something potentially unsafe.

(Propnomicon’s instructions on decorative tentacles has good guidance on making them look good, and there’s another post on adding suckers, though they might not withstand combat)

We have some down here in Hamilton which are quite, um, disturbing. They are very slightly tapered tubes of 50mm open cell foam. They have a sucker (or phallus shaped) shaped head. They have a piece of foam through the center of the tube which is glued in place which gives a bit better control of the tentacle (and gives the operator a something to hold onto). And lastly they have a sleeve of green fabric which a disturbing shade of pink fabric for the sucker.
These ones are about 1.5m long.

I’ve made tentacles out of pool noodles.

I sculpted the noodles using a hot knife to give a lacerated look, and then painted them for effect. I also plugged the hole at the end of the noodle with some foam, and at the other I glued in a short section of PVC pipe into the other end to act as a handle. A short section of black material was glued to the handle end to hide the wielder’s hand.