Where to find padding? Want to make my own bag.

My girlfriend wants to make a custom camera bag, and I know you can buy pre-made inserts, but they are expensive and I'd like to make some custom fit ones. I've searched around at local craft stores and hardware stores, but have not been able to find the proper padding. The type of padding I'm looking for is the kind you'd find in most camera bags. Any ideas on where to find it?

Thanks!

Go to a camping supplier and look for high density foam sleeping pads. You can get all you need for under $20.

PBeeee wrote in post #9762989
Go to a camping supplier and look for high density foam sleeping pads. You can get all you need for under $20.

Ah! Good thinking. I'll go check one out.

Go to your local upholstery supply store and you can find a wide selection of foam. You want to look for closed cell PE foam, around 4lb density. The come in various thickness.

They sell them by the yard, typically pretty cheap. You can cut them to any shape you want and double or triple them up to any thickness you need.

You can also shop for different kind of fabrics there that you can sew up into sleeves or pockets to house the foam to make your padding. Then you can stitch Velcros on their edges.

The company that comes up with pre-made Velcro padded strips for use in myriad companies' camera bags will take over the universe...

You could get a yoga mat. It's about 1/2 as thick as the high density foam sleeping pad so it's lighter although not as rigid. I found both kinds of pads at local thrift stores. I'm going to try to make my own bag also. It does have it's challenges.

Find/buy/steal a few large teddy bears, rip them apart and pack the stuffing material between the inner and outer layers of the bag.

DeaconG wrote in post #9763710
The company that comes up with pre-made Velcro padded strips for use in myriad companies' camera bags will take over the universe...

Seen Kata's Modi-Vers insert kits? Cut the pads (in two weights) to size and use the supplied Velcro strips to assemble them.

Shadowblade wrote in post #9766417
Find/buy/steal a few large teddy bears, rip them apart and pack the stuffing material between the inner and outer layers of the bag.

Kidnapping teddy bears and ripping their guts out? That's just wrong

MS-18E wrote in post #9774818
Kidnapping teddy bears and ripping their guts out? That's just wrong

It's called 'recycling'...

Check the link in my sig. Hopefully you're better at sewing than me!