An old vacuum cleaner tube would work just fine. Just make sure you blow the dust out first:0) It is really the same thing. Some of the vacuum cleaner tubes are a little more flexible so they may wrap around your torso a little better even. Elknut is correct.. You will get more variety in sounds with a tube and reed. I use a wiffle ball bat for hunting. I have a medium diameter bat wrapped with an ace bandage and camo cloth tape to keep it quiet when it slaps twigs. I drilled a hole at the top and bottom and ran a pice of raw hide through the holes to make a carry strap for the bat. I carry it on my back and it works just fine. The total cost of this was about 5.oo and many elk have fallen to this call. Good luck on your hunt this year and watch out, before you know it you will be peeing down your leg just like us on the first cool morning in august...............