Tula Baby is making some changes. First they came out with a brand new carrier, the Tula Free-To-Grow. This is a great carrier that doesn’t require and infant insert and grows with your kid in width and height. Make sure to watch some videos or read the manual. There is a lot going on. Then the Tula Explore, see a full review of the Tula Explore here. and it is also has great new features and new snaps
What kind of snaps does the Tula FTG & Explore use?
Where do I get those new Tula snaps?
The Short Answer. Right Here!
- Socket and Cap Sets – For Reach Straps
- Studs & Caps – For Embellishing the Reach Straps OR Attaching the Hood
- Full Sets (Caps, Studs, & Sockets)
How do I set them?
Short Answer: Babyville Snaps pliers. Available at Amazon & Joann Fabric
Long Answer: Keep reading. You have some other options too.
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The Sleeping Hood
Tula made some changes to the sleeping hood on the Free-to-Grow (FTG) carrier, and Tula Explore. Yup, this is all about a few small changes to the sleeping hood and how it is attached. I have patterns for flat and hoodie sleeping hoods for all of these carriers. You can find them as linked below.
- Pattern for FTG Flat hood
- Pattern for FTG hoodie
- Pattern for Explore Flat Hood.
- Pattern for Explore Hoodie
- The Hood has attached reach straps with snaps on them
- The reach straps snap to the shoulders instead of clip, using the elastic cord in the hood and a cord keeper on the strap.
- The hood is wider (Tula FTG only) and attaches with snapping tabs that go around loops or straps on the carrier.
All of these things use the same type of snap. When you are making a new hood for your carrier you need to keep this in mind. You will either need to buy snaps, buy preset straps, or WORK AROUND THE PROBLEM.
Working Around It!
- You don’t need these special snaps for the tabs, because they snap to themselves. (Tula Explore and Tula FTG)
- Add Cord Keepers to the straps and use an elastic loop in the sides of your hood. (Only Tula FTG)
- Make/Buy Snap-on reach straps
- Make a hood with tie straps (Pattern).
This all works great for the Tula Free-To-Grow and Explore, but the redesigned original style Tula is different.
The New Tula Re-design
The hood on the “new” Tula snaps on just like the “old”, but the snaps have changed to the same new snap. Gone are the metal YKK snaps; In with new resin snaps.
- The Hood has attached reach straps with snaps on them
- The reach straps snap to the shoulders instead of clip, using the elastic cord in the hood and a cord keeper on the strap.
- The hood is very about the same width attaches with resin snaps that match the straps
All of these things use the same type of snap. When you are making a new hood for your carrier you need to keep this in mind. You will either need to buy snaps, buy preset straps, a preset base or WORK AROUND THE PROBLEM.
Working Around It – Redesigned Tula
- You can’t solve the base snap issue completely, so I suggest buying a pre-made hood base. (contact me theninja@fabricninja.com) You can also attach a hood to a slipcover, topper, or to the straps with loops.
- Add Cord Keepers to the straps and use an elastic loop in the sides of your hood. Or Make/Buy Snap-on reach straps with Tula Snaps
- Make a hood with tie straps – Pattern Here
Tell me more about these new snaps!
The new snaps are made of a plastic of resin type material, not metal like the “old” hood snaps. They are not your standard size 20 KamSnaps (used by Kinderpack and MJ) or even Babyville snaps, which look very similar. They are totally different.
These snaps are about the diameter of a size 24 plastic snap, but the socket (female) and stud (male) sides look different. Because they are so similar in size, some size 24 KamSnap presses will set them, but not all. The best answer is to use a Babyville snap press. I’ll tell you more about that in the next section, there are lots of options.
When Tula came out with the Free-To-Grow, I searched high and low for a supplier, and I found one. I know you want to know who my supplier is. I’m not going to share the name, but I will say that I have to import them in very large quantities, so even if you knew the supplier, it would not be very helpful.
I just learned about the redesigned Tula, so I don’t have a “package” ready for a hood kit, but I’ll be getting that together soon. For now, here are the links to all the parts. You can buy just what you need for 1 hood, or for many.
- Socket and Cap Sets – For Reach Straps
- Studs & Caps – For Embellishing the Reach Straps OR Attaching the Hood
- Full Sets (Caps, Studs, & Sockets)
But How Do I Set Them?
As I mentioned above, the cap of these Tula snaps is nearly the same size as a size 24 KamSnap. So KamSnap snap presses work for SOME people, but not all. Some people have been having issues setting the FTG Tula Snaps. Here is what we know so far. Sum up: Babyville pliers work great. Keep reading to learn more.
Table Top Press:
DK98 (old Style) – KamSnap Press (this style uses a wrench to put in dies)
The Plastic Snap Size 24 Die Works great to set FTG Tula snaps (but you set up socket with the studs size and visa versa)
DK93 (new Style) – KamSnap Press (this style as screw in dies)
The Plastic Snap Size 24 – Does NOT work to set FTG Tula snaps Reported by Lana. (I have not tired)
My Kids helping me with Lillebaby Snap Straps. Dk93 Green press
Solution?
I learned that the cap die for the old style metal tula body snaps fits the FTG Tula Snaps amazingly. So if you happen to also have the size 24 Metal Fashion Snap Die used for Tula snaps, and the Size 24 Plastic Snap die base – Would you please try it with the FTG Tula snaps. (I’m happy to mail you some)
Snap Pliers
The Babyville pliers and Kamsnap pliers look nearly identical, but are not.
KamSnap Pliers – All the different styles
K1 – Does not work. Not designed for size 24
K2- Floral or Regular
Kam snap hand pliers (K2) With the size 24 cap die and larger plunger (you have to install this), do not set a FTG Tula snap very nicely. This is because the sz 24 cap die doesn’t fit the FTG Tula snap cap well, it’s like 1mm too small. Literally. 1mm (palm to the head)
Solution?
- Shave off a tiny amount of the cap die? I haven’t tried altering it yet, but it should work.
- Melt the end of prong with a lighter before pressing it down.
Babyville Pliers
The Babyville snap pliers with larger plunger (included, but you have to install) and size 24 cap die fits the cap very well and sets them PERFECTLY. Even though the K2 and Babyville pliers look nearly identical, the 1mm difference in the cap apparently makes all the difference.
Thanks for the very informative post! These resin snaps look similar in size and style to the ones on the Ergo hood straps. Do you know whether they are compatible?
I believe that Ergo used size 24 KamSnaps, but I am checking with some other makers to be sure. My ergo is on loan right now, so I can’t go check it.
Which ergo do you have? The hoods don’t detach, so haven’t paid much attention to the hood straps. Are you looking to add embellishments to the straps?
-Alice
I have an Ergo performance that lost (broke) some of the snaps where the hood strap attaches to the shoulder strap. They are non-weight bearing though, so it’s not a big deal, but I’m hoping to replace them for the convenience factor.
Do you mean that the snap on the carrier shoulder is broken or the snaps on the hood straps?
The one on the strap might be harder to replace because you’re going through all that thickness. Does the snap go through all the layers or is the top of it hidden inside?
It’s the top part of the snap that is on the hood strap, not the bottom part which is on the shoulder.
I am going to look to see if they are sold locally, then I can easily figure out the snap size for you. Otherwise I might have to send you a sample card for you to figure out the size.
-Alice
Thank you! That would be great.