17 of The Most Unusual Hobbies Around The World

Have you ever heard of people who collect belly button lint or chase tornadoes for fun? Believe it or not, these are just some of the many unusual hobbies that people have around the world. In this article, we will explore some of the most unique and fascinating spare time activities that will surely leave you amazed and maybe even inspired to try something new. We have collected 17 weird hobbies and interests in this unusual hobbies list

This article will examine some of the most bizarre yet fascinating hobbies on the planet. Ready for a laugh? Or maybe even something more than just a chuckle? Then read on and prepare yourselves for some truly strange free time occupations!

Competitive Dog Grooming

Dog grooming competitions may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of unusual hobbies, but this activity has grown in popularity in recent years. Participants spend hours grooming and styling their dogs to perfection, with the aim of winning awards and recognition for their efforts.

Extreme Ironing

Ironing clothes may seem like a mundane task, but some people take it to a whole new level by combining it with extreme sports. Extreme ironing involves ironing clothes in the most unconventional and challenging locations, such as on top of a mountain or while skydiving.

Worm Charming

Worm charming is a weird hobby that involves luring worms out of the ground using vibrations. Participants stomp their feet or play music on the ground to attract the worms, and then try to catch as many as possible within a set time limit. This unusual hobby has even spawned a world championship event in the UK.

Cheese Rolling

In the UK, cheese rolling is an annual event where participants chase a wheel of cheese down a steep hill. The winner is the person who catches the cheese, and the event attracts crowds of spectators every year. Cheese rolling is also one of the most unusual sports around the world

Urban Exploration

Urban exploration, also known as urbex, involves exploring abandoned or off-limits buildings and locations. This hobby has gained popularity in recent years, with participants often sharing photos and videos of their explorations online.

Quidditch

Inspired by the Harry Potter books and movies, Quidditch is a sport that is played on broomsticks. The game involves two teams of seven players each, who try to score points by throwing a ball through hoops while also dodging bludgers and catching the snitch.

Competitive Frog Jumping

In California, the Calaveras County Fair hosts an annual frog jumping competition where participants bring their own frogs to compete. The frogs are placed on a platform and encouraged to jump as far as possible, with the winner being the frog that jumps the farthest.

Hikaru Dorodango

Hikaru Dorodango is a Japanese hobby that involves turning mud into shiny balls. Participants use their hands to shape the mud into balls, and then polish them for hours using a special technique that results in a beautiful, glossy finish.

Ferret Legging

Ferret legging is a bizarre activity that originated in England, where participants try to endure the longest possible time with two live ferrets inside their pants. The goal is to keep the ferrets inside for as long as possible without harming them.

Competitive Air Guitar

Air guitar competitions involve participants pretending to play the guitar without actually using a real instrument. Participants are judged on their performance, which often involves intricate and exaggerated movements.

Are you curious of what the Most Unusual Sports in the world are? Let´s find out!

Collecting Pez Dispensers

Collecting Pez dispensers is an unusual hobby that I’m sure you’ve heard of, but what you may not be aware of are the lengths some people will go to in order to expand their collection. It’s true – for some folks collecting these little plastic treats has become something of a passion project.

Making Miniature Furniture

Making miniature furniture is one of the most unusual hobbies around the world.

It is the art of creating tiny scale models of furniture and other objects. The pieces are usually built from wood, clay, metal, plastic, or other materials and are often used as decorations or for display purposes. They can be as small as 1/12th of the size of a normal piece of furniture and are often handcrafted.

Building Model Planes

Planes, planes, and more planes! Building model aircraft has been a hugely popular hobby for many people over the years. Whether it’s an old-school Spitfire or a modern jet fighter, crafting miniature versions of these amazing machines is a fascinating pursuit that can take hours – if not days – to master.

Image credit: Luca Iaconi-Stewart

Carving Stone

One of the more unusual hobbies around the world is carving stone. It’s like a sculptor’s paradise, and those who take it up have to be dedicated and passionate about their craft. As they say, Rome wasn’t built in a day; you need time, patience, and skill to turn that lump of rock into something beautiful.

Geocaching

If you like a treasure hunt, then geocaching is the hobby for you! It’s like a real life scavenger hunt that takes you all over the world. Think of it as an adventure game where GPS coordinates will lead you to hidden containers, or caches.

Larping – Live Action Role Playing

One of the more niche hobbies on this list is Larping.

Larping (live action role-playing) is an exciting way for people to explore their creativity and find adventure all while having fun. It can take place anywhere from backyards to grand castles with the participants engaging in battles and activities that mimic those seen in books and films. They create characters with elaborate costumes, speech patterns, and storylines; players even develop relationships between their characters like friendships, rivalries, and alliances as they work together through plot twists during game sessions.

Papercutting

One of the many unusual hobbies on this list is papercutting. Essentially, papercutting involves cutting intricate patterns on sheets of paper with a sharp knife or blade. It’s quite amazing when you think about it- all these little details can be created from just a piece of paper! But don’t worry if you’re not particularly confident using knives – there are plenty of other ways to get creative with this hobby too. You could use scissors as well as stencils if you want something more precise.

What are some other weird hobbies?

Did you know that rock climbing was once seen as an odd thing to do, but it is seen as pretty normal compared to some spare time occupations nowadays. People have been finding unique and strange hobbies for generations, and it seems there are more now than ever. Here´s a list of 11 more hobbies:

Beetle Fighting

Take for example beetle fighting, which is a competitive sport where people pit their pet beetles against each other in small arenas. It’s a weird and wonderful hobby that involves manipulating elements from the periodic table. People have even listed it on their CVs!

Toy Voyaging

Then there’s toy voyaging, a fun and creative hobby that involves sending your toy on vacation. People give their toys a logbook to sign and then send them off around the world using the ToyVoyagers platform. The hobby started in 1984 and it’s still going strong today, with people competing to see how far their toys can travel.

Dirt Polishing / Polishing Mud

Another weird hobby is dirt polishing, which involves extracting the moisture from mud and polishing it into artistic shapes. It’s a great hobby to get inspired by, and it requires some special tools to get the job done. People even compete to see who can make the most unique and impressive art pieces out of the mud!

Ghost Hunting

Paranormal activity is also a weird hobby that many people find interesting and unique. People go ghost hunting and exploring the world around them to get a glimpse of what’s beyond our own realm. This is a hobby that doesn’t involve any physical activity, but it still takes a lot of courage to go out and explore.

Noodling

Noodling is a cool way of catching catfish that’s popular in the southern parts of the U.S. Instead of using a fishing rod, people who noodle (called “noodlers”) use their bare hands or feet to catch the fish. They find a hole where a catfish might be hiding and stick their hand or foot inside to grab it. This way of fishing is also known by other names like hogging, dogging, grappling, grabbling, or tickling, mostly in the South and Midwest. So, noodlers are pretty brave and skilled at what they do!

Sick Bag Collecting

Yet another weird hobby is collecting sick bags from airplanes. People travel around and collect the sick bags from different airlines and colleges and universities, and then put them in their travel log. It’s a strange hobby, but it has been done since the 1960s, and some people even try to find bags from locations of live news reports.

Duck Herding

If you’re looking for something new and exciting, why not give duck herding a try? It’s a cool hobby that doesn’t require a lot of knowledge or skill to get involved. It’s also a fun hobby that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. You can call this hobby a form of animal husbandry, as it involves caring for ducks and helping them to find food and shelter.

Element Collecting

Element collecting is another unique hobby that is becoming increasingly popular. It involves collecting rare and unusual elements from around the world. It’s a lot of fun, as it allows you to see the world in a new and exciting way. 

Collecting Navel Fluff

Navel fluff is a term used to describe the accumulation of lint and debris that gathers around the navel or belly button. It’s a fun hobby that involves collecting and classifying navel fluff for the purpose of record-holding. It’s a relatively new hobby, but it’s already gaining in popularity.

Fork Bending

If you know someone who likes making things with their hands, they might want to try fork bending. It’s a fun and creative hobby that involves bending common utensils like forks and spoons into shapes and designs. It’s a great way to pass the time and can be surprisingly rewarding.

Collecting Stamps, Coins, Cards

For those who enjoy collecting, completing their collection can be a great source of enjoyment. Whether it’s stamps, coins, cards, or something else, collecting items to complete their collection can be an absorbing and rewarding hobby. It’s fun to search for the items and even more rewarding when the collection is complete.

A hobby can come in all shapes and sizes, and there’s something for everyone. Whether it’s duck herding, element collecting, navel fluff, or fork bending, there’s sure to be a hobby that appeals to you. Take the time to explore the possibilities and find a hobby that you can enjoy. Who knows, you might even become a record holder!

Unusual Hobbies – Final Words

The world is full of strange hobbies that range from the quirky to the downright bizarre. It might be extreme ironing or competitive dog grooming, but these hobbies offer a unique way to express creativity and connect with others who share the same interests – did you know that over 3 million Americans participate in urban exploration every year?

Don’t hesitate to start exploring the many interesting activities available around the world. You may even find yourself developing an unexpected passion during your travels.

So why not try something new and explore the world of unusual hobbies?

Unusual and Strange Hobbies FAQ