Fursuiting questions.

[Friduwulf]

Hi everybody. I hope everyone is having a good day today! I have a couple questions regarding fursuiting. I have no experience with being in suit at all but it is one aspect of the fandom that really appeals to me and is something that I would like to take part in. I am currently getting a reference done of my fursona and I once that is done, I would like to look into getting a suit made and at least start contacting other makers by spring of 2016 for looking for quotes and whatever other info I may need. I am hoping to have a suit done by end of 2016 (that's the goal anyway).

With that bit of info, as I previously mentioned, I have no experience being in suit and have only been around other furs in suit a couple times. I am hoping that maybe I would at least be able to tag along if there were any events nearby in the near future and am willing to help out wherever needed but also would like to learn anything I may need to know before pulling the trigger on commissioning a suit and dropping some money on a higher quality maker. I know to do extensive research before sending any money as there is a lot of scammers.

Now to get to the main reason behind this post... To all those that have been taking part in suiting, whether it has been years of experience or just starting out, what steps did you take to really determine that you definitely wanted to go through with the purchase of a suit? To those that have owned multiple styles, which did you most prefer and what in your opinion was the advantages/drawbacks to each of the styles you owned? I am looking at getting a full suit done and really like the style of Digitigrade but want to hear what you guys have to weigh in with on the topic. I really want to be sure that I want to go through with this but at the same time, I am hesitant to throw down $2500+ on a full suit only to wear it once or twice and realize that I may not want to continue using it.

I know there is a ton of info on the Internet and trust me, I have been looking into this and have spent many many hours reading and watching YouTube of panels at other cons, etc. but I want to hear from local furs and their personal experience as well and I tend to get a better understanding when I am talking one on one with someone so I can ask questions as they we converse about it. If anyone has any info or advice or generally any experienced to add I would love to hear it. I am sure I missed a lot of things I wanted to inquire about so feel free to ask me questions as well.

[Fuzzy Wizard]

Air conditioning is key. Though not sure what you will get for 2500. Suiting is great for people who are otherwise shy. You get to be yourself and take on a character which is second nature for most of us. Each suit makes me want to go further, I am currently working on a 20k - 35k dollar project. It will be amazing once I can finalize it. ( still much to design). So be prepared to finance a new version of you. Keeping it clean and free of sweat is a pain for the most part especially if you add electronics.

[lindel]

my biggest suggestion is building up a heat tolerance. You will sweat this is a fact. I started by wearing pants and t-shirts in the summer even if I felt like I was going to die. then I upgraded to sweaters and pants before I started wearing my suit ..and even then only for a few hours at a time.

[Friduwulf]

Air conditioning is key. Though not sure what you will get for 2500. Suiting is great for people who are otherwise shy. You get to be yourself and take on a character which is second nature for most of us. Each suit makes me want to go further, I am currently working on a 20k - 35k dollar project. It will be amazing once I can finalize it. ( still much to design). So be prepared to finance a new version of you. Keeping it clean and free of sweat is a pain for the most part especially if you add electronics.

Cool. Thanks for the input fuzzy wizard. I am very well aware of how hot it gets in these suits and do plan on having a fan in the head for ventilation. Many of the higher quality suits that I have seen are around the 2500-3500 dollar range such as fun fur all and mischief makers for a couple examples. That is gonna be one hell of a suit if it is really going to cost you 20-35g's. Peaked my curiosity as to what will look like for sure.

my biggest suggestion is building up a heat tolerance. You will sweat this is a fact. I started by wearing pants and t-shirts in the summer even if I felt like I was going to die. then I upgraded to sweaters and pants before I started wearing my suit ..and even then only for a few hours at a time.

I'm not too worried about heat build up as I am pretty good at dealing with hotter temperatures. Thanks though for your input too.

What I was curious about is without really knowing anybody that actively fursuits (other than the furry community, no one knows I am a furry... Yet) how can I go about getting more hands on experience without just buying a suit to try out for my self before I get my own character made. I have considered getting a premade off of furbuy and the other buy/sell sites but I am at 6' tall and 195lbs with size 13 feet so there really isn't anything out there that would fit that is a premade. I really would appreciate if i got to tag along with other people who are suiting just so I can ask any questions that I may have. Anyways, sorry for rambling and asking so many questions, I'm just trying to do my research here. I should probably head to bed now... But seriously, I really do appreciate the input. Thanks guys.

[Fuzzy Wizard]

Try out for Mascot Jobs. They are actually hard yo get but if you can you could try without buying and company suits are usually adjustable. I'm sure if you wanted to hang with a mascot they would let you be a spotter.

[ppakky]

I like wearing the fluffy body suits, paws, maybe feet. Not much for the big foam head and stuff. So I ended up just making furry coveralls with a hood on it with ears. It's fairly basic, I've added lining and tried different zippers but took them off again. I like to be able to run, like actually run in the jumpersuit. So I've kept it fairly simple.

I wanted to feel fluff and fuzzy but I don't like hiding behind the mask :D

I wear it to about 5 events a year. But at home I wear it about 2-3 times a month, just hanging around at home.

I decided to make the suit, when Dressew was having a sale. Spent $160 on 6 Meters of fur. and had a lot left over.

[Sora]

what steps did you take to really determine that you definitely wanted to go through with the purchase of a suit?

Some honest answers to the following questions:
-Why are you interested in suiting?
-How much do you want to do it?
-Do you have friends who can help you on my first time suiting?
-Do you have enough disposable income for a suit?
-Do you have enough disposable income to go to events where you can wear the suit?
-What happens if you don't get a suit? Is the difference in experience worth x thousand dollars?
-Can you imagine, at any point, needing or wanting to sell or otherwise get rid of the suit you bought, for any reason?

I am hesitant to throw down $2500+ on a full suit only to wear it once or twice and realize that I may not want to continue using it.

Wearing a suit is fun. Nothing else like it. But it's really a luxury good, it comes at a price.

Seems to me you're not hesitant about your interest in it, but whether it's worth the price at the moment.

My honest opinion is if you have reservations about spending that kind of money, that's a temporary red flag. Deciding to act on an interest shouldn't be stressful and difficult - if it is, something's not quite right yet. So keep that three grand until you're more comfortable, or come across something else you really, truly want to spend it on at the drop of a hat. This is not a game of baseball where you lose if you don't swing. You can choose the time you want to swing, at your own interest and financial comfort level, when you feel you understand your own situation, preferences and the interest well enough to make a comfortable decision without hesitation.

[Friduwulf]

Thank you Sora for the in depth reply and I will try to answer as any questions as best I can. Really appreciate it.

Some honest answers to the following questions:
-Why are you interested in suiting?
-How much do you want to do it?
-Do you have friends who can help you on my first time suiting?
-Do you have enough disposable income for a suit?
-Do you have enough disposable income to go to events where you can wear the suit?
-What happens if you don't get a suit? Is the difference in experience worth x thousand dollars?
-Can you imagine, at any point, needing or wanting to sell or otherwise get rid of the suit you bought, for any reason?

-I don't really know exactly why I have an interest in suiting. It just looks like it is such a fun time and I have been interested in getting involved in the activity for a couple years but always just kind of put it on the back burner so to speak as I focused on work and other important life stuff. Things have settled down in my life and now I am looking to explore more into the activities that I Have been interested in.
- Not really sure how to answer how much I really want to do it as I have never really had the opportunity to even really be around the activity with the exception of going to howl this past year. If I were to rate my interest in a scale of 1-10 1 being no interest and 10 being very interested, I would place it at about a solid 9. I am very interested I getting the opportunity to tag along and learn more about the activity.
- I honestly have only a couple friends that are really close to me in the 10 years I have lived in Langley but I don't think that they would have any interest in taking part in this kind of activity. This is why I have decided to recently join the furry community, so that I can hopefully make some new friends that have similar interests.
- Yes, I do have disposable income for a fursuit, I am not worried about really any issues with being able to go to cons, affording the fursuit plus anything associated with upkeep of the suit, etc.
- I can't really imagine a scenario where I would feel obligated to or feel the need to sell a suit if I had purchased one. If/when I do decide to commission one it would be something that I intend to hold onto for years to come.

I am hesitant to throw down $2500+ on a full suit only to wear it once or twice and realize that I may not want to continue using it.

Wearing a suit is fun. Nothing else like it. But it's really a luxury good, it comes at a price.

Seems to me you're not hesitant about your interest in it, but whether it's worth the price at the moment.

My honest opinion is if you have reservations about spending that kind of money, that's a temporary red flag. Deciding to act on an interest shouldn't be stressful and difficult - if it is, something's not quite right yet. So keep that three grand until you're more comfortable, or come across something else you really, truly want to spend it on at the drop of a hat. This is not a game of baseball where you lose if you don't swing. You can choose the time you want to swing, at your own interest and financial comfort level, when you feel you understand your own situation, preferences and the interest well enough to make a comfortable decision without hesitation.

I wasn't totally clear as to what I was trying to say when I made the comment that you replied to there. It's not that I am hesitant in general to throw down money to get one made, it's that at this point in time, with how little I know about different Methods if constructing the suits, different overall styles (planti/digi, etc.), the pros and cons between different styles, etc. It would be awesome if I was able to get out with a group if possible to be able to learn some more, even if it's not with a group and its just someone willing to have me over so I can pick their brain about it.

I am very patient though and know that I shouldn't just jump into something without properly looking into all options so I can make an educated decision. I know 100% this is an activity I want to take part in, I just don't know too many people in the fandom as I am new to the furry community in general. I really am kind of hoping somebody sees that I am genuinely interested and is willing to teach me a little bit.

[Sora]

Good honest replies. I see, the interest and funding is there - just, not having sufficient information to make a good choice yet.

In my opinion, it's kind of hard to talk about it on a forum. Maybe check out youtube videos on fursuiting? If you want to just have a go at suiting yourself, hit up furbuy for a second-hand suit, maybe a partial. There's a number for sale out there. Once you have a reference point, you can go from there with solid decisions, and re-sell the suit for the same or less before a con when people are more likely to buy.

If you don't want to put down cash, Fursuits are generally highly personal, for many reasons including hygiene, so it's unlikely a random stranger will just offer you their suit to try on - you should hit up suiting friends, ask if you can try theirs on for a second - maybe if you offer them beer or dinner they might let you. Besides that, I recommend going to go to a convention, like Vancoufur in March, or Fureh in May, and attend the fursuiting panels - sometimes they bring suits for curious and interested people to try on. Talk to fursuit makers, take note of fursuits you like and ask the suiters who made their suits.

[Friduwulf]

Good honest replies. I see, the interest and funding is there - just, not having sufficient information to make a good choice yet.

In my opinion, it's kind of hard to talk about it on a forum. Maybe check out youtube videos on fursuiting? If you want to just have a go at suiting yourself, hit up furbuy for a second-hand suit, maybe a partial. There's a number for sale out there. Once you have a reference point, you can go from there with solid decisions, and re-sell the suit for the same or less before a con when people are more likely to buy.

If you don't want to put down cash, Fursuits are generally highly personal, for many reasons including hygiene, so it's unlikely a random stranger will just offer you their suit to try on - you should hit up suiting friends, ask if you can try theirs on for a second - maybe if you offer them beer or dinner they might let you. Besides that, I recommend going to go to a convention, like Vancoufur in March, or Fureh in May, and attend the fursuiting panels - sometimes they bring suits for curious and interested people to try on. Talk to fursuit makers, take note of fursuits you like and ask the suiters who made their suits.

I just looked at this thread now... Thanks for the reply again Sora! This is definitely the route I am gonna go. I am not in a huge rush to get anything done right away. I would like to get a suit of fridu made but need to really be sure of what direction I want to go. I do plan on talking with many people when I go to vfur and am going to register for fur-eh too and will definitely check out some panels on the topic. I was looking in furbuy for awhile checking out partials and full suits and ended up buying a premade realistic style demonwolf partial, it was just the head but the guy made some sleeves and hand paws and a tail to create the partial. It should be here by about the 14th, and I plan on just having some fun with this one, and figuring out exactly what I want when it come time to commission someone for Fridu. I might teach myself some crafting skills in making a body suit and foot paws turning this into a full suit.

I understand the whole hygiene thing when it comes to others wearing suits, and would never ask somebody if I could try one on. I am the same way about hockey equipment, and even my welding mask only gets used by me. I am more interested in checking out the different styles of construction and getting hands on with the differences between resin and foam bases, the different methods of doing digi padding, etc. But yeah, like I said, I am not in a rush and want to make a solid decision when it comes time. Until then, I will just eagerly await the arrival of the partial I picked up and hope to be able to make it out to some smaller local suiting events, or if not that, waiting until vfur (though I am going snowboarding when I get this partial, it's on the list of things to do in 2016, lol). Again though, I really appreciate the input and hope to see some of you out there in the near future! And happy new year to everyone!

[Fuzzy Wizard]

It's not that bad letting some try your suit. Just not for very long. I let friends wear mine before l. Was interesting watching me bouncing down the hallway as an outside viewer.