Keeping cool in costume?

[HyperShadow]

Hi guys! Not sure if this is the right place to post this, but here we go:

How you guys keep cool in your costumes?

I'm trying to get ideas since my Hit-Girl costume is just so dang hot to wear (I love wearing it, I just don't love heat exhaustion!). I wear a layer of heat gear underarmor underneath, but I just need something more since all that seems to do is provide a barrier between the suit and my skin (which is still a great thing to have). Before my next convention I wanted to ask around and see if you guys have any tips or tricks (aside from drinking lots of water)!

 

[joshvanrad]

I'm interested as well. When I was in my jumpsuit on Halloween night I nearly died. I was literally dripping sweat from the end of my sleeves by the time I got home.

 

[Lear60man]

The problem with skin tight suits...........is that they are skin tight! It's difficult to hide cooling packs.

Mascots use a micro climate suit or cooling vests. I used a custom flack vest with 12 frozen gel packs in pouches. Without the cooling system I couldn't go more than 10 minutes indoors. With it, I'm comfy for 8 hours.

Perhaps something that breathes more.

 

[Darth Lars]

Wear natural fibres. If that Hit Girl jacket is made of fake leather, then I really understand. Real leather is better.

 

[kwalsh0000]

Hydrate and breaks! Tis the best way. I have spent a couple of hours at a time in the pred (or longer, cant remember) and while its hot (all latex) once you make sure to keep hydrated thats the main thing as under armor etc can only do so much to help.

 

[Funky]

When I'm in costume I'm ALWAYS cool! :lol

Naw, but there IS a costuming section that I suspect may have your answer.

 

[HyperShadow]

The problem with skin tight suits...........is that they are skin tight! It's difficult to hide cooling packs.

Mascots use a micro climate suit or cooling vests. I used a custom flack vest with 12 frozen gel packs in pouches. Without the cooling system I couldn't go more than 10 minutes indoors. With it, I'm comfy for 8 hours.

Perhaps something that breathes more.

Luckily with my HG jacket it's not skin-tight, so there should be some room for a cooling vest! Especially if I can get a fairly fitted one. I just found one that works by submerging the piece in cold water, then it keeps you cool as the water evaporates. Those are the much cheaper ones, otherwise I noticed we're talking some spendy stuff! I don't know why I haven't thought of a cooling vest sooner. Dang!

Wear natural fibres. If that Hit Girl jacket is made of fake leather, then I really understand. Real leather is better.

I'll be honest: I have no clue what the suit is made of (strange material), but it sure doesn't breathe at all. If I ever decide to do the KA2 suit then I'm trying my best for real leather.

Hydrate and breaks! Tis the best way. I have spent a couple of hours at a time in the pred (or longer, cant remember) and while its hot (all latex) once you make sure to keep hydrated thats the main thing as under armor etc can only do so much to help.

Hydration is definitely important! I just need something more to help me out in order to survive the crowded con spaces. I'm pretty sensitive to heat, so I really gotta be careful. But water and breaks are definitely something I make sure to do throughout the day!

When I'm in costume I'm ALWAYS cool! :lol

Naw, but there IS a costuming section that I suspect may have your answer.

Awww you know it! thumbsup

Shoot, I feared I might have posted this in the wrong section! I'll do a bit of lurking around there and see what I can find as well.

 

[Heliox]

For cooling yourself try and research something like a water cooling system for a computer. If you have the setup you can use a small fan with a cover pate that has ports for tubing that routes around your costume that way it either pushes or pulls air around the hottest parts of your body

 

[Shadeling]

For cooling yourself try and research something like a water cooling system for a computer. If you have the setup you can use a small fan with a cover pate that has ports for tubing that routes around your costume that way it either pushes or pulls air around the hottest parts of your body

Wouldn't that add extra weight for the batteries to keep it running?


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[Heliox]

Wouldn't that add extra weight for the batteries to keep it running?


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True but if you use a distributed load the weight is still there but it isn't focused on one contact patch and also a control switch you can choose when to flip it on or off

 

[HyperShadow]

For cooling yourself try and research something like a water cooling system for a computer. If you have the setup you can use a small fan with a cover pate that has ports for tubing that routes around your costume that way it either pushes or pulls air around the hottest parts of your body

Whoa, yeah, that's a nice idea but something like that just isn't possible with this costume.

I'm going to contact a manufacturer and see if an evaporative cooling vest might work under my jacket, though I fear I might already know that answer. But more research never hurts! I'm going to try the route of a cooling vest, but finding one that won't add a bunch of bulk (I'm looking into a phase cooling one) is going to be a real pain in the arse. :unsure

 

[Psicorp7]

I use an under layer of thin silk long underwear and it breaths really well and feels cool on your skin. Something as simple as a damp handkerchief on the back of your neck works really well too. The evaporation cools you and the only cost is a piece of fabric and water!

 

[HyperShadow]

I use an under layer of thin silk long underwear and it breaths really well and feels cool on your skin. Something as simple as a damp handkerchief on the back of your neck works really well too. The evaporation cools you and the only cost is a piece of fabric and water!

Something as simple as that is definitely worth trying! Thanks so much for the suggestion!! I do wear a layer of underarmor with the suit, which does feel kinda cool, but mostly after you peel off the suit after a long con day (the costuming life is so glamorous). But maybe the material will help aid in the cooling process with the addition of even just a neck wrap! Which would be very ideal and help with keeping bulk minimal.

I read that the phase cooling vest I was looking at will add a 1-inch thickness to both the front and back of the body with fully charged packs. Not exactly ideal for my situation. Though I could only load up the packs on the back section, which would be covered by my cape anyways. So that's also an idea. But if just a neck wrap would help that would be absolutely fantastic!

EDIT:

Well ok there goes THAT idea: http://www.glaciertek.com/faq/faq-9.aspx

 

[Lythinae]

Something like this, if you can find it. It's a slightly adhesive gel pad that stays cool for around 8 hours. They're not wet, so won't damage anything.

I ride horses, and I stick one down my back (on the skin) when I compete. Works pretty well, even under a black wool jacket in the middle of summer! FWIW, I've used cooling vests, and they're often bulky and heavy. They might not look it at first, but you'll feel it by the end of the day.

 

[HyperShadow]

WOW, that is definitely something I'm going to try and track down! I wear a binder under the suit as well, so that should definitely be able to help hold a pack or two in place. Thank you SO much!!! :thumbsup

Quick question Lythinae, are those packs re-useable?

 

[Uanna]

I use makeshift Ice bags and put them under my suit in Summer I use them for driving on a hot day and it feels soooo good, I dont have AC in my Honda.

 

[HyperShadow]

I use makeshift Ice bags and put them under my suit in Summer I use them for driving on a hot day and it feels soooo good, I dont have AC in my Honda.

Oh man, I bet that does feel good! Sounds like something as simple as that will be my best route. :thumbsup Thinking about just getting some phase change packs, or even just some gel packs to put under my binder so they stay in place. If I don't have to add an extra layer of clothing under the suit I won't! So I'm thinking I'll just fully utilize one of the layers I already use.

 

[Lythinae]

Quick question Lythinae, are those packs re-useable?

Not really .... they last for around 8 hours in total so in theory you could use for half that, store it in the sealed back up bag, and then use it for another 4 later on. I've never done it tho, I just stick one on when I get ready and leave it there (generally use another one the next day if I need it). They're not that expensive tho.

They don't need to be frozen before use either