Wicking undersuit?

[WarPig]

All you guys that use an undersuit: any recommendations?

In a true DOH! moment, I realized i will need to get a wicking undersuit sooner, rather than later.

I've read some reviews on the net, but every review seems to be from a biker forum - and those aren't encouraging (everyone seems to complain how the suits don't keep them "cool" when riding at 90 mph down a 110 degree desert highway).

I've found a number of brands - Under Armor (seeming to be the most popular), Wickers and some "other" brands.

Thanks for any input!

 

[punisher]

I think you slightly answered your own answer. Under Armor is good stuff, beware of the walmart imitation ones though, its just plain ol' low quality spandex

 

[Aideon]

I use UnderArmor under a fair number of costumes, and it works quite nicely, so long as it can vent. If you're wearing something that holds heat in, you'll pretty much just need to open up and let the heat vent out to stay really cool.

 

[WarPig]

I just got a Vader suit that's pleather (think "body condom" :eek). I'm not as concerned about being cool as I am feeling dry (and I don't feel like pouring a gallon of sweat out of my boots at the end of the night).

I remember reading somewhere on the rpf about a suit from the UK (it's about the same price as Under Armor). Anyone use one of those?

 

[the_batdemon]

Is your Vader suit open backed, hopefully? I'd think even with a wicking under suit, if there's nowhere for the sweat to evaporate, you won't be dry. Oh, I've only heard good things about Under Armor. Nike makes some, too.

 

[WarPig]

It has a zipper in the back, but there's the "shroud" held in place by the shoulder armor and belt, and the cape goes over that. No, I *know* I'm in for a warm time

 

[Darius Alucard]

My advice would be to have some panels cut out of the back and have a very breathable fabric sewn in place to help get some circulation in there.
Otherwise, there's nothing that will keep you dry. I have a pleather X-Men movie style suit so it's a similar situation for me when I'm suited up.

Only other suggestion is what some guys (myself included) do when they wear a Batman cowl.

Maxi-pads put in key sweating areas.

I know it sounds strange, but I put a couple inside the forehead/brow area of my latex cowl and and one in the neck and they helped tremendously.

 

[CustomPropSculptorGuy]

I'd almost pay to see someone in a Batman suit go up and buy a thing of maxis - that would be epic...

Back on topic...

Actually Athletic Works gets their material from the same suppliers as Under Armor. The only difference is that UA offers a better antibacterial coating than AW.

Reebok is great, but it will cost you; UA is great too, but make sure you get summer wear and not heat gear - you'll pass out LoL

Another thing is, just use plain spandex. All a "wicking" material is, is a spandex blend that is thin enough that your core temp can help speed up evaporation in high temps, or its thick enough that it will still evap. the sweat, but holds in your core temp at low temps.

I have a neoprene that I use that is a "wicking neoprene;" it's considered a performance neoprene, but it's the same thing. We actually use it in the seats of our triathlon shorts for biking. It's pretty neat stuff. We're using it on our Iron man suits; this way there is a nice, strong, sound under structure for the suit to attach to, but also will help keep the person wearing it from drowning in their own sweat.

But all in all, it depends on what you want to spend, the level of comfort and the costume that you're doing.