I bet there super hot (literally heat-wise), uncomfortable to wear for hours on end,
and hard to see through on the negative end, and that's not even speaking
about how expensive they are, Dood.

But I still can't help but too REALLY want one for the most selfish of reasons!
I'm under this misconception that having one will instantly make my time
at an upcoming anthro con worlds-better, Dood!
╹‿╹)

How? Well, I'd think it'd help me stand out and function as a $2000+ Ice breaker.
Helping me meet the more interesting layers of peeps the furry community has to
offer; Like Other fursuiters! I mean you'd have to be pretty invested in the community
to go that far for it instead of being a selfish dingus who wants to spectate like me.
I would LOVE to pick their brains, and learn their stories! And I feel like a fursuit
would put me on the fast track to do that, Dood!
◠‿╹)~★

Now, I understand that a simple Reddit thread is free and won't cost me hours in a
furry oven. But another big reason is that I want to experience it firsthand SO Badly, Dood!

I'm gonna be so disappointed when I realized half the things I thought would happen like
meeting new interesting peeps and getting invited to room parties (Which I would turn down,
Not much of a party peep) wouldn't actually happen since while peeps are keen to take pics,
chats aren't really on the menu and room parties are a lot more personal than I think they are
but, I don't care! The EXP has gotta be so interesting! 2000 Dollars Plus interesting?
Kinda and that's why I made this thread, Dood!

Tl;Dr:

Will having a fursuit make your time at an anthro con
significantly better enough to warrant the price, Dood?
If so, why?
If no, why not?

╹‿╹)

Fursuiting is incredibly fun and rewarding but only if you actually enjoy it as an activity. If you just want it so more people will talk to you, I'd say it's not worth the money. If you want to suit then yes it's well worth it.

You can still have a great time and be social at a con without a suit. The majority of attendees don't have suits.

Like any costume for conventions you will garner more attention by wearing one fitted for the convention in question, but personally I wouldn't recommend it. Fursuits are very expensie and the ones that are cheap will have the opposite, repellent, effect.
Wear a pair of fox ears you bought from a Halloween sale or a Carnival sale and that should be enough.

cloudpie said:
Fursuiting is incredibly fun and rewarding but only if you actually enjoy it as an activity. If you just want it so more people will talk to you, I'd say it's not worth the money. If you want to suit then yes it's well worth it.

You can still have a great time and be social at a con without a suit. The majority of attendees don't have suits.

That's just the thing!
I wanna be a part of the activity, I wanna see what it's all about,
It's awesome enough that I'm getting the chance to go to a anthro con
but I wanna be a suiter, At least for a day and see if it's a fit for me, Dood!
◠‿╹)~★

Sure I just wanna talk and study peeps but, I also wanna be there for me,
Having a great time suited up just chilling out with awesome peeps!
Just the price tag, I want the exp, like REALLY~ want the exp more than
a Dragon Quester wants to take down a metal king slime but
the price is a wall with "Are You Sure?" in big neon lights, Dood

And at the moment I'm just not, I want it but do I want it enough, Dood.

wolfmanfur said:
Like any costume for conventions you will garner more attention by wearing one fitted for the convention in question, but personally I wouldn't recommend it. Fursuits are very expensie and the ones that are cheap will have the opposite, repellent, effect.
Wear a pair of fox ears you bought from a Halloween sale or a Carnival sale and that should be enough.

I totally get ya, the cheaper $100 ones are best avoided and the money is better used toward a custom hoodie, Dood.
◠‿╹;)

How about my invader Zim hoodie? Think peeps would appreciate that I'm wearing the green dog disguise when
other peeps are wearing also disguising themselves as dogs, Dood
╹‿╹)

notkastar said:
I totally get ya, the cheaper $100 ones are best avoided and the money is better used toward a custom hoodie, Dood.
◠‿╹;)

How about my invader Zim hoodie? Think peeps would appreciate that I'm wearing the green dog disguise when
other peeps are wearing also disguising themselves as dogs, Dood
╹‿╹)

Yeah sure, that sounds like a cool hoodie.

notkastar said:
That's just the thing!
I wanna be a part of the activity, I wanna see what it's all about,

Oh yeah this is a good idea - try one on! If you have a friend with a suit, ask if you can try it on to see what it's like

To be honest, I would work up to it. From what I understand, fursuiting requires a bunch of skills to make it enjoyable, successful, and not distracting. There can be a lot of prep involved to make fursuiting work well. It also adds a whole lot of details to keep track of, while you are fursuiting. So trying to get the hang of all that at the same time as a con? It just sounds like a recipe for a lot of stress and distraction from being able to fully enjoy the con itself. It's too much new at once.

So I'd suggest taking it one thing at a time. Enjoy the con. Enjoy the experience. If there's a much smaller version that you want to try, like just a tail, or some ears. You could maybe try that instead. Something more bite sized for starting out but with less to keep track of or to pack.

But mostly just enjoy the experience. Meet people. See things. If you find some people who don't mind questions, then learn some things from their experience with it. Or at least take private notes on what things you like or don't like in other people's fursuits. And enjoy the whole vibe there as well.

And then later, you can explore trying some fursuit things yourself. Starting at home or in situations with less pressure and where you can easily stop early to fix or troubleshoot if something isn't working right yet. And then, if you find you like fursuiting, maybe next time you can try mixing fursuiting + going to a con. And it will be easier to enjoy it, because you already have the experience to make it successful and to know what to expect with both a fursuit and a con.

furrypickle said:
To be honest, I would work up to it. From what I understand, fursuiting requires a bunch of skills to make it enjoyable, successful, and not distracting. There can be a lot of prep involved to make fursuiting work well. It also adds a whole lot of details to keep track of, while you are fursuiting. So trying to get the hang of all that at the same time as a con? It just sounds like a recipe for a lot of stress and distraction from being able to fully enjoy the con itself. It's too much new at once.

So I'd suggest taking it one thing at a time. Enjoy the con. Enjoy the experience. If there's a much smaller version that you want to try, like just a tail, or some ears. You could maybe try that instead. Something more bite sized for starting out but with less to keep track of or to pack.

But mostly just enjoy the experience. Meet people. See things. If you find some people who don't mind questions, then learn some things from their experience with it. Or at least take private notes on what things you like or don't like in other people's fursuits. And enjoy the whole vibe there as well.

And then later, you can explore trying some fursuit things yourself. Starting at home or in situations with less pressure and where you can easily stop early to fix or troubleshoot if something isn't working right yet. And then, if you find you like fursuiting, maybe next time you can try mixing fursuiting + going to a con. And it will be easier to enjoy it, because you already have the experience to make it successful and to know what to expect with both a fursuit and a con.

This is an incredibly enlightening reply, Thanks for making and sharing!
Haven't even considered there may be skills to making fursuiting
enjoyable or at the very least more enjoyable than it already is, Dood!
◠‿╹)~★

You make a fine point, I need to take a breath and consider that
fursuiting all at once would be incredibly taxing for a peep's first time
and at a con. Plus if I enjoy the con basically, I could really compare how
things would be different fully decked out, Dood!
╹‿╹)~★

Though if you don't mind me asking, What skill do I need to
learn to really make fursuiting work?
First time I'm hearing I had to learn any, Dood.
=‿=;)

notkastar said:
This is an incredibly enlightening reply, Thanks for making and sharing!
Haven't even considered there may be skills to making fursuiting
enjoyable or at the very least more enjoyable than it already is, Dood!
◠‿╹)~★

You make a fine point, I need to take a breath and consider that
fursuiting all at once would be incredibly taxing for a peep's first time
and at a con. Plus if I enjoy the con basically, I could really compare how
things would be different fully decked out, Dood!
╹‿╹)~★

Though if you don't mind me asking, What skill do I need to
learn to really make fursuiting work?
First time I'm hearing I had to learn any, Dood.
=‿=;)

Just up front, I do not have personal experience with full fursuiting (only limited experience with something that was partly related once), so most of what I have seen talked about has been secondhand information. So definitely do your own research on it, but I'll share what I have been told and gathered over the years about it. But searching things like "fursuit safety" and "cosplay safety" and tips and tricks and stuff can be a wealth of information as people share their experience with wearing complex costuming and especially at events.

Also fursuit technology could easily vary or have changed or will change (depending on how fancy, etc). So things like breathe-ability, maneuverability, temperature regulation, fursuit weight, how easily you can see out of the head, etc might depend sometimes on the suit.

In general though:

I have heard that storing and cleaning the suit properly involves a number of skills every time you take it off and put it back on. The sweat from even a short time wearing it can cause problems if not handled properly every time. Also getting experienced enough that you can handle that with minimum fuss even when you are not at your usual home (like in a hotel room in an unfamiliar city, etc). So more experience makes it less stress, less distraction, and less of a big deal.

Also I have heard that anything involving packing/traveling with/flying with/getting through security with/etc with a fursuit can get complicated and stressful sometimes. So more experience helps with that a lot, so that it doesn't take away from whatever experience you traveled to enjoy in the first place.

I have heard that moving around in a suit can take some getting used to. How much space you take up, how easily you can/can't move, or turn, or bend, or sit. Some fursuits can't sit at all, so that takes a whole lot more to learn how to handle that. Some fursuits are harder to breathe in. Or have poor ability to see and/or hear clearly. Things like tails or wings can run into things, or other people or knock stuff over. So practice helps.

Especially early on or with some suits, some people find it helpful to have a handler/buddy go with them, who can help you navigate, hold things for you, get you water or food if needed, helps communicate or run interference if the con is very busy, keep you from bumping into things or people, etc. Some people don't need it. And more experience means you might not need as much too. Because suits can be a lot of work, just as much as they can be a lot of fun. So that's something that some people do.

Also, if a suit is new to you, there can sometimes be surprises early on. Parts of a suit can become loose or unattached or damaged, and might need to be emergency fixed or adjustments made. Especially if the suit is new or unfamiliar or parts of it are still being adjusted. Professionally made ones will probably have less technical surprises, and homemade ones may have more. But even a well loved suit can have something break or become loose eventually. The more experienced you are, then the less that will stress you out or leave you not knowing what to do. The first time though? Can get stressful if something unexpected happens with the suit.

Also, depending on the suit, getting in or out of it might be difficult. Some suits it is harder to use the bathroom, so you have to learn more awareness of when you need to go in advance and plan ahead more.

Hydration is HUGE with fursuiting. You have to stay extra extra hydrated before and during and even after. But that can also make things complicated with bathrooms, depending on the suit. So even more experience and planning ahead might be needed to keep it enjoyable instead of stressful.

Once you get the hang of whatever you need to do to make things work with your fursuit, it's not so bad. But the first few times might need to do shorter lengths of time, while you get the hang of things. Also there are also ways to maximise your set up. For example, some people can fit one of those hydration backpacks under their suit, so they can sip water at any moment while under the suit. Things like that can be great.

Breaks. Some people can fursuit for a long period of time. It depends on the suit, their set up, their experience levels, etc. It also depends on the weather/temperature, their health, how thick or heavy that fursuit is, etc etc. But knowing how long you can wear a fursuit straight through, or how often you might need to take a break or at least take the head off... that takes experience. It is especially easier to lose track of time when you are at an event, or just plain overestimate how long you can go without a break... because it's fun, there's socializing, and it's not always easy to find a safe place to take something off for a few minutes/half an hour/etc without feeling like it ruins the magic of it all. There are often lounges for this, but if you didn't plan ahead then you might not know where to find those at the moment you need them. However, if you do misjudge it or overdo it in the suit without enough breaks, then you could get exhausted, or have overheating dangers, or other complications. So that's often a whole learning curve just by itself.

Also because temperature regulation is such a major thing to keep track of with fursuits especially, you also need to recognise what the subtle signs are when you haven't eaten enough, have gotten too dehydrated (even if you thought you were drinking enough water, dehydration can still happen in a fursuit especially on a hot day or a warm room), or if you are on the verge of heat exhaustion (which can get serious). Again, more experience and also slowly working up to longer fursuiting periods, can both make all of the difference so that these things don't become a major problem. There are also dangers with accidentally temperature shocking yourself. Drinking ice cold water when you are overheating can actually be dangerous, for example. But having/using a small fan on a break to help yourself cool down can be incredible. There's just a lot of ways that you can build up the knowledge, preparedness and experience for dealing with a fursuit successfully, so that it doesn't need to distract from or stress out your experience. But for a first time? It might not be as fun to learn some of those things the hard way, and especially when you are in a new place.

So basically, just being prepared and experienced means you can just relax and enjoy yourself more. But hopefully this helps to give at least some idea.

Also, resources like this look helpful overall: https://fursuitersworld.weebly.com/fursuit-safety.html Fursuiting has been around for long time and some things have changed, but that still looks like some pretty decent reading.

On reading that title I was like: I'm imaging an outdoor convention in Texas during the Summer. Weird, no one's wearing them!

Yeah, you also don't have to go the whole fursuit way. I'm sure people enjoy cosplaying as well.

furrypickle said:
Just up front, I do not have personal experience with full fursuiting (only limited experience with something that was partly related once), so most of what I have seen talked about has been secondhand information. So definitely do your own research on it, but I'll share what I have been told and gathered over the years about it. But searching things like "fursuit safety" and "cosplay safety" and tips and tricks and stuff can be a wealth of information as people share their experience with wearing complex costuming and especially at events.

Also fursuit technology could easily vary or have changed or will change (depending on how fancy, etc). So things like breathe-ability, maneuverability, temperature regulation, fursuit weight, how easily you can see out of the head, etc might depend sometimes on the suit.

In general though:

I have heard that storing and cleaning the suit properly involves a number of skills every time you take it off and put it back on. The sweat from even a short time wearing it can cause problems if not handled properly every time. Also getting experienced enough that you can handle that with minimum fuss even when you are not at your usual home (like in a hotel room in an unfamiliar city, etc). So more experience makes it less stress, less distraction, and less of a big deal.

Also I have heard that anything involving packing/traveling with/flying with/getting through security with/etc with a fursuit can get complicated and stressful sometimes. So more experience helps with that a lot, so that it doesn't take away from whatever experience you traveled to enjoy in the first place.

I have heard that moving around in a suit can take some getting used to. How much space you take up, how easily you can/can't move, or turn, or bend, or sit. Some fursuits can't sit at all, so that takes a whole lot more to learn how to handle that. Some fursuits are harder to breathe in. Or have poor ability to see and/or hear clearly. Things like tails or wings can run into things, or other people or knock stuff over. So practice helps.

Especially early on or with some suits, some people find it helpful to have a handler/buddy go with them, who can help you navigate, hold things for you, get you water or food if needed, helps communicate or run interference if the con is very busy, keep you from bumping into things or people, etc. Some people don't need it. And more experience means you might not need as much too. Because suits can be a lot of work, just as much as they can be a lot of fun. So that's something that some people do.

Also, if a suit is new to you, there can sometimes be surprises early on. Parts of a suit can become loose or unattached or damaged, and might need to be emergency fixed or adjustments made. Especially if the suit is new or unfamiliar or parts of it are still being adjusted. Professionally made ones will probably have less technical surprises, and homemade ones may have more. But even a well loved suit can have something break or become loose eventually. The more experienced you are, then the less that will stress you out or leave you not knowing what to do. The first time though? Can get stressful if something unexpected happens with the suit.

Also, depending on the suit, getting in or out of it might be difficult. Some suits it is harder to use the bathroom, so you have to learn more awareness of when you need to go in advance and plan ahead more.

Hydration is HUGE with fursuiting. You have to stay extra extra hydrated before and during and even after. But that can also make things complicated with bathrooms, depending on the suit. So even more experience and planning ahead might be needed to keep it enjoyable instead of stressful.

Once you get the hang of whatever you need to do to make things work with your fursuit, it's not so bad. But the first few times might need to do shorter lengths of time, while you get the hang of things. Also there are also ways to maximise your set up. For example, some people can fit one of those hydration backpacks under their suit, so they can sip water at any moment while under the suit. Things like that can be great.

Breaks. Some people can fursuit for a long period of time. It depends on the suit, their set up, their experience levels, etc. It also depends on the weather/temperature, their health, how thick or heavy that fursuit is, etc etc. But knowing how long you can wear a fursuit straight through, or how often you might need to take a break or at least take the head off... that takes experience. It is especially easier to lose track of time when you are at an event, or just plain overestimate how long you can go without a break... because it's fun, there's socializing, and it's not always easy to find a safe place to take something off for a few minutes/half an hour/etc without feeling like it ruins the magic of it all. There are often lounges for this, but if you didn't plan ahead then you might not know where to find those at the moment you need them. However, if you do misjudge it or overdo it in the suit without enough breaks, then you could get exhausted, or have overheating dangers, or other complications. So that's often a whole learning curve just by itself.

Also because temperature regulation is such a major thing to keep track of with fursuits especially, you also need to recognise what the subtle signs are when you haven't eaten enough, have gotten too dehydrated (even if you thought you were drinking enough water, dehydration can still happen in a fursuit especially on a hot day or a warm room), or if you are on the verge of heat exhaustion (which can get serious). Again, more experience and also slowly working up to longer fursuiting periods, can both make all of the difference so that these things don't become a major problem. There are also dangers with accidentally temperature shocking yourself. Drinking ice cold water when you are overheating can actually be dangerous, for example. But having/using a small fan on a break to help yourself cool down can be incredible. There's just a lot of ways that you can build up the knowledge, preparedness and experience for dealing with a fursuit successfully, so that it doesn't need to distract from or stress out your experience. But for a first time? It might not be as fun to learn some of those things the hard way, and especially when you are in a new place.

So basically, just being prepared and experienced means you can just relax and enjoy yourself more. But hopefully this helps to give at least some idea.

Also, resources like this look helpful overall: https://fursuitersworld.weebly.com/fursuit-safety.html Fursuiting has been around for long time and some things have changed, but that still looks like some pretty decent reading.

Geez, and I was just gonna jump into my first con, blind, alone, and decked out in gear
that's got the complexities and fatal flaws of the death star! Well, Flaws is a bit harsh,
Skill curve is more like it! I can tell that even if you're not a fursuiter of that caliber
yourself, Basically everything you told me is true, Dood!

Packing could be a nightmare, You GOTTA prepare and plan for the unexpected and
expected, from something as major as a wardrobe malfunction and heat stroke to
just simply using the bathroom and getting around. Practice really does sound like
it would make perfect in this case, Going small like in the comfort of your own home,
then working up to something as loud, chaotic, and Livleiy as a con, Dood!
╹‿╹;)

Knew there was a reason peeps were a special kind of thermal suit under the suit
themselves for a reason and now I know it's to better regulate the temp from inside
those furry ovens! I knew H2O was a must-have but I just thought a bottle of water
here and there but, nah, that was way too small. For thinking as big as wearing a costume
for hours on end you need Hydration around the clock as you said, Dood.
=‿=;)

Can totally see why having a buddy like you said could really help! Funds aren't the
only things you need to make fursuiting work! But don't think this has scared me off!
heat stroke, Rips, tears- I'll risk it all for just a couple of days to see~
What. It's. Like. Dood!
╹‿╹)~★

Alrighty!

Hopefully, by this time next year, I'll have
the money for a Murrsuit for a con because they
looked like so much fun, Dood!
◠‿◠)~★

Coming back from my first Anthro con
and Jeez they looked fun to be in! Hot for
sure since it was at the tail end of spring
and hot enough for t-shirts but,
the Exp, THE EXP, Dood!
◠‿╹)~★

Key things I've noticed:

- Tails were constantly being stepped on and pulled unintentionally
by other peeps, Short or raised tails are a must, no tail is fine, Dood.

- There's nothing wrong with minimalism, Body suits are
the easiest and most affordable way to fursuit. Buy the head,
hands, and feet separately. Keep in mind though, The more
you dress down the less likely peeps would want to take a pic of ya.
If you don't want peeps taking pics then this is the way, Dood

- If you have a friend going with you and you happen to be fursuiting
let them be your handler. Handlers keep you safe by helping you in and
out of your suit, holding your stuff if your suit is too big for mobility, and
generally keep an eye out for ya since it has to be pretty hard to see, Dood!
(Or at least that's the stuff I found out, Dood)

- If you're heading to an area where jockstraps are allowed to be viewed if full,
Don't wear won and any explicit clothing or attachments till you're in the area that
allows it. Keep in mind the Cubs at the Con too, Dood!

-Personal note since it was at the end of spring.

Stay! Hydrated!

That heat in a costume covered in fur trapping
Heat has to make it so if you're not sweating
constantly, the heat will have you on the floor
before you know it, Dood!

There's More but these are the Keys I got from the research and from seeing it first-hand, Dood!

All and all, Even with the caveats, I still
wanna get the exp and learn myself!
If there's anything I missed please tell me
so I'll be truly prepared for the suiting, Dood
╹‿╹)~★