ARE MASCOT COSTUMES HOT? The simple answer is YES!
Many people
believe that there is some magical way to avoid being hot and not sweating
inside a mascot costume. That simply is
not possible...
While our
construction methods make mascot costumes as comfortable as possible and there
are new materials being used that help body heat escape, the reality is that wearing
a fur jumpsuit – whether you’re simply standing still, walking, or jumping
around – will make you sweat. That is the body’s natural response to heat and
there is nothing wrong with it.
Rather than focusing
on a mascot costume being hot, mascot performers should be concerned about two
things:
- Is there proper ventilation?
- Can the costume be thoroughly cleaned (or at least fully air dried) between uses?
Find more information HERE on general mascot care. We provide detailed instructions and
helpful tips to keep your mascot costume fresh and ready to wear.
Ventilation in a
mascot costume is crucial. A mascot head that is
completely enclosed poses a potential hazard for the wearer. You could easily
pass out simply from not getting enough fresh air. Mascot costumes typically have areas that are
covered in mesh to allow air to pass through while still preventing the public
from seeing the performer inside the costume.
Meshed areas usually include eyes, mouth, ears, and noses.
Ventilation is
also an important factor in the mascot bodysuit you’re wearing. If any parts of the mascot body contain foam
(usually in a big belly or other areas that are padded) then the ONLY type of
foam that should be used is reticulated foam.
The reason for this is that reticulated foam has very large pores. This allows body heat to pass through it and
it will also prevent the foam from holding moisture when it’s washed. This foam will dry completely after washing
and prevent bacteria from growing. If
your mascot costume has any type of foam in the body other than reticulated (i.e.
upholstery foam) then you should NOT wear it.
TRUE OR FALSE?
All professional
mascot and character costumes as seen in theme parks like Disney, Universal,
Six Flags, etc. have elaborate cooling systems.
FALSE! The important thing to note is that these costumes are generally
worn by professional performers who have built up a tolerance for the
environment inside a costume and rely on 3 important rules of mascot performing
– proper ventilation for fresh air, regular breaks, and drinking plenty of
water.
Fans and Cooling
Vests.
At Hogtown
Mascots, we recognize that most people who volunteer (or are recruited) to wear
a mascot costume are usually not seasoned performers. For that reason we do install
fans in our heads and also provide the option of an ice vest because there is a
demand for them. It’s important to keep in mind though, that the fans we
install are not designed for cooling but rather to help bring in more fresh air
into the costume. For more tips on how to be a great mascot performer check out this link.
