How to put on the sonic mascot costume

How to Keep Cool in a Mascot Costume

Posted on Last updated: April 21, 2022

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Mascots are a popular way of entertainment and advertising. But the costumes can be heavy and hot, the 56+ mascots need to perform efficiently, and for that, they need to be kept cool.

Here are a few tips for keeping cool in a mascot costume:

So, let us look at the various ways one can keep cool in a mascot costume in more detail.

How to keep cool in a mascot costume

If you are going to wear a mascot costume on, how to keep cool is of vital importance. Overheating can be dangerous, so we need to put safeguards in place. And we need to take note of the weather, the heat, and humidity, the amount of energy the wearer will be expanding as well as the time scale.

The main features we need to look at are summarised here:

Design

Mascot costumes often have several thick layers and weigh up to 50 pounds. Fortunately, they usually have design features to help you overheat. But they can still make the person wearing them extremely hot.

The fit

It is important to get the right fit and to be able to move reasonably freely while wearing them. Nothing is more uncomfortable than a hot sweaty costume, tight-fitting and chafing the skin. So, if at all possible, get to try the outfit on before you start your performance.

The integral fan

Many mascot costumes have a battery-operated fan installed as an integral part of the costume. It directs the air to the head area so you can breathe more easily, and your head at least stays cooler. However, a fan alone is not sufficient to keep you cool. And they can be difficult to place in the optimum position. They should not only allow you to breathe more easily but also cool the airflow throughout the costume, without being too obvious to the outsider.

Ventilation

There will be ventilation holes in the costume as standard. This allows air to flow freely throughout the costume and is an important element in keeping the wearer cooler.

Vent holes are made in various places through the costume

Mesh vents not only allow airflow but also can help the wearer see more clearly. They also make the vent less visible to the outside. You will find these in areas of the costume that contrast with the rest of the design – like the areas around the eyes – to see better, the ears to hear better, and the mouth to breathe more easily. When placed like this, the mesh vents are not only effective but also do not detract from the visual appeal of the costume.

Clothes

Choose your clothes with care – they are one factor you have complete control over, and a wise choice will enable you to perform your act with a reasonable degree of comfort.

You need to know the likely weather, and how active you will be and how long you will be on the show, all these factors will influence what clothes are best to wear. So, plan your outfit with care.

Hot weather clothes

If it is hot, wear the lightest clothes you can. Many people wear far too much beneath their costumes and suffer accordingly. Very often, you will be highly active as well – walking around the crowds, dancing and generally jigging around. This will make you even hotter!

Shorts and t-shirts which wick away your sweat will help you keep cool—work-out clothes specially designed to keep you cool work well. Natural fibers like cotton are far better than synthetics, which will just allow the moisture to stay on your skin, making you wet and sticky and hot. Jeans are not recommended!

Cold weather clothes

Of course, if you will be standing around in cold weather, then you will need warmer clothes. In this case, you could try base layer undershirts, and leggings like the athletes wear would be a good choice as they are comfortable and do not restrict movement and are not bulky

Sweatbands

These are a must. They keep the sweat out of your eyes so you can see – and you can’t even wipe it away. And if you can’t see, you could be dangerous to yourself and to other people, especially children who might not move out of your way fast enough.

You would be well advised to keep a few spares with you to change when you get a break. You might choose to take a wet cloth with you to wipe your face if you get a chance, it can refresh you.

Cool vest

A cool vest is the ultimate costume accessory to help you keep cool – and in hot, humid weather when you will be active in your costume, a cool vest is essential. Although they only cool the torso, this is the area where your core temperature will be affected, so although your legs and arms will not be cool, the essential core part of you will benefit from a cool vest.

There is a wide selection of cool vests.

Water-cooled vests are lightweight and simple to use. You just soak the vest (or shirt, or tank top, or beanie, or wrist strap) in water, and evaporation takes care of the cooling. A good garment may cool the temperature around you by as much as 20 degrees C when there are good ventilation and a fan to make a breeze.

Some cooling vests can be placed in the freezer or fridge before use to maximize their effect for up to three hours. And a properly designed system is leakproof!

Some techniques use a continuous flow of cold water pumped through tubes in the garment around the upper body. There will be a battery to provide the power needed.

Others use the principle of ice packed in pockets in the jacket. They do last a long time – but not forever, and when the ice has melted and water is sloshing around, they can be heavy and uncomfortable. Sometimes gel packs are used instead- and you can always replenish them during breaks. They just need to be frozen first.

Rotation of costume or mascot

No one should be expected to perform in a mascot costume for too long, and depending on the weather and the degree of energetic exercise, the wearer undertakes a rotation of mascots that should be in place. You don’t want anyone to suffer from heat exhaustion, or the extremely dangerous heat stroke.

Similarly, there should be a system of checks – either from outside observers or from other mascots around at the time this can prevent lightly odd behavior from becoming a serious health issue.

Heat exhaustion or heat stroke

With heat exhaustion, the person may feel faint and be seen to be a bit wobbly on their feet. They will be sweating profusely. But the time heat stroke comes on, they will have a throbbing headache and will no longer be sweating.

With heat exhaustion, they will feel clammy, moist, and cool, but when the heatstroke occurs, they will feel hot and dry, if the temperature goes above 103 F, call 9-1-1. In both cases, they may feel sick and have a fast pulse, and possibly muscle cramps

You never want to reach this situation, so cooling is essential when you are wearing a mascot costume, and so is a watching brief to notice mild instability or wobbling before it gets serious.

Drinking a lot

Because the wearer will almost certainly be sweating a lot, he or she will also need to drink a lot. (And toilet breaks may be needed). So, one should take every opportunity to have a drink and a break. The organizer should ensure that there are sufficient suitable breaks in the schedule.

Cool showers

Afterward, the mascot wearer deserves a cool shower and a long, cool (but not cold) drink.

Conclusion

Performing as a mascot is hot work – and in keeping efficient, the wearer of the costume must stay reasonably cool. Overheating can have dangerous consequences.

But with the modern mascot designs suits and the use of a cooling vest together with a sensible choice of clothes, breaks, and plenty of drinks, the mascot wearer can keep cool and perform his duties effectively. Mascots are great entertainments and advertisements – they need to be able to perform well to enhance the reputation of the employer or club.

As the use of mascots increases, so there are many ways to keep cool in a mascot costume.

About Us

Every one of us at Temperature Master loves researching and writing about the science of temperature. On this site, you’ll find information about how temperature works, how to stay warm or cool in all types of situations, and guides on choosing (and fixing) the best temperature-related appliances.

Giant Sonic the Hedgehog Mascot Costume

Scroll to the bottom to see our tips on sizing.
One chart below is displayed in cm, and the other is displayed in inches.

Tips on how to choose your size. Sizing for giant mascots is very simple and based solely on height. There is enough room inside to fit anyone, so it’s not necessary to measure other areas of your body. You only have to know your height to determine which size to select.

How to put on the sonic mascot costume

Taking proper care of your mascot costume is the best way to protect your investment. Ultimately you should designate an area to hang, store, and dry the costume. This area should be equipped with fans, a 50/50 mix of water and amber mouthwash (not green/blue,) in a spray bottle, and a repair kit (full list of repair kit supplies below).

Our costume bodies are machine washable, however the more you wash the costume, the more it will show wear. If you have multiple performers, the body and padding should be washed whenever a new performer is putting on the costume.

If you only have one performer, your best bet is to properly air out the costume as much as possible and wash the costume when necessary.

In order to properly care for your costume:

DO NOT:

PUT THE COSTUME IN THE DRYER! EVER! Synthetic fur is made of plastic. Plastic melts when you heat it. A fur costume thrown in the dryer will become a nappy ball of short, crisp, melted fur. Countless costumes have been ruined by untrained people cleaning the costume. Don’t let this happen to your suit!

STORE A WET COSTUME IN A BAG/BOX! Your costume must be dry before you store it. If not, the wet costume will grow mold and other bacteria putting the performer’s health in danger and creating a very stinky costume.

DRY CLEAN YOUR COSTUME! It just sprays a layer of chemicals over the suit, failing to provide proper cleaning. Some dry cleaning chemicals can even damage your costume.

S POT CLEAN YOUR HEAD/SHOES : Use a spray on spot cleaner that can be rubbed in and rinsed out.

DIY Minion Halloween Mascot Costume

Introduction: DIY Minion Halloween Mascot Costume

Step 1: Step 1 Paper Mache Body

I used plastic chicken wire to make a form for the paper mache head. It would be easier to just use a large balloon. I used about 5 layers and let it dry over night. I then glued and taped white poster board to form the body. I cut the arm holes and let my son try it on. I ended up paper macheing the entire thing because the post board just wasn’t strong enough. Next time I will just use cardboard.

Step 2: Step 2 Body

I used a foam noodle to add more structure to the bottom, but if you use cardboard you won’t have to do this step at all.

Step 3: Step 3 Yellow Fabric Cover

I cut the hole in front for the eye. The eye and arms are so much easier to cut before you cover them with fabric. I used 1 yard of fabric between the body and the arms. I just the fabric into 4 sections and cut them at an angle to make a point at the top of each piece. Then I sewed them together all the way through and it should make somewhat of a dome shape. pulled the fabric over the body and glued at the bottom edge to secure. I then cut the fabric over the opening for the eye and glued it on the inside.

Step 4: Step 4 Jean Jumper

I used a jean dress for the bibs. The fabric was lighter weight and didn’t need much but a trim at the bottom. I also made longer straps and then glued everything down.

Step 5: Step 5 Arms

The arms are really optional. Your child wearing a yellow shirt would be easier. I’m not a great at sewing so I cut a strip a little large than my sons arm (length and width) and then I hand sewed it on. If you do this but the seam of the arm at the bottom 🙁 You can tell in my picture it’s at the top lol

Step 6: Step 6 the Face

The eye was a good spot for my 10 year old to see out of. I used my Cricut to cut the circle but you can buy these precut. You can try by hand but it never looks even. I used white foam for the eye and then glued a sheer black fabric on the back. Make sure the white to larger then the eye hole precut on the body. This will cover any imperfections too. I also used foam for the goggle with a black fabric strap. The mouth is black foam with white foam teeth. I cut the tongue out of felt and glued a thin sliver of black in the middle.

Step 7: Step 7 Details

The Minions usually have a logo on the front pocket of their bibs. I put my store logo on it though. The hair is slivers of black felt, hand sewn on. My 6 year old is wearing it in the picture, but it should be just right for my 10 year old. Good Luck!

How to put on the sonic mascot costume

The price of a mascot costume can vary greatly for a number of reasons. So, the real question here should be: “What SHOULD a mascot costume cost?”.

What you ultimately end up investing in your mascot costume will largely depend upon:

Why you want a mascot in the first place.

What conditions it will be used in.

How long you need it to last.

How your mascot fits into your branding strategy.

How complex is your character to make?

Do you actually need a custom mascot costume? (The answer is “YES!”)

If on the other hand, your mascot is going to be a high-profile representative of your brand, you owe it to your organization to budget and invest accordingly in a professionally made mascot costume.

What Should you expect from a custom mascot costume?

At this price, you should expect the mascot company to provide you with:

A colour drawing of a unique character designed exclusively for you.

A guarantee that the mascot costume will be a reasonable representation of the agreed upon final drawing.

The right to use the character and the image for no additional cost.

The mascot costume itself should be:

Custom designed to fit your needs; single or multiple performers, weather conditions, high activity, etc.

Performer friendly with a good field of vision, lightweight and comfortable. Above all else, safe to wear at all times.

Durable, made from high quality long lasting materials that are resistant to water and weather, lasting several years with proper care.

Washable from head to toe with a minimal amount of maintenance.

Accurate and believable as a character. It hides the performer and allows for outfit/jersey/clothing changes.

Marketable, allowing you to generate revenue through sponsorship, merchandising, and appearance fees.

Why should you invest in a CUSTOM mascot costume over a cheap one from the internet?

Firstly, it will likely be made of extremely low quality materials, which makes it:

NOT durable. You will likely need to replace it in 18 months.

NOT washable. You have to pay for dry cleaning, which is hard on fabrics and will shorten its lifespan even further.

NOT performer friendly. It will be heavy and hot and not easy to move around in.

NOT safe for the performer or fans because it may be made hard materials or have sharp edges, wires, metal etc.

NOT believable. It likely won’t be an accurate depiction of the character you were expecting it to be.

Furthermore, a cheap costume will likely be mass-produced. This means it is:

NOT custom made, and therefore it is…

NOT exclusive to your organization, which in turn means it is…

NOT a marketable entity. You can’t prevent or control copies of the same costume entering your own market. (If you can get it cheap, so can someone else!) Nor will you be able to generate revenue from your own character. (See “How can we generate revenue with our mascot?”)

In other words, just because you can spend a little less, doesn’t mean you should! Going cheap may cost you more than you bargained for. It is far worth it in the long run to invest properly in a unique, custom mascot costume from a reputable company…like THE Mascot Company!

How can your mascot generate revenue?

What is your R.O.M.I.?

(Return On Mascot Investment)

If a mascot costume is designed properly, and customized to your specific brand, the possibilities for revenue generation are endless. They include:

Simply put, your annual R.O.M.I. (Return On Mascot Investment) should at the very least cover the cost of operating your mascot program. At best it should become a revenue centre for your organization.

Consider this example:

Logo placement on the mascot’s clothing (school jerseys and shorts)

Sponsor mentions in all student led school publications

Sponsored P.A. announcements at all home games

Signage at all home venues at the school (gymnasium, field, etc.)

Access to the mascot for any special event hosted by the dealership

Give back to the community by supporting a local high school

Market directly to the parents of the students

Create great goodwill with their future customers (the students)

Generate great PR

The school was not only able to pay for a fantastic mascot costume, they doubled their R.O.M.I. within 3 years. They used the funds from the sponsorship to purchase merchandise of their mascot character (plush dolls, bobbleheads, key chains, etc). They sold those at a profit which they in turn used to set up a scholarship to help low income students go to college.

How’s that for ROMI?

Generating revenue from your mascot program is not only possible, it is vital to the success of your organization. It all starts by investing properly in a quality, professionally made, custom mascot costume.

Call us for more ideas!

Do you need a fan or a cooling vest?

Very often, we are asked if we can install a fan or provide a cooling vest in the mascot costumes we build. While we would do so if our customer absolutely insisted upon it, we very often talk them out of it. Here’s why.

The very nature of mascot costumes makes them hot. A highly active performance in a fur suit will do that. The best thing we can do to minimize the heat is to provide discrete ventilation and to make the mascot costume as lightweight as possible.

Installing a fan causes more problems than it solves. Firstly, you are introducing wires and batteries to power it, which may negate the ability to wash the mascot costume. Secondly, in order to be effective, a fan must suck hot air out of the head. If it didn’t, it would simply blow hot air back on to the performer. Also, in order to vent air out properly, we would need to put a very obvious hole in the top of your character’s head. This detracts from the illusion of your character as a «living thing».

Cooling vests and fans seem like a good idea, but really they are a waste of money and can do more harm than good. While no mascot costume can be entirely «cool», a well made, lightweight custom mascot should be cooler than the rest. Invest in a proper costume, take frequent breaks and drink plenty of water to beat the heat!