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So let’s talk about fursuit standards and what the expectations are today. Ten years ago, exposed foam was the norm. The thing about fursuit is that there are no standards, and it’s the responsibility of the buyer to research features they want and if their maker does it
Lining - lining is a luxury optional feature. Head lining can help for comfort, but foot and hand lining is not standard or necessary! Hand lining can even negatively affect heat and moisture. You might end up with some pretty cold, damp paws. We only line the top half of paws
Lining your body is generally a BAD idea. Why? It traps more heat! You don’t want MORE layers between you and the outside air. Plush suits DO usually have lining filled with polyfil, so be aware of that heat! A lined body should never be expected
Bias tape - this is the thin tube of fabric that hides the raw edge of your hands and feet. It can help prevent stretching and is generally for looks. Fur does not naturally unravel, but bias tape is an easy to sew simple way to make a product look more tidy and finished
At a higher price point, I would personally expect bias tape on the raw edges of hands and feet. If you’re okay without it, nothing bad will happen if you take care of your suit parts.
Let’s talk about heads. I see people complain all the time about how if they pinch the fur on their head in certain places, it lifts up. This is NORMAL! We don’t cover your entire head in a layer of hard, heavy hot glue. We got glue strategic places and aim to keep it light!
Hot glue**
Anyway, hand sewing your head is normal with a quality stitch. Machine sewing your head is normal. Hot gluing your fur directly to the head is normal for some makers, other makers need to improve that method. It can be done! TEST it!
Anyway, hand sewing your head is normal with a quality stitch. Machine sewing your head is normal. Hot gluing your fur directly to the head is normal for some makers, other makers need to improve that method. It can be done! TEST it!
You might see a spec of dried glue showing in certain places, most commonly around they eyeliner. Even with a precision glue gun, we can’t always make it perfectly! The alternative is hours of correction time that nobody is paying for.
You might feel some hard spots under your head fur. I promise you it’s alright, it’s just hot glue and nobody can see it. Hot glue is melted plastic, it’s going to be hard.
Now the vision - you shouldn’t be blind, but you should expect it to be poor! That’s just what it’s like to wear a fursuit. Criticizing blind spots is also a little misguided, because to eliminate blind spots the eyes have to be REALLY close together
If all suits had to follow a totally minimized blind spot standard, 80% of the kemono suits you love the shape of would not exist. This aspect corresponds to style and if you want a tiny blind spot, you need to choose a style of suit that can reflect this
Lining in your head? Totally optional. A balaclava worn by the owner was considered lining for years. At high price points I would expect lining in the head for a cleaner looking finish. I don’t line my personal heads because to me, it doesn’t matter
Fun fact, I’ve only worn eastern style suits from various makers and NONE of them had any lining at all. Just raw black foam. This is a feature you must decide if you want or need, and find out if your maker does it. If you didn’t know, you needed to research it!
Stitching- the strongest stitch is a regular old machine straight stitch. Sealing the edges of seams is mostly decorative and optional. High stress areas like pits and crotch could do with a double stitch for safety. Hand stitching done right can be just as strong
Serged seams are decorative and optional. I would not expect this. At a higher price point it’s nice for the edges of seams to be zigzag stitched to look tidy, but a single straight stitch is still fine and durable. Decide if you want the inside to look nicer!
Fans - fans in your head are a luxury option. Even most kemono suits do NOT have fans included! Mine do because I like them and it helps with wearability. If you want a fan, find out if your maker offers them for a price upgrade. Electronics can be hit or miss!
Rubber soles - this is a new trend, most makers still use EVA foam or puzzle mats. Rubber soling is harder for me to find here. If foam bottoms are a maintenance concern for you, make sure that you choose a maker that can offer this option
Lined zippers - popularized by matrices and almost entirely decorative. It can help keep fur from getting trapped in the zipper, but functionally I’ve never noticed any difference between my lined and unlined zipper. I do it for fun. Optional luxury!
Pins in the head - we do make mistakes sometimes! We’ve never had one come close to skin, but we do find them in our OWN heads a year later. Sometimes we count wrong, sometimes long fur hides big pin heads. Feel around the inside of your new head to be safe.
Last of all, if you have concerns then ASK YOUR MAKER!! don’t assume we all offer the same features, just ask us! Ask other suit owners! If you want the luxuries, commission someone who considers it their standard. If you’re paying 5k, know what you’re paying 5k for.
One last point about head lining. You STILL need to wear a balaclava under it. Head lining is not a substitute for a removable, washable sweat rag!
I muted this because it’s clogging my mentions, but comment and share your different experiences and opinions as you like!
