Hey all,

I was just sat considering how to manage the mammoth task of taking Gears of War armour, helmet and weaponry as well as my own clothes, toiletries etc and my DSLR to London Expo on the train.

So, I was just wondering how do you guys transport your cosplay's large or small to a con/expo? Suitcase? LGV? Santa sleigh pulled by unicorns?

Not necessarily looking for the solution to my problems just curious really so post away!

Sadly the sleigh is out of commission so I'm forced to use public transport. It was difficult enough transporting my little suitcase around the Tube for last October Expo...I'm not looking forward to taking a bigger case and props.

It's unfortunate that my lack of travel options limits the costumes I can actually do...there are a couple I would love to do with huge props but I have no idea how I would get them to a con other than wrapping them in binbags and hoping nobody wants to sit next to me on the train >.< (mainline from Newcastle Central to Kings Cross...No chance).
Big suitcases also pose a problem because I refuse to leave my luggage in the space (not that there ever is any...) unless I'm sitting right next to it.

I think if I had a car, I wouldn't be able to afford to both keep it running and fund cosplaying ^_^;.

lol yep, I know how you feel. I'm travelling down from Dundee and it's going to be at least 6.5 hours.

My mate and I are considering getting a taxi from Kings Cross to Expo so we don't have to traverse the tube but I know that's going to be expensive.

Yep, unfortunately I don't drive, I don't really have any need to other than getting to cons and expos with massive cosplays but even if I did I don't think I'd fancy the 465 miles and 8 hours of driving involved anyway

haha yeah me and Emz live in london and arent really looking forward to transporting our Gears armour either! >.<

We'll have to work something out haha!

Giant suitcases i guess it will be lol

We took a Transformer (Bumblebee) from Liverpool to London via a giant suitcase. It had to have it's own suitcase though because it only just fit in on it's own I think we only managed it because we had about 10 of us in a group travelling together, so we had enough people to pass suitcases around and get everything on the underground.

But if you're travelling in a small group and have lots of suitcases? You'll have to be prepared to carry several yourself

Generally I go for small cosplays to avoid this hassle ^_^'

When we transported the mass effect armour up, it was a case of just a backpack with clothes, food, etc, and the armour in a giant suitcase so that the person wearing it could manage carrying it by himself.

your not the only one who does this.

smaller cosplays are much easier to deal with!
and I just go in the costume (I put the wig in a plastic bag though), who cares if people stare at me funny! xD
I just bring a bag which sort of matches what I am wearing that day and put my money in it and an extra plastic bag because some of them shops at expo don't give you bags

... I am writing a letter to Santa this year to ask if I can borrow his sleigh during convention weekends and also ask for a pet unicorn...
THIS WILL SOLVE ALL MY PROBLEMS 8D

Normally I carry a big suitcase, with my normal hand bag... and then a separate bag for my DSLR because generally it won't fit in the suitcase... I look like a pack mule XD

At Ayacon I was fortunate enough to be able to use the car so I could bring as much stuff as I wanted! Sadly I can't do this all the time and just have to make do with looking like a pack mule. Considering driving to Amecon as I have a lot of delicate costumes, but probably not because I felt like death driving back from Aya XD

No matter how little costumes I bring (At October Expo I only had two! They were small costumes too) I still manage to look like a pack mule. I think I am just cursed with the bad habit of over packing!

If it's a delicate costume I put it in those suit bags to prevent it from squishing in the suitcase and so people are aware that it's delicate. I try not to do that too often though because it just means more to carry!

it's not something i've really had to experiance yet as I haven't made any big costumes or props although I was with my friend when she was taking her grell chainsaw to con in a lawn strimmer box. She ended up thowing the chainsaw away on the way home, because of te nightmarish journey there with it.

The nearest I've came is transporting long thin props like swords in poster tubes. although I'm planning to make a few things this year that will require some extra thought as to how I transport them. I had thought about sending it by courier service to the destination so that i don't have to bother with it XD.

if not a suitcase full of polystrine bits will have to do

This.
I have gone so beyond giving up on keeping things small, since I often have to bring costumes for our entire cosplay group. So on an average con I will bring my enormous suitcase (just for costumes & snack food), a backpack (just for make-up & toiletries), one of those big Disney Store re-usable bags (for props), often a weekend bag slung over my shoulder (with civvies if I remember them).
If I have big props that don't divide easily like Mini's Hidan scythe or my wings, I take them in a guitar case, since that way people are more careful with them, and it keeps them safe pretty well.
So yeah, I look like a mad woman getting through London, but I rarely forget things and it means that when all our group members come in to my hotel room asking "have you got a...", I generally have it, and a spare. It's no wonder some of them call me mum.
Only downside I find is that getting through turnstiles in tube stations is a nightmare, and train travel can be a permanent stress-out. Sometimes it is well worth the taxi fare to get back to Euston (cost around £10 each for 3 of us sharing a taxi before).
Thankfully I live 10 minutes travel from both Ayacon and Kitacon, so no need to worry about that.

No matter the size of the costumes, I always somehow seem to fill the suitcase complete before packing everything.

Luckily I have kept a clear zipped bag that had car parts/accessories as I knew it would be of good use for transporting cosplay. That way I can keep the more delicate/awkward cosplay parts while being see through I can ensure everything is intact. Also they are surprisingly spacious and for the unlikely reason if the suitcase isnt full it can be flattened for somewhere to store things I buy at the con. I tend to have a lift to cons so it isnt too much trouble and when I go from the van/car/whatever to the hotel I let it hang from the handle while I walk. Also good for general cosplay storage if not in use

For small bits like accessories and hair grips/wig caps I have a little box that I keep in my suitcase. I arrange it carefully so the soft stuff (like bows) cushions the more delicate pieces.

I have a single large suitcase that fits my cosplays, food and my brothers clothes too. Although I panic the entire way that my cosplay will get dirty/broken on the way (and it did happen once) DX

Fortunately, my brother gets made to pull the suitcase along 8D

Usually my luggage consists of a backpack with normal clothes, pjs, toiletries and all that jazz. A suitcase which houses all my costumes and (hopefully) all the shoes I need. A plastic bag strapped to the suitcase with snacks and water in it (luckily only have to lug that one way XD) My handbag, and if there are any props that are to large or bulky to fit in any of the previously mentioned bags those will be wrapped in bin liners and carried seperately.

Needless to say I also look like a pack mule and I'm a very grumpy person when travelling to and from a con XD

I have a couple of bulky and delicate cosplays planned for this year...I'm yet to work out how I'm going to get these anywhere, since I have no free hands left for anymore bags XD

My husband and I usually drive, so everything goes into suitcases and in the boot. However, my sister goes up the day before on the train and takes everything in suitcases and holdalls, then gets a lift home with us after the con. This year, we're taking my friend as well, so some creative packing might be required to get us back - especially after all our spending in the Dealers' Room etc!

With great difficulty... but yeah usually suitcase, bin bag straped or taped up to somthin solid to keep it gettin knocked about. The key is to plan ahead when makin a cosplay so each part can be worn seperatly and constructed on the day into travel freindly size. But prob I mostly sugest how ever is gonna be easiest for u to carry and jusst wrap delicate parts in plenty of bubble wrap and wear what u can

I tend to pack my armour the Russian doll method if possible - gauntlets inside boots, boots inside cuirass, etc. Still manages to take up too much room. XD

One thing I learned though... if pieces are squashed together for long enough, the paintwork might start sticking together. So as soon as I get to the hotel I unpack my armour right away and not let it sit in the suitcase all pressed together!

Haha, I did consider this myself but the problem with that is someone willing to sign for it at the other end or I would totally be doing this


Lol, Well it must be huge to carry all those presents or have some sort of "hammer space" sack. The unicorns are just there to give the reindeers a bit of a break.


Yeah I think this is what I'll have to do. I think it was actually you that gave me the idea in the first place , either on here or at your panel at Aya.

I think I'll need to source a massive suitcase from somewhere. Hmmm...decisions decisions

My last show I wore the costume to the show, drive to bus station 1 hr , bus to london, 1 1/2,hr, tube to location 1/2 hr. then return trip. Guy dressed as wonder woman, you should have seen the looks, Got sponcered 200 to do it for charity. Best of luck

a car usually packed to the ceiling plus wearing parts of it, is hilarious to see the looks you get at the services wen u stop to break lol

my sisters cosplay is so big this time we worried bout getting it all in car lol might be a minibus jobby

That is an awesome idea! I'm definatly going to be using that method for my props in the future.
Thank you

I literally bag all of the items in different bags, such as main outfit in one bag, shoes in another, accessories in a smaller one, and fit them accordingly in the biggest suitcase I have. If a piece of a cosplay is unable to fit in a suitcase, I'll try my best to cover it in something else, and attach it securely to the suitcase, or simply just wear it.

Wearing an item will be true for my next cosplay which has a large pair of wings. With my Neo Queen Serenity Wings, me and my partner drove to the con, but it won't be like that with this next winged cosplay, so I'll probablywear them for some parts, or keep it flat on the suitcase.

Luckily my car is secretly a Tardis! October expo we managed to get 3 people each with two separate costumes, two five foot swords, stilts, and a pyramid head in my car! still not sure how we managed that.... serious Tetris skills I think

Although my friend has recently gotten a Van

I don’t think I could manage on a train… I admire people who can get big costumes to expo’s via public transport!

Myself and my other half compromise. For Ayacon we were going to pair up as Love Machine and King Kazma, but with those and a large hoop skirt we were going to have a tough time fitting it all in, so I dropped Kazma and kept my hoop skirt for Sakura. We also did our best to make sure it could break down to be as small as possible.
Next time though I'll be the one with the bulky costume (Phaedra) though this time he will be able to match me as he is cosplaying Wander and will act as my spotter. Additionally we usually leave the big costumes to cons and events closer to us - Ame is a 15 minute drive, London takes a few hours. We usually have one or two large suitcases to transport things.

well generally we take 1 big case and all of mine and my moms clothes go in the suitcase and if i have any props the go in a black bag for transport

I usually take one drag-bag suitcase (costumes, fixing stuff, wigs etc.), an over-the-shoulder bag (snacks, drink, money etc.) and a second bag inside the suitcase for on the way back. Socks and underclothes are getting stuffed inside my helmet this time to keep it from getting squished and broken again! If I have to transport large props, I usually leave them in pieces til I get to the hotel.