What Is a Fursuit: Types, Styles, & Padding

A fursuit is an animal-themed costume that partially or wholly covers the body. The headpiece (mask), completely covers the entire face, with few exceptions. Often, fursuits are "real life" representations of a person's fursona or animal-themed (furry) original character. They can be any non-human species. Fursuits are the most visible part of the furry fandom, but they are not required to own - or even be liked - to participate in the furry community.

This guide lists the most common types, styles, and padding used in fursuits. It is not a comprehensive list.

Fullsuit

A "fullsuit" is short for "full-body fursuit" and is used to identify fursuits which cover the entire body. There is no human skin showing while wearing a fullsuit.

Partial

"Partial" is short for "partial fursuit," and is the most common type of fursuit. It has many variations, which each have their own specific names that fall under the umbrella term "partial." If a fursuit is anything less than a fullsuit, then it can be called a partial.

The most common type of partial is one consisting of a head (mask), paws, and a tail. But partials can also consist of the following:

• Only a head, or
• A head and a tail, or
• A head and only handpaws (gloves), or
• A head and only feetpaws (boots), or
• A head, and both sets of paws, or
• any combination thereof

Kigurumi (also called Kigu)

"Kigurumi" (着ぐるみ) is a Japanese term referring to a costumed character, but often refers specifically to a type of one-piece pajama with an animal theme. These adult-sized "onesies" gained popularity outside of Japan and the idea has been co-opted by fursuit makers as an alternative for heavier, hotter, more movement-restricting, and expensive fursuits. Today, there are some makers who make only custom kigurumi, and furries can commission a kigu of their own design. Some people wear them as they are, others pair kigus with other fursuit items, as a fursuit body stand-in or additional costume piece.  
Kigurumi are technically not fursuits and are in their own category of furry fashion. But since they are so closely related to fursuits, somewhat common, and the process of purchasing one is very similar to that of a fursuit commission, they are also covered by this guide.

Quadsuit

"Quadsuit" is a short-hand term for "quadraped fursuit."
While traditional fursuits always depict an anthropomorphized character who usually walks on two legs, the quadsuit is meant to completely mask the human wearer and depict a "feral" four-legged animal instead. Quadsuits are extremely rare to commission, and are frequently made by the person intending to wear them.

Listed below are the most well-known and most sought-after styles of fursuits at the time this guide was written.

Styles

• Toony
  Toony costumes are meant to look like walking cartoon characters. They usually have large eyes, animated expressions, and bright fur colors. Toony costumes are meant to look like walking cartoon characters. They usually have large eyes, animated expressions, and bright fur colors.

• Realistic
  Realistic costumes are meant to look like real-life living and breathing animals. They usually have resin eyes with vision through the tear ducts and natural fur colors.

• Semi-Toony / Semi-Realistic
  This style combines features of realistic and toony costumes to give its own unique look. It is referred to as "Real/Toon Hybrid" on the FurusitReview website.

• Kemono / Kemo
  A very distinct toony style modeled after the anime and manga of Japan. Costumes in this style usually have large dome eyes, tiny mouths, and small bodies with large paws.

Padding

• Digitigrade
  Digitigrade padding, often shortened to "digi," refers to costumes with legs and/or feet that have been padded to give the appearance that the wearer is walking on their toes, similar to how many animals' legs are formed.

• Plantigrade
  Plantigrade, or "planti" is a lack of padding in the legs/feet of a costume. Since humans are plantigrade (walk on the flats of our feet), there is usually no need to add anything to create the illusion of plantigrade locomotion.

• Muscle
  Muscle padding is a specific stylistic choice made in order to bulk out a costume, giving the wearer the appearance of large muscles, much like if they were to wear a muscle suit.

• Plush
  Plush padding is done with the intent to create the illusion that the costume is a large stuffed toy. These costumes are generally rotund with shortened limbs and large hands and/or feet. Often, a costume with this padding also contains visible stitching, seams, and/or zippers as stylistic choices to complete the "toy" illusion.

Interested in buying a fursuit? Check out the other guides in this "Buying a Fursuit" series:

• What is a Fursuit: Types, Styles, & Padding (you are here)
• Buying a Fursuit: Is a Fursuit Right For You?
• Choosing the Right Maker for Your Fursuit
• Buying a Fursuit: Pre-mades vs. Commissions, & Finding Maker Contacts
• Buying a Fursuit: The Commission Process