Cosplaying is extremely rewarding and lots of fun. It also has a strong community vibe and meeting your fellow cosplayers is one of the best parts. Transporting your gear across country, though, can sometimes be problematic.

#1 Ship what you can

If you’re heading to a convention you might be tempted to take all of your cosplaying kit with you. This is, after all, the time to look your best. Airport security can be a problem – especially if you’re trying to take things like replica swords or anything else that resembles a weapon. These items are far better shipped (price permitting). Sending them to your end location in this way saves a lot of time and airport stress. If you can’t ship it, leave it behind. There are, after all, plenty of fun cosplaying activities you can do at home, so there’s no need to take every single item with you.

#2 Leave sealed items at home

Cosplaying often goes hand in hand with collecting vintage comic books and memorabilia. These usually come sealed and are certainly worth more when wrapped in their original packing. This can be problematic at the airport. Taking these items on board as carry on luggage might result in bag searches and airport staff will invariably break the seals on your precious items as they search through your possessions. This can be a harrowing experience and one that writes off a great deal of value.

#3 Protect high value items

Aside from mint condition merchandise, it’s likely that your cosplaying attire includes some high value props. These need to be protected at all costs. Luggage loading protocols are notoriously bumpy so it’s easy for items to get damaged. Invest in bubble wrap and lots of it. Place your most valuable items in the middle of your suitcase so that they’re cushioned by clothes and (to a degree) shielded from bumps. Towels are useful for this, too. There’s no worse feeling than unpacking your outfit at the other end and finding that a crucial part of it is damaged.

#4 Check baggage limits

Cosplay outfits are often bulky. You might have armor, wigs, boots – all of which take up far more space than standard luggage. Take this into account and check baggage allowances before you get to the airport. If you find that you’re over the limit it’s always cheaper to add additional bags ahead of time rather than at the airport. Invest in an accurate pair of scales and check the dimensions of your luggage, too.

#5 Bag wigs

Last but far from least – wigs can be a pain! Not only are they difficult to pack, but they scatter hair across the rest of your luggage. Wigs are best bagged to stop the spread of stray hairs, and they should be bagged individually. That stops them from getting tangled during the rough and tumble of transit and means they’ll arrive fresh and ready to wear at the other end.