Checked July 2026 · Opens Amazon · we may earn a commission, at no cost to you
How we test: We own and travel with most of the gear we recommend and put it through real con weekends; the rest we vet with suiters we trust or draw from their first-hand reviews. Where you see photos of a unit in a review, those are our own or friend's and blog supporters.
Base-layer advice tends to stop at the waist. People buy the compression top, protect the suit's chest and arms, and then walk a two-hour parade in whatever they had on underneath. Legs are where a surprising share of the sweat goes, and thigh chafe is the injury that actually cuts a day short.
The same rule from every other Under Armour purchase applies here, so it is worth saying once more: HeatGear, never ColdGear.
Two separate jobs, both underrated. The first is the same as the top: put a washable layer between your sweat and a suit lining you cannot easily clean. Legs are enclosed, they work hard, and they produce plenty of it.
The second is friction, and it is the one people learn the hard way. Bare thighs rubbing through a full day, especially on a parade route or a long outdoor walk, produce a raw patch that you do not notice until you stop. Smooth compression fabric removes the skin-on-skin contact entirely, which is the whole reason runners and cyclists wear these.
They go on first and come off last, and after a few wears you stop noticing them. Because they dry quickly, a sink rinse overnight is realistic on a long weekend, which is what makes owning two pairs sufficient rather than four.
The place they earn the purchase is a long walk. Parades, outdoor photoshoots, and the trek between hotel and convention centre are where bare legs inside a suit start rubbing, and where a smooth layer means you finish the day able to walk normally.
The same kind of product from other makers we haven't reviewed, so you can price-check the pick above.
Best for: Cheaper wicking compression leggings, bought in a multipack
The budget base-layer bottoms: wicking compression leggings that stop thigh chafe under a bodysuit, sold in multipacks so a sweaty suiter can rotate a fresh pair each con day.
A top alone leaves your legs unprotected, and legs are both a major sweat source and where chafe happens. If you only ever wear a partial, the top may be enough. For a fullsuit on a long day, the bottom half matters more than people expect.
HeatGear, exactly as with every other piece. UA positions HeatGear for temperatures above 75°F and heavy sweating, while ColdGear's brushed layer is designed to trap body heat, which is the opposite of what a suiter needs.
Better fabric, worse value. A one-piece bodysuit covers everything for far less and is the right call for occasional suiting. Separates wick and dry faster and let you wash halves independently, which suits people who suit often.
For some people, yes. Leg compression is more noticeable than torso compression for many wearers. Walk around in them for an hour at home before committing to a con weekend in them.
Only indirectly. They move sweat and help it evaporate, which feels cooler, but they do not lower your core temperature. Breaks, cooling items, and getting the head off early are what do that.
Anti-chafe balm is the usual alternative and works reasonably well for shorter days. It needs reapplying, where a layer of fabric does not.
Ready to buy the Under Armour HeatGear Armour 2.0 Leggings?
Check Price on AmazonDifferent gear that pairs with this pick or handles the next part of the job.
Best for: Full-arm sweat coverage under bodysuit sleeves
The wicking base-layer top for suiting: full arm coverage against sweat and fur-backing chafe, far faster-drying than spandex alone. Never buy ColdGear for suiting.
Evaporative neck cooler — wet, wring, snap. Cheap, packable, and lasts hours between re-soaks. The starter cooling item.
Compared the options? Our pick is still the Under Armour HeatGear Armour 2.0 Leggings.
Check Price on Amazon
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FurryGuides earns a commission on qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you. Picks last checked Jul 2026.
