[YES] Tynes the Elk Fullsuit by Songdog Studios The item being reviewed is 4 years old and may not reflect the makers current style, or work. Maker Information Songdog Studios Year of Project2022 Completion Time (?)Pre-Made ETA AccuracyThere was no ETA given An ETA is the Estimated Time of Arrival for a project. In other words, an estimated turnaround time. An ETA is not a deadline. Review Date22 March 2022 RelationshipThe maker is NOT a friendThis relationship was indicated by the reviewer at the time this review was written. Review InformationReviewerKezTheDog Twitter: KezTheDog Prior ExperienceYes, I have owned one fullsuit and one partial. Wear Time35 Informed Maker of IssuesThere were no issues to note. Tynes the Elk Positive ProjectThis item was purchased as a pre-made Paid: A Lump Sum of $3000 - $4999 Initial Contact: March 2022 Completion/Ship Date: March 2022 Shipping Origin: Local pickup Type: Fullsuit Style: Toony Padding: Digitigrade Specialties: None SpeciesName: Elk Found in: Euungulata(?) Features: Horns or Antlers, Hooves Photos of Completed Product Overall Initial ContactI initially met this maker at Texas Furry Fiesta 2022 when I saw the fursuit head at their booth, and they were incredibly friendly and open to answering any questions that I had prior to purchase. I was informed that this suit had been made for somebody else that did not end up choosing to keep the suit due to their lack of interest in the fandom, and that it was essentially a brand new suit. Maker CommunicationThe maker provided contact information for future questions/concerns, and their website has great resources with regards to cleaning, maintenance, and warranty. Project Completion TimeNot applicable, as this suit was pre-made. Overall Project QualityThe overall visuals of this suit are in line with the best in the business. For a fursuit maker who doesn't have a massive following, I doubt you will find many their size with the aesthetics and professional quality that they provide. The build of the suit has been by and large the highlight of my experience. I have never owned a suit that is so easy to put on and take off, as well as one that just feels so good to wear. I don't worry about tearing or popping seams, and the comfort is beyond what I could have wanted. The materials are high quality and durable, and you can tell that great care was put into it's construction. I have no doubts that this suit will maintain its construction and visual appeal for many years to come. I've managed to put in countless hours of suiting in the short span of time that I've owned the suit, and it has held up tremendously. For the price that I paid, I do not believe that I could have gotten a better deal from any other fursuit maker. A suit of similar build and visual quality from a major studio would run upwards of $6,000 – $8,000, and I'm thrilled to have been able to get this one for a respectable price, even as a pre-made. Components Head Wear SatisfactionFIT: The head is just slightly small on me, but as a pre-made, I was well aware of this when I purchased the suit. I wear glasses, and unfortunately, they cannot be accommodated with how tight the fit is. Not an issue should I decide to wear contacts down the line, so I'm by no means disappointed. I actually prefer that it's more form-fitting to my head, as it helps to keep the antlers attached easier. My head is slightly larger than average, so I cannot fault the maker in any way. VENTILATION: The placement of the muzzle and mouth opening provides a clear, perfectly aligned path for my breathing. Though there isn't a ton of other ventilation options available given the nature of the species, I do not find myself struggling to breathe at any point while wearing this suit. I have been able to wear it for hours without needing to take a break due to shortness of breath. It can get a bit hot without supplemental airflow, and with my head fitting snug inside of it, I do have to ensure that I take time to get some air if I'm planning on wearing it for any extended length of time. There is unfortunately no room to install a fan setup or portable fan solution, but the lining of the head really helps to mitigate any discomfort that would come from lack of air flow, especially when used in conjunction with a balaclava. For someone with a more average sized head (i.e. smaller), it would be more than enough to keep cool. I had a fellow con roommate try on the suit, and their experience was also great, as they have a smaller head than I do. VISION: I have been spoiled with my previous suit in terms of vision, so having it reduced with a new suit head was a bit of an adjustment. There is a minor blind spot in the center that is negligible, and does not impact the overall safety of the suit. I have been able to suit without assistance and did not feel at all concerned that I would be running into anything without first seeing it. This suit does require very intentional head movements to see in any given direction, as the line of sight is narrower than what I am used to. This combined with magnetic antlers can sometimes be troublesome if I don't see something outside of my vision, as the antlers will hit whatever it is and sometimes come off, but that's perfectly acceptable when the maker took the time to allow the antlers to come off without damage. Great foresight on that front. OVERALL COMFORT: The lining of the head is, without a doubt, the best I've experienced with any suit that I have either owned or borrowed. I've worn dozens of fursuit heads, and I can't get over how good this one feels when worn with a balaclava. I have also worn it once without the balaclava to show for just a few minutes, and it still felt great. I had concerns when I first wore the head that the tightness would create friction that would be uncomfortable the longer I had it on, but I have yet to have any complaints about it. The neck fur doesn't rub or chafe against my skin at all, and I could wear this head indefinitely with proper water intake and adequate weather. Beyond impressed with how nice it is to wear! Visual SatisfactionINITIAL IMPRESSION: The look of the head is the entire reason I stopped at the maker's booth to inquire about it. I've never had a fursuit head catch my attention as quickly as this one did — it stacks up to the quality you would expect from a big name fursuit studio, and in my personal opinion, even exceeds it. The eyes are expressive, the horns are perfectly symmetrical and balanced without it being obvious that they can come off, and the fur shaving is impeccably done. MATERIAL LOOK AND FEEL: The shaving on this fursuit head feels great to the touch, and is evenly done throughout. There are no obvious points of separation between furs on the pattern, and the nose is a great texture; I am unsure what material was used for it, but it provides a semi-matte finish that doesn't dirty easily and gives more of a sense of realism that other materials, such as felt or fabric, may not be able to provide. The ears are just the right amount of fur without being too long, and the back of the fursuit head doesn't feel inconsistent with the rest. The antlers are soft and well structured; they're strong enough to keep shape and take a beating, while also being plenty soft enough to accidentally strike someone or something without any damage. OVERALL IMPRESSION: I am critical with fursuit heads, as that first impression of a character is most important. This suit checks all of my boxes: the species is easily recognizable, the toony style is well executed without being over the top, and the quality holds up from both a distance and up close. I love that the eyes are static, as I prefer this to follow-me eyes. The magnetic antlers are an absolute hit with anyone who gets a chance to interact with the suit, as they don't expect them to be removable — it adds another layer of personality that is a ton of fun to play around with. I've also had individuals stick their own magnetic props onto Tynes' head, and it makes for really memorable moments. I can't think of another fursuit head that I would ever pick over this one. One-Piece Body Wear SatisfactionFIT: The bodysuit is a one-piece suit with digitigrade padding and attached tail — exactly what I was hoping to find in a pre-made. The thigh padding does not move at all while in suit, as the entire bodysuit fits snug where it counts. The torso has a bit of give, as it was not made to my specifications (note that this suit was originally made for someone who was 5' 7" and 200 lbs, and I am 5' 10" and 175 lbs), but it still feels as if I had made a DTD and shipped it off to the maker myself. The padding in the calf/ankle portion of the suit can sometimes shift while being worn, but I attribute that to what is more than likely just a difference in leg size between myself and the original intended owner. It doesn't move enough to be uncomfortable, and can be easily adjusted on the go. My range of motion is only slightly limited, as my arms are a bit longer than what I believe the suit was intended for, so putting my arms at any angle above my chest causes the suit to become tight, but I can comfortably accomplish it without worry that it is going to tear. VENTILATION: This suit feels great to wear for long periods of time, as it is very breathable without sacrificing build quality. I can feel even a light breeze through the fur, and I have a very average amount of sweat built up after multiple hours of fursuiting. MATERIALS & BUILD QUALITY: The body suit feels great at all points! When worn with proper attire underneath (i.e. Under Armor or equivalent), there is no uncomfortable rubbing or chafing to note. It is incredibly sturdy, as I put it through a somersault stress-test as I do with all of my suits, and did not experience any popped seams or tears. The inside of the suit looks great visibly, and doesn't look like it was hastily thrown together. The padding is soft enough to wear for long periods, but sturdy enough to not flatten and look off. Visual SatisfactionINITIAL IMPRESSION: The fur is a similar story to the head, as it all seamlessly flows together with great symmetry. The colors work very well together, as neutral tones fit the species. The choice of fur was fantastic; it feels high quality, and what you would expect to feel for an elk fursuit. The fur does not bunch more than usual where you have high friction, such as the armpits and crotch. I have had no issues when it comes to brushing these areas after suiting. MATERIAL LOOK & FEEL: I am thrilled with the fur on this suit — it is visually appealing from all distances, and has a great soft texture that doesn't feel cheap. The fur falls evenly at all points, and the tail fur blends very well with the rest of the body suit. The few places with a bit more give do not appear bunchy or wrinkly, which helps to establish an almost pseudo-drop crotch style that may not have been intended, but works very well with the rest of the suit. OVERALL IMPRESSIONS: I can't think of anything I would want to change about the body suit. Even though I was not the intended owner, I am very satisfied with how everything appears when worn. Hands Wear SatisfactionFIT: This suit features attached hands with hoof-like claws (apologies for my lack of knowledge in deer anatomy). My arms are a bit longer than what I believe the suit was designed for, which makes using the wrist openings a bit tougher to access once the bodysuit is fully on. A little bit of maneuvering is all it takes to get my hands free, however. The hands have bits of padding that my fingers can rest underneath, and I have surprisingly good dexterity and grip ability when wearing it. The fingers do not feel tight, but are not too big either. As they are attached, I have no fear that I will have exposed wrists, which is my biggest pet-peeve when it comes to fursuits that I own. Very happy about that. MATERIALS & BUILD QUALITY: The materials used for the hands are very comfortable, and I don't have any issues with sweat causing problems when putting the hands back on as I have had with other suits. There is one very small seam that has been visibly repaired recently that may become an issue as I wear the suit more, but I am going to take it as an opportunity to learn how to double stitch, as it is a skill I need to know if I want to be able to fix my suits in the future. I was informed of this at time of purchase, so this is no fault of the maker. The fingers are very well stitched to the rest of the hands, and I have no concerns that they will rip or fall off in the future. Visual SatisfactionINITIAL IMPRESSIONS: They're just… great. The fingers are made in a way that you don't immediately notice the human fingers in them — black was a great choice here. Any chance to add another layer of realism into a suit, even a toony one, is wonderful. MATERIAL LOOK & FEEL: The fur on the hands looks and feels very similar to what I would imagine an anthropomorphic elk would have, as bizarre as that may sound. The fur isn't a completely solid color, adding depth and realism. The fingers of the suit do not get dirty easily, and keep their shape without the padding moving around a ton. Very satisfied! OVERALL IMPRESSIONS: I would get fursuit hands like this again any day. The ease of use when trying to do anything with my hands is fantastic, and being able to free them when necessary is a huge quality of life upgrade that I don't know if I can live without now that I've had it. Tail Wear SatisfactionFIT: It's a nub of a deer tail — I can feel that it's there in a comfortable way. It's perilously located at table height, so I've knocked over plenty of things already, but it is positioned exactly where it should be, so that's more of an issue with my lack of spacial awareness. MATERIALS & BUILD QUALITY: It's perfectly stuffed to give a bit of bounce when moving in suit, and well attached to the rest of the body. Visual SatisfactionOVERALL IMPRESSION: The fur pattern on the tail is very cute, and works well with the rest of the suit in terms of color. The shaving is great, and it feels very soft. Not much else I can add, as it's exactly what you would expect and want with a deer tail. Feet Wear SatisfactionFIT: The maker informed me that I would need to provide shoes to make the hooves fit properly, and I was surprised that there was room for my shoes as a US size 11. It's a perfectly snug fit (so much so that I'm fairly certain I'm not getting my shoes out of there without a pair of seam rippers, but that's a non-issue). I can go so far as to try and kick them off, and they aren't going anywhere. MATERIALS & BUILD QUALITY: The hooves feel very well constructed! They move great, as they are made with a very sturdy material that is also lightweight. I'm assuming it's a durable foam material, and the finish on it looks realistic and professional. It goes far enough up my ankle to let the legs of the bodysuit drape over, so I don't have any exposed garments underneath, but not so much that I worry about catching on the bottom of the hooves. Visual SatisfactionOVERALL IMPRESSION: The fur around the hooves blends perfectly with the rest of the body suit. They look great, they feel great, and they hold up to sprinting and long periods of wear time. I can't say much more than that. Special FeaturesANTLERS: These things are top tier when it comes to my satisfaction with the suit. They are magnetically attached with two fairly strong magnets in both the antlers and the head, so they'll stay attached when I want them to be, and come off when I need them to. They sit flush against the fur of the head, creating a seamless transition. They are reinforced to give structure and rigidity, while still being soft and fun to toss around with friends as a bit. I was surprised with how durable they are, given that they are on the larger end of fursuit antlers that I've seen, but I have had countless hours of fun with them. The magnets pull the antlers back into their proper position when I go to place them back while in suit, which is VERY helpful when you have fursuit hands on. 10/10, cannot speak highly enough about them. RatingFursuitReview rates by asking the question: Would you recommend this maker? YES This review has been marked with a positive rating. This means the reviewer would recommend Songdog Studios. Final CommentsI hope that my review comes across as objective, as I have no issue pointing out shortcomings with fursuits and their makers. Songdog Studios put an immense amount of effort and care into crafting what is a very high quality suit, and I cannot thank them enough for their business. Both of my previous suits were customs of my own characters, but it's been a delight getting the opportunity to bring life to one of Songdog's pre-mades. I highly recommend anyone looking for a great fursuit in the mid-range market to give them an opportunity to bring your character to life, or potentially take one of their pre-made characters and make it your own. They are very friendly and professional, and I am completely satisfied with my experience working with them. Are you the maker of this item? Would you like to leave an official response? Click here. In case the button above doesn't work, you can click here to launch the maker response form.
