At 5th street escape room, we’ve seen people turn up in all kinds of clothing. We want people to have the best experience possible, so we thought it might be useful to create a post to help you decide what to wear when you go to an escape room.

Since we’ve been in operation, we’ve seen some extremes. Some people, for example, arrive in costume to enhance the experience. You could turn up masked, in stripes with a SWAG bag on your shoulder. Or arrive with a pipe and a deerstalker like Sherlock Holmes.

Since escape rooms are popular with businesses who want to send their workers on team-building events, we also find that some people arrive in uniform. We enjoy seeing teams of people all wearing their work T-shirts with the logo of their company, embodying team spirit. It’s a good feeling to know that we are helping these people work and play more closely.

Other items of clothing or hardware that might be considered part of a uniform, however, are less appropriate. We’re thinking night sticks, welding masks, and hard hats. Most people make sensible choices about what to wear, but occasionally we get a surprise.

Most people, fortunately, come in whatever feels comfortable. Generally speaking, we think that this is a good idea, especially if it’s your first time trying to beat the room.

 

Here’s a run-down of what to think about when preparing to dress for your visit to an escape room.

 

Indoor clothing for indoor games

Escape rooms are usually indoors. Generally, you’re not going to need to bring an umbrella or warm coat for the room itself. You can leave this kind of item in your vehicle or another safe location, along with any other items you don’t want to bring into the escape room.

Note also that escape rooms are often air conditioned. When the pressure’s on, we don’t try to make things more difficult by turning up the heat or giving you a chill.

All you need to bring with you is your intellect.

 

You might try close-fitting garments

We haven’t included this so we can all enjoy your physique. There’s a practical purpose to this, too.

If you were thinking of turning up in a catsuit, that’s not actually a bad idea. Close-fitting clothing is useful if you need to bend down or reach for things. It shouldn’t be so tight that it restricts your movement though.

The beauty of these games is that you don’t know what you’re going to do before you enter, so wear something that makes you feel ready for anything. Come as a ninja or Batman if that makes you feel prepared, as long as you can go the distance. National Heist: Locking Down Liberty and Hostage Crisis can last for 60 minutes. Table for 2 gives you a maximum of 30 minutes to escape the room.

 

Comfortable shoes will lead to a comfortable experience

Having the right shoes is the key to feeling comfortable. The day you visit an escape room, is not the day to break in new shoes.

You might do some minor climbing, bending, and stretching. You might want to crawl. Depending on your personality and the skills of your team, you might also do a fair amount of pacing while you think or work through problems.

Since your brain will be doing a lot of work, you don’t want any distractions. High heels, shoes that pinch your toes into tiny triangles, and boots with laces that won’t stay done up are all distractions.

Escape games include props and environmental elements to make the experience more authentic and more exciting. Our games have solid floors. You don’t need to worry, therefore, about sand and dirt getting into your flip flops.

If you make sure that your footwear is comfortable, you’ll be in a good place to have an enjoyable experience throughout, whether it lasts 60 minutes, 30 minutes, or you get out in record time.

You can take part in these escape rooms in heels, but those who do normally come wearing sneakers the next time round. This means that they can be more physical if they want to. In our experience, most people find that a comfortable pair of sneakers is ideal.

 

 

Bring your reading glasses

Escape games test various skills. At some point, you or your team is likely to need to read something to progress to the next stage. If you need glasses to read, make sure to bring them with you. Otherwise, you will have to rely on other participants to read clues or instructions to you. Not only can this be inconvenient for people on your team, but there is nothing like seeing a clue or puzzle for yourself to make the answer jump out at you. The same applies, of course, if you have difficulty hearing. Make sure to bring your hearing aid with you to enjoy the escape room to the fullest.

 

Your escape room is indoors, so you’re not going to need weatherproof gear. Although you’re not likely to rip anything or to get dirty, these are mental and practical games, so we don’t recommend wearing your best power suit.

Most of our participants arrive in casual clothing. Jeans, track pants, and sweatshirts are ideal. No-one has ever had a problem with wearing sneakers in our escape rooms.

 

Check out our gallery to see some of our winners. They’ll show you how to dress wisely for an escape room. This is not a fashion parade, of course, but a useful snapshot of sensible gear to wear in an escape room.

Being able to wear what you are comfortable in is one of the pleasures of taking part in an escape room. There’s no need for expensive equipment or to dress up. What’s important is how you work together to escape. The focus is on what’s in your head, not what’s on your body.

 

Dress comfortably and you’ll be able to give yourself fully to this thrilling experience.