Dungeon Crawler Carl Costume
Survive the dungeon in style with Carl's iconic, low-effort look.
Dungeon Crawler Carl is the titular protagonist of the hit LitRPG book series by Matt Dinniman. Fans love cosplaying Carl because of his hilariously minimalist, action-ready outfit that he is forced to wear throughout the crawl. The look consists of a rugged denim vest, bright heart-patterned boxer briefs, bare feet, and his signature leather-bound book.
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Time
- ~30 min
- Budget
- $35–85
Try it on
See yourself as Dungeon Crawler Carl
One clear photo of yourself; we render you in this costume — face untouched, full body, about 20 seconds.
One render, $1. No account needed — if it fails you're not charged. Pricing.
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Want a different costume on this photo, or a whole group in costume? Open the Try-On Studio.
What you need for a Dungeon Crawler Carl costume
Short on time? Buy it ready-made
Spirit Halloween sells the complete Dungeon Crawler Carl costume — one box instead of 5 pieces.
Denim Vest
A classic blue denim vest, worn open with frayed armholes to look like a sleeveless jacket.
DIY: Cut the sleeves off an old blue denim jacket and fray the edges.
Heart Boxer Briefs
White boxer briefs or swim trunks covered in a repeating pattern of small red hearts.
DIY: Use a red fabric marker to draw small hearts all over a pair of plain white boxer briefs.
Fake Bare Feet
Flesh-colored slip-on shoes or foot-shaped costume covers to mimic Carl's lack of shoes.
DIY: Wear flesh-colored canvas shoes or go barefoot if you are indoors.
The Guide Book
A thick, leather-bound journal or book to represent the Dungeon Anarchist's Cookbook.
DIY: Wrap a thick textbook in brown craft paper and draw a skull or fantasy emblem on the cover.
Toy Missile Launcher
A plastic toy rocket launcher or large futuristic blaster prop.
DIY: Paint a large cardboard tube black and add a plastic handle to mimic a rocket launcher.
Rather not assemble it? See ready-made Dungeon Crawler Carl costumes at Spirit Halloween ↗
How to put it together
- 1
Put on the white boxer briefs with the red heart pattern.
- 2
Slip on the blue denim vest, leaving it completely unbuttoned.
- 3
Put on the flesh-colored bare feet shoe covers to protect your feet while keeping the barefoot look.
- 4
Carry the leather-bound book in one hand as your primary prop.
- 5
Hold the toy rocket launcher over your shoulder or in your other hand.
- 6
Tousle your hair and add a bit of smudge makeup to your face and body to look battle-worn.
Makeup & hair
Keep your hair messy, tousled, and slightly damp-looking. Use brown and black face paint or cosmetic smudge powder to create dirt and soot marks on your face, arms, and legs to simulate dungeon combat.
Dungeon Crawler Carl for couples, groups, kids & more
- couples
- Pair up with someone dressed as Princess Donut, a sapient Persian cat wearing a tiara and a fancy collar.
- group
- Form a crawler party with characters like Katia in her armor or a crawler in a goblin suit.
- Plus size
- The open denim vest and stretchy heart boxers offer a highly adjustable, comfortable fit for all body types.
- pet
- Dress a Persian cat in a small pink glittery collar and a miniature toy tiara to play Princess Donut.
Tips
- Since Carl is barefoot, wearing flesh-colored skin shoes or invisible walking sandals is highly recommended for safety at conventions or outdoor parties.
- Add a plush Persian cat toy secured to your shoulder or carried in your arm to represent Princess Donut if you don't have a partner.
- Use temporary body paint to add scuffs, bruises, and dirt to your legs and chest for a more authentic, battle-damaged look.
Dungeon Crawler Carl costume FAQ
- What does Carl wear in Dungeon Crawler Carl?
- Carl is famously trapped in the dungeon wearing only a blue denim vest, white boxer briefs with red hearts, and no shoes.
- How do I handle the barefoot aspect of the costume safely?
- You can wear flesh-colored slip-on shoes, skin-toned water shoes, or clear-soled sandals to protect your feet while maintaining the illusion of being barefoot.
- Who is Carl's companion in the series?
- His companion is Princess Donut, a Persian cat who becomes highly intelligent and accompanies him throughout the crawl.
Did you know? Carl's iconic lack of pants and shoes is because he rushed out of his apartment during a freezing midnight collapse to chase after his ex-girlfriend's cat, Princess Donut, right as the world ended.