Metal Gear Solid 3/Δ Snake Eater Naked Snake Big Boss Cosplay Guide

Introduction

Greetings fellow cosplayers, my name is Ace of Snakes (formerly BlueLaguna88), and you've come across my guide on how to cosplay Naked Snake aka Big Boss from Metal Gear Solid 3/Δ: Snake Eater. 

Cults3D Link: For my 3D print files (Less fees, plus you get access to updated files even after your purchase!) 

Etsy Link: For my 3D print files (Lots of fees and unfortunately Etsy doesn't give access to updated files, use Cults3D instead.)

Instagram Link: aceofsnakes

Snake is both a complicated, and expensive cosplay to put together. However, once completed, it is very satisfying to wear! Most of the equipment can be obtained at military surplus stores, and online via Amazon, eBay and AliExpress. This guide will suggest the most accurate pieces of equipment, however there are plenty of cheaper alternatives out there.

Now that MGSΔ was announced, I will do my best to update this guide to include the newer gear in the remake.

For reference, I am an average 5'11", 180 pound American male so my sizing will be in Standard.

Before we get started, I would like to thank the original pioneers of Naked Snake/Big Boss Cosplay guides. Big Boss cosplayers couldn't not have done it without you guys! 

Kyle's Guide - (Defunct)

Ne0Ven0m - (Defunct)
Alex's Guide
The Ronin's References

Also, a special thanks to vietnamgear.com for their extensive encyclopedia of Vietnam gear and reference photos.

Snake Reference Pictures

 

Clothing

Military Fatigues

Price: $60-140

Link: Propper Coat

Link: Propper Pant

I sought advice from a militaria expert, and they pointed me to the Tru-Spec 100% Cotton Rip-Stop Original Vietnam Tiger Stripe. 

- UPDATE AS OF 02/24/2025: Unfortunately, Tru-Spec has discontinued the Original Vietnam Tiger Stripe. A close second would be Propper's Asian Tiger Stripe BDUs which has been linked above

There are a few small differences between modern BDUs and the Advisor Cut Snake uses: First, neither BDU pants or coat have the cigarette pocket on the left arm/left pant leg. Second, the BDU coat has two front pockets located at the waist area, whereas the Advisor Cut only has the two chest pockets. This is honestly your most obtainable alternative to the originals, otherwise, you would be shelling out an easy $1K if you are lucky enough to find a vintage set in decent condition. There are however, mostly identical reproductions on eBay for about $140, but I have no experience with those, so you are on your own.

Since Snake uses many different patterns throughout the game you can essentially go with any pattern as long as your coat and pants are of the same brand. Two different brands of the same pattern will not match.

Do not forget to roll up your sleeves right above your elbows. 

Compression Shirt
Price: $20-30

Snake's under-suit is a thing of fiction, closest would be a wetsuit but there are some modifications such as the padding details on his forearms. A compression shirt will work just fine as an alternative.

Search for a base layer compression shirt with a turtleneck/mock turtleneck. The turtleneck is where your Throat Mic will strap around. 

The easiest place to find compression shirts will most likely be a sporting goods store or Amazon. I like using a brand called "Henri Maurice" from Amazon (Pictured above) but I have not seen them produced in black in quite a few years. Some of the ones you will find online are in Asian sizing so make sure you pick your correct size.

Try to find one without a logo or a logo that would not be visible under your fatigues. If it does happen to have one, you could remove it: If its printed on, you can use acetone/nail polish remover and rub it on the logo over and over until it falls off. If its stitched on, unstitch or color it.

P.S. I also recommend compression underwear as well. They feel great!

Rothco Leather D3-A Type Gloves
Price: $20-25

Snake wears M1949 Gloves with the fingertips of the thumb, index, and middle finger cut off at about the second knuckle, as well as ventilation holes poked on the backside. I did not bother with the ventilation holes on the backside of the hand as its such an unnoticeable detail in my opinion.

Rothco Leather D3-A Type Gloves look practically the same. My hands are of average size so I went with size 4.

The following steps are not necessary for modifying the gloves, but I highly recommend following them to preserve the longevity of the stitching when cutting off the fingertips: Flip the gloves inside out so the stitching is visible. This is tough to do, you will need tools to push the fingers inside out. Mark the gloves with something you can remove (like chalk) a little under your second knuckles of your fingers and cut the tips off at the markings. Re-stitch or glue alongside the seams so they do not come undone. Then, flip them back the right way.

Knee Sleeve

Price: $15-20

I recommend using the Copper Fit knee sleeve, but any black compression knee sleeve will work. I use XL so that it slips on and off my knee more easily. It is very thin and does not provide any padding, so keep that in mind. Now that I am getting older, sometimes I will also use an actual knee pad under my pant leg, and as VenomousPicklz commented below, it does help your leg look less chicken legged.

If there is a logo/branding, remove it.

Rothco GI Type Jungle Boot
Price: $45-50

I recommend Rothco's Jungle Boots. Some reviewers say get a size smaller, others say get a size bigger. I wear mostly size 9.5 shoes but I ended up with an 8R. (military boots do not come in half sizes.)

I HIGHLY recommend getting insoles as these boots do not come with any. Your lower back and feet will ache if you don't use adequate insoles. Everyone is different, and you will need to do your own research based on your physical needs to find the perfect insoles.

If your boots still feel slightly loose even with insoles, I recommend wearing thicker or doubling socks. It should make your boots nice and snug.

Bandana
Price: About $4

Ah yes, the bandana, Snake's signature article of clothing. Depending on which concept art/ in-game models/ HD art you want to follow, you should go with either olive drab, dark blue or blueish-grey fabric. Most fabrics at craft stores have a width of about 60 inches which is plenty to tie around your head.

You want to make sure you have enough cloth to cover your brows and forehead. Measure the distance from the bottom of your brow to your hairline, double that measurement, then add about half an inch, as you'll need that half an inch for when you stitch/glue the fabric together.

Fold the bandana in half length-wise and stitch/glue the bandana closed. Then, flip it inside out so the seams don't show, then stitch/glue the ends shut.

Individual Load Carrying Equipment

Stabo Harness

Price: $50-500

Link: Parachute Harness Buckle Kit

Link: Type 13 - Nylon Webbing

Link: Type 8 - Nylon Webbing

Link: Stabo Harness - Hub City Outdoors LLC

Hands down the most important, but also the most expensive/rarest piece of his outfit; the Stabo Harness. A real Stabo Harness will cost you at least $500, if you can even find one in decent condition.

The in-game harness is black, however, the real harnesses Special Forces used only came in olive drab.

Hub City Outdoors LLC carries fantastic reproductions in black for $300 (used to be $250 😞 ). This is what I am currently using for my harness and highly recommend them. They sell out often so keep and eye open for restocks.

Another option would be making your own, however, you will need a powerful sewing machine as the nylon webbing is thick. I provided links in this section to the hardware and webbing. You have to spend a $25 minimum to ship, but that should provide you with plenty of webbing.

Type - 13 Webbing is thick, sturdy and the exact webbing used for real Stabo Harnesses.

Type - 8 is thinner but easier to work with. 

A bit of caution when using Type-8: my prior harness was made from Type-8 and it would constantly loosen and sag down due to the weight of the load carrying equipment. You would likely need to tape the bottom near the V-buckles, just like Snake does in the original Snake Eater.

M1956 Individual Equipment Belt
Price: $9-50

Snake uses a M1956 Individual Equipment Belt in olive drab with a horizontal weave pattern and brass ball-end buckles. These are hard to come by in decent condition.

M1956 Universal Small Arms Ammunition Pouch

Price: $10-40 each pouch

Snake is equipped with two M1956 Universal Small Arms Ammunition Pouch. I currently use the 2nd pattern (Pictured above). The 2nd pattern works better for storing and removing its content as opposed to the 1st pattern which was really stiff due to the plastic stiffener in the front wall's lining.

If your pouches have stale odors, place an open box of baking soda in each pouch for about a week or two to help the smell. Plus it'll help reform its box shape. You can also use sturdier cardboard to help reform its shape.

M1956 1 Quart Canteen and Cover

Canteen: $10

Pouch: $20-$30

The plastic canteen is probably the easiest piece of equipment to obtain. You can get a new one anywhere that sell camping and military supplies.

A good condition pouch, however, is a little difficult to come by. Most are faded or soiled from real use. Mine is starting to fade from usage. If you do happen to come by one in nice condition, snatch it up. You might not get that opportunity again.

This is one of the functional features of the cosplay that makes it fulfilling to dress up as Snake. Nothing like filling your canteen with nice cold water (or booze *shhh*, get a separate canteen exclusively for booze.)

M1956 Combat Field Pack 'Butt Pack' - 1st Pattern

M1961 Combat Field Pack 'Butt Pack' - 2nd Pattern

Price: $15-50

In the original MGS3, Snake used a 1st Pattern M1956 Combat Field Pack, aka the 'Butt Pack'. However, in Pachinko and Δ, Snake uses the M1961 Combat Field Pack which is bigger and more efficient.

To maintain its shape and storage capabilities, I inserted a box with an opening that was roughly the size of the pack.

AN/PRT-4 Radio and Radio Pouch

Price: Varies

3D Printed Dummy AN/PRT-4A Radio and Custom Radio Pouch (Left Picture)

Real AN/PRT-4A Radio (Center Picture)

In-Game render of AN/PRT-4A Radio (Right Picture) 

Link: Radio Link

The radio Snake uses is an AN/PRT-4A, it is a rare, pricey, and heavy piece of equipment. In the past, I've used it as part of my cosplay and do not recommend. I've since designed a 3D printable dummy radio that is now available to for you to download and print for only $5!

The radio was designed to be clipped onto the d-rings of the M1956 suspenders, and therefore, unfortunately, a pouch does not actually exist. This will be a custom job if you want accuracy.

I custom made a pouch using material from an old M1945 Combat Field Pack. This was a pain in the ass to make and I will never make another one again. However, I will upload its dimensions and how to make one at a later point.

If creating a pouch isn't within your skill set or simply don't want to go through the hassle, below are three similar (but not accurate) alternative pouches.

German Uzi pouch - the right pouch

Australian M16 pouch - the left pouch

Australian L2A1 30rd Magazine Pouch - the middle pouch

Makeshift Antenna and German Uzi pouch and battery pack

The easiest pouch to obtain is an olive drab German Uzi pouch (the pouch to the right). Looks extremely similar to Snake's radio pouch. If you're planning on storing something in the pouch (I used to store rechargeable battery packs), there are dividers within the pouch that need to be removed. You can do that by cutting the seams of the dividers located on the front and back exterior of the pouch. Also, the color doesn't match the US pouches exactly, so if you have OCD, this might not be your best option. Both Australian pouches match the Olive Drab colors of the US pouches.

Ne0ven0m's guide recommended the Vietnam Era Australian M16 Ammo Pouch (the pouch to the left) but I found the pouch to be too cumbersome to be a radio pouch, still a great option if this is the only pouch you can obtain. 

You can also use an extremely rare Vietnam Era Australian L2A1 30 Round Magazine Pouch (the pouch in the middle). The pouch resembles the radio pouch from the concept art.

For a makeshift antenna use anything you could find that's a thin pole, like a flagpole or a thin PVC pipe from a home improvement store. I recommend measuring the length of the pouch, plus the distance from the top of the pouch, to a little under the "X" (cross section) of the STABO harness, and cut the antenna that measurement. Once measured, cut the antenna, then wrap it in electrical tape in a diagonal direction giving it an antenna look, then wrap the tip of the antenna a few times to give it that thicker antenna tip.

You may have to cut a hole on the flap of the pouch and slide in the makeshift antenna. I made a "+" shaped incision on the flap of the German Uzi Pouch for the antenna.

Like the ammo pouches, use cardboard to keep its shape.

Note, an AN/PRT-4A Radio will not fit snug in the alternative pouches, you're better off getting creative and filing it with Something like a portable charger (pictured above using a German Uzi Pouch).

M1 (M1916) .45 Pistol Holster

Price: $28-40

There are plenty of reproduction holsters that are more affordable and in better condition than their originalcounterparts. I myself use a reproduction holster.

I recommend obtaining the holster a couple weeks before you plan on using it to break it in or use leather conditioner and/or mink oil.

There are left-handed variants so make sure you read the description carefully and get a right-handed version.

All of Snake's Load Carrying Equipment have budget friendly reproductions that you can find at military surplus stores and online.

Snake's Weapons

Colt M1911
Price: $7-25

Link: Toy 1911 Spray Panting Tutorial

I found a toy version of a 1911 on AliExpress and Amazon.

I've also linked a spray-painting tutorial by Cosplay Chris on YouTube.

You'll want to remove the firing mechanism from the gun as most conventions do not allow functioning toy guns.

I have been working closely with an author on Printables.com for Snake's Custom 1911A1 that I will release on the website once its perfected. This will be free to download!

Survival Knife and Sheath
Price: $20-30

Link: Rubber Training Knife

Link: Ka-Bar Leather Sheath

Search: Pilot/Ontario Knife/Sheath

The survival knife in the game looks like a modified USAF Jet Pilot Survival Knife. I've come across a rubber replica from a company called TheFieldWerks. Unfortunately, as of my research in 2024, TheFieldWerks page seems to be offline so it might not be possible to purchase the replica anymore.

I purchased the Marble's Pilot Knife replica for its leather sheath, but as of 2020 I could no longer find the replica knife/sheath combo. The sheath and knife replica might be custom jobs from now on. I will design a 3D printable file for the knife in the near future.

A cheaper/more obtainable alternative is a Ka-bar rubber training knife. The Ka-Bar sheath is a little tight for the rubber knife, but it'll fit once broken in. It's not accurate but it gets the job done.

I used two tan colored 2-inch wide elastic boot blousers. It's a little tight and it'll depend on the thickness of your leg, but they're easy to use and they secure the knife in its place. Alternatively, you could design your own adjustable straps.

In the original game, snake had his taped to his leg with duct tape, if you do this, you will eventually rip up the leather every time you take off the tape, so I do not suggest this.

CQC Knife

Price Total: $2.50 for the file

Link: CQC Knife File
Link: Paracord Wrapping Tutorial

Link: Stick on clip

Link: 3D Printing Service

Like many of his equipment, Snake's CQC knife doesn't actually exist either. After hours and hours of research I designed what I feel is a game accurate replica. You can download the print file from my Cults3D page for just $2.50! As of right now, I do not have the capability to print the knives myself. In the future, I hope to be able to sell prints.

If you don't have a 3D printer you can use makexyz.com (Link above) to find local 3D printing services. I suggest using grey or silver material if you don't plan on painting it.

Like the sheath for the survival knife, I have not been able to find the Marble sheath for some time now. Might be custom jobs from now on or search "6-inch fixed blade sheath" to find a more obtainable alternative.

I've also linked a paracord wrapping tutorial (Link above) by ITS Tactical on YouTube.

I use velcro to attach the knife sheath to the harness: I used stick on velcro on the sheath and stitch on velcro on the harness.

You can also use a stick-on clip (Amazon link above) on the backside of the knife sheath and simply slide the holster onto the harness.

Gadget time!


Vox/PTT Switchbox

Price: $2.50 for the file

Link: Vox/PTT Switchbox File

Like the CQC knife, this particular Vox/PTT Switchbox is also a thing of fiction. You can download the print file I designed for just $2.50!

Also, depending on your height, you'll need to use about 1.5 to a 2 foot long aux cable to connect the switchbox to the throat mic.

Like the knife sheath, you'll need to use velcro on the backside of the Switchbox and velcro on the harness as well.

Throat Mic

Price: $24- $140

Link: Cheaper Throat Mics

Link: IASUS Throat Mic

I bought a professional throat mic called NT3-R THROAT MIC – BLACK which was stupid expensive but functional, connects to my phone and fun to use. Unfortunately, as of 2024, IASUS-Concepts no longer make the NT3-R and their newest model, the NT5, no longer looks like Snake's. 

I also added 3D printed ports to my mic so that I could connect 3.5mm dummy aux cables. If you have any of Iasus throat mics I can provide the files for the dummy ports free of charge if you message me on Instagram.

As of August 2025, I am design designing a 3D printable dummy throat mic with an earpiece, and plan on retiring the IASUS Throat Mic from this guide. Those files will be released on my Cults3D once I am satisfied with them, so stay tuned!

Throat Mic, Vox/PTT, AN/PRT-4 Radio Set up

I will update this section in the near future of how the three pieces of equipment connect together.

Optional Add-ons/Accessories

Eye Patch

Price: Varies

If you go on Etsy.com you'll find lots of high-quality custom eye-patches.

Cardboard Box

Price: IDK... Free?

This is self explanatory, lol.

Calorie Mate

Price: $6 individual - $60 for 20 pack

Link: JapaneseTaste.com

These are a fun snack to have. You can buy them from Japanese Taste for like $60 + Shipping.

I've tried them all.

Cheese: Tastes like blue cheese.

Chocolate: Tastes like a spoonful of coco powder.

Fruit: Tastes like stale lemon cakes. 

Maple: Tastes like pancakes.

Plain (Discontinued): Tasted like a combo of potatoes and apples.

Vanilla: Tastes like a vanilla cookie.

My favorites were Maple and Vanilla.

As a bonus, you can keep the Calorie Mate boxes as props. Also, if you're using the 1956 Butt Pack, you can cut an opening off the top of the giant Calorie Mate box and use it to give the pouch its shape!

Blue Eye Contacts
Price: $25-50

I've experimented with them, they're definitely a fun add on but not necessary, I'm not used to contacts (20/20 vision) so my eyes got irritated by the end of the day.

Face Paint

Price: $5

 I don't bother with it.

Cigar

Price: $1?

Buy any cheap cigar from a gas station or convenience store. If you want to get accurate, Snake smokes Cuban cigars.

Mullet Wig

You don't necessarily need to add a wig to your cosplay. I've tried the Jett wig from Arda years ago when I first started cosplaying Snake, I did not like it. If you can grow out a mullet, fuck yeah! Do it!

Conclusion

Well, Snake Crew, that just about wraps up the cosplay guide for Snake, I hope it was enjoyable and easy to follow. If you have any questions, recommendations, or concerns, comment below or message me on Instagram! If you found this blog helpful, please consider purchasing my 3D files! Its like buying me a beer but you also benefit from it!

Cults3D Link: For my 3D print files (Less fees, plus you get access to updated files even after your purchase!)

Etsy Link: For my 3D print files (Lots of fees and unfortunately Etsy doesn't give access to updated files, use Cults3D instead.)

I would love to see the cosplays I've helped you create, so feel free to follow/tag/or message me on Instagram if you have any questions!

Instagram Link: aceofsnakes

See you at the Cons!

- Ace of Snakes