Last updated: May 3, 2026· By Seckin Peker

Costume Guide

Murray Bauman Halloween Costume Guide

Stranger Things  ·  1980s Paranoid Investigator  ·  Layered Cold-Weather Look

Shearling jacket, grey newsboy cap, knit scarf, aviator sunglasses, and the absolute certainty that the government is hiding something.

Brett Gelman TV Series Stranger Things 80s Outfits Casual Glasses Hat Netflix Vintage
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Quick Answer: The Murray Bauman Halloween costume is eight pieces.
  • Shearling lined suede jacket (essential)
  • Grey newsboy cap (essential)
  • Knit long scarf
  • Thick navy tactical hiking pants
  • Polarized aviator sunglasses
  • Winter ear warmers and leather gloves
  • Brown cold weather boots

Murray Bauman is one of the most distinctive supporting characters in Stranger Things, Netflix’s hit supernatural thriller set in 1980s Hawkins, Indiana. Played by Brett Gelman, Murray is a former investigative journalist turned conspiracy theorist and private investigator whose paranoid exterior hides surprising warmth, unexpected combat ability, and an unmatched gift for being right about everything nobody wants to hear. His layered cold-weather look, anchored by a shearling suede jacket and a battered grey newsboy cap, is one of the most wearable and recognisable Stranger Things costume ideas available. The Murray Bauman costume is a strong choice for anyone who wants a Halloween look that reads as a specific, beloved character rather than a generic 1980s outfit.

Items Total8 Items
DifficultyEasy
VibeRugged & Eccentric
Cost$60-$120

Murray Bauman Costume Items

Murray Bauman Halloween costume infographic showing all eight items: shearling lined suede jacket, knit long scarf, grey newsboy cap, thick navy tactical hiking pants, polarized aviator sunglasses, winter ear warmers, leather gloves, and brown cold weather boots

Murray Bauman Costume Items

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Murray Bauman Stranger Things Halloween 1980s
  • 1 Shearling Lined Suede JacketThe centrepiece of the Murray Bauman costume. The shearling suede jacket anchors the entire layered look and is the most character-specific purchase in the build. It immediately communicates Murray stranger things costume to anyone familiar with the show.
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  • 2 Knit Long ScarfMurray’s knit scarf is a key layering piece that adds texture and visual weight to the costume. Draped loosely around the neck, it reinforces the eccentric, slightly dishevelled aesthetic that defines the Murray Bauman stranger things look.
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  • 3 Grey Newsboy CapThe grey flat cap is the second most recognisable element of the Murray Bauman Halloween costume. It fits the 1980s period setting and his lived-in, conspiratorial aesthetic. Worn slightly to one side, it is the accessory that most identifies the Murray stranger things costume from a distance.
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  • 4 Thick Navy Tactical Hiking PantsMurray’s practical, rugged trousers ground the costume in a functional, outdoors-ready aesthetic consistent with a man who spends his time surveilling government facilities and hiding in warehouses. The thick navy tactical cut fits the era and the character.
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  • 5 Polarized Aviator SunglassesMurray Bauman’s aviator sunglasses add the investigator edge to the Halloween costume. The polarized lens and classic aviator frame are consistent with a man who prefers not to be seen seeing things. A practical accessory that elevates the overall Murray Bauman cosplay.
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  • 6 Winter Ear WarmersThe ear warmers add a practical cold-weather layer that is consistent with Murray’s bundled-up, always-prepared look. A small addition that rounds out the layered costume and adds authenticity to the overall Murray Bauman stranger things costume.
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  • 7 Leather Gloves For MenLeather gloves complete the cold-weather investigator look and add a tactile, practical detail that fits Murray’s no-nonsense approach to surviving supernatural threats. A low-cost addition that pairs naturally with the rest of the build.
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  • 8 Brown Cold Weather BootsMurray’s brown boots ground the costume from the floor up. Sturdy, weathered, and built for someone who has walked a lot of cold car parks in pursuit of the truth. The boots complete the full Murray Bauman costume from head to toe.
    See on Amazon
Murray Bauman from Stranger Things in his signature layered cold-weather outfit demonstrating his surprising martial arts skills, showing the shearling jacket, newsboy cap, and rugged costume elements that define the Murray Bauman Halloween costume

How to Style the Murray Bauman Costume

Pull on the thick navy tactical hiking pants first and lace up the brown cold weather boots. Layer the shearling lined suede jacket over a plain shirt or sweater and leave it partially open for Murray’s relaxed, lived-in fit. Wrap the knit long scarf loosely around the neck, letting it hang unevenly. Slide on the leather gloves, fit the winter ear warmers over the ears, and position the grey newsboy cap slightly to one side rather than straight on. The slightly off-centre cap is a small detail that communicates character immediately. Finish with the polarized aviator sunglasses.

Murray’s in-character register for Halloween is a combination of conspiratorial intensity and completely unsolicited honesty. Greet people with knowing nods. Refer to things in vague, alarming terms. Offer relationship advice nobody asked for with complete confidence. The character’s appeal is his certainty, and that costs nothing extra.

Layering for the Right Murray Silhouette

Murray Bauman’s look is defined by bulk and texture rather than sharp tailoring. The shearling jacket should be worn over a chunky knit sweater or a thick flannel shirt to build the layered, wrapped-up silhouette that is central to his aesthetic. Avoid wearing the jacket over a single thin layer as this produces a fitted look that reads as generic rather than Murray-specific. The visual weight of multiple layers under the suede jacket, combined with the scarf draped over the top, creates the bundled-up paranoid investigator profile that makes the Murray Bauman costume recognisable instantly. If the jacket fits a little snugly over the sweater, that is exactly right.

The Flamethrower Prop: Murray’s Most Iconic Moment

Murray Bauman’s most celebrated moment across all seasons of Stranger Things is his use of a flamethrower, a weapon he deploys with complete commitment and no prior warning. For Halloween events, a toy or prop flamethrower is the single most effective in-character addition to the Murray Bauman cosplay and guarantees recognition from any Stranger Things fan in the room. A bright orange water gun or a prop from a costume supplier works well. Hold it at the ready position throughout the event. Murray does not hesitate. Neither should you.

Murray Bauman Group Halloween Costume Ideas

The Stranger Things Adults

Murray Bauman, Jim Hopper, Joyce Byers and Dr. Sam Owens

The adult allies of Hawkins form one of the most recognisable group Halloween costume ideas from the entire Stranger Things cast. Murray’s layered investigator look alongside Hopper’s Sheriff uniform, Joyce’s anxious mother aesthetic, and Dr. Owens’s government scientist appearance creates a group that covers the full range of the show’s supporting cast. Each character has a distinctive look that requires minimal explanation to any Stranger Things fan, and the group dynamic of distrust, reluctant alliance, and shared survival experience gives the Halloween group an instant narrative hook.

Murray Bauman Jim Hopper Joyce Byers Dr. Sam Owens

Stranger Things Season 4 Crew

Murray Bauman, Joyce Byers, Yuri Ismaylov and Jim Hopper

The Season 4 Alaska and Russian prison arc gives this group its specific narrative identity. Murray, Joyce, and the chaotic smuggler Yuri on a mission to rescue Hopper from a Soviet facility is one of the show’s most entertaining sub-plots, and the costume combination covers wilderness layering, 1980s casual, and eccentric criminal entrepreneur in a single Halloween group. A strong choice for a group of four who have all watched Stranger Things together and want a specific seasonal reference rather than a general show group.

Murray Bauman Joyce Byers Yuri Ismaylov Jim Hopper

Stranger Things Full Ensemble

Murray Bauman, Eleven, Mike Wheeler, Dustin Henderson and Max Mayfield

Murray alongside the core group of Hawkins kids creates a cross-generational Stranger Things Halloween ensemble that covers the full visual range of the show. The contrast between Murray’s rugged adult layering and the kids’ 1980s casual school outfits makes for a visually diverse group with immediate crowd recognition. Each character has a dedicated fan base within the show, making this a strong option for a larger Halloween group of five where individual costumes are built around personal character preferences.

Murray Bauman Eleven Mike Wheeler Dustin Henderson Max Mayfield

1980s TV Conspiracy Theorists

Murray Bauman, Fox Mulder, Dale Cooper and Kolchak

Four of television’s most beloved conspiracy theorists and paranormal investigators across different eras, united by a shared obsession with the truth and a distrust of official explanations. Murray’s Stranger Things look alongside Mulder’s FBI suit from The X-Files, Cooper’s FBI coat from Twin Peaks, and Kolchak’s rumpled reporter aesthetic from the 1974 original creates a Halloween group that rewards any television history fan in the room and works as a visually cohesive collection of dedicated believers who the authorities should have listened to from the beginning.

Murray Bauman Fox Mulder Dale Cooper Kolchak
Murray Bauman from Stranger Things wielding a flamethrower, his most iconic action moment from the series and the most recognisable prop reference for the Murray Bauman Halloween cosplay

Murray Bauman Costume DIY Tips

What to Buy vs What to Already Own

The DIY Murray Bauman costume has two essential dedicated purchases: the shearling lined suede jacket and the grey newsboy cap. Everything else is either a low-cost addition or potentially already owned. Chunky knit scarves, leather gloves, and aviator sunglasses are common wardrobe items. Any sturdy dark hiking or cargo pant substitutes for the specific tactical style. Brown leather boots from existing wardrobe work perfectly. The ear warmers are an inexpensive addition. A DIY Murray stranger things costume using the jacket, cap, and scarf can be assembled for well under $100, and the individual clothing items all have real-world use beyond Halloween.

  • Shearling suede jacket = essential, most character-specific purchase
  • Grey newsboy cap = essential, identifies the Murray Bauman costume at distance
  • Knit scarf = low cost, check existing wardrobe first
  • Navy tactical hiking pants = dark cargo or hiking pants substitute well
  • Aviator sunglasses = low cost, widely available
  • Winter ear warmers = inexpensive addition
  • Leather gloves = check existing wardrobe first
  • Brown boots = any brown leather boot from existing wardrobe substitutes

In-Character Murray: What to Say and How to Act

The Murray Bauman cosplay experience is significantly elevated by committing to the character’s specific personality traits. Murray is defined by three things: he is always right, he tells people things they do not want to hear, and he is unexpectedly kind underneath the paranoia. For Halloween, adopt a knowing expression and greet acquaintances as though you have been watching them and already know what they are about to say. Refer to any building as a potential surveillance location. Offer relationship advice immediately and without being asked. For the full effect, carry a notepad and scribble in it whenever something interesting happens nearby. Murray always has evidence. You should too.

  • Knowing, slightly suspicious expression at all times
  • Refer to everything as potentially significant
  • Offer unsolicited but accurate observations about people nearby
  • Prop notepad for scribbling evidence adds immediate character recognition
  • Flamethrower prop is the single most effective Halloween conversation starter

Murray Bauman Halloween Costume: Frequently Asked Questions

For Halloween 2026, the Murray Bauman Halloween costume is eight pieces: shearling lined suede jacket, knit long scarf, grey newsboy cap, thick navy tactical hiking pants, polarized aviator sunglasses, winter ear warmers, leather gloves, and brown cold weather boots. The shearling jacket and grey newsboy cap are the two essential purchases. A prop flamethrower or notepad is a strong optional addition for full in-character effect.

Murray Bauman’s most quoted lines include his dry “You’re welcome” when nobody thanks him, his conspiratorial certainty that he is always right, and his surprisingly vulnerable admission “I’ve been alone my whole life.” For Halloween in-character delivery, combine a knowing, slightly paranoid look with completely unsolicited relationship advice and a habit of treating every small observation as significant intelligence. Murray’s register is blunt, perceptive, and warmer than he lets on.

Murray Bauman is a recurring character in Stranger Things, Netflix’s supernatural drama set in 1980s Indiana. Played by Brett Gelman, Murray is a former investigative journalist turned private investigator and conspiracy theorist who becomes an increasingly important ally to the main group across the series. He is known for his paranoid intensity, surprising combat skills including martial arts and a flamethrower, and his blunt honesty that frequently turns out to be completely correct.

Murray Bauman’s signature jacket is a shearling lined suede jacket that is the centrepiece of his layered cold-weather look. It is the most character-specific purchase in the Murray Bauman costume build and the single item that most clearly communicates the Murray stranger things aesthetic. Worn over a chunky sweater or thick flannel shirt, it produces the bulked-up, bundled investigator silhouette that defines the costume.

Yes. The Murray Bauman Halloween costume is a practical, wearable build. The shearling jacket is the most character-specific purchase. The grey newsboy cap is the second essential item. Scarves, gloves, boots, and aviator sunglasses are low-cost or potentially already owned. A DIY Murray Bauman costume can be assembled for under $120, and most individual pieces are practical clothing items with real-world use beyond Halloween.

Murray Bauman wears a grey newsboy cap that is one of the most instantly recognisable details of his look. The flat cap style fits both the 1980s period setting of Stranger Things and Murray’s slightly eccentric, lived-in personal aesthetic. Worn slightly off-centre rather than straight on, it communicates the character at a distance and is one of the most effective low-cost additions in the Murray Bauman fancy dress build.

Murray Bauman stands out among Stranger Things costume ideas because his look is fully wearable cold-weather clothing rather than a school uniform, lab coat, or specific character outfit. The shearling jacket, newsboy cap, scarf, and tactical pants read as a specific, beloved character rather than a generic 1980s costume. Murray Bauman cosplay is also a strong group costume choice alongside Hopper, Joyce, or the Hawkins kids, and the optional flamethrower prop gives it one of the best single-item conversation starters of any Stranger Things costume.