The spacesuits are mandatory for the Captains to survive on the Planet of the Pikmin, and are also their main defense against hazards and enemy attacks. The suits include a completely clear helmet that surrounds the entire head, and has a red antenna on top. There is a pack on the back which presumably contains the life-support system. Each captain has a differently sized and colored suit. In Pikmin, Olimar's suit can only function for 30 days before the life-support batteries fail.
The suits will spark when damage is taken from an enemy or hazard, and the health meter in the bottom-left corner of the screen will decrease. After the meter is reduced to less than half, it will start to flash and a beeping noise will be heard. Any damage taken can be regenerated by going to the next morning, or by standing in the light of the Dolphin and pressing A in the first game. This will not work with the Ship in Pikmin 2; however, leaving a cave will fully repair the captains' spacesuits. If only one captain should be damaged too much, the player can continue the day with the other captain.
When a captain whistles, the antenna will emit rings of light which spread out at the point where the pointer is. Each captain's whistle has a different sound. In Pikmin 3, all the captains' whistles make the same sound, and a whistle is integrated into their helmets.