What gear?

[chrome]

I am getting interested in airsoft and I wanna start playing. What eqiupment would be the best to start out? Like a helmet, Tac vest, BDU or cadpat or marpat? are just a blue swat style suit, gloves, boots goggles, knee and elbow pads and kits if you guys have any recomondations then please tell me thanks

[Snow_Raven]

it all depends on what you plan on playing, woodland? CQB?

[gandar]

Some sort of Combats, most place sell repro CADPAT, good boots, good goggles should do you fine, unless you're going for a certain theme or look, then get what suits... a Helmet is nice, but not necessary, a boonie would do fine...

Edit: Snow_Raven beat me... damn fast typer/short poster... Yeah, that would make a difference too, sorry, I went on the assumption of playing out doors, woodlands... just because that's what's typical around here... but if it's CQB you'd be looking at something different....

[Conscript]

Start out with a good set of camo, a chest rig, boonie or cap, and most importantly a good pair of boots or combat boots. I cant emphasize this enough because I love to run around on the field and get my kills but at the end of the day your feet get sore and by 12 o'clock you cant play anymore. Get a good pair of boots that dont slip and are lightweight and have good grip. I use a pair of boots that look like turkish dancing boots but they do the job and they do it very well. For extra comfort you might want to get gel insoles.

Anyways good luck with the gear issue.

[chrome]

Thanks for the help I was thinking of going cadpat. with a black tac vest and some good boots and cheap elbow knee bads and some good gloves and goggles

[gandar]

...why a black tac vest if you're going CADPAT?... Getting shot for the sake of looking cool?

[chrome]

Ha, Ya I geuss I never thought that one through

[royal marine]

usa bdu will probably be the cheapest to get, just check e bay theres tonnes of it. or go to your local surplus store & see whats in.

[WARFIGHTER]

surplus stores are our friends. Cheap, effective... Did I mention cheap? Look through their camo styles, try and pick something that will go well with the terrain you intend to play in. If your not really sure, go with something generic like woodland or tigerstripe, or, obviously if you live in a desert/sandy area, maybe go desert... Just use commone sense. If you can match a vest to the bdu's, do it, maybe see what vests they have first and pick a bdu style accordingly, again trying to somewhat match to your terrain. Boots are definately the most important part. Mismatch the bdus and vest if you have to to save money for some nice boots.

I advise getting something that has some decent ankle support. Remember when your tryin boots on they will all feel pretty stiff, but they will break in with a little wear, ideal support for non-broken in boots (imo) will feel like your ankle is encased pretty tightly, and you wont be able to bend your foot easily.

Also think about pickin up a pair of gloves, You don't need anything heavy duty, biking gloves even work fine, fingerless is nice (imo) but just somethin to protect teh palms and packs of your hands, nothing worse than placing your palm on teh ground to support yourself when you crawl and impaling your self on somthing, or crushing some type of thistle that leaves your hand burning and itching for the day. A bit of leather or material in between often will prevent that.

If your using a full face mask to play, or if your just using goggles, you may want to consider a baliclava or some kind of head wrap, especially if there are blood sucking bugs in your area . Even a thin polypropelene one will do fine, very breathable, and does a nice job of reducing bites.

If your going to be playing in areas with water/swamps, may want to consider: a) waterproof boots and/or b) waterproof over socks.

yea that's all I can think of atm.

Hold off on a gear purchase until you're certain of your AEG and personal preferences. Many people go out and spend a pile of money on gear only to find it doesn't meet their gaming requirements and are forced to buy something different. For instance, you may find a BHI tac vest interesting, but your primary AEG might not be compatible for mag stowage....it's important to know the requirements for the rig before you purchase one.

First, go out to a game and see what types of equipment are being used by your local player base. Chances are some of the more senior players in your area will have a couple of different setups that have been tailored with games in that area in mind. Don't be afraid to ask around in the safe area and try on people's gear (with permission). What works for one person may not work for you, and what you think looks good may be completely wrong for your body type or style of play.

Some people swear by cross-draw tactical vests. Others swear by high speed gear like HSGI, Paraclete or So-Tech. Personally, I've owned all kinds of rigs and I currently have about 6 that I rotate depending on the game specific objective. For instance, when I'm in a command role, I don't need to carry a dozen mags. I use a streamlined rig or my CF vest. If i'm going to be out in the field, I use a rig that has lots of ammo storage for my armalite, like my SoTech Rifleman's rig or my Wasatch. If it's crazy hot out, I'll wear something that breathes well with plenty of room for hydration, like a standard LBE webbing setup. If I'm going to be in the field for a LONG time for large-scale milsim events, I use one of my modular rigs and set it up to carry all the gear I'll need for the operation, in other words lots of utility pockets and mag stowage and compatibility with a backpack and hydration unit.

In my opinion (and this is strictly based on my personal preferences), you can serve all conditions with two rigs. A modular vest, and a modular LBE setup. Buy the base carrier, and then buy compatible pouches as you need them. Going into a CQB environment? Slap on a bunch of MP5 mag pouches. In the field? Attach a bunch of M4 pouches and some utility pouches.

It might get expensive buying all the modular pouches, but you can get them fairly cheap off the buy and sell board or ebay if you're paying attention.

As mentioned above, a good pair of boots is often overlooked. Running shoes are a no-no. You'll roll your ankle for sure and could incure serious damage. Not worth the pain. There are plenty of acceptable forms of footwear, just make sure it has sufficient ankle support and sole traction. Surplus combat boots are cheap and readily available, but you'll have to break them in to your feet; this can be difficult since they're usually already formed to someone else's and there is little give left by the time they get to you. There are plenty of commercial alternatives available, ranging in price from $50 all the way up to $300. When buying footwear, you get what you pay for. Go on the cheap, and your feet will suffer. Foot pain can seriously screw up your life...

Gloves are also very important. In addition to the points raised above regarding protection, you should also consider the effects of mosquito repellent on your AEG. Gloves allow you to protect your hands from buggies while keeping your AEG in one piece.

Goggles are a must, and again you should base this purchase on your playing field. Most fields require paintball approved goggles, so that should be your first purchase. A full mask provides greater protection but can be cumbersome and uncomfortable in the field, as well as impede your ability to shoot. Some fields allow the use of safety glasses (such as AOS safety) but you should assume they will not. This is also a matter of personal preference, based on the level of risk you're willing to accept. I know people who steadfastly refuse to wear anything other than paintball goggles, and that's their right.

BDU purchase should be based on three factors:

1) The area you intend to play in

Desert combat fatigues look great, but they're not all that effective in the summer bush. Likewise, woodland camo or cadpat may not work so well in the badlands.

2) Your budget

Self explanatory. Multicam is pretty nice to look at but it will cost you a pretty penny. If you've got to do it on the cheap, you'll probably have to look at some used woodland or OD CF gear. In a pinch, the OD CF stuff is remarkably effective in all kinds of terrain, so it's probably the best bag for your buck. Im my opinion, it looks like shit but if you're on a budget you take what you can afford.

3) Your desired "emulation"

If you have the money and don't mind spending it, you can buy all your equipment based on the role you wish to emulate. For instance, the Black Hawk Down Delta look or the Army Ranger look, etc.


Hope this helps.

[One_Zero]

Holly shit! I cant believe it. Its all about the dough your gonna shell out! Especially if your just starting out in the highly addicting world of bb warfare. Buy a gun first! Then as stated above buy some cheap ass cammo CF ods and good boots! Go to a shit load of games, get shot up and then slowly pump more money into it (trust me no matter how big your budget it is never enough)( Airsoft could bankrupt Bill Gates!). You don't need all the extras ( 10 hi caps, 5 lo caps,extra batteries, the scopes, and red dots , a radio, a kill rag, knee pads,helmet, blah, blah, etc. etc.).They are all fun to have but experience dictates necessity. What you need is a whole lotta keep your ass on the '6' of an experienced player and learn the game. Then develope your style of play what you like (as stated by more experienced players than myself). C yu on the field!

[PaRkA]

well first of were in alberta do you live cause I can say buy from tacticalcommando you can get a full BDU or your choice boonie hat and and a sweeet vest for 236 no tax. Thyats what I did and its all garenteed for life from regular wear and tear and the guys who run it all play airsoft most of wich play with JOC wich is one of calgary's clubs. I recommend you check it out.

[Greylocks]

Before you sink tons of cash into buying things, be sure you're allowed to play at your age in your area.

[firemachine69]

Most fields require 16, MINIMUM, with parental consent.

[Trixter]

My opinion is that you should get out to a game first and rent a gun. See what the sport is like. If you've decided that you've liked it, then look to purchase. If you've already done that, then look at what gun you want and where you'll be playing first.

Since you're new to the sport, Tokyo Marui is definitly the way to go. Just about all of their AEGs have the same average performance, so there is no "best" gun. If possible, try to get something with a version 3 gearbox over the version 2. Battery capacity is also one way to influence your purchase. Generally, full stock weapons (except for the AUG and some others) can house a large battery. Large batteries usually have a higher MAH than mini batteries giving you more shots. Typically, you get about 2shots per mah in ideal condition with awesome cells. You should expect more like 1.25-1.5 shots per mah.

Some suggestions for Woodland Combat (med-long range):
M4A1
M16A1/VN/A2
M4 S System
AK-47 (Has the most stable hop up of all the TM AEGs)
Steyr AUG
G3SG1
G36C

CQB Suggestions:
MP5A4/A5
MP5SD5/SD6
M4A1
M733
AK-47s
And many more...

Surplus US BDUs can be bought cheaply. A good start is the tri color woodland. Cheap and easy to find.

Tactical Gear doesn't have to cost a lot either. You can buy a relatively good rig for about $40 USD (not replica gear). I'm talking about a Surplus US FLC (Fighting Load Carrier) or even ALICE gear. Both are cheap and easy to find as well.

Look into a good set of boots. Danner is probably one of the best on the market. Belleville, Corcoran, Bates, Wellco, and Matterhorn also make good boots.

Eye protection is a must. Paintball masks are the easiest to obtain and are accepted everywhere. Goggles with a full seal are generally the best way to go, but some prefer shooting glasses. Personally, i always go for a full seal. I'm paranoid about being flanked and shot at and having a bb slip through the sides of the glasses. Good companies that make quality eye protection (aside from the usual paintball masks): Wiley X (lots of people have fogging problems with them though), Bolle, Oakley, and Paulson. There are more, but i just can't seem to remember them.

Kneepads are generally a good investment. You don't need them but they're worth it. You don't even need to wear both. You can just wear 1 on the knee that you go to for times when you kneel to shoot. Gloves are also a good investment. Especially if you play in a place with a lot of mosquitos, ticks, and other things that bite, sting, leech on to you. Most of the people on my team prefer the fingerless gloves. IMO, get what you want. If you get full fingered gloves and don't like how you can't feel the trigger as well, just cut off a portion of the trigger finger part of the glove and you'll be fine.