Can You Use Swimming Goggles for Airsoft

17972121_1492574797421485_878626036846983574_o

A teammate helping out a new player. Deplorable Stephen, it just fitted the article.

I was approached this week by someone request for advice on what to buy to go started in airsoft. This isn't a sniper related post; I just thought I'd jot information technology downwardly.

Afterwards speaking to another player on their first day, the bewildering array (and often unnecessary) of player equipment on display can wait pretty daunting and expensive. But it needn't be. A practiced player is 1 who tin remember quickly and make skilful decisions, not ane who can article of clothing the almost gear. Clever kit decisions however tin meliorate your game. But where do you start?

Eye Protection

This isn't optional. Y'all must have eye protection on at all times, so information technology needs to be comfy and must be condom for use. Don't trawl through Amazon for bargains. Get to a recognised airsoft website (I'll put a list at the bottom) and choose from there. If you lot're going to be a playing close quarters (CQB), full seal is a must. That is to say, the glasses will seal around the heart, much similar swimming goggles. Twice I've been very lucky wearing sunglasses in airtight areas and taken shots to the side of the head which accept rattled off my eye socket and bounced effectually inside. Twice I've had to alter underwear. Dropping further back as a sniper, I all the same wear wraparound glasses, although I have a hood which should protect the sides and I'm at distances where most bb's have lost energy. I other thing to notation is that, like swimming goggles, center protection will fog up, whether the description says it's anti-fog or non (information technology's a myth). I use Abbey anti-fog spray to combat it. Alternatively, mesh eyewear is available which won't fog, but will restrict vision slightly. They're fine for most situations only will affect the view downwards a scope.

Face Protection

Save getting your teeth shot out. Habiliment a mesh mask. It'southward possible to become full face masks too, in funky skull or robot designs if you like cosplay, just don't await a full field of vision. Top recommendation is the OneTigris mesh mask from Amazon which has padded sides to allow you to to sight down the gun amend.

Clothing

You tin play in pretty much anything, but a brightly coloured sports hoody is going to go you a lot of unwanted attention. The iii things to consider most with camo are

– What are your (team) mates wearing? Does your team take a specific uniform? Likewise every bit looking coordinated for photos, it does make information technology a lot easier to find your mates on the field. If you lot desire to.

– Can you easily source matching accessories (load begetting kit, lid, gloves etc). Some rarer camouflages look swell, but you might only exist able to get the shirt. Although mixing and matching tops and bottoms looks practiced and helps suspension up the 2:one man outline into smaller shapes. And you could always run plain green or brownish load bearing kit to match with anything.

– What surroundings are you in? Is information technology greenish and grassy or brown woodland? What volition stand out the to the lowest degree? In truth, considering we're at much shorter ranges playing shorter and faster games, information technology doesn't thing equally much as yous might think because eyes are attracted to movement. But y'all may well get that take chances to set up an ambush so ever look for an advantage.

What I volition strongly recommend is spending extra on the pants, and less on the top. Why? Because the pants are going to take a lot of abuse and move. They demand to be comfortable to run in and I really tin't stress enough the demand for either built-in difficult knee pads, or human knee pockets to insert foam pads. Kneeling on bb'due south hurts, and you're going to want to present yourself equally the smallest target possible and so kneeling is practiced. The peak, on the other hand, doesn't need to practise much other than camouflage you lot, and then y'all can hands pick up a cheap surplus bdu (battle dress uniform) shirt on eBay for £5-£10. Sorted.

Boots

Always the subject of much debate. Near sites will insist on ankle loftier boots for protection. Personally, equally someone who spent their youth running up and down mountains and uneven ground in the lake district in hiking shoes without injury, I don't see the need merely hey, rules are rules. I picked up a cheap pair of Miltec tan boots about v years ago for £30 and they're nonetheless OK (every bit much as I'd like a new pair). Flim-flam them out with some gel insoles to give you some touch protection and you're good to go. Endeavor your local sports or outdoor store for some decent waterproof hiking shoes. Sorted.

Conveying stuff

Load bearing. The cool bit. I dear building rigs but always try to find lightweight options. I've seen too many players wilt trying to run fully loaded plate carriers. In warmer weather, yous'll be sweating too much and extra bulk is going to flap effectually, go far your way and potentially get y'all stuck in windows. Assuming you're going to start with an assault rifle, typically you'll be looking to conduct 3 mags on a vest somewhere, possibly a pocket-sized pouch for spare ammo, and a couple of grenades. That's it. Keep it compact and tight to your torso and so you lot don't have things jumping effectually as you lot run. I wrote an article for Airsoft Nation Britain on load begetting kit which I'll postal service up separately which covers various options available. Pick up the load bearing at a after date and see if anyone has one at your site that you tin can have a await at and try on (don't worry, players honey showing off kit. They'll be happy to tell you all about it).

Accessories

To finish off, go yourself a pair of protective gloves. Hand shots hurt the virtually. Likewise consider getting a scarf/shemagh/snood to protect your neck and go something to cover your head. Baseball cap, beanie, or boonie are all good options and too as coverage, they'll assistance camouflage your caput. If you get a cap, think nigh the hole effectually your brow if y'all make up one's mind to wear it backwards. Yous can stretch to a helmet to complete the look, but they're hot, heavy and can experience restrictive. Maybe an option further downwardly the line.

Summary

Airsoft tin can be expensive, if you want information technology to be, merely doesn't accept to exist. Never buy anything "just to beginning with". Buy cheap, purchase twice. Cheap crap will break or show its price speedily and you'll end up replacing it, which means you bought it for nothing. Unless you're intent on buying a ton of designer Multicam like the guy on the front cover of Battlefield, genuine regular army surplus stock from whatsoever country you lot're in volition be inexpensive plenty and easily sourced, but is real world kit that's designed to stand up to corruption. Equally with the example above, spend where you demand to (eye protection, pants) and make savings elsewhere (shirt, not ownership plenty pouches to carry three months of kit in Afghanistan). And don't compare your loadout to anyone else's. It's all about what works for you personally.

I don't oft cqb, but when I practice…its lightweight. Airsoft International Ai500 weekend at The Sandpit – Operation Titan.

Useful links for Britain players

http://world wide web.ebay.co.u.k. (of course. Just mainly for army surplus goodness)

http://world wide web.military1st.co.united kingdom (kit. Pretty much all of information technology)

http://world wide web.cadetdirect.com (kit)

http://www.flecktarn.co.uk (kit)

http://www.patrolbase.co.united kingdom (airsoft)

http://www.airsoftworld.net (airsoft)

http://world wide web.actionhobbies.co.united kingdom (airsoft)

http://www.landwarriorairsoft.com (airsoft)

http://www.airsoftzone.co.uk (airsoft)

http://world wide web.taiwangun.com (inexpensive everything from Poland, despite the name).

At that place are plenty more which are better for guns and gun parts, only these should have enough kit between them to get started. And there are sites for top quality gear likewise, simply I haven't included them in this article aimed at starting out.