Airsoft Newbie Buying Guide – Guns and Gears
 

I would like to start by thanking SIX4 who made this all possible by providing me with the pictures and such.

This article is for people both who are starting out and who have been playing for a while. It contains how to choose a gun, gear, and many other equipment you will need on the field. These are tried and true guideline from years of experience in paintball, Airsoft, cadets, and working with the reserves. It may not be a short read, but it will definitely get you ready for what’s to come. So let’s make effort here, 20~30min of reading and you can have the most fun for years to come.

It may not be a short read, but it will be worth it. So let’s get started.

Table of Contents:
Step 1: Age Verification
Step 2: Your Body Size
Step 3: The Gun
Step 4: The BDU/Camouflage/T-Shirt
Step 5: Chest Rig/Vest
Step 6: Miscellaneous wear
Step 7: Goggles and Safety Eyewear
Step 8: Other Accessories
Conclusion

Step 1: Get Age Verified(Canada Only)
If this is the first FAQ thread you are reading, then you should probably read up on the situation of the Airsoft in Canada here: http://www.airsoftcanada.com/showthread.php?t=23034
After reading that, it should be clear to you why you should be age-verified. Follow the directions in this thread. Getting age-verified will let you access all the retailers in Canada!
http://www.airsoftcanada.com/showthread.php?t=49408
After you have gotten Age-verified, you are ready to start shopping worry free! Now let’s get this show on the road.

Step 2: Your body size
Most of you maybe surprised to hear that your body size is actually the most significant factor in choosing the right equipment. Not only will it help you choose your gun, but also your gears. Correctly chosen equipments will provide you with maximum manoeuvrability on the field. If you have a smaller body structure(5’7” or shorter), you aren’t going to be able to swing around an M16 with full stock very easily. On the other hand, if you are a giant hulk who literally eats an entire cow for lunch(I’m talking 6’1 or taller), then don’t be expecting to be very satisfied by holding a puny MP7 in those manly hands. The question here is whether a gun/gear is suited for you or not, and size plays the most important role here.

http://img158.imageshack.us/img158/2...0060222tz7.jpg
As you can see, M16 stocks are pretty big.

You should know your body size to the centimetres; they will come in handy when choosing your sizing for your gears. These things include, but not limited to: BDU, T-Shirt, Hat, Gloves, and Boots. The only thing worse than a broken gun is you being uncomfortable in your clothing. Tight pants will disable you from running, tight shirt/BDU could give you hard time breathing and will lower your arm flexibility. Tight hat gives you a headache after a certain time, too loose and it will bother you to death. However, loose clothing will often get caught on tree branches and making it very hard to move around in a bushy area. Choosing the right sizing of clothing for you is the first and foremost thing you should look for when shopping for gears. The more flexibility you have, the more agile you are. And when you are on the field, you want all the agility you can get, trust me on this one.

Start by measuring the following in inches: Height, Chest circumference, Waist circumference, Hip circumference, Inseam(legs), Head circumference(Hat), and Finger length(gloves). After you are done measuring yourself, keep the record, you will need it in the later section.

Section Summary: -Measure your body, and know your sizing well-

Step 3: The Gun
Choosing the right gun is probably the hardest part of the process of starting Airsoft. The decision will be influenced by many factors, and getting the perfect gun is not an easy task to do. But if you do some research, you will be sure to have made the right choice in the end.

These are the factors that will influence you in purchasing your first gun.
1: Your play style
2: Your body size
3: The general looks of the gun
4: Gun’s manoeuvrability itself
5: Upgrade potential
6: Gun’s solidness(Externals)
7: Gun’s Reliability(Internals)
8: The field(CQB or Woodland?)
9: Battery Source

The preceding nine factors will determine what type of gun you should purchase.

1: Your play style
This is an important one. If you are a fat ass bastard that hates walking, then you might want a machine gun(a.k.a SAW) type AEG. On the other hand, if you like to move tactically throughout, then you might want an assault rifle. Now, if you are one of those rare idiots that runs across the field screaming gibberish, then smaller compact sub machine guns would be much more suited for you than any other type of AEGs. But you don’t have to be an idiot to use an SMG, if you like sneaking around like Sam Fisher, then an SMG will do just the right job. The main differences here with all of these types of AEGs are the sizes and weight. An SMG has shorter barrel length, and most of them have a retractable or foldable stock for higher manoeuvrability, and since it’s much smaller in size, it will also be lower in weight. Assault rifles tend to have a solid stock and longer barrel, as well as larger magazine capacity than an SMG. A SAW will give you good amount of firepower, mainly because they hold unbelievable amount of ammunition. This type of role is best for players who have huge manly arms because they weigh much more than any other type of guns.

http://cache.virtualtourist.com/1171...-Penticton.jpg
Speaking of rare idiots... but he actually does it in a awesome way.

Now, most people who start out probably want a sniper rifle to begin with, and I will strongly DISAGREE with the choice. The reason being that the stock sniper rifles are not any more accurate than a regular AEG. It would require you to spend hundreds of dollars to upgrade to make it even half descent on the field. Beginners will be very lost while looking for upgrade parts, and will also have trouble upgrading the rifle.

2: Your body size
We’ve talked about this one in Step 2, and by now you should have a basic understanding of why your body size matters. Person with a small body will have trouble fielding larger guns, often the stock will hit your chin, and shooting around cover will also be difficult due to their arm not being long enough to use the stock. A larger person shouldn’t have as much trouble with smaller guns as smaller person would with a larger gun. But sometimes it does happen more so when you can’t get a good grip with a gun because your hands are too large for it. These cases are rare, but it does happen some times. AEGs with foldable stock or a retractable stock are the best ones you could get, because they fit basically everyone.

3: General Looks
This is your own taste. If you don’t think the gun looks good enough for you, then you may not want it. But in a combat situation, how good your rifle looks is about the last thing you care about…

http://icilemonde.com/images/thunder_mault.jpg
Looks... does it really matter? .. Ya it does

4: Gun's manoeuvrability itself
This basically has to correspond to your body size. Again, Retractable/Foldable stocks are the best. You can change the stock length on the fly as the situation calls for whichever. Keep in mind that even if you get a full stock, it’s not very useful as much as it would be in real steel. Reason behind this is that Airsoft guns are simply not accurate enough to require that much precision and marksmanship. A lot of people spray, and from my own experience, I rarely ever saw anyone using semi auto. Moreover, Airsoft guns does not have recoil, therefore it does not require the shooter to tightly control the gun.

5: Upgrade potential
Sooner or later you will want to upgrade your AEG to better function on the field. Whether it is internal or external, the right parts have to be available to do the job. If there aren’t any, then you won’t be able to upgrade in the future. Most people would first want a red dot sight(a.k.a RDS). They are the best aiming device for Airsoft, as the range and accuracy is just perfect to utilize it to maximum ability. RDS will also give you much more field of view than iron sights. One thing that everyone has to note is that riflescope will not work well with an AEG. They simply do not have the accuracy nor the range. They will help in sighting enemies at farther ranges, but other than that there really is no use of it. Get it only if you have a sniper rifle.

Internally, most new stock guns have the FPS of about 280~330 FPS. Higher velocity will increase your range, but will also destroy your gearbox faster. So far Gearbox Version 6 mainly used in P90 AEGs are thought to be impossible to break even if you tried. But mainstream AEGs such as M4s and AKs use ver.2 and ver.3. Usually the higher the version the better, and ver.3 are far easier to upgrade than a ver.2.

So far the most upgrades available for an AEG is hands down the M4 series. But most people pimp out their M4 to the point where there’s just so much useless junk on it, and it just becomes a dead brick of weight. Remember, a little bit is good, but too much is bad, just like alcohol, most people should know this!

6: Gun’s Solidness(Externals)
The overall solidness of the AEG also comes into question during purchasing. The reason being that if the AEG were to fall apart during a game, you would have a hell of a time trying to fix it your self. On the field, the gun is your life, without a gun, you are pretty much dead, unless you want to throw BBs…

You can find out an AEG’s solidness by reading reviews. But the general conception is that AEGs with metal bodies has less wobble/creaks than AEGs with plastic bodies. It is true for most cases, but not all cases. There are many AEGs with plastic bodies that are just as solid as metal-bodied AEGs. SMGs tend to be more solid than Assault rifles, this is mainly due to the fact that the foregrip is almost one piece with the body. The barrels on SMGs are also shorter, thus effectively reduces the chance of the barrel hitting unwanted trees and such.

It should be announced that M4 series are notorious for having horrible wobble problems. If you have read my “TM M4A1 Review”, then it should be evident where, why and how they are causing so many wobbles. This does not only apply to TM brands. I’ve handled a Systema PTW first hand, mainly to test how solid the gun is compared to the falling apart – TM M4. I was thinking that since the AEG costs upwards of $1800, and is full metal, the quality should be out of this world. The first thing I had done when I held the Systema was turning my left hand(Holding the foregrip) both ways. This was a huge problem with the TM M4, as the foregrip had moved along with my hand, and so did the front Iron Sight! I was hoping that the Systema would not have this problem, but to my dismay, it was still there. Thus proving that first timers should avoid the M4 series AEGs.

7: Gun’s Reliability(Internals)
Internal reliability of the AEG is just as important as the external reliability. You can buy an AEG that has full metal body, but it won’t be any more useful than blowing BBs out of a straw if it can’t shoot any better. A reliable internals would mean something that shoots at a nice FPS, and still fires it consistently throughout for a long period of time. TM guns are very reliable, and should not give you any problems internally for quite a time. Though for first time buyers, 280~310FPS is not very impressive. Especially when the rules are mostly maxed around 400FPS for outdoor games. Newer G&G guns have really nice internals that shoots around 390FPS out of the box, as well as excellent externals. Their gearboxes are also reinforced(Meaning almost never breaks) with metal bushings. Newer Chinese clones can also match the G&G quality. I have recently purchased a Kalash(Dboys) AK74MN(Full metal), and I was more than satisfied with the 400FPS reinforced gearbox. The accuracy was very nice as well. Other china brands such as Jing Gong and CYMA make great starter guns with excellent internals and quality externals.

http://img261.imageshack.us/img261/8485/aim1oe7.jpghttp://img261.imageshack.us/img261/8369/aim2tg0.jpg
http://img72.imageshack.us/img72/369/aim3zh3.jpghttp://img72.imageshack.us/img72/7806/aim4mq7.jpg
A perfect shot can be ruined by gun malfunctioning

If you wish to upgrade the internals in the future, consult the following guide first, written by skruface.
It's a really good outline with very detailed information.
http://www.airsoftcanada.com/showthread.php?t=58784

8: The field(CQB or Woodland/Outdoors?)
This is an important one. Most CQB facilities allow a maximum velocity of 350FPS, and most outdoors field will allow up to 400FPS. This means that if you have an AEG that shoots 400FPS, then you can’t use it for CQB games. So if you play mainly CQB games, then that would mean that you would either have to downgrade or buy another gun. On the other hand, if you play outdoor games with a CQB gun firing at 300FPS, you will be outranged to no end.

It should also be noted that in CQB facilities, you would not have as much room to swing your AEG as you would in a outdoor field, thus the size of the AEG would have to be much smaller than ones you would use in Outdoor games, and vice versa.

9: The Battery source
This one really doesn’t matter too much. The power of the battery does not affect the power of the AEG, but a higher “mah” rating will provide you more electricity. On the other hand, a higher voltage will give you better trigger response and higher firing rate. Most AEGs uses 8.4volt mini batteries(Usually anywhere from 600~1600mah). They are the worst ones you could get, but a good quality 8.4v mini can generally give you 13rounds per second(give or take +-3), which is exactly what an average real steel Assault Rifle would fire at.

Though if you crave for fast trigger response and higher rate of fire, you can get a higher voltage battery. For example, a 9.6v battery will shoot more rounds per second than an 8.4v. Before, I have used a Kalash AK74MN, which uses the AK Stick type battery(similar to Mini). Mine is rated at 8.4v 1100mah, and it lasted me an entire day without running out on me. I should also note that I don’t try to save ammo at all.

Nowadays I use a type of battery called Lipo, which provides outrageous 11.1v with the battery size of an 8.4v mini. This combined with my new KWA M4A1 gives me 25 rounds per second.... But I'm mainly just in it for the trigger response. Lipo batteries generally last longer than a Nimh or Nicd battery with the same Mah rating.

If you would like to read more about different types of batteries, follow the link below.

http://www.airsoftcanada.com/showthread.php?t=25656

So after all the stuff that I’ve just talked about, all is up to you to decide which AEG is right for you, but it would be unfair if I didn’t give a personal opinion on the best AEG available to mankind, so here we go.

My Recommended AEG(Cost/Value/Root of Use wise) of all time:

JG MP5SD6/MP5A5/MP5A5-RAS(Full Metal)
http://www.hyperdouraku.com/airgun/mp5sd6/images/28.jpg

Some people might be shocked to hear that I would recommend the JG MP5SD6(A5 and A5-RAS as well) as the most recommended AEG of all time, but it is absolutely THE ultimate beginner’s gun. There are many reasons for this.

Externally, the JG MP5SD6 has a retractable stock, so it fits smaller or larger person with no problem. The stock also makes it a worthy CQB AND outdoors AEG at the same time. The front end of the gun is not so long like assault rifles, but still has a reasonable barrel length(247mm I believe). The shorter front end also effectively reduces the amount the chance of the gun hitting trees and such(Which noobs does a lot). The gun is made up of mainly ABS plastic, but it has absolutely no wobbles of any kind anywhere. It also takes 8.4v mini batteries.

Internally, the AEG fires at around 350FPS, so it should be just right for CQB games AND Outdoors games. Although the gearbox(ver.2) is not reinforced, it does have metal bushings. Thus it is guaranteed to last to last you a long time without having to open it up(although reshimming is still recommended like for any other AEGs).

The JG MP5SD6 also features many potential upgrades such as claw mount for scopes, and metal bodies. Its ver.2 gearbox is also flourished with compatible parts, but is harder to upgrade.

The JG MP5SD6 is usually sold for around $300~ish price range

Section Summary: Not all AEGs are perfect for you; you have to find the one that suits you the best.
You should expect to spend: $300+

Step 4: The BDU/Camouflage/T-Shirt
Your BDU(Battle Dress Uniform) is what you will always be wearing on the field, so it’s important that you make the right choice before you buy. You should first choose the camouflage you are going to use. If you are going to play CQB games, ACU, Urban, or even flat black would work. For outdoor games, there’s going to be unlimited choice for you. Most players in Canada likes to use CADPAT(duh), but CADPAT does not always work for every environment. The pattern CADPAT itself features more green than most other woodland patterns, and that is a huge problem if the area you play in features many trees. Why is it a problem? You may ask, it’s because trees are brown! This is a mistake that many people make when choosing a camouflage. CADPAT will work well in bushy/grassy areas, but not in areas where trees are dominant.

http://img261.imageshack.us/img261/6982/bduhh7.jpg
As you can see, green is not brown(Picture from actual airsoft game).

If you play in tree dominant areas, the best camouflage to get is the MARPAT or brown coloured camoflauges. MARPAT features mainly brown with a reasonable amount of green so even in grassy areas, it still works well. I personally use them and love them. However, you should find a camoflauge that best fits the field that YOU play at.

Moreover, Digital Patterns aren't the only things to choose from. There are many other excellent camos such as Flecktarn, US Woodland, DPM, ... etc. There are endless possiblities on what you can wear for your BDU.

There are many different materials in which BDUs could be made out of. Most of the time BDUs would be made from 50% Cotton and 50% Polyester. These ones are okay, but after heavy washing, the colour will start to fade away. Eventually their colour will look bland and white, somewhat closer to the ACU pattern. BDUs with faded colours are surprisingly easy to spot in the woods, so preventing them from losing colour is important. There are many tricks to avoid losing colour. The easiest way is to wash them inside out with ONLY cold water, and that means NO detergents. This should prevent them from losing colour at all. But it should be noted that a little bit of lost colour is good, as a BDU too bright will also be easy to spot in the woods.

Recently, many companies have started producing BDUs featuring DuPont Teflon Coating technology. These Teflon coated BDUs feels much like polyester and never loses colour. I find these to be somewhat stupid as bright BDUs are easy to be spotted, but some people like them because they don’t have to worry about losing colour.

http://img261.imageshack.us/img261/2026/cimg0282rl9.jpg
This picture is great for comparing different materials of BDU.
The player on the far left and second from the right are wearing Teflon coated BDUs, the rest are wearing Cotton and Polyester typed BDUs.
Also note the third player from the left. Although he is wearing the same MARPAT pattern as the others, his has lost colour due to major washing.

T-Shirt:
Obviously you will be wearing something under your BDU as well. Maybe not during summer time but all other seasons you should be wearing a T-shirt inside because they will protect your skin in any case anything gets through your BDU. The most potent thing is a branch with needle like structures on them, such as roses.

There really aren’t too many stuff to choose from, but normal cotton T-Shirt would do just fine, as long as they’re not white and is painfully obvious. The only thing to look out for here is not to make it bright and not too tight. You will lose arm flexibility if it’s too tight, unless it’s purposely designed to be a tight fit.

UnderArmour brand makes great tight fitting T-shirts that expenditures heat and moisture away from your body. These are great stuff, especially for summer time, but you don’t really need it unless you run extensively.

Section Summary: Any camouflage that corresponds to the environment, materials of the BDU don’t matter very much.
You should expect to spend: $30 ~$80 on BDU, $5~$10 on T-Shirt, $40~60(UnderArmour)

Step 5: Chest Rig/Vest
Chest rigs and Vests can be important, it mainly depends on what type of games you play. They mainly function as a mode of carrying extra magazines and such. They become really useful if you need to carry many things with you on the field. These become an essential for Mil-Sim games where going back to the parking lot for a sip of water is not allowed. Chest rigs and vests are usually made out of 600D Codura Nylon Materials, which feels just like polyester, but does not rip under most circumstances. These materials are really nice, I’ve crawled, jumped, and got shot with them on and never got any damage. But always keep in mind that if you have only so many things that you can fit them all in your BDU pouches, then don’t use neither chest rig nor vest. The lighter you are, the more agile you become. Both Chest rigs and vests are adjustable to most body sizes ranging from 5’5” to 6’2” for most products.

Chest Rigs:
Chest rigs are much lighter than a vest, and is much more flexible as well. Unlike a vest, chest rig does not cover your entire body, but hangs onto your shoulders and waist by means of straps. The rig usually consists of 3 or more magazine pouches along with 2 other miscellaneous pouches. Since they don’t cover your entire body, it’s much more comfortable than a vest. It also provides more arm flexibility compared to vests.

http://shop.tacticalthings.com/image...-Chest-Rig.jpg
Example of a chest rig

Vest:
Vests are similar to Chest rigs, but the main difference here is that it's more like a jacket that you wear over you're BDU. It covers mots of the upper body(Except for the arms) and is usually worn using zippers. One advantage that vests have over chest rigs is that MOST vests are MOLLE compatible. MOLLE is basically just a bunch of straps on the vest where you can attach anything that’s MOLLE compatible. This means that you can customize your own rig in any way you want. However, there are some chest rigs that support MOLLE on the market these days.

http://www.cavemanmentality.com/shop...alcamovest.jpg
Example of a vest

Again, it’s important that the Chest rig/Vest you get has the right pouch for the type of the magazine your AEG uses. An AK47 7.62mm Magazine will not fit inside an M16/M4 type 5.56mm magazine pouch.

Section Summary: Chest rigs are usually better than vests
You should expect to spend: $15~$60 on Chest rigs, and $30 or over for vests. High end rigs can cost up to $1000

CONT: Second half of the guide is on Page 3 of this thread.

Sooooo whats the best gun to buy?






jk! good job

Very detailed and well written, perfect for Airsoft noobs and under age airsofters like myself.

Subscribed thread...:p

some very good information formatted in a great way, thx for the info, it's my first season and the guys in Ottawa have been great at getting me started and alot of the information here compliments what they guys have been saying.
cheers

Good job on the guide, very informative and I Hope many newbies find this guide before starting a thread.

excellent! very noob friendly, thanks for doing this.

sticky please :)

Awesome thread man!

But, since you touched on upgrading, I think you could link to http://www.airsoftcanada.com/showthread.php?t=2697 . Being pretty much a noob myself, I found that thread to be the most helpful of any of the FAQ type threads; in regards to what makes up the internals of AEG's and the benefits of upgrading the pieces.

Excellent stuff.

Nicely put.

Very noob friendly.

Keep it up!

so...has this been stickied yet?

done.

The sole purpose of this guide was to reduce the amount of noobs being flamed, I'm glad I could help solve the problem.

I'm going to send this guide to some airsoft magazine and try to get it published if possible.

edit

You might want to go in a bit deeper about age issues. and this little quote is gold.

that just saved me alot of money instead of me buying that M15A4! im going to get that MP5 but in all metal! Thanks Skladfin!

Thats a great idea, I am sure a noob who searches will appreciate it. My only complaint is, why hide my face in that picture of us at the milsim? :P Although thinking about it, I guess you don't want to scare a newb off with a picture of our (SIR) ugly mugs.

ps. I am the 3rd from the right

There we go... moved to the FAQ section, where it will just collect dust and never be viewed again.... *sigh*

lol sorry, just didn't want any trouble in any case haha.

I was the guy with the AK74MN btw, if you remember :P Pleasure playing with you guys.

haha, no worries I was just joking around. honestly I probably remember your face if I saw it but I don't remember one particular ak from another gun that day. It was a great day, and we had an awesome time. We are going to try and make a few more of the milsims over with you guys again this summer

LoL James I thought I recognized the gear.. Good guide to btw Nice going let's hope some newbs will read it!

hopefully not...

To SIR
I hope all of you guys could come out to the following mil-sim, but it will be like 30 degrees celcius....oh man...

lol don't worry, I am sure to recommend this thread to other people;) Hopefully T7 adds this to his NEW copy and paste message that he sends to all of the new memebers that join:p

if anyone wants me to add something, just PM me and I will try to answer your question to the best of my knowledge.

one thing I never able to answer question on single "Buying Guide" is the maintenance, how much, how hard, is it to keep it in shape. Otherwise pretty much answered all the questions. including some I didnt know before xD

Also, if you could mention the overall length weapon for what role at would be really really cool

Maintainance of the gun is same for all types of weapons. Just clean your barrel after every game, lube the gearbox a bit... If it's all same, then I don't really wanna put it in the "Buying" guide.

As for the overall length, I really don't think I need to say this, because you should know that the gun you are buying is either an Assault rifle/LMG/or SMG or not... It should be pretty obvious.

With the Misc. clothing. You should add Woolies! Their Wool socks covers that help fill your boots (If you have scrawny legs) and also make running and different manuevres combfortable. The ones ive used so far that i believe are CAF standard issue are the one Logistiks makes. ill try to dig up more info.

this is good it will help me because i am just starting

does anyone know where i can get an airsoft gun cause ive been trying so hard to get a metal gun i keep wasting money on plastic crap that breaks as soon as i take it out of the package

how old are you for starters

please clean and lock this thread, thank you

Skladfin, quick question before this thread gets locked: Is the JG M4A1 any good? If I get a JG to start I'd prefer and Armalite so I can make it into a C7A2 or a C8A1.

thanks Skladfin, the thread helped a TON. im reading up so this thread realy helped

thanks for the tips

THANK YOU. i am an airsoft noob, and the most importaint thing i got out of this thread is that i cant even look at the airsoft stores till im 18. (9 month left...). still is it possible to browse through some of them?

sorry, you can't even seen any of the stores till your age verrified

Man, I wish I had this when I was getting into airsoft. Very helpful :)

Great info. Any suggestions for a chick just getting started as far as chest protection and the right type of gun to get? Those boobs tend to get in the way.

well the local female players here just use a larger sized vest/chest rig(chest rig doesnt touch your chest). Unless you have HUGE boobs it doesnt really matter.

or if u want to lure sweaty dirty men then you can always wear tank tops with shorts.

I've already got one. Big boobs too. lol

LOL.

Welcome.

You can always wear a training bra to flatten it out, then but a chest rig. Then if it doesn't fit, place your boobs over the chest rig.

Try to attend some games, guys always have vests and chest rigs, you can try them out. And if one of them fits, you found yourself a vest or chest rig that you will buy. :)

Just cut some holes in the chest rig and sew molle onto your bra.

+1
I'd like to see that LOL. Hmm... Molle undergarments could be a hit :D

this article might see the day of being published in a magazine soon...

awesome

Very nice, although many airsoft retailers
only ship to America. And with no known
local retailer it makes Airsoft rather
impossible.

Justin1993
Victoria,BC

WOW uhhh...... Read the FAQ's please.

thankz for the info...

Step 6: Miscellaneous wear
Don’t skip this part. Just because your upper body and legs are the main parts of your body, it doesn’t mean that you can skip out on your feet, head, and hands! These parts of the body are just as important as your upper body and legs. Wet feet and muddy hands can ruin your day anytime during a game. A properly equipped minor body parts will make your day much safer and less dreadful. There are many things to list here, let’s start from the top of your body.

Headwear:
There are many options for a headwear, including the option of wearing nothing. If you want to camouflage better, then boonie hat, patrol cap, baseball cap, or even a balaclava would work just nicely. Boonie hats, patrol/baseball caps are usually used for blocking the sun, or to cover revealing hair colours. Balaclava is a mask that is worn usually by terrorists to avoid revealing their identity. It will cover almost your entire face, which is good because Caucasian and some Asian skins are usually too light and sought to be too revealing. Alternative to a balaclava would be face paint. Needless to say face paint will change your face colour into a camouflage. These work really nicely, but most people who use face paint does not know that the high point of your face should be painted the darkest, as they shine the most. Face paint also blocks skin pores and causes bad skin after a while, therefore face paint is not recommended if you have skin problems.

Handwear:
Gloves are not very important, but they do help in some occasions. Sometimes the condition of the field might be a little rough. Meaning there could be sharp branches, thin tree bunks, and such. Wearing gloves will protect against any cuts to the hand. Other occasions where gloves will become useful is during wintertime to keep heat, but other than that, it’s not very useful or important in any way.

Footwear:
When playing Airsoft, it’s vital that you wear a really nice pair boots instead of a running shoe or anything else. The reason being that they prevent you from spraining your ankle. A sprained ankle will end your day on the spot, and that’s no good if you spent $1000 to play the sport. Some boots are also waterproof, which makes you able to walk across rivers and such. If you wear running s h o e s, they have none of these features, and they easily get lost if you step into a swamp. That’s why boots are so important.

Legs:
For long games, kneepads can protect your knee. That’s all I can say.

Socks:
Socks keep your feet comfortable. If you run all day, then it’s obvious that the bottom of your feet will start to numb out. Wool Socks are thick-layered socks that keep your foot comfortable all day long. They also don’t absorb water; this means that if it gets wet, then you can just twist it dry in a matter of seconds.

Section summary: Minor body parts are just as important as major body parts
You should expect to spend: $5~10 for headwear, $40~80 for footwear, and $5 for socks.

Step 7: Goggles and Safety Eyewear
Anyone should acknowledge the fact that your eyes are very important. After all, you have only one pair, so you have to do your best to protect them.

Goggles:
Goggles provide wider protection than ballistic glasses, but have much less field of vision. If you are going to play at paintball fields(which a lot of games are hosted at), then paintball approved goggles are mandatory. The best ones to get are the JT Thermal goggles. They will never fog up, and provides very wide field of view. In addition, it’s also possible to take off the mask and use only the goggle.

http://www.hustlepaintball.com/v/vsp...8301001-2T.jpg
A JT Paintball mask

Ballistic Glasses:
Ballistic glasses are just like sunglasses, except they can stop a shotgun blast from 10 feet away. They can be used in Airsoft with no problem, but paintball fields do not allow them because they are not laboratory tested by a paintball company. If the field does allow these, then it’s preferred that you wear one of these because they provide wider field of vision.

http://www.uspatriotstore.com/images...link_556_M.JPG
Ballistic glasses

Section Summary: You only have two pairs of eyes, so don’t cheap out
You should expect to spend: $30~$150 for goggles, $5~$90 for Ballistic glasses

Step 8: Other Accessories
In addition to the items mentioned in previous steps, there are many other accessories you could buy for yourself to further improve your field effectiveness.

Radio:
Radio is sometimes mandatory if you are playing Mil-Sim typed games. They provide communication at longer ranges, but it’s not a must if you are playing at a smaller sized field.

Sling:
Slings become very useful in long-period games, such as Mil-Sims. They take the weight off of your arms, and that alone provides comfort over a period of time.

Extra pouches:
Again, useful in Mil-Sims, they can be used to carry anything. Such as empty magazines, maps, compass, flashlight, food, and water.

http://img404.imageshack.us/img404/1...nsaber0wm4.jpg
Example of a well equipped Marine

Conclusion:
After you have read and researched about your future gear, it should be more than clear to you what you should purchase and what not to. I will post up my gear for a reference:

AEG: Full Metal AKS74U(Upgraded)
Sidearm: TM MK23 SOCOM NBB
BDU: MARPAT, 50% Polyester, 50% Cotton: Multicam, OD
Boots: CF Issue Desert Tan Boots or Police Issue black leather boots(With side zip)
Gloves: Oakley SI Pilot Glove(Tan) or Half finger SWAT gloves
Headwear: N/A
Chest Rig: Multicam Chestring or Ranger Tactical MARPAT Chest rig– 3 magazine pouches + 2 Side pouches and additional radio pouch.
Eyewear: JT Spectra Flex 8 Thermal lens, Revision Desert Locust Goggles, or Daisy C2 Ballistic Sunglasses
Others: Wool Socks.

Retailers List:

Gears: BDUs, Chest Rigs, Vest, Gloves, Ballistic glasses…etc
Ehobby Asia: http://www.ehobbyasia.com/
CP Gears(Canada): http://www.cpgear.com/
Dave’s Surplus(Vancouver, B.C Canada): https://dstactical.com/

Gun parts, etc:
Ehobby Asia: http://www.ehobbyasia.com/
Airsoft Parts.ca(Canada): http://www.airsoftparts.ca/store2/
Ebay Banned: http://www.ebaybanned.com/

Hope you guys enjoyed it!

nice thread sir! thankz.....

Well written and very informative. Thanks for taking the time to put this together.

Awesome intro guide for a new player. Thanks very much.

thanks for the post... it is super helpfull

Nice guide mate, though I think a few points are off the mark.

The statement that marpat is better than cad is a bit misleading. As with ALL cam its the terrain you use it in, time of year ect.

As for cam get what you want.

Vests and Rigs. Well again I think some of the statements are off. Vests are more restrictive than chest rigs.. Ever worn a fully bombed up HSGI Denali? Chest rigs are fixed and vests are MOLLE is just plain wrong. There are fixed and MOLLE in both formats.

You also missed Belt kit in your options list. great for running light!

Knee pads would be my first suggested kit after gun and bdu. I would almost say essential for any game.

Other than these minor differences I say spot on and good work.

That's exactly what I said about the camos, It's the terrain. I'm not necessarily saying which is better, my point was that people often miss the fact that the forrest has more brown than green. But I do agree that how it was written could be taken as bashing CADPAT.

And for the kits, it's all up to the user. What you think may be different from me, this is just my take.

But thanks for letting me know your thoughts

Thanks!
 

I'm getting a SNIPER!

Would disagree about the necessity for kneepads. I am a big fella, but I hit the ground alot. Don't find kneepads comfortable and really don't miss them.

Ld

Thats a greeeaat setup for a joke about getting a promotion at work Russ.

It's hard to get a promotion when you are the boss...

haha. I personally don't use knee pads either. I find the natural earth to be soft enough to not use kneepads just like you(I don't find them comfortable either).

However, indoor gaming fields such as buildings with hard floors are quite painful to knee on top of.

Try landing on a sharp rock when falling into prone position, you'll sure as hell wish you had kneepads after that.

Last week I tripped over a branch and landed on my knees to avoid a faceplant, I was thankful for my pads. Highly recommended.

My sorry unco-ordinated ass has fallen over all sorts of stuff in the last while.

For me it doesn't make up for the uncomfortableness of the knee pads, and it helps me learn a lesson about body control.

Besides, I suspect I am better padded naturally than many others here...

Ld

well in the end, it's just personaly preference. There's really no "perfect" set up for every body.

That is very true

For those deciding for a gun solely based on your height and you are a speeder like me

I am 5 foot 7 and Slim

- Full Sized AK feels clumsy but great for long range
- M14 Socom nice tight feel but same as the AK hard to run about with it
- M4 and MP5 have a good feel to it
- SCAR is the best since the stock has a nice cheek rest and I usually put it to the 4th position

Favourite Personal Choice - P90

For new guys going for the P90 I highly suggest you ask to borrow or rent other guns to try out. The P90 is definitely not for everyone as the Mags can be problematic and its usually the number one complaint that most people say but once you get the P90 its light, manuverable, and easy to store and carry to games.

I can store my whole P90 setup in a normal school back pack. CQB it is one of the best guns due to not having a barrel sticking out I can corner very well and does not give away your position.

Outdoor games its still good to use though I suggest having a upgraded soft hop up and you are still good to go. If you want added range stability 363mm barrel should help. I noticed my shots went farther when I swapped out the barrel.

Only downfall is that when shooting you usually have to go the side of cover. If say you wanted to pop upwards from a rock you would have to expose more of your body in order for the barrel to clear.

Also for New P90 Users who are hard pressed for gear

You can use cheapo Chest regs - EA AK Chest Rigs can fit P90 mags
http://shop.ehobbyasia.com/ea-gear-a...live-drab.html

Those with more disposable income LOOK HERE: Best custom P90 stuff in all shapes ans sizes and colours
http://www.thevestguy.com/category.asp?id=169

I say being about 5"10 the only gun that felt right was the p90 and ak74 U. p90 is a great gun but if the variant types were avalible i would shoot for that. Mag issues are a first but the mechbox are nearly unbreakable or so im told.

Well, this sucks, the only gun that suits my height and playing style would be the m82, and a MP5K as a back up =/

Awesome thread! I already knew most of this but it's good to see some solid and easy-to-find help for people who don't know the basics. I personally will be looking at an M4 type with collapsable stock(6', slim 'n' sneaky, marksman). Any suggestions on sidearms?? :)

**EDIT** Also, I heard soaking your BDU's in white vinegar before their first wash will help seal in the color.. perhaps that is only with CAF issue gear with the thermal stuff?

Thanks Bud
 

Hey,

Great thread, I'm just starting out and I'm glad I came across it.

Thanks,
Mike

[QUOTE=cbcsteve;1007161]That is very true

For those deciding for a gun solely based on your height and you are a speeder like me

I am 5 foot 7 and Slim

- Full Sized AK feels clumsy but great for long range
- M14 Socom nice tight feel but same as the AK hard to run about with it
- M4 and MP5 have a good feel to it
- SCAR is the best since the stock has a nice cheek rest and I usually put it to the 4th position

for me it would be mine ak47 im 5' 10 125 pounds im fast so to me the more weight the better build stronger legs plus i play hockey so my legs can carry abit more weight then usual

Do players usually have a vest and a chest rig on at the same time? Or do you just need one of them?

Generally no unless they're go for some sort of real world impression. For the impression stuff I dont' think everyone games in their setups either. There should be a few shots in the SEALs thread I think.

truthfully i'm not looking to buy full camo outfits so would showing up in track or sweat pants with a punisher tshirt, and hoodie (all of course of a dark coloured general look) be okay for games?

id wear camo..

What if i dress like a ninja?

dont clutter the thread with your wannabe ninja posts kids.

alright seriously then, where would I buy gear like body vests? or straps (slings) for your gun, etc.

heres a few places

opsgear
seals action gear
one shot tactical
tactical tailor
spec ops
blackhawk
cpgear

theres a truckload of other places to browse as well

thank you

Where can you get good snipers that ship to canada?

If you're over 18 years old...get Age Verified and check out the retailers and classifieds. There's lots of stuff there.

If you're over 18, check out the local games section. Get out to a game and talk it up with the guys there...if you ask nicely and don't drool on them, most guys will be happy to show you what's what and give you pointers.

Otherwise, only clear bodied rifles will be allowed into Canada if you order from out of country.

Any good recommend boots? You know for running, jumping,crawling, all the stuff that is done during an Airsoft game.
Budget is $40-$250
I am size 9.

Thank you

have had these for 2 years and i love them!
http://www.copshoes.com/c-converse-b...-p-C-8877.html

you dont have to buy from them i just googled the boot i like and that was the first link

I wear issue Doc's and I love em.

The ones with steel toe and reinforced ankles.

Lasted a year and a half.

$150 - $200

I am a newbie and starting to get into this airsoft game as my brother plays it back in the Philippines. I never get a chance to play it back there so I am starting here in Toronto, Canada. I guess I have to get verified soon...

Thanks for the info!!!

Buying in peices
 

To buy guns in canada is a huge pain in the ass. I want to know if there are any problems in canadian law that prevent me from buying a bunch of upgrades together from an AMERICAN SITE and assembling them myself. I'm pretty handy and have disassembled and reassembled numerous guns so this isn't a problem. If your still not getting what I be saying, imma break it down for you real quick. I'm going to buy a metal reciever, crane stock, crane stock battery, front assembly, grip, motor, gearbox, hop-up and inner barrel all from Evike, then building it myself. Will there be any problems at the border, or do you see any flaw in my plan whatsoever? Also, any suggestions on a cheaper american site to buy these parts from? Thank you for any help!

The issue is with the reciever, which is a restricted for import part.

You can import a lot, but the only way you'll get the critical parts is through age verification

Also search "evike" for their track record in customer service and issues shipping via UPS to Canada.

It's only a huge pain in the ass if you're under 18...

I have no problem getting any gun I've ever wanted providing I've had the money.

And the metal reciever is illegal to import.|
Also not every brand will fit together like cake, some brands don't fit well with others.

You're best bet is to wait till you are 18 and get age verified, then you can get anything you want.
If you want to play, demonstrate maturity and respect.
Then maybe, just maybe you'll be allowed to play.

If you already apparently own a gun that sits in your lap, why bother with more headache?
(http://www.airsoftcanada.com/showthr...t=60878&page=2)

okay riddle me this, i've been throught the forum, i have not been able to find one of the best tools you guys could give us old returning airsoft vets.

a complete website list of all the places you can get airsoft guns in CANADA .... i have a small list of my own, but i know there are more.
google with results from canada has become quite redundant.

can you please help me out, i reall wanna start playing again... my wall and gun cabnents aren't the same without guns everywhere.

there's always the classifieds...broken up into the electric and spring/gas sections, the asc retailer section for bnib guns as well, all accessible once you are av'd, check the faq for more info on this av thingy :D

all the websites are gone : ( 08 was the last year you could get all black metal guns on website now no more : (

huh.. how tragic.

as i've said and now becoming quite rediculously repetative (with all respect) i cannot get 'AV'ed' there is no one in my area that does it.. everyone is beyond my reach .. 4 hours is the shortest distance.. 9 is the longest..

well i don't neccisarily want a full metal gun, i recognize how bitchen' that would be; but i wouldn't mind a nice looking gun.
VA has some really nice gun's so does 007 and i know there are more out there, in my list i have about 10 places i have baught or want to buy from.
luckily i'm a bit of a pac-rat so when i was into in a few years back i never delted any of my contacts or connections.
but i know for a fact that there are more out there.. more wonderful canadian legal airsoft companies waiting for me to blow my happy load.

yes there is someone that does it right in your city.

Savage Haggis can do it for you, he lives in Chilliwack

Really?
According to your AV section in BC Chilliwack is not listed, I apologies.


i shall attemtp to get ahold of him right away.

Applause for Skladfin and Six4!

Ummm,what would the applause be for?

Well after reading the guide, both parts and all the other things people have writen in response to your thread. I'd first off like to say thanks for it. Second of all I'd like to say "HA!" to the guys who said no noobs would ever read it. Well I guess most wouldn't but I like to read into things before I get into new hobbies.

Again, thanks for the guide, most of which I was aware of because of playing paint ball or having a hunter for a father and using common sense (eye protection)

A few questions thought.

I know that in paint ball the paint is able to spray thought my JT Face mask and into my face. Does a similar effect happen with airsoft? I know that they dont explode or have paint in them but I mean can or do the BB's ever get though your mask? Has it happened to anyone before? Yes or No is fine, I'm not a push over when it comes to pain, a little sting wont hurt or stop me from playing the rest of the day.

I had some others but I realize that by asking them I'd just be flamed for not being AV'd yet. I went and talked to Innocent today for my AV and will be going to the TSS in toronto on friday and hope to find more members there to meet.

ok, no they will not EXPLODE unless (and feel free to correct me) you have bio BB's or crappily made BB's the BB will stay as a solid object on impact, now that being said it can deform if it strikes a solid enough surface. but all in all they will stay in one piece

Thank RITZ. I didn't think they would explode. I'm not that much of a noob but thanks for the quick response. I didn't think they would be able to slip through the vent slots, I haven't personally tried firing any through my mask.

Thanks for the response though man.

good job its well written and easy to understand. Helps alot, I'm a noob (smaller guy) but I still decided on an AK. lol Size does matter! Also do I really need a sidearm to start? or am I looking too far into the future right now? I got a real sword type 56 so I don't see me needing anything more right away, maybe something for CQB.

Realy nice guide for noob like me ...it make me think a lot before buy some useless gear!

lol man wish i found this thread before i started posting multiple threads

sorry dudes

well, thanks very well written for noobs like myself