8Fields Buckle Up

GET YOURSELF INTO AIRSOFT GETTING INTO YOURAIRSOFT BEGINNERS GUIDE ON HOW TO GET GOING Featuring Victoria. IT’S AMAZING, EXCITING, ACTION-PACKED AND THRILLING, BUT GETTING INTO AIRSOFT CAN BE A DAUNTING TASK. THERE’S A LOT OF QUESTIONS YOU NEED TO ASK AND THERE’S ALSO A LOT OF MIXED OPINIONS ON WHAT IS ESSENTIAL, WHAT’S ADVISABLE AND WHAT’S NOT WORTH THE HASSLE. THIS MONTH AIRSOFT INTERNATIONAL IS LAYING DOWN A DEFINITIVE GUIDE ON WHAT YOU NEED TO GET STARTED IN AIRSOFT AND WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN YOU ARRIVE AT YOUR FIRST GAME. WE’VE NO DOUBT YOU’LL BE HOOKED RIGHT AWAY, SO WE’LL ALSO BE GIVING YOU SOME ADVICE ON WHAT WE THINK ARE SOME SOUND INVESTMENTS TO GET YOUR SHOW ON THE ROAD! For the most part, airsoft players are a helpful bunch. There will be countless individuals willing to offer up their opinions on what they think you should do to get into airsoft but the truth is, once you've been in the deep end for even a short while, it's really easy to lose sight of the very beginning. It's a real challenge to think back to the start and what it was like as a new player, you can often find stuff going way over your head as more experienced players reel off jargon and acronyms without even pausing to let you ask what it all means. Fear not, we'll explain it from the very beginning here! 051 051-056 KICKSTARTER.indd 51 20/12/2018 16:31 GETTING INTO AIRSOFT A BASIC GUIDE ON HOW TO GET YOURSELF INTO AIRSOFT DOES THE GEAR MAKE THE GAME? WHAT DO I NEED TO PLAY AIRSOFT? CLOTHING If you speak to any reasonably experienced airsoft player or collector, There are a few essentials that you shouldn’t be without. The first and Unlike paintball, you won’t get covered in oily slime 99% of the time they will comment on how wallet-squeezingly most essential item is eye-protection. Everything else, even your gun, when playing airsoft but you will probably rip or addictive airsoft can get and it can be an off-putting factor for many pales in comparison to the importance of eye protection. tear a few pairs of trousers before your first year players but it need not be an expensive hobby to take up and you of gaming is through. Because of this you probably CAN play airsoft on a budget. don't want to wear your best jeans and a fancy Head down to your local site and you’ll see a variety of stereotypes. EYE PRO shirt although lots of players do like to indulge There will be guys that are kitted up to the eyeballs, dripping with Airsoft guns are relatively harmless and even from point-blank range, by buying high-end combat uniforms in matching matching camo, helmets, beeping radio systems and guns with lights, one within the power limits of the UK will leave you with nothing more camouflage patterns. We wouldn't advise doing this laser, sights and grips bolted all over the place. At the other end than a trivial injury. This is true for your entire body except for 2 straight away unless you have a particular interest of the spectrum, you’ll probably spot a few far more casual guys points, your eyes. in collecting this sort of stuff. wearing jeans and a hoody, maybe some will have a lightweight vest At just one joule (328fps on a 0.2g BB) an airsoft gun discharges Camouflage is an interesting point in itself and or some pouches on a belt but other than that, they will look pretty a round with enough energy to pop your eyeball like a juicy cherry some players will swear that you need to match your low-profile and casual. tomato. If that happens, it’s game over. Your eye will not heal and surroundings for a competitive edge. In truth, we've The principle of airsoft play is simple though. If even a single BB you will be blinded for good. Given that you only have two eyes, found that when used correctly, camouflage can be hits you, you call hit and you are “dead”. Depending on the rules this is something you MUST avoid and it is easily done. Ballistic useful, but we've also seen that it's useless if you of the game you are playing, that might mean that you head back goggles and glasses do the job and provided they meet or exceed the don't make the most of it because the ranges you'll to a respawn and wait 5 minutes, maybe you go back to a flag and relevant standard (In Europe this in EN166), they will be as good as find yourself fighting over at an airsoft game are far get stuck back in straight away, or maybe you have to call "medic!" impenetrable. Many players like to use mesh goggles and although shorter than that of “real” combat. You might want until a teammate can assist you. In that sense, it doesn't matter these do not have any ballistic standards ratings, practical use has to avoid wearing bright red or blue football shirts, how much gear, pouches, body armour or lasers you have, you are found them to be adequate in terms of protection from injury. Mesh but provided you are wearing something dark toned vulnerable to enemy fire just as much as the next man. Of course, has the benefit of steaming up or misting like many polycarbonate or drab, you won’t be at a major disadvantage. there’s a contentious issue around whether wearing pouches upon lenses can, however, the downside is that they can let small particles Jeans do make an occasional appearance on an pouches and an armour vest designed to stop AK rounds in real life through that can irritate the eyes, if not cause an injury. Our advice airsoft site, but it's difficult to recommend them effects a players ability to “feel” their hits but that’s something for is to use a full-seal goggle that sits directly against your face or even based on the variability of UK weather… If you've another time. What you need to play airsoft is far simpler and you better, a full face mask that protects your teeth too, for your first ever been caught in a sudden downpour while should never feel intimidated or made to feel inferior based on your few games. This will allow you to make your own decision based on wearing jeans, you know they get heavy and selection of equipment. personal experience. uncomfortable and also take a long time to dry. Avoid chaffing your bits and pieces to shreds and wear something a little lighter. A pair of generic "combat trousers" is a great idea and FOOTWEAR with the extra cargo pockets, you get a little Almost as essential as eye protection is a good pair of suitable boots. Although you might not airsoft international extra storage space for things like a snack or suffer life-changing damage from rolling your ankle, it’s something you want to avoid, especially some spare ammo. if it would prevent you from working etc. As such, an area we advise new players to invest in recommends! When it’s cold, a sweater, hoodie or as much as they can is the footwear department. You don't have to spend a fortune but what smock is a favourite item to wear for you need to look for is some well-fitting, sturdy boots that are grippy and give you good ankle lots of players but generally, with all the support. Many airsoft sites are in thick woodland or dilapidated areas with uneven ground. ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ running around you'll be doing, in all Since you'll usually be preoccupied with avoiding enemies BBs or shooting back your own, it's but the coldest months, you might find inevitable that the odd trip or stumble will occur, so you need something that instils a yourself overheating. A simple long little confidence. Some brands to look for are Viper Tactical, Lowa and Magnum. sleeve T-shirt or base layer is a great These companies make solid, dependable boots that don’t cost the earth. choice AiHQ. LOWA INVADER GEAR £117.00 ZEPHYR GTX MID BOOTS £31.00 COMBAT SHIRT It’s been a while since the Lowa Zephyr Mid’s have graced the pages of The Invader Gear Combat Shirt is a great example Ai and that’s a shame because they are some of the best boots we have of modern kit not having to cost a fortune, with used over the years, not only in practicality but also in looks… We love a generous range of sizes and high production their almost futuristic styling. values that it would seem that only a German A good set of suitable, sturdy footwear not only makes things much company could deliver. Designed to be worn more comfortable on the field, but many sites now insist on players under plate carriers or body armour, with good wearing boots that provide ankle support. Whether your site makes moisture wicking properties. The collar features this stipulation or not, a twisted ankle is a sure-fire way to dampen any a good quality YKK zip and can be worn open or shootout and kitting yourself up to avoid injury is a sensible idea. closed. Large shoulder pockets provide quick and As the name Zephyr suggests, being the Greek God of the west convenient storage and the ability to add those wind, (quite specific deities, they had, them Ancient Greeks).

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