Airsoft may look dangerous, but if you follow fundamental safety precautions, it can be safer than doing some chores at home. As long as you’re following the rules of the game and wearing sufficient protection, especially for your face, you are good to go.
Airsoft protective gear covers your skin and provides a buffer of protection from rifle pellet impacts that may occur during the game. The equipment includes eyewear, helmets, torso protections, and high-quality gloves. Of course, there are certain seasons when you’ll feel a bit uncomfortable, but it’s far better than the pain you’d feel from an injury.
By using proper protective gear, you minimize the risk of getting injuries while increasing your chances of playing without inhibitions. You need to find items that are lightweight but can provide heavy protection. Here are some gears that you require to have a great time in the Airsoft field.
Protective Wear for Your Face
While the number one rule for airsoft is to never aim your gun directly at your opponent’s face, a ricochet or accident might happen at any time. That’s why you should protect your eyes because they’re very vulnerable.
If you plan to buy only a single piece of safety gear, be sure to consider your eyes first. Also, purchase it from a reputable airsoft store. They’re experienced in safety gears and usually test the equipment against BB shots to make sure that your eyes can remain safe during play.
Do not go for safety glasses as they’re not good protectors. Also, avoid swimming goggles since they’re not designed to handle pellet impacts from airsoft and they can’t stay in place during such activities. Instead, look for industrial options that are specifically meant for that purpose or for paintball.
Get a sealed eyewear such as tactical goggles or ski-goggles. They do an excellent job to ensure that BBs do not fly anywhere close to your eyes. There’s a wide range of face-pro options, so finding the right fit, color, and style for you is not hard.
The easiest choice you have is to get a full-face mask since it offers complete protection for your mouth, ears, nose, and eyes in an easy-to-adjust piece of equipment. Unfortunately, they do not give a separate area for your lenses to be free from the effects of breathing. This means you’ll have some problems with fogging.
If the field you’re playing in requires full-time eye protection, it would mean that there’s no way you’ll remove that mask. For this reason, most players favor half masks and tactical goggles instead. This is a slightly expensive option. It can also expose much of your face, depending on the set-up.
Half-masks are supposed to work together with sealed eye protection such as tactical goggles and ski-goggles. If you’re for this set-up, then investing in a metal mesh is wise. Alternatively, look for a hard plastic half-mask that can protect your teeth and nose. A BB to the mouth can cause serious dental damage, leading to hefty medical bills.
A visit to a brick-and-mortar airsoft store can help you try on various combinations of half-masks and goggles to get the set-up you’re most comfortable with. You are less likely to have trouble with a cozy combination. This can make you enjoy the game more.
Protective Clothing
Since your opponents mostly aim at your torso and central back, getting a vest is a great idea. However, you don’t necessarily need an expensive chest rig or plate carrier. When you’re just starting out, you only require basic protection, and a flat plate chest protector is sufficient.
Typically, the more sophisticated a vest is the more additional secondary ammo, magazines, and weapons you can carry. This makes its usefulness go beyond primary protection. If you’re ready to part with some extra cash, then go for this option.
Airsoft protective clothing should consist of thick fabric pants (such as denim jeans), long sleeves, a jacket, and non-slip lace-up sneakers. Your garments should be loose fitting to create an air pocket that slows down BBs before they hit your body. However, the clothing shouldn’t be too loose as it may hinder you from moving about quickly.
A BB is less likely to penetrate through your skin. However, getting a close-range shot isn’t really pleasant. Your own clothing can work fine, but many gamers like acquiring uniform pieces. They also match outer gear such as helmets, chest rigs, and pouches. Uniform pants and jackets can provide better protection than general clothing.
Head Protection
BBs are less likely to penetrate into your skull and embed in it. However, a direct shot certainly stings awfully and could cause a cut or bomb. That’s why you should wear a protective helmet. It protects your head and keeps your scalp from sustaining cuts or scrapes. Other than protection, a helmet can make you look cool.
There are several types of helmets to choose from. They also come in varying prices. The most basic helmet costs only $20. Tactical ones that have rails and attachments for flashlights and GoPros go for $75. There’s also a range of colors, the most typical being black, coyote, od green, and digi.
Hand Protection
Catching a ricochet or getting shot in the hand or knuckles can be painful. That’s why you need to wear gloves. There’s limited or no fat at all in your hands. Therefore, when your opponent shoots, the BBs are basically hitting straight into your soft or bone tissue.
Apart from protection, good gloves enhance your grip when holding weapons. Of course, you don’t need some expensive wear for your hands, but they should be better than snow-wear and mittens. If you want to play airsoft without getting welts in your knuckles, invest in a great pair of gloves.
Conclusion
All you need to start out in airsoft is some loose fitting clothing to cover your body, a basic chest protector, a full-face mask, and a drive to play the game. The equipment shouldn’t be expensive for you to have a great time in the field. Visit a local airsoft retailer today to begin the journey.
