5 THINGS I WISH I HAD KNOWN WHEN I STARTED AIRSOFT!

Hey everyone!

The other day I was going through my old Airsoft photos and I got to thinking about things I wish I had known when I started Airsoft, so I thought this would make the perfect little blog post! Now bear in mind, these things will be completely different for everyone, these are just things I wished I had known. What are yours? Let me know in the comments!

Tight clothing isn't suitable for Airsoft

For my second Airsoft game in August 2014, I decided I wanted to look cute (massive mistake and super cringey to say that out loud!). I absolutely hated how camo and tac kit fit and looked on me, so I decided to wear tight black jodhpurs and a tight black Karrimor Jacket - totally impractical but I thought I looked the sh*t so off I went to the game day and promptly got shot in the side of my arm and my thigh. The tight fabric did absolutely nothing to soften the impact and I was left with a couple of large bruises and feeling really embarrassed. After that I decided to stop being silly and revert back to camo but instead go for Multi Terrain Pattern and find something that fit me a little better. It took a few tries to get the loadout to the point I was happy with, but I got there in the end.

Face pro is pretty necessary 

Everyone has a different opinion on this, whether you wear full face, a mouth guard, shemagh or just choose not to wear any at all, it's a personal choice. For my very first ever game for Airsoft in 2011, I didn't know BBs could take out teeth (clearly I've lived a very sheltered life lol) and I didn't know face pro even existed for this sport so I turned up with just a thin snood to cover my lower face. Half way through the game day my gun battery died (and not knowing I should of left the field to change it) I proceeded to change it in the middle of the field, and promptly got shot in the face. This both hurt and it gave me a shock when I looked in the mirror and saw my cheek bleeding. Since then I have always worn face pro, and the only exception is MilSim. I now wear a tightly wrapped shemagh over my lower face during engagements during MilSim Ops.

Don't be afraid to ask for help

As I said on that very first game day my gun battery died halfway through the day. As I was a complete beginner I only had a very vague idea how to change the battery, but I was too stubborn to ask for help. It took me around 15 minutes to change it in the end. Looking back (and hindsight is a wonderful thing) I should have left the field and asked a marshal or more experienced player to help. In my experience most Airsofters LOVE talking about their gear and are usually really happy to help another Airsofter out in a pickle.

Don't rely completely on others, learn your gun and kit

Those of you who know the story behind FFA will know that it was my boyfriend at the time who got me into Airsoft and he pretty much always set my guns and gear up for me so all I had to do was get dressed, turn up and play. When I started the blog I began to learn the basics of my kit and guns but when I ended the relationship I was on my own, so I had a lot to learn and a short amount of time to do it. From what kit worked for me, to how to zero in a sight to learning how to use molle correctly it was a steep learning curve but I'm glad that I now took the time to research and learn my kit so I have that independence. Whilst getting help from other players is a great source of info, don't rely on others completely.

Being a part of a community is important

Shortly after I started playing, I started to wonder just how many people played Airsoft, so I searched Facebook and Instagram for groups and other players. I quickly found loads of Airsoft accounts on Instagram and started following them and on Facebook I discovered community groups with thousands of members! These groups are a great resource for tips, help with loadouts, kit sales (no RIFs tho), finding businesses/companies that stock specific items, site recommendations etc! Having a group of like-minded people in a hobby is also a great way to meet new friends and get the most out of the sport! Embrace the community and be a positive entity within it!

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5 MISTAKES MOST AIRSOFTERS MAKE!

Hey everyone!

Let's discuss 5 mistakes that most Airsofters make or have made in the past! Now I am no exception to these, in the past I have been lazy with my kit and these mistakes have cost me either time or money. These are all common mistakes that can have a long term effect on kit and getting into good kit habits prolongs both the lifespan of your kit and also makes prepping for game days a more pleasant experience. These are in no particular order.

Not emptying Mid Cap magazines after game days! 

Up until I started attending MilSim Ops I was a high cap warrior and as we all know, high caps require a lot less maintenance than mid cap magazines. When I got my first set of mid-cap mags I treated them pretty much like high caps. Game day done? Shove them in my kit bag and forget about them until the next skirmish. After a few months of the springs constantly being compressed from being loaded I noticed a serious dip in performance of the mags including misfeeds and this was due to the springs slacking off. Leaving me with 3 mid-caps that needed new springs. Save yourself the time and money! Remember to unload them after every skirmish if you can to prolong the lifespan of the mag. 

Leaving Airsoft kit in your kit bags/Planos/Pelis after a game day! 

I am a culprit for this one! After a MilSim, you're tired, hungry, in dire need of a shower and a good sleep but resist the urge to go sleep straight away! Get that kit out of the car, put your BDU's in the wash and be sure to let your Plate Carrier/Chest Rig air out because I guarantee you've been running around and really pushing yourself which means your kit is dirty and sweaty! And there is nothing worse than leaving your kit in a Plano, forgetting about it for a week and then opening it up to prep for another game day to discover the foul smell of fermenting body odour! Prevent this by airing that kit out as soon as possible after a game day!

Buying cheap!

 Hear me out with this one, I'm not saying spend LOADS on everything, but there are a few staple pieces of kit that I recommend spending a little bit more on so you don't have to buy twice due to cheap kit falling apart or not performing. The first thing I would recommend you don't skimp on is eye pro - for the simple reason you only get one pair of eyes and protecting them is your top priority! £3 mesh eye pro from China is not suitable eye pro - instead opt for ballistic shooting glasses or full seal ballistic goggles, yes they cost a little more but your eyes will thank you. 

Boots with good ankle support are another staple kit that I would spend a little extra on especially if like me you have delicate ankles! Fortunately when I started Airsofting I opted for a pair of Viper Combat Boots that set me back around £50 and these lasted me 2 years until I upgraded to a pair of Salomons (for outdoor and MilSims) and a pair of Pentagon boots for indoor CQB. Although I see a lot of people wearing trainers and 'fashion' military style boots, these won't protect your ankles very well if you fall or lose your footing.

Plate Carriers are another piece of kit I recommend spending the money on, purely because I made the mistake of buying not one but TWO cheap PCs that I look back on and just think 'Whyyyy?' because they fell apart so quickly and looked terrible. Find something from a reputable brand that you like and save up for it.

Not cleaning guns/getting them serviced regularly!

I expect to hear the cries of 'Well I've never cleaned my guns and they all perform perfectly!' with this one but trust me on this, to keep your kit in tip top condition they need to be cared for, and this is especially relevant to MilSim players and outdoor players because of the nature of the environment where games are played. Even if you don't know much about internals of AEGs etc, an occasional barrel clean is a great way to start. Once a year I send all my RIFs to my local stores gun tech for a service and this includes a good clean and general maintenance.

Hoarding kit!

I make this mistake on the regular. I buy kit or get sent kit to review for the blog, use it for a few months then replace it and the old kit gets relegated to the Airsoft Armoury never to be seen again. With sales of second hand Airsoft kit becoming more and more popular, the old kit you're hoarding is literally cash waiting. That new Plate Carrier you're saving up for? Sell the old kit to fund it or get you closer to the goal! Although I will say that selling free of charge sample kit you've been sent is shady AF if you don't have the companies permission - to be on the safe side, send the company a message asking whether they would like it back, or if they would mind you giving it away on social media, or selling it, they appreciate it!

Are there any mistakes you've made and learned from? Write them in the comments below!

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