What do I need?

What gear do  I need to get started?

There is definitely some specific equipment that you will need if you play on a regular basis, but for your first couple of games most gear can be borrowed from the club.

Clothing

Generally military type camouflage gear is worn, some clubs like NAC have a club colour that most members wear (flecktarn) but it is totally personal preference.  Generally a long sleeved shirt and pants (this helps cover up skin for when you get shot).  Most people wear hats as well.

Weapons

For starters you will probably want an AEG (automatic electric gun).  These can be borrowed from most clubs to start off with, then can be bought new or second hand within NZ.  These are battery powered and run on rechargeable Lipo batteries.

Many members also play with a pistol, these are mostly gas powered, not really necessary but they are definitely fun to play with.

Past these basics there is a huge range of different makes and models of guns available, totally dependent on personal preference and style of gameplay, you can also find anything from shotguns to sniper rifles that have different rates of fire and engagement distances.

Club members are available to provide information and assistance on purchasing guns.

Eye Protection

This is an absolute must, from the moment you get to a field – their will usually be a designated safety area but anything outside of this you MUST wear eye protection, this is one rule that is heavily enforced.  These can range from safety glasses that can be purchased pretty cheaply from the likes of NZ Safety, to airsoft specific goggles with lenses or mesh in them, once again it comes down to personal preference.

Footwear

You need some pretty sturdy footwear, most people play in boots, from army type boots to hiking boots, something comfortable with good support.

Other gear

You will generally need to wear a vest of some sort.  These have pockets for spare mags, batteries and anything else you may need during gameplay.
It’s also a good idea to get a decent hydro pack that can be attached to the back of the vest, especially long periods of gameplay as dehydration can be a bit of an issue.

As well as gear you also always want to have plenty of snacks and water on hand to get through the day.

Check out the post on Useful Websites for help with finding gear!