During my time in airsoft I’ve had the opportunity to try out a lot of products. Some I’ve loved, some not so much, and some that I feel I really missed out on. These are the products that provided great value, saved me time or headaches, and that I wish I had picked up a lot sooner.
Quality Eye and Face Protection
I always made sure that my eye protection met the ANSI Z87 protection rating to keep my eyes safe, but that was really all I cared about. For the longest time I’d by the cheapest goggles available which would lead to an airsofter’s worst nightmare: fogging. I would use the various wipes, sprays or DIY hacks to stop fogging, but eventually I’d be forced to throw out my goggles because nothing would work.
Buying new goggles every few months got expensive quickly, until one of my friends asked me: “Why not buy expensive goggles?” This was something I never really gave much thought to, because I wanted to spend that money on a new cool gun, tactical gear or other kit, but I gave it a try. I bought a pair of ESS TurboFans and have never looked back.
These googles feature a fan built into them (hence the name) and have incredibly high quality lenses for them. Because these are from ESS, a company known for their products across the military, they have replacement lenses if they ever get scratched or damaged. It’s much cheaper to buy a lens every year or two (which is honestly overkill) compared to a new set of goggles every few months. It might cost more upfront, but like many things in life it’s buy once, cry once.
The other half of the equation is getting high quality face protection. I know some people don’t like lower face masks for airsoft, but I’d rather pay $20 for a mask then $2000 for dental work to replace a broken tooth. Similarly to the cheap goggles mentioned earlier, I used whatever what available.
A few years ago I was introduced to the One Tigris line of face masks and fell in love with them instantly. They have mesh in the front to protect your teeth and nose, but are a padded fabric material on the sides. This makes them incredibly easy to use with rifles, and the mask will contour to your face and the stock to give you a good cheek weld and properly aim down your sights.
The One Tigris mask comes in about a dozen different camo patterns, so you can match the rest of your kit. They also offer models with mesh ear protection and slightly scaled down version for younger players. If you’re looking for a goggle and mask combo, Dye paintball masks are wonderful, but get a little hot in the summer months.
Our Top Picks For Eye & Face Protection
A Reliable Backup Rifle
This is one of those things that I think everyone should invest in once they’ve got their gear squared away. Nothing sucks more than getting to an event, one your probably drove many hours to attend, and you gun stops working. “It worked fine before we left!” you say in vain, but the airsoft gods have cursed you with a probably you can’t easily fix.
Having a backup rifle is great for me because it takes the weight off my shoulders of worrying about my rifle. Will it suck if my gun goes down? yes, but having a backup is worse than sitting the rest of the event out. My personal backup gun is a VFC MK18 I’ve had for quite a few years. It shoots at a low enough velocity that I can take it to any field, and I’ve never had issues with it. That sentence just cursed that rifle, didn’t it?
When getting a backup, I recommend getting something that is just as good as your primary. I see a lot of people get beginner guns as a backup, but I always recommend getting the best that you can afford. That way it’s not as much of a let down if your main rifle goes down, because you’ve got another good one waiting for you.
Odin Innovations Speed Loader
I bring this product up by name because I love it so much. There is nothing that has ever saved me so much time and hassle in airsoft than this speed Loader. Because of how fast the Odin loads midcap magazines I have a lot of extra time between games to drink water, eat a snack or just talk with my friends and take a breather.
The Odin has been out for a few years now, which has made them more affordable than when I purchased mine. Knock offs have appeared on the market, and I’d recommend getting the real Odin if you can afford it. If you have magazines with really strong springs (such as the EPM and EPM1 from Profession Training Syndicate) get the real Odin. The knock offs will break. If you’re a very casual airsoft player, the knock offs are very cheap, but not as high quality as the real Odins.
Our Top Picks For Speed Loaders & Airsoft BBs
A Good Pair of Boots
This isn’t an Airsoft item per se, but it’s a very useful thing to have for everyday life. Having comfortable footwear will make your life so much better, especially if you’re into longer games like Milsim West. Waterproof boots are also a life saver when it gets wet and starts raining, because nobody likes wet feet.
I like to wear my boots to indoor airsoft as well for the additional traction and ankle support. I’ve met a lot of people who like to use sneakers because they’re lighter, but I’d prefer the protection and support. Good socks also go hand in hand with quality boots in the same way you wouldn’t put cheap gas in a sports car. I have had great luck with Merrell boots over the years, but Salomon, Lowa and countless other brands make quality options. Just like eye protection, buy the best you can afford.
Our Top Picks For Boots & Socks
A Transport Container for All My Gear
Nothing sucks more than having to take multiple trips back and forth to the car to get all your gear. Having a tote that carries everything I’m bringing with me (except my rifle) has made my life so much simpler over the years. Because all of my gear is neatly tucked away in a inconspicuous container I also like it for living in an apartment when I leave for the field. My container is a simple tote from Home Depot, and I’ve had it for so long I don’t even remember the brand.
There are tactical totes from brands like LBT and LBX, and you can find surplus loadout bags from Eagle Industries under $100. Some of these options also have padded spaces for rifles, which is a nice touch. I’d recommend finding something with wheels built in because my container doesn’t have them and it can be somewhat of a pain when the staging area is far from my car.
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