How to Create a Good Loadout for Yourself in Airsoft

Decide whether you want an impression loadout, a simple, cheaper end loadout, or a competitive loadout. Go to websites choose and see videos from YouTube, and look up first person shooter video games to see characters that can influence your decision on regarding loadouts and you can then choose you're style. An impression loadout is a copy of a real combat regiment or a real loadout of an army, or an inspired force (ex. Task Force 141 from Call of Duty, GIGN, Spetsnaz, or Delta Force). You can also decide to make your loadout very simple on the cheap end by purchasing a pair of any camo combat pants, a hoodie with velcro for patches, a chest rig rather than a plate carrier or tactical vest, gloves, and a paintball mask! Look around the internet and decide what items you want for yourself to customize your loadout according to your own personal desires. ^[1]

Choose your budget. Visit different airsoft stores online and in person to see which items are better quality for a cheaper price, they do exist. Look for the best gear you will want or need and explore your options, even if you're on a budget.

Choose your primary weapon and protection. The M4 platform is widely considered to be the best platform for beginners because it has a lot of aftermarket parts. (If you're using an impression loadout, search the gun you're desired "look" for impression uses; eg. Marines-M16). Most of your budget should go to your gun, because you can play with very little gear but if you don't have gun that can keep up with other players on the field you won't have fun.^[2]

Select your sidearm and protection. Choose your helmet and camo for vests, helmet and BDU (battle dress uniform) or clothing. Camo will be the pattern of you're whole loadout; if you're playing in an urban field choose a UCP (universal camouflage pattern) pattern or if playing in desert type area choose desert camo (MARPAT ACU 3 Color 6 Color, ABU), or the common universal modern multicam. If you are in a forest like area, you could choose M81 Woodland which is readily available for cheap at surplus stores. If you're using an assault rifle, a CO2 or Green Gas pistol will be a good sidearm, but know that CO2 powered pistols are better for colder weather whereas green gas/propane pistols are better for hotter weather.^[3]

Select your combat shirt and pants. Normally, the traditional torso wear is a combat jacket which is either a button down or a zip up. A combat shirt is made of the same material as a combat jacket on the arms and neck, but the torso portion that ranges from the stomach to the collarbone and armpits is made of soft cotton which will keep you cooler. Once again when it comes to camouflage, you want both the shirt and pants to match completely. You would not want to wear MARPAT desert with M81 Woodland. You can mix up the colors if you choose solid color clothing. You can wear solid tan pants with a solid black combat shirt, and you can even wear all solid OD green with a tan plate carrier, tan gloves, and other exterior tan counterparts, or tan (or desert camo) shirt and pants with a black plate carrier or vest and other exterior black counterparts.^[4]

Choose your vest. You can buy a vest or plate carrier with pouches. Choose the color of the vest carefully; if your camo is a desert camo use tan-colored vests or the correct desert camo, or black vests for darker camos. You can also use the same scheme, eg. you can use a Multicam colored vest if you are wearing complete multicam, if you choose.

Choose your tactical equipment like, duty belt, flashlights, extra ammo and mags, first aid, sprays (if allowed), an extra hidden sidearm, walkie talkies, tactical gloves, and radios, etc.^[5]

If you're doing an impression loadout, add patches or other materials related to that regiment you're focusing on as your impression. Patches can also be added if you want to do your own thing and be creative.