Newbie
- Thread starter j4ck0
- Start date
EDcase
AF-UK patch owner
- Jun 24, 2017
- 3,619
- 1,611
Welcome 
You don't need anything except boots with ankle support to get started. Just head to the nearest site to you.
I can recommend Skirmish Wycombe Airsoft and Red Alert
Try some searches online and here in the forum to get the gist. Then we can answer more specific questions.
You don't need anything except boots with ankle support to get started. Just head to the nearest site to you.
I can recommend Skirmish Wycombe Airsoft and Red Alert
Try some searches online and here in the forum to get the gist. Then we can answer more specific questions.
- Thread starter
- #3
Thank you. From what ive read so far just turn up and rent gear. Would i need to attend the same place to gain a
Welcome
You don't need anything except boots with ankle support to get started. Just head to the nearest site to you.
I can recommend Skirmish Wycombe Airsoft and Red Alert
Try some searches online and here in the forum to get the gist. Then we can answer more specific questions.
Rechard
Members
- Jul 4, 2025
- 47
- 7
Why not get a MVT instead? https://www.mvt.org.uk/
- Thread starter
- #7
Thank you mate
Why would someone expressing an interest in getting into the game of Airsoft buy a vintage military vehicle instead of playing Airsoft?
@j4ck0 a key benefit of playing as a rental when beginning is to experience the game, meet people, see what equipment other people use and talk to them about things.
If you are aged 18 or over, and play at a UKARA site three times in the required time frame, join the sites membership scheme you then get a recognised UKARA number which would enable you to purchase a RIF whilst having found out if you actually enjoy the game and a chance to see what play styles etc interest you and what RIF types could suit your preferred play and your wallet. This also gives you an understanding of the other needs such as the importance of eye protection and some of the different choices you have, the needs of magazines, and how many you may need, carry systems, suitable clothing and footwear etc - before you spend your entire budget on one gun that you cannot afford to play with
You can just turn up at most sites, but you can avoid disappointment by pre-booking which lets them know you plan to arrive so they don’t cancel the day due to lack of bookings or that no rental gear is available because you turned up when the site had a large group in that day
If you are aged 18 or over, and play at a UKARA site three times in the required time frame, join the sites membership scheme you then get a recognised UKARA number which would enable you to purchase a RIF whilst having found out if you actually enjoy the game and a chance to see what play styles etc interest you and what RIF types could suit your preferred play and your wallet. This also gives you an understanding of the other needs such as the importance of eye protection and some of the different choices you have, the needs of magazines, and how many you may need, carry systems, suitable clothing and footwear etc - before you spend your entire budget on one gun that you cannot afford to play with
You can just turn up at most sites, but you can avoid disappointment by pre-booking which lets them know you plan to arrive so they don’t cancel the day due to lack of bookings or that no rental gear is available because you turned up when the site had a large group in that day
- Thread starter
- #10
Perfect thank you Tommikka that was very helpful. Good point made about rental gear giving a idea of what i would enjoy or be able to work with.
Not just a case of buy a RIF and turn up. A lot of other gear needed. Obviously safety equipment is a key factor.
Thank you i appreciate your message.
Adolf Hamster
Supporters
- Feb 1, 2018
- 7,069
- 2,297
You can buy a 2 tone, but for the sake of trying a few games renting you can find out if airsoft is a game you enjoy enough to invest in your own gear or not.
If you're sticking with it long enough to get registered for ukara then that answers your question.
If you're going to jump the gun and buy anything i'd suggest buying eye/face protection to save using the typically a bit stinky offerings you'll get at a lot of sites.
For a first day, bring a packed lunch, good boots, clothing you dont mind getting mucky/torn by brambles, and plenty of water. Some sites have catering but i would never rely on that. You'll want a good hearty breakfast.
A change of clothes, or a towel, would also be good as you may be driving home damp and mucky.
If you're sticking with it long enough to get registered for ukara then that answers your question.
If you're going to jump the gun and buy anything i'd suggest buying eye/face protection to save using the typically a bit stinky offerings you'll get at a lot of sites.
For a first day, bring a packed lunch, good boots, clothing you dont mind getting mucky/torn by brambles, and plenty of water. Some sites have catering but i would never rely on that. You'll want a good hearty breakfast.
A change of clothes, or a towel, would also be good as you may be driving home damp and mucky.
Colin Allen
Members
- Aug 27, 2022
- 2,086
- 2,625
if you are renting, you will probably need to book in advance at most sites.
Airsofters are always happy to talk about their guns so, when you are at the site, talk to people, ask them about them; they will probably let you fondle them. You can get an idea of which ones you like, how heavy they are and how they feel to hold.
Don't be put off the hobby if you are disappointed that the rental gun that you are using has less range and a lower rate of fire than the majority of other people's guns. Once you get your own, you can either get someone to upgrade it or, if you are very confident with electro mechanical devices, do it yourself. However, use it first, so that you can decide what needs to be improved.
Most of all, remember that we are grown men (mostly) playing war; it is supposed to be fun!
Oh yes, I nearly forgot! Take your bloody hits and don't wear trainers; boots with good ankle support are needed.
Airsofters are always happy to talk about their guns so, when you are at the site, talk to people, ask them about them; they will probably let you fondle them. You can get an idea of which ones you like, how heavy they are and how they feel to hold.
Don't be put off the hobby if you are disappointed that the rental gun that you are using has less range and a lower rate of fire than the majority of other people's guns. Once you get your own, you can either get someone to upgrade it or, if you are very confident with electro mechanical devices, do it yourself. However, use it first, so that you can decide what needs to be improved.
Most of all, remember that we are grown men (mostly) playing war; it is supposed to be fun!
Oh yes, I nearly forgot! Take your bloody hits and don't wear trainers; boots with good ankle support are needed.
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- Thread starter
- #13
Thank you. Yes maybe a good idea to just buy face mask etc so its clean and fresh then, then go from there.
As you say worth trying it a few times to see if i enjoy it before jumping in the deep end. Also if i was going to go for it i dont think the two tone would be for me personally.
Thank you
Adolf Hamster
Supporters
- Feb 1, 2018
- 7,069
- 2,297
have a look around on the forums, there's a few topics on the subject of eye/face protection, the short version is that it is worth taking some time, learning the different types and ratings and what is or isn't rated for the kinds of impacts you'll get in airsoft.
a potted version is that you have EN166, with a letter usually "b" or "f", EN166F is insufficient for airsoft energy levels and i have seen F rated lenses get shot out on 1j fields, B is much tougher. there are other impact ratings that can range all the way up to numbers that make airsoft energy levels seem cute.
there's also full seal (ie ski goggle style) or open frame, nobody will stop you wearing the latter but be very aware that a round can come in round the edge and hurt you. you have one pair of eyes and you can decide how much risk you're prepared to accept but please make sure you're doing so from a position of knowing what that risk is.
face protection is another matter, and whilst i always preferred to go bare faced i have personally seen 2 of my battle buddies walking off field with a bloody fragment of tooth in their hand. it's not a "can" happen, it's a "does" happen. again its up to you how much faith you want to put in your dentist.
whatever you're wearing in-game, once the shooting starts (and frankly all the time if you can because you cannot trust airsofters to maintain safe discipline even in the "safe" zone), do not under any circumstances remove or lift your eye protection, lenses fogging from sweat will only make you blind temporarily, lifting your mask at the wrong moment might make that state of affairs permanent.
yeah, between games try to get chatting with the regulars, more often than not folk will be happy to show off their toys, get a feel for different gats see what you do or don't like the handling of. just because a gun looks cool in [your favorite video game/movie/tv show] doesn't mean you'd actually like having to hold the thing or lug it around site.
don't read too much into how well or not their guns seem to be shooting compared to your rental gat. there's a massive rabbit hole of getting airsoft to shoot in something approximating a straight line and the vast majority of gun types can be made to shoot equally well or equally poorly. you'd be surprised how many expensive modded gats that show up on a field that couldn't hit a barn from inside aforementioned barn.
if you want to try and get a performance boost (over the other rentals at least) 2 things to try:
first when they hand you the gun ask nicely if they could clean the barrel for you, even if the staff cant there'll probably be someone on site with the foresight to have brought a cleaning rod.
second is once the shooting starts, watch where your rounds are going, if they're dropping down straight away or flying up into space then you need to adjust the hop unit, it'll be hard to explain every possible mechanism of hop you might encounter but you can ask staff (or another player) to help you out. remember it'll be in your team mates interests to help you be more effective. only caveat being that not every player who has expensive gear will necessarily know how to set a hop but there will be someone who does.
