KIT & GEAR SHOP ‘TIL YOU DROP
SHOP ‘TIL YOU DROP!!
THAT’S IT THEN, THE FIRST FROST OF THIS WINTER HAS HIT US, AND TEMPERATURES ARE MOST DEFINITELY HEADING ON DOWN. AS PROMISED THIS MONTH WE’RE GOING TO TAKE A MOMENT TO LOOK AT SOME OF THE NEW (AND OUR FAVOURITE) COLD WEATHER SYSTEM GEAR TO HIT THE MARKET… IT’S TIME TO GET OUR (HOPEFULLY!) SNOW-GAME ON!
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s we’ve said many times, getting the right clothing setup can mean the difference between a long, hard days play and an early trip home due to becoming mildly hypothermic (or worse!). You may think that this is a rare occurrence, but believe us when we say it’s more commonplace than you might think. Many airsofters, even seasoned ones that we know will spend many hundreds of pounds on their airsoft guns and tactical gear but very little on their clothing. We’ve heard the excuse “I don’t have the money for expensive winter gear” all too often, but what it really comes down to is a lack of forethought and preparation. Setting yourself up with a system which will allow you to hit the field year round is actually not as expensive as you might think. If you budget for just a single piece of kit each month you’ll be surprised how quickly your system builds! First off though what do we mean by a “system”? Quite simply put a clothing “system” is a selection of garments that will work as standalone pieces in their own right, but that can be combined effectively to give you a set of gear that works all year round. This “system” will normally consist of: • Base Layer – Your base layers are the items of clothing that are worn directly next to the skin.
They come in different weights and thicknesses of fabric for summer and winter use, although a mid-weight set will work for different seasons. The fabric properties will be mainly to do with moisture management as they will actively “wick” moisture away from you skin, keeping you dry and comfortable. • Mid Layer – The mid layer is all about levels of insulation, allowing you to regulate your body core temperature. Mid layers can be fleece or “lofted” insulation; it’s best to avoid down jackets and vests in the UK as we’re often dealing with wet cold rather than dry “snow” cold. If down gets wet it stays wet and actually draws heat from your body trying to dry itself so it’s better to look at synthetic fills. • Shell Layer – Exactly as it sounds; your shell layer forms the outer barrier against the elements. This layer will be of a waterproof and windproof fabric and these days may be either “hard” or “soft” shell; hard shells are normally fully waterproof with taped seams but many tend to be noisy due to the face fabrics used. Soft shells may or may not have taped seams and whilst they are sometimes not fully waterproof, they will be highly water resistant;
“A CLOTHING “SYSTEM” IS A SELECTION OF GARMENTS THAT WILL WORK AS STANDALONE PIECES IN THEIR OWN RIGHT, BUT THAT CAN BE COMBINED EFFECTIVELY TO GIVE YOU A SET OF GEAR THAT WORKS ALL YEAR ROUND. ”
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DECEMBER 2021
