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!

As 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. ”

they also tend to be made of softer, quieter fabrics.

By understanding what you are buying and why the choice becomes straightforward. What you are aiming to do is create a set of gear that will actively work together. The base layer draws moisture away from the skin and lets it transport through the insulating mid layer. The shell layer allows moisture inside the system to escape whilst keeping wind and rain out. By juggling with these layers you can be comfortable in any climatic situation.

BASE

First up then is a good set of base layers, and these days you can find what you need pretty easily, as next-to-the-skin clothing has become accepted by the mainstream, and you can actually find some cracking gear in the middle of your local supermarket for not much money! That said if you want to stick to “tacticool” performance gear then you’ll be able to find some great kit from the likes of VIPER and Helikon-Tex!

Helikon-Tex offer a multitude of base layers; the Level 1 lightweight underwear consists of a light undershirt and leggings and was designed for use in mild climates to provide light insulation when worn next to skin. However it can be use also in colder climates as a base layer or in conjunction with other levels for added insulation and to aid in the transfer of moisture. Level 2 midweight underwear consists of a heavier shirt and leggings and was designed for use in harsher climates to provide more insulation. Both levels are made of super fabrics that are extremely comfortable next to the skin, and if you REALLY feel the cold then they even do a Level 3! Not only have VIPER developed new gear but they’ve obviously had a very close look at how clothing trends have developed in the tactical world, and the latest designs reflect a thorough understanding both of the “light is right tactical athlete” approach, and this can be seen in their MESH-TECH T and MESH-TECH ARMOUR TOP. Both these garments are made from highperformance polyester material and provide longlasting comfort and durability even during the most extreme workout. Lightweight and quick-drying, these shirts features flatlock seams for reduced friction, and raglan sleeves for improved range of motion. Thanks to their moisture wicking properties these all-purpose shirts will keep the torso cool and dry throughout the day, and will definitely add comfort as the first element of your clothing setup.

MID

Sticking with VIPER they have been quietly busy during the “lockdown” period and have a few new items worthy of note that have crept into their range with little fanfare! The STORM and ARMOUR Hoodies are both made from a new VIPER fabric which looks like it will wear well, basically a 300gms polyester bonded Ribtech fleece with a polyester brushed lining. The Armour Hoodie is a great choice for those who are looking for a versatile sweatshirt, and it works really great when worn on its own or as a under layer when the weather is less forgiving. The hood can be adjusted using drawstring and the front pocket is a handy storage. To keep you warm and cosy the hoodie is lined with 300gms polyester bonded Ribtech fleece. The adjustable elasticated cuffs with thumbholes will help with temperature control. You can create a personalised look using heat treated hook and loop patches on both shoulders. The STORM hoody is a different beast, with the addition of polyester peached contrast fabric in key wear areas. With a full zip this has a far more “technical” fit than the ARMOUR, and is the perfect mid-

ULTIMA JACKET

layer garment for wearing beneath a shell jacket when the weather turns really bad!

One of our absolute favourites when it comes to fleece mid-layers is not a new piece, but rather something that is 100% fully tried and tested! When you layer up externally over your base layer HelikonTex offer a fabulous selection of performance fleece products in various weights so you can custom tailor your gear to your own performance level or task. We REALLY like their Alpha grid fleeces. This 100% polyester fleece is warm, comfortable and lightweight and a part of Helikon’s Urban Tactical line. It features a high collar with chin guard and a strong full-front YKK zipper, which can be fastened to the neck. It also has one zip chest pocket with a comms port inside, two lower zip pockets and an elastic drawstring with cord locks on both sides sewn into the waistband.

SHELL

Shell (ie waterproof and windproof) gear is something that we can go on and on about from a technical perspective, but the bottom line is that ultimately you just want something waterproof and breathable that will work with your other gear, and to be honest if you’re after something in MTP or Multicam then your best, and cheapest bet is to visit your local army surplus store!

That said, if you really want what is, in our opinion, the best right now and money is no object, then look no further than UF PRO’s Monsoon Smallpac Wet Weather System! The team at UF PRO work on the premise that their garments provide the interface between the wearer and the environment in which they are worn, and that cut, materials, workmanship and even colour can make a huge difference.

With their superb, cutting edge Monsoon XT waterproof shell jacket and pant they show that they mean business from the very outset. This is a fully specified and featured 3 Layer GORE-TEX jacket that offers the user full protection from even the worst of the elements, be it rain, sleet, or snow. In terms of features the jacket is ergonomic and minimalist, although it’s chock-full of features. The jacket also benefits from some of UF PROs own “in house” innovations as it incorporates their excellent HOOD/ HARNESS system for precise fit around the head, letting the hood move perfectly wherever you look.

The complementary Monsoon XT pants have been thoroughly tested for overall reliability, and their functional and comfortable rain protection qualities even in extremely bad weather conditions. The pants are made out of a lightweight and waterproof 3 Layer GORE-TEX fabric with full reinforcement in all severe stress areas, such as the waist and the instep to provide a better resistance against abrasion. The pants are also fully specified with long length side zips that allow them to be put on and taken off without removing boots.

So, we hope that this gives you an idea of what you can be looking for not only to survive during fullwinter games, but also to thrive! No matter what your budget there is something out there for you that will allow you to confound old Ma Nature and keep on chucking those BBs!

We look forward to seeing you out there, and as always if you have pictures of you and your team playing DESPITE the weather, then fire ‘em on over as we’d be delighted to pop them up on our social media pages! AA

“THIS IS A FULLY SPECIFIED AND FEATURED 3 LAYER GORE-TEX JACKET THAT OFFERS THE USER FULL PROTECTION FROM EVEN THE WORST OF THE ELEMENTS, BE IT RAIN, SLEET, OR SNOW. IN TERMS OF FEATURES THE JACKET IS ERGONOMIC AND MINIMALIST, ALTHOUGH IT’S CHOCK-FULL OF FEATURES. ”

WHAT KIND OF INDUSTRY IS AIRSOFT ?

“TALKING SHOP” EARLIER THIS MONTH, THE SUBJECT OF THE MANY DIFFERING TYPES OF INDUSTRY INVOLVED IN AIRSOFT CAME INTO THE CONVERSATION. WHICH PROMPTED FRENCHIE TO ASK WHAT INDUSTRY DOES AIRSOFT ACTUALLY BELONG TO, OR IS IT AN “INDUSTRY” ALL OF ITS OWN?

Industry - “the companies and activities involved in the process of producing goods for sale, especially in a factory or special area” (Cambridge Dictionary)

I have always thought of industry as relating to the production of finished goods from raw materials, a process that adds value, however the term has acquired broader use especially as a number of western economies moved away from traditional manufacturing industry and towards service industries. The term can therefore be equally applied to a group of enterprises all operating within the same sector or category; the financial industry, the film industry.

THE QUESTION

So, is airsoft, specifically airsoft in the UK, an industry? In the broadest sense of the term, yes, of course it is. There are a conglomeration of sites and suppliers all providing goods and services to a common customer base, the players. What kind of an industry it is, how big, how serious and how interested in growth it is are different questions.

I was recently chatting with someone who has been intimately involved with airsoft for the last decade when the subject came up. At first they described it not as an industry but as a pastime, and when I suggested that cottage industry might be a more fitting description they replied “yes, but without the roof”. It’s fair to say that there was a certain amount of frustration behind those remarks!

I understand where they were coming from; at best airsoft is a loose alliance of connected interests serving a common customer base. It is unregulated other than by law and is largely unrepresented. I say largely because only the retail sector has any form of viable representation and that exists only because of the Violent Crime Reduction Bill (now Act) from back in 2006 which posed an existential threat. As far as I can see UKARA does nothing else other than facilitate the database which was required following the granting of the exemption to the Act. I’m not ignoring or denigrating the various player’s organisations, but again, unless there is a threat that everyone can agree on, they don’t appear to do very much.

It also strikes me that there is no concerted effort to expand the industry. You’ll never see posters (real or virtual) saying “Come Airsofting! It’s FUN!” I understand that players are probably the industry’s best advertisement in that they often introduce their

“THERE ARE A CONGLOMERATION OF SITES AND SUPPLIERS ALL PROVIDING GOODS AND SERVICES TO A COMMON CUSTOMER BASE, THE PLAYERS. WHAT KIND OF AN INDUSTRY IT IS, HOW BIG, HOW SERIOUS AND HOW INTERESTED IN GROWTH IT IS ARE DIFFERENT QUESTIONS.”

friends to the sport but it remains quite closed as a result. There is almost no public profile, indeed we are probably guilty of making a virtue of keeping our heads firmly below the parapet unless forced to face opposing fire - usually from glory-seeking politicians looking to be seen to do something

Airsoft is therefore limiting itself as far as growth is concerned, which is not something you see outside of the Swiss luxury watch market or supercars! While I am well-versed in the potential pitfalls of promoting a sport that involves guns and uniforms, that alone is insufficient reason not to attempt something. Hence my reference in the conversation that started this piece to ‘cottage industry’ - something that is limited and seems happy to remain so. That’s not a bad thing in and of itself but it does explain why airsoft is full of semi-enterprises; the bedroom sellers, the one-manbands and has only a handful of truly ‘professional’ businesses.

Such advertising as is done, and it is quite limited really, speaks directly to those already involved, selling new gear, innovative products and the like. This is all done within the few specific publications that exist and there is no effort, individually or collectively, to show airsoft to a wider audience. Given the difficulties airsoft has experienced along with the rest of us over the past two years, this might give you cause to raise an eyebrow.

Something else you see little of is diversification within the retail side of airsoft. This suggests to me either a lack of imagination or, more likely, that most retailers have reached a sense of equilibrium where income is and remains sufficient to keep the business viable. This may also be because many of those commercially involved within airsoft are not wholly reliant upon it for their living. It is quite common to find that sites, and even shops, are run by people who have come to airsoft with a profession or trade already behind them and still have fingers in those pies. It is possible that this engenders a situation where even some of the bigger players are not as invested in airsoft as might someone who relied upon it entirely to earn their living. Please don’t take that as a criticism of anyone, these days having fingers in pies is a very sensible strategy; I am just trying to understand why in some respects airsoft collectively doesn’t push itself as much as it might.

NOTHING CHANGES

If you assume that airsoft’s key demographic is 20 - 24 year old males, there are currently over 5,000,000 people in the uk in that range. If we assume a roughly 50/50 gender split, that is around 2.5 million potential customers. As far as I know, the number of active airsofters has not changed significantly for some time, being around 10-15 thousand. There is therefore a large pool of people who might potentially be attracted to airsoft, if the will was there to reach them.

Perhaps there is an underlying problem which prevents this: infrastructure. There are few sites in the UK which are wholly professional, and to grow the industry that number would have to increase substantially, and that requires investment. Airsofters on the whole tolerate a certain lack of facilities on site; toilets are the one area that springs to mind as this is a real challenge where a site is situated away from utilities. Power is normally dependent upon a generator… There is a certain rough-and-ready nature to many sites which is accepted, even enjoyed, by regulars, but which might make the whole experience less than attractive to new entrants, especially if they are being sold the pastime without much prior experience. Being told to ‘s*** behind that big tree way over there’ is not necessarily the selling point some might imagine!

Maybe that’s the real reason for the overall attitude of airsoft as an industry in the UK. As it stands, it can support itself - more or less. To grow requires that it also improves, in particular the gaming experience, and that requires money, probably far more than many site owners would wish to commit, even if they have it in the first place. Accordingly airsoft serves a rather self-selecting customer group who are happy to tolerate a level of service and facilities which would very probably not appeal to everyone. Lacking the funds or the will to change that, it has found a level where all concerned are sufficiently satisfied and feel no need to push the status quo. To use a well-worn phrase, “it is what it is”. Maybe that is actually part of its charm, ok, maybe not ‘charm’, but attraction - after all - soldiering isn’t meant to be a comfortable profession, and some level of roughing it when simulating battle is actually desirable.

So, to answer my own question, “what kind of industry is airsoft?” I think ‘peculiar’ covers it well! AA

“THERE IS A CERTAIN ROUGH-AND-READY NATURE TO MANY SITES WHICH IS ACCEPTED, EVEN ENJOYED, BY REGULARS, BUT WHICH MIGHT MAKE THE WHOLE EXPERIENCE LESS THAN ATTRACTIVE TO NEW ENTRANTS... BEING TOLD TO ‘S*** BEHIND THAT BIG TREE WAY OVER THERE’ IS NOT NECESSARILY THE SELLING POINT SOME MIGHT IMAGINE!”