 |
| EQUIPMENT |
 |
 |
| CLOTHING I am a keen believer that surplus DPM clothing is a great choice for UK Airsofters. The prices are great (if you shop around) and there’s plenty of chances for bargains or “one offs.” With this in mind, most of my clothing is ex-British army stuff. I choose my clothing from the following list, dependant on the length of the game and weather conditions. Onto a 24 Hour event I take a COMBAT JACKET, which acts as my main jacket (£10). Amongst the many pockets, I can carry enough mags for an Airsoft patrol, aswell as food (snacks) and a packet drink (not a bottle or can). There is also enough room for my personal effects. |
 |
| The COMBAT JACKET is a good colour DPM pattern (not too faded) and has a POACHING POCKET in the rear. This is large enough to fit a DPM BREATHABLE JACKET inside if folded properly. Which is great, as it is always handy (should there be a sudden downpour). The folded jacket also acts, as a great “back protector” when I am wearing my webbing set. Lastly it also insulates me from the ground and I can use it as a seat, when sat up somewhere. The DPM BREATHABLE JACKET (£15) is highly water resistant and allows you to avoid sweeting too much. It only has 2 breast pockets and a large inside pocket, all of which only have velcro fastening. The hood is large and has had the wire removed and replaced with a draw cord. The DPM pattern is slightly lighter than many, but still has good contrast. I never wear this jacket unless it is actually raining or the site is sodden. I own several pairs of DPM Breathable Trousers (£15). I favour the heavy duty versions, with double thickness from the knee down and zips to allow their fitting without taking your boots off. I wear these trousers every event (even in summer) and like the protection they offer from vegetation and thorns. They only have access slits to your normal trouser pockets, not having any pockets of their own. The waist is only a drawstring and must be fastened tightly above the hips, otherwise these trousers can hinder your legs movements. Laying in mud or water is not a problem with these on, as I keep snug and dry. Under these trousers, I wear a set of dutch leightweights (6 pocket version) which are black (£10). The colour doesn’t matter as I always play in my DPM over trousers. These trousers are comfortable and not too hot. Only in winter, do I substitute these for DPM Temperate Trousers (£8), which a double lined and much warmer. I always wear twisters (£1) to stop the bottom of my trousers from wicking water up. Incidentally, I always take care to put my boot laces inside the twisters, thus keeping them clear of mud. Twisters allow you to get into your sleeping bag, without muddy clothing, making a mess. |
 |
| I wear British Army Socks and find these comfortable and warm, while being hardwearing with a thick enough sole. (£3) In summer (HOT weather) I take a DPM Tropical Shirt aswell, which is very lightweight and takes up little room. This can be worn to help avoid “heat build up” which can be a problem that contributes to steam up of goggles. It is a darker DPM pattern, good for dense vegetation (£5) All year round, I wear the same pair of boots. Currently, I use the HI-TEC Classic Magnums (£55), which are not waterproof boots. They are very leightweight and comfortable, with a thinsulate lining. Yet to keep my feet dry, I use British Army BREATHABLE BOOT LINERS (£5), which have proven to work in very tough situations. Often at the end of an event, my boots are sodden, yet my feet are dry. I wear a LOW ALPINE baselayer (£20) which is a long sleeved T-shirt. This high tech garment keeps you cool or warm, as required. Far better than wearing a cotton shirt. |
| In my kit, I pack a DPM fleece (£15) which I often wear in camp or if the temperature drops off on an evening. It is comfortable, with 2 zip pockets and thumbholes for winter events. These are good quality. Packing 2 pairs of gloves, I can always keep 1 pair dry. Mainly I use thin Advantage pattern gloves (£6) for shooting, while woolen fingerless gloves (£3) are better for fieldcraft. I have a soft DPM cap with a short peak (£1) which is great for keeping the rain off your goggles. While in winter I pack a green wool hat to keep me warm (£3). An Advantage (Timber) FACEVIEL (£9) is always worn to disrupt my head, protect against insects and avoid painful head shots. The goggles I use are industrial standard lenses, with a yellow tint (£6) that provides all round protection. The Clothing is used in layers to suite the weather conditions and temperature. Having spare dry cloths is also great should something unexpected happen (fall in river, etc). Remember that keeping warm and dry will fortify your morale greatly, should the weather close in. Believe me, it sometimes does here.... |