One of the things that I have learned over my two and a half years playing this sport/hobby is the Kit/Skill debate that is ever present in the community.
Remember that first airsoft game you showed up to? I certainly remember the m4 magazines in the ABU pockets, the crappy DBOYS m4, and the 8.4v battery, and having a blast. But what was the next thing you did after you went to that game? Buy a Crossdraw vest, Why? Because you saw all the experienced players using MOLLE vests and all the fancy camouflage.
You may have not been as humble, "This is just like battlefield, dude, I TOTALLY got this." And you may have gotten a cold glass of reality in that first game where you didn't do too well. But I am sure you had a ton of fun anyway, and strived to become as good as the experienced players you played with and got shot by.
This is when the debate starts; Im sure you saw them on that first day, the people with 600 dollars worth of gear on, or the gun that looks like its from "COD". You said to yourself, "I want to be on THAT guys team", but why? You figured that equipment made him a better player, made him more effective on the field.
A dozen Airsoft games later you may have started to notice the real skill of the players, but not before you bought that cross draw and multi cam BDU's because it was what everyone else was wearing.
But did that make you a 'better' player? Did it make you more effective? Sure, it made reloads easier, and arguably harder to see than the ABU's you were wearing, but how you play really hasn't changed. You have added pounds of gear that doesn't make you play any better.
Its where that skill needs to come into play, skill doesn't weigh anything, skill doesn't slow you down, or make it more difficult to fit through doorways. But you cant buy skill, you can buy kit. You can spend 800 bucks on that CPC or that ridiculously upgraded AEG, but one of the great things about Airsoft is that ability to apply skill is more important than your ability to spend money.
Knowing what to do in a situation and doing it not only makes you an asset player, makes you a leader in the game. Makes you an asset to your team.
I like to challenge myself once in a while, instead of grabbing that AEG I will go for the 30 dollar tri-shot. That really makes you apply skills rather than the ease of use of an AEG. Makes you have to think through your movements and tactics, rather than trying to make up for a lack of that in a hail of bb's.
Whether you want to debate it or not, Airsoft is an Arms race, getting that new gun, putting in that new bucking. Always competing for the equipment used, when the best tool is the thing that fills that FAST helmet. Knowing the basics of firearms training and knowing how to apply real world tactics to Airsoft makes or breaks a team.
Finding what works for you is the most important thing, whats the most comfortable piece of gear, what makes you feel the coolest using it. Lets face it, us airsofters are masters of self delusion, especially from the beginning, but we can see it into the seasoned players of the game. "Gotta get that polar star, that'll make me unstoppable."
There are so many layers to this internal debate in airsoft, because:
Magazine pouches are made to do one thing, HOLD MAGAZINES, Plate carriers were made to CARRY PLATES! HSGI's hold magazines, they do it well, but so does the BFG or even a lower quality Pantac pouch.
Your gear should never hold you back, it should allow you to harness your skills to the highest ability possible.
I try and use what works, and not buy into the all the KIT=Better player bias, but it can be hard to get away as it is deeply engrained in our mindsets.
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