Start cheap, start safe

Budget airsoft loadout: build your starter kit

Cheap starter deals for your first airsoft games. Tick what you need – a replica, uniform, eye and face protection, a chest rig, gloves and something for your head – and the kit total at the bottom updates as you go.

Airsoft player transitioning to a sidearm during a game

How to use the kit builder

The kit starts with the essentials already ticked. Add or remove anything – every item can be combined with the others. Prices are approximate and change with sales, so check the store before you buy. Protection comes first: eye protection is mandatory at every field and a mesh mask saves your teeth. Read the Airsoft 101 guide for the rules, and when you are ready to upgrade, see the Pro loadout.

01 / 09

Replica & power

CYMA CM.520 Sport Line GEN-2 AEG

≈ €72

A modern, compact take on the AK platform from CYMA’s 500 series – affordable, reliable and easy to find parts for, which makes it a sensible first replica.

Li-Po Battery 600 mAh 7.4 V 20C (T-connector)

≈ €7.60

Compact 2-cell (7.4 V) LiPo stick battery with a T-connector (Deans) – an electric replica needs a battery to shoot. Check that the connector and size fit your replica.

iPower HV3PRO LiPo/Li-ion Charger (2S/3S)

≈ €12

Compact balance charger for 2-cell and 3-cell LiPo and Li-ion batteries – 800 mA charging current, balance ports and LED indicators for each cell.

02 / 09

Uniform & clothing

Tactical Combat Uniform

≈ €27

Camo shirt and cargo pants with knee pads – a full uniform for the price of a cheap jacket.

Combat Shirt

≈ €11

Camo combat shirt with a 1/4 zip – wear it with jeans or cargo pants you already own.

Soft Shell Tactical Jacket

See price in store

Waterproof multicam soft-shell jacket with fleece lining – for cold, wet and windy game days.

Ghillie Suit Hood

≈ €4.90

3D leaf-camo hood – breaks up your outline in the woods for almost nothing.

03 / 09

Eye protection

Eye protection is mandatory at every field.

Pyramex Solo Clear Safety Glasses

≈ €2.80

Cheap, impact-rated clear glasses that work in daylight and indoor CQB. The minimum eye protection – never play without it.

Read my review

Anti-Fog Tactical Goggles

≈ €26

Full-seal goggles with anti-fog lenses – link 2 adds a built-in micro fan and interchangeable lenses.

04 / 09

Face protection

Steel Mesh Half-Face Mask

≈ €10

Protects teeth and lips – the most painful and expensive places to take a BB. Mesh breathes, so it will not fog your eyewear.

Camouflage Balaclava

≈ €3.10

Light camo balaclava – covers your face and neck under the mask and keeps the sun off.

05 / 09

Chest rig, belt & pouches

Chest rigs, plate carriers, belts and pouches – combine what you need.

Tactical Chest Rig

≈ €18

Light chest rig with magazine pouches – carries everything you need for a game day.

Plate Carrier (VCU)

≈ €36

Quick-release plate carrier with magazine pouches for 5.56 and 7.62 mags.

Quick-Release Combat Belt

≈ €27

2-inch MOLLE belt with a quick-release buckle – mount a pistol holster and pouches.

Dump Pouch

≈ €7.80

Drop empty magazines in here instead of losing them in the grass.

Radio Pouch

≈ €6.70

MOLLE holder for a handheld radio like the Baofeng UV-S9.

06 / 09

Gloves & knee pads

Tactical Outdoor Gloves

≈ €9.60

Full-finger gloves – protect your knuckles from hits and branches; touch-screen fingertips.

Tactical Knee Pads

≈ €15

Hard-shell knee pads – kneeling behind cover all day is much easier.

07 / 09

Helmets, boonies and caps, plus helmet extras.

Tactical Boonie Cap

≈ €8.70

Camo boonie hat – keeps the sun off and protects your head from BBs and branches.

Tactical Baseball Cap

≈ €5.40

Simple camo cap – the cheapest way to protect your head and shade your eyes.

Tactical Wendy Helmet

≈ €33

Wendy-style training helmet with suspension and chin strap – mount a camera or headset rails.

Helmet Cover

≈ €6.10

Camo cover for FAST-style helmets – hides the shell and adds a matching look.

Helmet Battery Pouch

≈ €6.50

MK2 counterweight pouch for the back of the helmet – holds batteries and balances front-mounted gear.

08 / 09

Add-ons & accessories

EARMOR M32 SE Headset

≈ €71

Electronic hearing protection with a helmet ARC bracket and an M51 PTT – amplifies footsteps and voices, cuts gunshots and pyro, and works with your radio.

BB Speed Loader (150 BBs)

≈ €4.90

Refills a magazine in seconds instead of thumbing BBs in one by one.

Suppressor Cover

≈ €4.90

18 cm nylon cover for a mock suppressor – a cheap way to add some camo.

09 / 09

Camera & field tech

RunCam ScopeCam SE

See price in store

Budget 1080p60 scope cam with a swappable 18650 battery (up to ~200 min). Sharpest at 12–40 m. A great first scope cam – I later upgraded to the 4K.

Read my review

GoPro HERO11 Black

≈ €259

Proven helmet camera for POV footage, with excellent stabilisation for running and moving between cover.

GoPro HERO9–12 Waterproof Case

≈ €45

Protects the GoPro from BB hits and mud – the lens is usually the first thing to get shot.

GoPro Battery Side Cover

See price in store

Pass-through side door so you can run the camera from a power bank on long MilSim days.

FAQ

Beginner loadout questions

What should I buy first for airsoft?

Eye protection rated to ANSI Z87.1 (or an equivalent standard) and a lower-face mask. They are mandatory or strongly recommended at every field and protect you from the injuries that matter most. A replica, BBs and gloves come next.

Do I need my own airsoft gun for my first game?

Not necessarily – many fields rent replicas and protection. Renting first lets you try different styles before buying your own AEG.

Is a CYMA AEG a good beginner airsoft gun?

CYMA electric guns are a popular budget choice because they are affordable, widely available and easy to maintain, which makes them a sensible first replica.

How much does a budget airsoft kit cost?

The default kit on this page – CYMA AEG with battery and charger, glasses, mesh mask, uniform, chest rig, gloves, boonie and BB loader – comes to roughly €170. Prices are approximate and change with sales.

New gameplay every month

Watch the action on YouTube

Full games, gear unboxings and loadout setups – filmed on the field with helmet, scope and action cams.