Importance of a good loadout in a CQB environment.

[HitMan]

In preparation for this indoor facility to open, many people will be buying gear. It is very important that you buy the right equipment for an indoor area as to make your set up efficient and safe.

Let's start with safety. Since this is the most important category it will be the first thing I discuss.

#1 Eyewear: Let's face it, your eyes are obviously the most important thing to protect (besides your life) in the sport of airsoft. For that reason you should take what you purchase to protect your eyes very seriously and spend the extra cash to get a system that can deliver over and over and over again, so on and so forth. Be sure that what you wear to protect your eyes is comfortable and breathable. There is no point in spending $20 on a pair of goggles or a mask if you aren’t going to like how it feels but it was the cheapest thing to go with. Ask anyone who has had cheap eyewear, are/were they happy with it? Did it hold up? Did it fog easily?

Another good point, fogging. It will hinder even the most seasoned of players. A CQB environment is typically indoors and has very little airflow or breeze so what may not fog up outside can become your worst enemy indoors. Many companies offer fan options for their goggles with mixed results or you could build your own fan system and attach it to your goggle. Even The ESS Turbofans I use, which are a top of the line brand and product, has fogged on me a little if I work up a real good sweat in a humid area. Nothing is fog proof! But items can be fog resistant with either a fan attachment or some anti fog wipes or spray.

The summary of this is to take the time to research a good set of eyewear. Ask questions, read reviews, do what you need to in order to make an informed and buyer smart purchase that will last you. Good eyewear is always worth the money in my opinion.

#2 Mouth Protection: This can go hand in hand with your eyewear if you buy something along the lines of a paintball mask. The downside to masks is that they can make it very hard to use iron sights on weapons since it restricts how close you can get your cheek onto your stock. I personally use a rubber mouth guard like most athletes use to protect my teeth. I have taken a bb to my front tooth once and thankfully it didn’t break out any teeth but boy was it a wakeup call to me. Either buy something to protect your pearly whites or don’t smile at the enemy so much.

#3 Proper Footwear: This is another great item to invest in. You are almost always going to be on your feet and moving around in a CQB environment. You will need boots (yes I said BOOTS not shoes) that fit your feet properly and are comfortable to move around in for a few hours non-stop. Boots give you good ankle support and are thicker than most shoes to add extra protection. Boots also can come with steel toe inserts to protect your little guys from falling items or clumsy team mates. You definitely want the ankle support though because you are carrying more weight on your body aka your gear, and you will be making sharp movements that will put stress on your joints. Believe it or not, good footwear can keep you from having sore legs especially around your knees because they will absorb shock better.
This is another item that I highly suggest you put forth the extra cash so that you can get a quality pair that will last both indoors and outdoors if necessary.

#4 Head Protection: This is not a necessary piece of equipment but can help keep your dome feeling good. In a CQB environment, shots are being fired and ricocheting all around so the possibility of getting hit in the head is a constant. Helmets are good but can be bulky and are not for everyone. A hat will keep your sweat out of your face and take the edge off a shot to the head but won’t make it completely painless. This is left up to personal preference and can include a number of different items. Choose what suits you best.

#5 Knee Pads: This is another one left up to the discretion of the user but I find my knee pads invaluable. I have hit my knee enough to know that I won’t go into battle without my trusted pads from now on.

#6 Proper Clothing: Wearing long sleeved and long pant bdu’s will help reduce the risk of blood blisters and bruises on your skin. It also helps prevent scrapes and abrasions. This is a given so I don’t feel like I have to explain my choice for adding this to the list.


On to gear. I am going to give some pointers on how to set up a successful load out for a CQB environment.

#1 Your Weapons: The weapon you choose will make or break your effectiveness in this environment. You want a weapon that is compact enough to maneuver with but still solid enough to feel comfortable as you hold it and move with it. You want one that you can shoulder quickly in a split second and can hold up for an extended amount of time without feeling heavy or tiresome. Vertical fore-grips can help relieve the strain on your wrists while holding up your weapon by putting the wrist in a more natural position. A sling is recommended as it allows you to put your weapon into a resting position easily and can take the stress off your arms for a bit. Be sure it won’t put your primary in a position that could obstruct you from getting to your secondary weapon in a hurry.

You should make it a habit to carry a secondary weapon on you if not at least to the field as a backup. You never know when your weapon will cease function or run out of ammo and it always happens at the most inopportune time. AEP pistols are a good secondary since they are light and pretty reliable. Other options are gas operated pistols and pump action shotguns. Place your secondary in an area on you that is easily accessible. Drop leg holsters and belt holsters are a favorite among players but some will place the holster on their vest or plate carrier if they choose to wear one. There are also some under arm options for a concealed carry.

To summarize this, find what weapons work best for you and then build your gear setup around them. Doing this helps make sure you buy the proper ammo pouches, holsters, and load bearing equipment that suits your style of weapon.

#2 Load Bearing Equipment (LBE): This is an important part of our gear. It provides a mid torso armor of sorts and is what you will mount most of your equipment to. MOLLE is the popular choice for mounting and is pretty universal but there are other choices out there. Your LBE can be a vest, plate carrier, a suspender and belt set up, or any of the above combination. This is up to personal preference on how you like to feel in combat. Plate carriers tend to be thicker, heavier, more durable, but cost more while vests have much the same MOLLE real estate on them but are more maneuverable, breathable, and cheaper. Again, choose what you like, read reviews, and make your purchase.

#3 Pouches: People can buy a pouch for almost any use. The most popular mounting type is MOLLE so you will find most pouches already set up to mount them. Everyone needs different pouches so find out what you will need. Remember when mounting though to weave them properly for the best results. When placing pouches on your LBE be sure to put them where they are most useful. It will not help you to put an ammo pouch where you have to fumble about to get the magazine out of it. Efficiency and speed is the name of the game here.

#4 FRS/GMRS Radio: I like to think of these as a requirement. It helps immensely when a squad leader can keep in contact with his squad and know there movements as well as know the movements of other friendly squads to reduce friendly fire in this tight and confusing environment. Radios don’t have to cost you an arm and leg to get a good pair. Motorola makes excellent FRS/GMRS radios for a fair price. They also have the standard one pin adapter for headsets which means they work with almost all of them. There are many different brands though so choose what best fits your budget and style. FRS/GMRS radios are great to have for outdoor games as well and once you purchase a good set, they should last you a long time. Just be sure to TURN OFF all of your miscellaneous beeps and call tones the radios have on them. No one wants to hear that all day.

Headsets are a great accessory to go with your radio since the sound is right in your ear. You can talk quieter into them and don’t risk the enemy hearing you as much because your radio is blaring at max volume so you can hear it. These are very good for helping conceal your position.

#5 Dead Rag: This is a simple 1’x1’ piece of red or orange cloth. When you are hit, put it on your head and call yourself out real LOUD so everyone hears you. Easy to do! You would be surprised how many people don’t have these and then complain when they get shot again because someone didn’t know you were dead. At the same time though, always be sure of what you are shooting at before you pull the trigger. You don’t want to be shooting a guy who is dead because you didn’t take the time to notice his dead rag. Let’s be honest though guys, dead people will get shot in here. It’s a small area and it happens so be good sports about it. Purposefully being reckless though makes you a poor player in everyone's eyes and you will probably be asked not to come back to games depending on the field. Be smart people!


Well, I hope this helps anyone who reads it. I actually had fun writing this. If you have any questions, comment, or corrections, feel free to get in contact with me. Again, choose what you like, read reviews, and make an informed purchase. A smart shopper is a happy shopper and an efficient player. I hope to see you all on the field.

[Apex1]

Very nice and useful post HitMan. It really summarizes the basic essentials needed for a quality good time on the airsoft field. One thing though that you did not mention or perhaps I read over, is that in a CQB environment, you don't want to be wearing too much gear that restrics certain movements or even prevents them from happening. It is important to be physically able to fit through a door when running for cover. ;-) You also don't want to be wearing so much gear that wears you out in one game just hauling it around. Other than that, great post!

[HitMan]

Very good point Apex and great addition. Thank you!

[scoutthedoggie fan]

I would enjoy playing airsoft in a cqb environment but I don't know if i have too much. This is what i own-

Crossdraw vest
bdu shirts/pants
shoulder pads/knee pads
black kevlar helmet
mask
neck guard
boots
leg pistol holster
leg drop pouch
shotgun belt with shells
utg m3(no stock)

my friends argue that i went overboard with my loadout. Would this be true for this kind of environment.

[Apex1]

Not necessarily. Your loadout really depends on if you like it. If it were up to me, I wouldn't get rid of anything. I personally use a combat vest, drop leg, goggles, knee pads, boots, and jeans. It really is all up to you.

[scoutthedoggie fan]

(01-01-2010 03:23 PM)Apex1 Wrote:  Not necessarily. Your loadout really depends on if you like it. If it were up to me, I wouldn't get rid of anything. I personally use a combat vest, drop leg, goggles, knee pads, boots, and jeans. It really is all up to you.

cool thanks

[Vasrock]

I have a question, if you don't mind me asking...... Im REALLY new to the whole airsoft thing, so all I have is a full metal m4 rifle..... So what would a good side arm be for the CQB areas? Im am looking at a pump shotty, which sounds great for CQB, but im not too sure about this stuff...

Also, if this post is in the wrong section, feel free to move or delete it.

[Ghost]

A pump shotgun would be pretty cool to see, in my opinion. I'd definately like to see one used. Not so much get sprayed by one though lol

[Border Police94]

Trust me a shotgun is not the way to go. They are very innefective since they only Fire one, or three, bb's per pump. If you want a good side arm go with either a gas pistol or a smalle aeg. I suggest a gas pistol because it's easily concealed and most hold a good amount of bb's.

[Ghost]

A gas pistol would be the way to go. I was just mentioning that i'd like to see someone turn the corner w/ a shotty and blow someone up ha

[Apex1]

Shotguns have there place in a CQC environment. There place is generally as a primary. As for the real world, most entry teams have a shotgun in 2nd or 3rd place. This allows for them to be covered in an event of a faulty pump or jam.

If you really want my advice about which sidearm to get, I wouldn't get one. They are more for the looks. Work on filling up a chest rig or vest with ammo and magazines for your M4 first. When I play, I rarely unholster my sidearm during games.

[Vasrock]

Mkay..... Thanks lol.... Like I said before, I'm still kinda newt o this whole airsoft thing... I have another question, if you don't mind me asking... Would it be a good idea to invest into any type of vest or gear? All I wear is a Paintball mask, and t-shirt and jeans.....

[Ghost]

It depends how far into the sport you want to get. My loadout is a work in progress. It would be a very wise investment to get some gear (full camo, vest, etc...).

[scoutthedoggie fan]

ya, i would definitely buy at least a vest and some bdu shirts and pants. This wont make you look like a noob, no offense

[Ghost]

yeah no kidding. i mean, it's cool if you got a P.O.S. woodland shirt w/ jeans all the way up to MARPAT, Tiger Stripe, ACU, etc.. As long as you have a positive attitude w/ everything and call your hits, it'll be a positive game.