Cost to start?

[Janus]

You can cut startup cost if you have a buddy with a charger.

[rexdlu]

My initial startup costs.

-JG G36C-------------------$350
-3 Extra Mags--------------$60
-US woodlands T-----------$20
-Old US woodland pants----free
-TM Hi Capa 5.1------------$400
-Boots---------------------$60
-Goggles-------------------$40
-Gloves--------------------$12
-BB's-----------------------$40
-Holster--------------------$20
Total--------------------$1002


.INITIAL only lasted 3 weeks before more spending was done.

[Jayhad]

1,000,000 dollars

[Schlyder]

to get a pretty good start, it has cost me,

guns - CA HK53A2 $500 DE AK47 M86 $250 - $750.
BDU's- OD CF and Flectarn (and boonies etc,) - $250.
mags- 8 lowcap CA - $160.
LB rig - US surplus (woodland) - $ 25.
Boots, gloves, accessories - - $200.
Facemask/goggles - - $ 35.
Ammo- - $ 50.
-----------
TOTAL $ 1470.

still need to add a sidearm, and mags ... add some basic upgrades to 2 guns...... say add another $530. And you get a GRAND TOTAL of $2000. You could maybe get away with a little less, but probably around $1500 would be a good starting budget. And like golf equipment, there will be more. LMFAO

[L473ncy]

My costs:

-Unknown M4-------------------$450
-5 STAR Lo-caps-----------------$45
-Fleck Tunic---------------------$30
-Fleck pants--------------------$30
-Springer-----------------------$80
-Boots (hiking boots from MEC)-~$90
-Goggles------------------------$40
-Mask--------------------------$60
_______________________________
_______________________________
Total-----------------------~~$825

Theres some more stuff I'm going to purchase at a later date but most of my stuff I can use in real life. ie. hikers when I decide to do the Baden Powell trail or for a hike, (I use runners or those cross-hiker/runners for the Grouse Grind). Other things like the BDU's can be worn to be one of the "cool" kids (cause army stuff is in style these days).

Planning to get a keffiyah (some people call it a shemagh) cause it will make me that much cooler, and all the cool kids have them. Plus it keeps you quite warm if you wrap it up properly (It's NOT a fucking scarf).

[panda86]

One thing I would caution, it's easy to over budget and overspend when first starting out. I would say: get what you REALLY need to play, and keep the nice to haves for later. You don't need a red dot to play, etc.. You don't need "authentic real steel" this an that just to get started.

You'll probably find after a handful of games that you will upgrade things anyways. Save that for later when you have more money.

AEG - $500 (should come with battery, charger and 1 magazine. If not you need to factor that in) Get something good that can be upgraded.
Spare mags - Ehobby has M4 ones for $45 for 8 100rd mags
Eye protection (paintball mask / goggles) - $80
Vest - start cheap, get something better when your skills match. Again, Ehobby has full molle vests for as little at $30. It even comes with pouches already.
BDU's - just get used surplus BDU's for now, they can be had for as little as $50 for a top and bottom for used gear.

The only thing I would recommend getting on top of that is gloves (maybe you can re-use something you have like mountain bike gloves, etc..) and some outdoor footwear, and a hat / head covering of some kind.

Don't think you have to get the best of everything right from the get go. I still use a $30 vest from Ehobby and it works just fine.

[Capt.Flan]

1500$

[Dao]

Around $1000 here for initial startup cost.
Now i don't even bother or dare to count

[KNIVEZS]

guns----$0.00 (rentals)---$35.00
BDU----$220.00
Boots---$100.00
Vest(IBA and MC)--$500.00
goggles---$45.00
PASGT helmet---$80.00
ACU Boonie---$20.00
Knee pads---$30.00
Balaclava----$10.00
BB`s----$15.00
=$1055

[TokyoSeven]

Every so often a thread like this pops up, and the answer is usually the same, roughly 1000 dollars for an estimated start. However with paitence, determination, effort and a little bit of luck its easy to get into airsoft for a fair bit less and still not lose out on those things you need. The last time a thread like this popped up it was stated that one could start airsoft for as low as 500 dollars. Doing this was achieved via buying a kraken or a great priced gun out of the ASC classifieds for 2-300 ( Sometimes even batteries and magazines can be included as well). Costs were also kept down by buying just what was needed, fair quality paintball mask for $60, surplused BDUs for 60 dollars, and spare battery and charger for 80. Thanks to asian overseas retailers one could also purchase a box of magazines for as low as 50 dollars plus shipping and even a chest rig for as low 20 (quality may vary) plus shipping. So as you can see from my list above its possible for someone to get into airsoft initially for as low as 500 dollars. They may not have all the lovely bells and whistles that most milsimmers carry but its definately enough to get them playing for a few games. With the starting cost of 1000, one can definately up the amount spent on an AEG, but if one was paitent they could snag a beautiful deal on classifieds.

[FOX_111]

My first purchaces where like that. Back in 2002.

TM G36c + 2 lowcaps and small batterie all brand new 450$ (Yes.. it was cheap back then)
Bollé goggles 40$ ich
G36 compatible tactical vest 200$
PASGT replica 40$
BDU 120$
Gloves 30$

total: 880$

The rest I already have.

In 2008, the same kit would cost above 1000$, unless the AEG was cheaper or used.

[L473ncy]

Word of caution, DONT LOWBALL IT. Sure you don't need to spend $2000 to start but don't cheap out on everything.

ie. I could buy a computer that does all I need for $800 or I could get a super OMGWTFBBQ!!!11oneone11 computer for $2000 OR I could also lowball it and get a computer that doesn't meet my needs and I won't be a happy camper for $450. Which should I choose?

Probably the $800 one right?

Remember you get what you put into it, I'm not telling you to put $2000 to start but ~$600-800 should do you good. If you cheap out and go to CT well all I can say is, god speed on the field.

Here's a list of things to get:

Kraken
a few mags off the classifieds
a set of BDU's from Daves (New West in case you're ever in Van city) dstactical.com you should be a happy camper,
maybe a vest or a dropleg subload (with mag pouches, not a holster).

Other way is to get a mid or hi-cap mag so you don't need to carry too many mags when you go out on the field and don't need a vest (1 in gun and 1 in a pocket or something).

[Schlyder]

And it would depend on what your play style is. If you are more into milsim than skirmishes or cqb, I think the cost is a little more, ie: real or lowcaps, etc, but that is more for the overall sim experience. You don't need as much to get your feet wet. But you WILL aquire more. Resistance is futile. Welcome to the Darkside.