Getting started in airsoft can seem like a list of endless chores where you need to purchase products from a never-ending shopping list. Most people can notice right away that many of the airsoft products that are pushed as essentials aren’t even necessary to play airsoft. One of these is the airsoft vest.
You do not need a vest to play airsoft, though well-padded clothing can reduce the pain you might feel when playing airsoft. Playing without a vest can improve your speed and increase your pain tolerance, making you a more confident airsoft player.
Having said that, there are advantages and disadvantages to wearing a vest to your airsoft games. In this article, you will learn more about those pros and cons. Moreover, you will find out the best ways to minimize pain from airsoft pellets when playing without a vest.
Can You Play Airsoft Without A Vest?
You can play airsoft without a vest. The only piece of protective equipment deemed mandatory by most airsoft fields is eye protection. As long as your eyes are fully covered, you can play airsoft in your PJs.
That said, just because you can doesn’t mean you should. Playing airsoft without a vest can open you up to the pain of impact. I have a separate post on whether airsoft BBs hurt, but regardless of the degree of pain an airsoft bullet causes, you’re better off protecting yourself.
There are a few instances where playing airsoft without a vest makes sense. Here are the contexts where you should play airsoft without a vest:
- You’re trying to develop pain tolerance – airsoft BBs sting, but the pain isn’t anything one cannot tolerate. One way to train your tolerance is to play airsoft without wearing overprotective gear. Abandoning your vest can improve your pain tolerance and on-field confidence.
- No vests are available, but you want to play – If you can’t find a vest and want to play, you should not let its unavailability keep you from playing. Airsoft games aren’t always played by vest-clad players. Many wear casual tee shirts yet perform very well.
- You feel uncomfortable in a vest – The most valid reason to ditch your airsoft vest is that it makes you uncomfortable. In tactical games, the most comfortable players have the luxury of focus and strategic response. If you feel at ease without a vest, you should play airsoft without a vest, but you must be willing to pay the price.
The Consequences Of Not Wearing An Airsoft Vest
The price of playing airsoft without a vest is primarily the pain that you feel from torso shots. The table below covers the pros and cons of not wearing a vest in airsoft.
| Pros of not wearing a vest in airsoft | Cons of not wearing a vest in airsoft |
| You develop pain tolerance | You might be nervous initially because you’re not as protected |
| You can move more easily | airsoft pellets can hurt you |
| You are not slowed down by your clothing | You might not get closer to other players because the lower-distance shots hurt more. |
| You don’t heat up too quickly | You might be cold if you play in a cold environment |
| You can play without a lot of preparation (special clothing articles) | |
| You are incentivized to dodge pellets since they hurt more. |
Ultimately, the pros of not wearing a vest are many, but the single perk of wearing it trumps them all. And that perk is pain avoidance. Humans are wired to avoid pain, and that’s why airsoft players choose clothing that can minimize pain from airsoft BBs.
Having said that, I must mention that there are plenty of clothing articles that aren’t vests but are just as good at protecting you from pain and pellet impact.
How To Stay Protected Without A Vest In Airsoft
If you choose to play airsoft without a vest, you have two ways to avoid pain. The first is to camp where you are covered. This is the least painful solution but is also the least fun. It reduces your active game time and is not even considered in the spirit of the sport.
The best way to stay protected without a vest in airsoft is to get a padded shirt to minimize the pain of direct hits. An airsoft vest adds an extra layer to your clothing, which can be uncomfortable.
But when you get a padded shirt, you wear a single article and are sufficiently protected. Since airsoft pellets don’t even hurt that much, you can get away with wearing a thick shirt.
My recommendation for a shirt that can replace your vest in airsoft is Jellybro Men’s Padded Suit. The main reason I prefer this suit over a protective vest is that it is used in soccer, which requires more running around than airsoft.
Most airsoft-specific clothing ironically hinders movement making it harder for the wearer to move, run, crouch, or move with ease. The Jellybro suit takes a little getting used to but is, ultimately, great at balancing protection with movement.
It has a chest and rib protector alongside padding over shoulders and arms. It is primarily targeted toward soccer players and is also cited by the manufacturer as a good choice for paintball.
In any protective clothing article, you look for two things: mobility and protection. The Jellybro padded suit is meant for football players who need more mobility than airsoft players. It is also marketed to paintball players who have to be protected from more painful projectiles than airsoft pellets.
This suit, therefore, is more movement-friendly and protective than you need. It has over a thousand reviews which collectively add up to 4.2 stars on a 5-star scale. 80% of the verified customers have given it 4 or 5 stars, while only 12% have given it a poor rating.
Final Thoughts
You do not need a vest to play airsoft because it is not mandated by most airsoft fields. However, a vest can minimize the pain of getting shot in the torso, which is the most targeted area in airsoft games. You can play airsoft without a vest to train your tolerance or improve your speed, but you will have to pay the price when an airsoft BB makes contact with your chest, abdomen, or back.