Airsoft looks cool when seen from a distance, but before you start dreaming about cool guns and badass gear, I have to tell you the truth. The game is completely amazing and it will teach you a lot about friendship, teamwork, tactics, leadership, and more. But it’s also messy (especially when played outdoors) and requires a lot from your fitness level.
When I first started I was in a pretty good physical shape, but after my first real game, where I had to crouch for hours and maintain a constant state of alertness, I was completely wiped out. So much so, that I thought you can draw a line between airsoft and other outdoor activities that also ask a lot from your muscles.
Running or Jogging
While you are on the field, you have to be moving at all times (unless you’re a sniper). Regardless of the fact that you are looking for the perfect hiding spot or you’ve just found a way to surprise the enemy from behind, you are always running towards the next step in the game.
This makes you a difficult target but also keeps your heart pumping faster. Not to mention that you’ll be carrying one or two airsoft guns (which can get heavy if you only shop from the best airsoft brands!). So, considering the amount of cardio exercise, I think we can safely compare running to airsoft!
Hiking
If the airsoft game happens outdoors, you will do a lot of hiking without even trying! Most outside games are organized in forests or areas with hills and other natural hiding spots that make the action a lot more difficult. Try a more pumped-up adventure and hyped outdoor activity using a Gel Blaster – experience the eco-friendly gear for a fun outdoor activity.
The gun, ammo, and protective gear can be considered the extra weight a hacker would have to carry in their backpack. However, airsoft is a lot more alert than general hiking, so I believe it’s best to compare it with mountain running.
Overall, both activities help develop muscles and keep the heart pounding, improving blood circulation and replenishing the oxygen supply. When practiced at a constant rate, both activities build endurance: for instance, now I can play for hours and hours without feeling completely depleted at the end. Sure, I get tired, but it feels good!
Tennis or any other Hand-eye coordination Game
It is a well-known fact that games where you have to hit a ball in order to make it follow a certain trajectory develop hand-eye coordination. The same happens with airsoft – only you have to shoot a tiny, tiny ball (the BB is practically a ball), at high-speed, while crouching behind an obstacle.
As a result, you will be a lot more gracious and coordinated in your daily activities. Not to mention that you’ll learn to move without making too much noise, a skill that can come in handy in a crowded office.
Finally, just like in tennis, your reaction time will be shorter and each reaction will be better calculated with practice. So, besides being better coordinated, you’ll also be swifter and more gracious.
Nature Walks
We should be out in nature a lot more than we do! It is a scientifically proven fact that walking in a forest or simply strolling through a field lowers stress levels and puts the mind at ease. Not to mention, walking is a fantastic exercise!
As an airsoft player you’ll do all sorts of walk variations, from slow to rapid, from crawling to jumping, and so on. But you’ll also be outside, surrounded by nature, breathing fresh air and exposing yourself to the elements (wind, sun, rain, and even snow).
The cool thing in airsoft is that you don’t really care about the elements. As long as the protective gear is well-designed, your mind will be able to focus on the game and you won’t even care that you’re a little bit cold or wet. On the other hand, when you’re just walking, a bit of cold may send you running towards shelter.
In Conclusion
These are only a few of the outdoor activities that I think compare with airsoft, but there are more. This game is extremely complex and has tons of benefits for both the mind and the body, which is why I recommend you at least try it! If you don’t like it, you can move on to the next thing, but if you do, you’ll have a healthy hobby for the rest of your life!
