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I've been into airsoft for about four years now. I enjoyed paintball a great deal, and when the paintball field I play at started hosting airsoft events and selling the guns, I was sold in a heartbeat. The realistic look of the guns and the awesome outfits were enough to get me hooked on first glance. Within a few weeks, I had bought myself an m4a1 (the pre-RIS system version) and the corresponding accessories to go with it. For almost a year I hung out on the airsoftcanada website and enjoyed the company of the people there, but then things started to change.
The airsoft community I had been a part of suddenly became altogether more serious than I was interested in. People started forming teams that wore uniforms and played exclusively together. Tactical vests, kevlar helmets, frs radio systems and ski masks became the normal attire at an airsoft event. Myself, I just like to go out in a t-shirt and camo pants and mess around in the woods having fun shooting each other for a few hours in a safe and controlled environment. Suddenly with the addition of all this tactical gear, people were getting very uptight about who was allowed to play and who just didn't have cool enough gear to be invited out anymore. Also, people wearing several layers of clothing would often not be able to tell when my stock gun was hitting them. Without spending money on upgrades, my gun was bouncing off of their vests and helmets without them noticing. To me this seemed ridiculous. We were often playing in temperatures reaching into the high 90s, and here were guys wearing ski masks and 2 or 3 layers of restrictive clothing. The sport that I had previously enjoyed had become pretty frustrating to play, and events often turned into several cliquey groups squaring off against each other more off the field than on. Those of us who weren't part of a team were quickly turned off by the bickering and the name calling that flew back and forth between the more dedicated players.
Don't get me wrong. I enjoy airsoft for what it is. I still have my m4, and it sits in a display case in my house awaiting the day when I find some sane people to play with. My advice to anyone planning on getting into airsoft is to go out to an event before you even buy a gun. Talk to the players, see how the community works together and how often you'll actually be using your gun. It's also a good idea to buy your gun locally. You might pay an additional $50 or $100 for your weapon, but you've then eliminated all risk of having your gun seized by customs. For me, a Canadian, this is a HUGE issue. Privately importing airsoft guns is virtually impossible in Canada these days, so it's advisable to buy your gun from a local retailer. This also gives you the added bonus of having someone you can talk to face to face about things. Upgrades, accessories and advice are all that much easier to get when you buy your gun in person.
Think hard about what you're buying an airsoft gun for before you get one. Paintball can be played virtually anywhere, anytime. There's always someone out there on a recreational field having a paintball game. Airsoft events are often few and far between, and sometimes invitation only. Learn what is the norm in your area BEFORE you drop a big wad of cash.
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