Milsim Camping Guide

If you're an airsoft enthusiast and you haven't been to a MilSim event yet, you have no idea what you're missing. With the squad-based game play, multiday missions andmuch more it's no wonder so many airsoft players aspire to participate in these events.

Some MilSim events can run anywhere from 24 to 48 hours if not longer. That means you'll need to bring some camping equipment along to help you weather the cold nights. If you come ill prepared, you'll likely find the experience very unpleasant indeed.

We've prepared a guide to help get you on the right track when it comes to bringing along the proper camping gear. We're not promising you'll be the most comfortable in the world, but you'll certainly be well equipped to spend the night in the great outdoors during a MilSim event. 

With that being said, let's dive into the guide.

1) Camping supplies

First things first, let's talk about the essential camping gear you should bring along. In most cases, you'll want to considerbringing the following:

• Fire starting tools
• Sleeping bag
• Tent
• Lantern
• Food

You would think the above list is pretty standard, but you'd be surprised how many players show up to multiday MilSim events ill-prepared to handle the camping conditions. You certainly don't want to be that guy who shows up with nothing but his gun and a few bags of ammo!

Lanterns and fire starters

The two things you'll sorely need during a night operation (or simply camping it out with your squad) islight and warmth. That's where lanterns and fire starters come into play. Nothing's worse than being cold and miserable all night due to a lack of fire. Furthermore, having light is always a good idea at night. That way you can be on the lookout for hazards such as protruding roots orsnakes. Plus, it helps to have a lantern on hand if you have to relieve yourself in the dead of night. Bringing along a lantern and fire starters will undoubtedly make your situation much more bearable.

Tents and sleeping bags

Tents and sleeping bags are another essential part of your camping loadout. Tents provide shelter against the elements such as wind and rain. With that being said, the better you are at tearing down and setting up your tent the more comfortable your experience will be. The worst time to learn how to handle your tent is while the MilSim event is underway. Therefore, practice at home until you're relatively comfortable with the setup/teardown process.

Bringing along a sleeping bag will provide extra warmth and comfort. It'll also provide a layer between you and the ground which should offer comfort from small rocks and bugs.

Food

It's easy enough to remember your basic camping gear, but who stops to think that they'll need to bring along read-to-eat meals while they're completing objectives and getting into firefights? Unsurprisingly, food is often overlooked in multiday MilSim games. However, you'll undoubtedly regret not bringing along something to eat when you're in your 10th hour and your stomach is rumbling during a lull in the combat.

Now, when it comes to the type of food you should bring along you should pack more than just protein bars and trail mix. While those are fine for a quick snack, you'll still need a meal to sustain you during the event. You'll be burning a lot of calories (we guarantee you'll be doing a lot of running, ducking and crawling throughout the event).

MREs (Meals-Ready-to-Eat) is an excellent option to bring along. The beauty of an MRE is that all you have to do is add a bit of water and set it to the side for a few minutes, then you'll have a piping hot meal! Canned food with easy open tops is also an option. It's also a good idea to bring along a small camp stove. That way if you or any of your other squadmates want to warm anything up you'll be at the ready.

2) Gear appropriate for all types of weather

You might have all the appropriate camping gear with you, but you'll really kick yourself if you get caught in a rainstorm unprepared. Getting sick during your first night will definitely ruin the rest of your MilSim experience.

Standard airsoft gear should be able to stand up to a good rain shower, but you should avoid getting drenched if you can help it. Bringing along a poncho is a good idea if you expect rain showers during the event.

Rain, however, isn't the only weather conditions you'll have to contend with. In hot conditions where the sun is beating down on you relentlessly bring along short sleeve clothing and sunscreen. You should also consider lightening the gear you decide to bring onto the field to reduce strain. Every little bit helps when you're trying to keep cool!

Additionally, if you're dealing with a cold and windy climate, you'll want to bring along thick gloves, extra socks and thermal layering underneath your airsoft vest. Get into the habit of checking weather conditions as you're prepping for MilSim events. That way you'll always show up with the appropriate gear.

3) Extra gear

If there's one certainty with multiday MilSim airsoft events, it's that your gear will definitely fail on you at some point. You don't want to be caught in a situation where your gear fails on you, and you're left with no options to continue playing.

Therefore, you should bring plenty of extra gear. Instead of bringing along four magazines, think about bringing six to eight. Instead of bringing one AEG, bring along two; one that you can carry on your person and one that you leave in your car as a backup. With that being said, make sure you're carrying a secondary with you to keep yourself in the battle if your primary goes down when you need it most.

Think about bringing extra socks, shirts, and underwear. If you run into an unexpected rain shower and you end up getting soaked, it'll be good to be able to switch to something dry and comfortable.

Just remember Murphy's Law: "If anything can go wrong, it will!"

Be prepared for this eventuality by having extra gear with you at all times.

4) Required items

Each MilSim event is different. Where some aren't very stringent, others require you to bring along essential items. Therefore check the requirements of the event you'll be attending. In some cases, you'll even be required to carry all of your gear into the field. If that's the case, you'll want to pack light which means you may even have to eliminate some of the more nonessential gear from your kit.

This is one of the most important tips we can give you in this guide. Make sure you know exactly what the rules require before packing your car full of gear. You may or may not have to remove a few items!

Preparation equals more fun

At the end of the day, airsoft MilSim events are all about having fun. If you're prepared for the camping aspect of the event, you'll enjoy yourself immensely. However, if you're cold, wet and miserable because you didn't bring along the right gear, you'll definitely diminish the experience.

This list is not all-inclusive, but it should give you a general idea of some of the gear you should consider bringing along to make your experience more fun and memorable. While MilSim events are often competitive try to make an effort to make new friends and have fun!

Featured Image Credit: Tech. Sgt. James StewartIn Post Image Credit: Monoart/  Pixabay