HI Guys, Well im pretty new to the world of airsofting, been playing a year...Well the idea of reenacting a US Paratrooper dawned on me at my first ever game. Saw to guys in GI and Airbourne loadouts..ever since ive been toying with the idea and well..nows the time.
So im looking at the various retailers that sell the M1942 Jump suits, and its kinda dawned on that there's a wide variety of prices... I've heard of AFT, SoF, WPG. I've looked at all 3 websites.
Now im sure there's alot of you that have bought from these guys, so im interested in the quality, look and feel.
I have about £400 to spend on the total loadout. (not including the helmet, and AEG)
Apologies if this question has been answered a hundred times over.
Some useful information on the CIA web site here - kit, prices and suppliers:
http://www.ww2airsoft.org.uk/zoom/us-ranger.html
http://www.ww2airsoft.org.uk/zoom/us-82-airb.html
Don't go paratrooper! 
have a look at epic militeria, I have found them to very good and as I said in a previous thread, very good at customer service.
http://www.epicmilitaria.com
Julian is a good lad an their US kit is not to expensive. I can only say about their german stuff, but I've always been pleased with it.
Very reasonable prices... 
I've looked at German Loadouts aswell...and im thinking eventually i'll have both...
As long as you dont do US airborne then thats great, i recently got my friend into WW2 airsoft in we found that the cheapest kit and best is the US Infantry loadout, and as the 1st infantry fought constantly throught the war mostly in the same kit then they are a perfect choice, *hint*, *hint* 
Nah its gotta be Airbourne for me..im affraid. Always liked them...way before SPR and BOB.
Well if thats what you realy want, its your choice after all, i mean it's not as if there is a huge amount of airborne compared to any other unit hahah as if i say that but then eventualy il end up getting one.
SoF's jumpsuits were just £60 last time I looked and I'm not sure you'll get anything cheaper than that.
Ours are SoF and we've had no problems with them.
Other people will complain about the crotches splitting on them but ours have been fine - just don't lie about your waist size and buy ones that fit.
Well theres these http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/WW2-US-M42-Airbor ... m153.l1262
On the SOF website there's a few different jumpsuits ranging in price...Can someone tell me the difference between them...
1) M42 un-reinforced jump suit : This jumpsuit is pre normandy, used in operation Huskey ans is unreinforced, ie it doesnt have the green patches on the knees and shoulders that the other jumpsuits use.
2) 101st Airborne Jump suit : This one seems to be more exspencive just because it says 101st it comes with 101st insignia, but appears to be a different colour to the other jumpsuit.
3) M42 Jump suit : Normal jumpsuit without insignia with reinforces knees and shoulders issued for D-Day seems to be slightly more brown than the 101st jumpsuit.
4) The one in the link i gave you, the cheapes and is the same colour as the 101st JS also comes with a side pocket and insignia for either 101st or 82nd.
Hope that helps a bit.
Remember as well we are very laid back about kit, some of us really push the boat out and go as accurate as possible, others for an impression to start. One thing for a fact is you will get more and more selective as time goes on. God knows my wardrobe looks like german high command. 
There is a difference between the quality of the fabrics too.
I have a WPG one (I think, might be ATF) which is a very thick cotton and and reinforcements are oiled canvas. It's very hard wearing. At Churchill's Revenge (the wettest airsoft game in the history of the universe) my upper body was dry underneath the jumpsuit because of the thickness of the fabric.
Some of the cheaper jumpsuits I've seen, particularly Chinese ones, use a cotton fabric that is no thicker that a regular fashion jacket which is obviously not great for rampaging through brambles and urban sites.
You pays your money, you takes your choice.
The more you pay, in general, the better the quality. What Price Glory and At the Front ones are excellent but cost.
SoF, in my 5 years experience of occasionally using them, supply not-that-great-stuff at a high price. Of course, some people have had better experiences.
You'd be much better off sourcing your kit at militaria fairs. The War and Peace Show at Beltring being the best of them really. The kit is often good quality, competitively priced (especially if you haggle late on Sunday afternoon!) and you can pick up some really good original stuff.
Go for what you can afford, but don't cut corners if you can help it because, if you're anything like me, you'll waste money and only want to buy the proper stuff down the line.
Cheers
HS
Thanks guys. I think im gonna buy a cheaper but still good quality jumpsuit and spend the cash on the extras, like the webbing, boots & weapon. Got the helmet already.
