I’d like to get this out of the way right off the bat: nothing you can buy will improve your tactical laser tag game. There’s a few things you can buy that will help make playing your best at laser tag easier, but nothing will, by itself, make you a better player.
…but again, there are a few things that will help you show off your best laser tag game with less effort and in more circumstances. In roughly the order that I would prioritize them, the items below can be really helpful.
Mike’s recommended advanced kit includes:
Tactical boots – A good pair of boots that goes above the ankle sure can feel like they weigh a ton, but they’re absolutely the first thing I’d get if I were just starting an advanced laser tag kit. Look for the kind that are built more like a sneaker with ankle support, rather than a heavy work-style boot. While you can find lots of expensive models for police and military you don’t necessarily need to spend a ton. Wal-Mart has a cheap pair that work great AND are waterproof for about $30. If you’re going to spend a bunch, features that are nice to have are (in no real particular order) plastic lace hooks at the top (as opposed to metal hooks or eyelets), and a reinforced toe (doesn’t have to be steel). Incidentally, a few pairs of thicker boot- or work-socks make things more comfortable, too, especially as you break in the boots. (Don’t believe them if they say no breaking in is necessary.)
Hat – Get a hat you like, that is comfortable, and is in subdued colors, whether that’s camo or a solid print. Not only will you not have to borrow one of our hats (which are occasionally a bit small or uncomfortable) but it’ll make you more recognizable as yourself on the field for both teammates and opponents (who might steer clear of you as a result).
Your own personal set of camo – Used military BDUs are almost always found in surplus stores for $5-10 per piece (top and bottoms). You can also find hunting clothes on sale in various stores. My personal preference is for BDUs because they have that slightly heavier canvas-ish fabric and they cushion against branches, etc. better as a result. A personal set is always more comfortable, you know exactly who’s been wearing them, and you can control exactly which print or colors you want.
Water bottle – Whether you have a hydration pack or just a one-liter bottle (or two!) clipped together, having your own water on-hand means that you’ll never be thirsty. Dehydration slows down your body much faster than hunger, and believe it or not, thirst is actually the first sign that your body gives you that you’re already getting dehydrated. Drink ahead of your thirst and you’ll be able to perform better on the laser tag field.
Gloves – A good pair of gloves does a few things for you, including insulating your hand from the laser tag gun in cold weather (metal guns get cold!), helping you keep your grip when your hands are sweaty, and giving you a bit more purchase on the gun so that when you aim your hands aren’t sliding. Get a pair with rubber dots (they hold onto the gun best) that are thin and lightweight. Your hands are going to roast if the gloves don’t have proper ventilation. The “blue rubber” knitted gloves that are so cheap and prevalent are going to cook your hands. Look for lighter gloves like Mechanic’s gloves. I bought mine for under $10 at Harbor Freight. I also keep a spare pair of fingerless gloves on me too, though, just in case.
Other things you might want in your kit (but take more time/money)
A rifle sling – I have good news and bad news on this front. The bad news is that most slings available on the market won’t fit the laser tag guns we use. In general laser tag equipment uses thicker chunks of cheaper metal than a real gun would use, which means that slings are generally built to attach to a smaller point than you can find on a tactical laser tag gun. That said, you can easily make a sling out of 1.5″ webbing, a few triglides, and a buckle for far less than you would otherwise spend on a commercial sling. I’ve personally rigged up 1-, 2-, and 3-point slings and found them all to be only mediocre for most tactical laser tag purposes. Among other issues, not every gun has proper mounts to attach a sling! After a lot of experimentation the best solution ended up being ridiculously simple: A single loop of webbing with a regular (parachute) buckle and a triglide on each side to keep the ends nice and tucked away. In many ways it’s a simple 1-point sling without a swivel or nice harness, but not only will it attach nicely to the assault rifles and pulse rife, but also to the Commando’s handle/scope mount. Once you start using a sling for your laser tag play make sure you learn how to use the sling properly. A properly-used sling will help stabilize your aim, but a poorly-utilized sling will either just hang loose or even get in your way and prevent a good grip on the laser tag gun.
Tactical or Load-Bearing Vest – Once you get used to playing laser tag with either a tactical vest or LBV you’ll probably never want to go back. The single best advantage to them is that they protect your chest and back from getting stabbed, poked, scraped and cut by branches, rocks, etc. We use mock plate carriers (bulletproof vests) all the time to separate teams, but you can easily find thinner, lighter weight vests that will still protect you. Feel free, too, to attach a few small pouches to the MOLLE (pronounced “molly”) loops but be aware that you might end up on a team that’s wearing vests, so either put the pouches on the sides and plan to wear the team vest over your vest or be ready to pull the vest and switch to the team vest if need be. Again, you probably want to buy this in a surplus store. I’ve seen them for as cheap as $25, but you’ll probably be looking at $40-50 most of the time. Check back with your favorite store over time to see if they get a cheap one.
Rifle Stabilizer (and appropriate belt) – Ok, I know that I said that nothing can make you play better all by yourself. This product, though, guarantees you that you’ll be able to shoot better wearing it. (I haven’t seen anyone else make one, so I’m linking the actual manufacturer’s page.) Basically, instead of supporting the laser tag gun with two hands and arms, you support it with one hand and use the other to hold the gun to a rod connected securely at your hip. This reduces the movement in your shooting, which helps you make more precise shots faster. Do a search and you might find one for less than $35 (the MSRP).
Ghille – Here’s the thing about ghille (pronounced “gilly”): if you use it right you’ll be really hard to spot BUT you might not play quite as much because you’ll be sitting motionless in the laser tag field somewhere. If you use it wrong, though, you’ll be far easier to spot! Rather than buying a “wookie suit” from your local surplus or hunting store I recommend making your own. The single best how-to I’ve found will have you in your own, hand-made ghille for under $50 and you’ll know it was made for the colors you most wanted to emphasize. Regardless of how you get your ghille, remember that it’s not an invisibility cloak. Your eyes are attracted both to movement and to human shapes/colors. Ghille is great at breaking up your shape and appearance, but if you start running with it you’ll stick out like a sore thumb.