As the Sport of Airsoft grows in popularity today, many enthusiasts of both the Sport of Airsoft and the Sport of Paintball have debated over the differences and similarities, in the comparisons of both sports. Questions eventually come to the following: Which sport is better? What sport is more cost effective? What is the difference between Airsoft guns and Paintball guns? Finally, which sport is geared toward a larger demographic of people? I will briefly examine both sides of the Airsoft and Paintball argument and hopefully come to an opinion on which sport is emerging and which sport is fading out.

The initial argument between the Sport of Airsoft and the Sport of Paintball has been the cost differences between each sport. However, if you take a closer look at the costs for each sport you will find that both sports have an initial investment. For both sports, if you want to get completely decked out in every form of equipment available you are looking to spend up into the hundreds of dollars and sometimes into the thousands. There are variations in the pricing, but let's say you use tons of ammo in Airsoft and not so much (which I think is unlikely) in Paintball then you will spend more on ammo for Airsoft (again this is very unlikely). This money can be spent over a period of time if you are not seriously trying to compete in the sports.

Most people continue to talk about the costs and how one sport is cheaper than the other but it depends on what you want and what you are looking for in each sport that will actually determine what you will spend. This includes everything from the gun, equipment and ammo, to the upgrades. In other words, either sport can be relatively cheap or relatively expensive, it all depends on you.

So if the money is not so important (well it's important to most, and trust me I am all about getting the best for my money) what are the differences between the sports that one can draw a clear contrast about? What makes one sport different from the other? One of the major differences are the guns for each sport.

All Paintball guns, also known as "Markers," have a similar style and look, only varying in specifications rather than in styles. There's not much more to the variations except the quality and effectiveness of the Paintball guns. There is hardly any diversity or character when it comes to each gun simply because they are made to specifications.

Airsoft guns have 1:1 scale replicas. This means they actually look like the real thing, so much so that all the guns come with a federally mandated orange tip. It is interesting to note that these guns also come with metal components making even the weight of the replica guns very similar to the actual gun. Plus, you can find many of the guns that you would have some interest in using, like an M16, Sniper Rifle, or an AK47. Some would say this is scary, but others (including the Airsoft enthusiast) would consider this a great way to own an arsenal that is not lethal, nor illegal for that matter.

I know the reader might be saying that as far as cost's are concerned, "one cannot draw a conclusion on which sport out does the other," but as we have looked into the matter deeper we have found that realistic attributes can make a big difference in what you would want to participate in. In fact it makes all the difference for me!

In this part one of The Sport of Airsoft vs. The Sport of Paintball we have concluded that that money or cost has no bearing on whether the Sport of Airsoft is better than the Sport of Paintball.