Hot Airsoft Scene in Portland, Oregon

Airsoft is one of the latest extreme-sports to take off, especially on the West Coast. Portland, Oregon is no exception to this craze, with multiple airsoft organizations, stores and arenas popping up. Airsoft is a game similar to paintball, except the players use guns that fire plastic bbs instead of paintballs, the gear tends to be military-style in style, and most games are played outdoors. Interested in learning more about the Portland airsoft scene? Check out these tips!

Airsoft Pacific is the organization to be at least aware of for awesome airsoft in the Portland, Oregon area. They are perhaps the best-organized and offer the most comprehensive resources for airsoft players in this Pacific Northwest region. Airsoft Pacific, or AP for short, hosts many airsoft events each year, all quite well-designed and planned out, attracting players from as far away as Seattle and California. I have attended several of these events, including a fantastic one in the hills of St. Helens, Oregon, during the winter. A snow storm blew in during the event, but everyone kept right on playing, soaking in the awesome (and cold!) atmosphere for some truly memorable airsoft.

AP does have fairly strict membership requirements, including (at least when I was active) a 18+ age limit. Those younger are welcome to post on the AP forum and even attend some of the airsoft events (with proper waivers and parental permission slips). The 18+ membership riles some people, but it's to keep the Airsoft Pacific team professional and respected. Check out their stellar website at http://www.airsoftpacific.com/. Not only is the AP forum the best place to find out about upcoming airsoft events in the Portland, Oregon area, but the website also offers a great gallery of past events and team members, a buy/sell area, and articles on airsoft section(s). Definitely the very important group for the Portland, Oregon airsoft scene!

AP is just one of the many organizations for airsoft in the Portland area, and most groups have their own playing fields and locations. AP maintains a dedicated club list, helping those looking for other groups find what fits for them. While most games are played on private fields, there are a few dedicated airsoft arenas in the Pacific Northwest. One of the more prominent ones in Portland is the Oregon Airsoft Arena, in Hillsboro, Oregon. They have a variable schedule, so check out their website at http://www.oregon-airsoft.com/ for game times and special events. Field use fee is $15 and max FPS is 350 fps, so make sure your airsoft gun is chronoed correctly!
Another field option is right across the river in Vancouver, Washington. Check out Xtremez, also known as Paintball Online, about 20 minutes from downtown Portland. They have a huge online store, plus a brick-and-mortar location in Vancovuer, with an airsoft selection and a speedball field. I've heard they do allow airsoft events on the speedball field, so consider giving them a call or looking up their website at http://www.paintball-online.com/ for more information.