If it doesn't cost you hundreds of dollars, it's worthless. There's this 'cheap' version of airsoft they sell in big stores, but they're really just toys for kids. You want something that can shoot BBs at a velocity of a -least- 250 feet per second (non-upgraded).
For AEGs and low-end spring pistols, the best is Tokyo Marui. If you want a gas gun, there's Tokyo Marui, Classic Army, Western Arms, and a couple others.
There's three main types of airsoft guns. Actually there's four, but the fourth one is useless.
Heck I'll just tell you about it right away so you can forget about it and never bring it up again. :p
They're called EBB (electric blow back) guns. They're grossly inacurate, and you could shoot one directly into your palm at point blank range and not feel a thing. If you're planning to get an EBB, do yourself a favor and get a straw instead. Or yet, throw BBs with your hands.
AEGs (automatic electric gun) are the most common kind of airsoft guns. They're operated from a small or large regargable NiCD battery and can fire on semi-automatic or full automatic. The battery powers a set of gears that pull back a spring attached to a piston that propells the BB. Basicly if you're getting started, you should be getting one of these. They're relatively low-maintenance and come in variety.
Then, there's gas guns. Cheaper gas guns operate on duster gas (stuff you use to clean your keyboard). The better quality (full metal) gas guns use green gas, or propane + silicone oil. You fill the mag with gas, and when you pull the trigger, the gas expands and propells the BB. They make some pretty good sidearms, but they're expensive. Another downside is that they don't function very well, or at all in cold temperatures.
Spring guns are semi-automatic only. Meaning that everytime you shoot, you have to cock them. Most spring guns are sidearms (cheap 100$ springers) or shotguns (slightly more expensive) but you also have high-end sniper rifles that cost anywhere from 500 to 2000$.
That's a mistake. Get one from an online store. It's your best bet. Alot of guns on Ebay are of the cheap variety I talked about earlier, and they may not be in their best condition.
Nearly all AEGs perform the same. It's really just a question of looks. Here's a couple of factors that affect performance;
-The size of the battery (bigger batteries last longer)
-The material used (typically ABS plastic or metal. The material isn't always indicative of how solid a gun is. For example, the cocking handle on MP5 variants -always- breaks. They're generally very fragile guns. However, AK variants are very solid and feel just like metal)
-The barrel lenght (longer barrel means more accuracy, shorter barrel means more maneuvrability)
So in short, there really isn't a gun better than the other.
Tokyo Marui has them all.
You can use goggles or a paintball mask.
Most airsoft players use balistic goggles. The downside is that, even if your goggles are designed to stop a shotgun blast, they won't let you wear them on paintball fields (unless they're paintball goggles) Also, you run the risk of getting mouth injuries (chipped tooth).
Paintball masks are allowed everywhere and protect your whole face. The downside is that they make using the iron sights on some guns nearly impossible. If your gun has no stock, you should be fine. My gun has a stock, and when I try to aligh my eye with the iron sights, the cheek from the mask blocks me, and prevents me from getting close enough. Also, if you plan on wearing a helmet, you're going to have to use balistic goggles.
What alot of people do is, they get painball masks where you can remove the goggles and wear them seperately. Or even, they buy masks and cut out the cheeks, leaving the mouth and ear protectors.
The music industry is a cruel and shallow money trench where thieves and pimps run free, and good men die like dogs. There's also a negative side.
