Hello.

Do you play Airsoft or Paintball?

Do you hate getting tagged in the throat, and the resulting welts?

I play Airsoft, and every time I visit my local field (actually an indoor CQB arena, but same thing) I always seem to get hit in the throat. For a while, I wrapped a torn up shirt around my throat like a keffiyeh, but this made me sweat and my mask fog.

This is the throat protector I made.

This is every simple to make, and only requires a few things.

Materials:

• 1/2 inch EVA foam (sold at places like WalMart as interlocking foam floor mats. It is cheap and has a million uses, so just get a whole pack. )
• About 6 inches of stiff wire.
• Some nylon webbing or elastic straps, even heavy cloth could work.
• one set of those click-in connectors found commonly on backpacks. I don't know what they are called, but I just cut mine off of an old backpack. You can also get them at stores for pretty cheap. 

Tools:

• Razor knife
• marker pen
• hot glue gun

Step 1: Figure out what size you want it to be. I have a long skinny neck, so my protector measures six inches for the straight back piece, 12.5 inches for the front curved piece, and 2 inches wide. It helps to make it pretty loose-fitting. You can figure out the size you need by making simple templates with tape and paper.

Step 2: Once you have your measurements figured out, mark them onto the foam and cut them out with the knife.

Step 3: Glue the short piece onto the long piece as shown. bend some wire into a square "u" shape and stick it into the joint to strengthen it. For more reinforcement, glue some cloth strips to the joint.

Step 5: Loop a strip of cloth through the slot on the "male" piece of the clip. Glue one end of the fabric strip to the end of the longer section of foam. Refer to the pictures.

Step 6: The female piece of the clip has much more surface area, so you can glue it directly to the end of the short piece of foam as shown.

Step 7: Let the glue cool, and paint the protector if you want. I put my name on mine so no one would take it in the midst of the huge jumble of gear that happens at most games I play at. The whole thing should snap on as shown. If it fits well, it should be very comfortable, and even fit over the collar of a BDU jacket like mine does. This thing will stop Airsoft BBs completely, and makes a snap noise when shot, to indicate the hit.

Go wild with the design. Put soft cloth inside to pad it, or more foam to fit your needs. 

Enjoy, and play safe!