If you're just getting into HPA airsoft and feeling a little overwhelmed by tanks, regulators, and all those lines—don’t stress. Everyone starts somewhere, and that’s exactly why we tried to streamline the process with our Amped Airsoft SLP Starter Kit. It’s a no-fuss, plug-and-play setup built for new players who want to jump into HPA without diving headfirst into complicated gear decisions. In this post, we’ll break down what’s all in the options, how it works, and why it’s a solid first step into high-pressure airsoft.

Whether you’ve just picked up your first HPA engine or you’re experimenting with HPA pistol builds, this kit gives you a solid foundation. It’s beginner-friendly but built with upgrade potential in mind—so as your collection grows, your rig can evolve with it. As I go through all the options on our webpage for ‘Amped Custom HPA Starter SLP Air Rig’ this will give you a better idea what may be to your benefit and what may be the best for you.

Before getting into too much detail one important note is that there are going to be a mixture of tank performance, since Airsoft and Paintball are using the same brand and style of tanks. Airsoft has gone into a style of tank that is referred to as SLP (Super Low Pressure) and this is important because all tanks are going to have a built-in regulator that is going to manage the tank pressure from the reservoir going to the head of the tank. An SLP tank head is going to have an output pressure of about 300 PSI and a non-SLP is going to be 600-800 PSI. This is important to note because some regulators are designed to work at the lower SLP tank head pressure, and a few are capable of doing the non-SLP pressures. Always be aware of what tanks and what tank accessories you are using. 

From a player perspective I would say there is not much that is favored or preferred. It is mostly going to come down to size and brand preference. Each of the regulators are capable of getting locked (zip-tied) for all the casual play or milsim you would want!

The Amped Airsoft lines are unique in how the lines that were designed came from a time when paintball lines were being refitted for Airsoft purpose. Amped was the first producers of Air Lines that featured protective sheathing. Hand-made in Pittsburgh USA, these are designed and built by players who enjoy customizing their gear. This same sheathing is used on the IGL’s (Integrated Grip Line) and HPL’s (High Pressure Line) for unique and special colors.

IGL’s are used as an accessory of Airsoft HPA engines where IGL’s are the final connection from the Line to the Engine. HPL’s are used with different base materials to handle higher pressure like 1000 PSI for systems like the Tippmann Rifle. Amped also creates a product called the AGL (Amped Grip Line) which is used as an extension to other grip lines. If players have a unique rifle or dont want to completely replace the factory grip line.

The biggest difference you will see between Lines and IGL’s are going to be the weaves that are used to protect the lines. The ‘Standard’ weave is a single layer of sheathing with different colors or patterns. The ‘Heavy’ weave is a thicker sheathing that has more patterns and details that are going to make lines more visually vibrant. Some of the subdued colors and patterns are going to be a great choice for outdoor players that are looking to have the line blend into natural environments. The ‘Premium’ weave is the thickest sheathing, incorporating multiple layers of polyethylene terephthalate and metallic sheathing that makes it the most durable of all our Lines and IGL’s. Amped Airsoft currently will mainly manufacture lines in 36 and 42 inch lengths. 36 inches sounds like its quite alot of length but I can tell you that when you have it attached to a tank and in a backpack there is not alot of slack in the line. It does make it easier for players that want a smaller profile, less chance of the line getting snagged. This also makes it harder to use when swapping shoulders, and anyone that is going to be a larger players will maybe want to opt for the 42 inch Line length. There are different techniques to weave the lines into gear to better manage it and the lines are cheap enough that players can get more than one and experiment by attaching it to their gear in different manners. 

There are lots of different size, volume, and pressure of tanks that are going to have its own pro’s and con’s that apply to different play styles or rifle setups. There are going to be 2 numbers that make up the tank that are the most important to most players. First is going to the size or volume of the tank. This is usually followed with a CI (Cubic Inch), and the sizes are ranging from 8 CI as the smallest tank to 124 CI as one of the largest that is manageable for players. The most common is a 48 CI tank that is set to 3000 PSI (Pressure per Square Inch) with some tanks capable of holding 4500 PSI. This is another consideration for players since you will need a specialized source to fill these small tanks. Scuba shops are some of the most trusted locations with current and up to date equipment otherwise airsoft fields may have compressors that can fill tanks but most places are limited to 3000 PSI for filling tanks.

Tanks are also going to have a separate air pressure gauge, this is to indicate how much air pressure is remaining in the tank before you need to refill. This is also going to tell you how much air is inside a tank as you fill it, and you should be aware of how much air pressure your tank can handle so you are not over pressurizing your tanks.

The other thing to look out for, that was already mentioned, is if a tank is going to be SLP (Super Low Pressure), and this refers to the output pressure of tanks. A tank that is SLP is going to be ideal for anything in the future for air rig setups as it is the most adaptable. SLP is about 300 PSI maximum for output pressure, non-SLP tanks are up to about 800 PSI for output pressure. There are more  regulators that are able to accept non-SLP tanks but when we look at Air Stocks where tanks can screw directly to the Airsoft Rifle then we need to be extra careful we are grabbing SLP tanks as an air source.

The brand of tank I think has little to do with the performance, but the price is going to be the best indicator of the quality of the tank. Some of the cheapest tanks are the 48CI/3000PSI Aluminum tanks from HK Army, those are the lowest price and what alot of players are going to go with for their first Air Rig Setup. HK Army is going to produce tanks that are Carbon Fiber in material, the advantage is that Carbon Fiber is a lighter weight material and most often is seen being able to handle higher internal pressures. Someone may want to go with this tank because they can go for an entire day without having to refill. Players that are going to have a Milsim or outdoor setup may want to consider going with a larger tank, or having the option of carrying more than one tank on their person. When you are out on the field its actually really hard to find somewhere to fill up your air tank  

Rubber Fill Valve Nipple Covers are to add protection for tank fill valves, all tanks will ahve them on there from the factory but the covers are thin and can easily fall off so it may not be a bad idea to have an extra. Keep the dirt and debris from getting into the mouth of the valve and pushing dirt into the tank that going to get into the engine as well. 

Lubricant is also a good idea for if you are going to get dirt into the HPA engine, it is often the most critical and most over looked solution to sticky nozzles. I always like to have lube around to protect threads on the tanks and regulators as they get screwed on and off. That oil can also be used to gather and clump up debris that would work its way into the tank threads.

The Tournament Regulator Locks are going to be unique to specific tournaments that you may be participating in. Some fields or events are going to require the tournament lock, but I will say that all of the Regulators that are available on that list are capable of being zip-tied and tournament locked.

Guage Covers are nice if anyone is using an exposed tank, it is going to protect the glass for the pressure guage. Without a guage its tricky to identify how empty or how full your tank is. If your regulator is going to be in a pack or tucked away then honestly this is not going to be a necessary add-on but its still there as an option.

We always recommend having more than one power source available, and even more is better. If you are out at the field playing and your battery goes down (it happens to us all the time as well) we always have a spare battery on us or within close proximity. HPA engines typically require a power source to operate the FCU, the brain, of the entire system. Otherwise without it youre out of luck. And you need a way to charge that battery so we have a few options available. Its always assumed that players are going from AEG to HPA so Li-po and Li-Ion chargers are able to charge the small HPA battery.

Players that are looking at getting the HPA Player Kit either for a classic HPA engine OR using it for HPA tapped GBB magazines. We include the options for people to be able to use the HPA kit any model or system that they have. The difference between the Amped or CQB russian adapters are typically personal preference. The CQB Russian adapters are typically more brand name familiar than the Amped Airsoft versions. But the biggest differences are the Amped Airsoft adapters are Zinc Plated Steel versus the CQB Russian versions are from Aluminum. In cases of extreme force from a fall or drop the different materials could have different outcomes. Something to consider is all.

One of the last options that you have available to you is the option to have a rebuild kit for the Amped Airsoft SLP regulator. Our equipment is not perfect and can snap, break down, or get worn out with prolonged usage which is why we offer rebuild kits. Now to be fair, other companies regulators have similar rebuild kits and can be fixed if there is an issue. The first option, the SLP Rebuild Kit, is the base of the adjustment stem that controls the amount of air pressure of PSI that can flow through the regulator. The following option, the drilled SLP/ARX Tournament Lock, is a replacement of the cap that comes on the Amped Airsoft regulator. 

Getting into HPA might seem like a lot at first—but once you've got the right foundation, everything else falls into place. That’s exactly what this kit is meant to do: take the guesswork out of your first build, give you room to grow, and get you on the field faster with a setup that works.

Whether you're building your first rifle, testing out a pistol rig, or just exploring what HPA has to offer, the Amped Custom Starter Kit has you covered. Still not sure which options are right for your setup? Drop us a message or hit up our tech support—we’re happy to walk you through it.

Ready to kick off your HPA journey? Check out the Amped Custom HPA Starter Kit now and get everything you need to hit the field with confidence.