Paintball Gear 101: What You’ll Need To Play
Are you looking to play some paintball? You’re not alone; it’s one of the most entertaining activities for your money, and its popularity is increasing each day. It may be due to increased attention from social media, but either way, the number of players rises steadily.
Without the right paintball equipment, your time won’t be as enjoyable. With an array of choices available in terms of clothing, guns and other gear, it can be overwhelming to decide what’s best for you. How do you make sure that your purchases are optimal and perfectly suited to maximize the fun?
This article will be your go-to guide for all of the essential gear required in order to get into this thrilling sport. Get ready – here comes Paintball Gear 101!
Safety First
Above all else, safety is your number one priority. Sure, there are many visually appealing paintball items available but if they can’t provide you with the necessary protection then what’s the point? When wearing appropriate attire and equipment, even in a worst case scenario you may only suffer from minor scrapes or bruises.
Even though paintball replicates war, it is still a form of sport. So as with any other sporting activity, all players must suit up in their safety gear to prevent injuries.
The Gear You’ll Need For Playing Paintball
Paintball Marker
If there’s one thing you don’t leave at home when participating in a paintball match, it’s your marker. Also known as a paintball gun, this is the tool you’ll use to tag players on the opposing team. Paintball markers are typically powered by either carbon dioxide (CO2), compressed air or nitrogen, with pressure capacities ranging up to 5,000 pounds per square inch (PSI). The air or gas creates the power necessary to send paintballs flying out the barrel at speeds of 300 feet per second.
Paintball Air Systems
Unleashing paintballs into the air with high velocity requires an exuberant source of air, and it could either be from a CO2 system or compressed air. It is important to invest in a reliable air tank for optimal results.
If you’re aiming to take your paintball game to the next level and crush your opponents, then a high-quality air system is an ideal addition to anyone’s paintball kit.
Paintball Hoppers
Paintball guns are typically equipped with a unique, oval-like device at the top – commonly known as hoppers. These special fixtures store paintballs and work in tandem with an air system to load them into the gun for firing.Paintball guns offer an advantage that real firearms don’t possess: capacity! You can find paintball guns with the ability to carry up to 200 rounds of ammo at once.
Don’t let reloading in paintball be a hassle! Arm yourself with the perfect paintball hopper and make sure you’re never caught off guard.
Paintball Barrels
The barrel of any gun or paintball is a metal tube through which the bullets are fired and it’s where most of the sophisticated mechanics happen. All new guns come with their own barrels – so no need to buy them separately – yet for those immersed in paintballing, having the ideal barrel is something special.
Paintballs
You can’t expect to play, let alone win, a paintball match with plenty of ammunition on hand. According to UK Paintball, the average player will use 500-600 paintballs. Of course, some players use more and some use less, depending on the venue and preferred style of play. The bottom line is that you’ll want to bring a surplus of paintballs to the field, because you can never have too much.
So, how can you tell the difference between low-quality and high-quality paintballs? Some key indicators of quality include shell strength, shell thickness (thin paintballs are preferred since they splatter more easily), shape, paint color, and paint ingredients. Most paintballs produced today are made of polyethylene glycol and other safe, non-toxic ingredients.
Goggles
As we mentioned in a previous blog post, most paintball venues have strict rules requiring all players to wear goggles when inside the playing field/area. Getting hit in the eye with a paintball is a sure-fire way to ruin your day, not to mention the potential for injury/vision-loss. The good news is that you can usually rent or buy a pair of goggles from the venue. Paintball gaming venues typically sell and rent out equipment such as this, so check before you head back home.
Elbow and Knee Pads
You’ll be doing a lot of crouching and ducking in paintball, which is why many players wear elbow and knee pads. It may sound silly, but you’ll quickly realize the value of padding after playing for a couple of hours.
Gloves
While there’s no rule stating that players must wear gloves, it’s a simple and effective way to protect your fingers and knuckles from direct paintball hits. With that said, the downside to wearing gloves is that it may interfere with your ability to pull the trigger, which can prove equally as disastrous. You’ll need to choose medium-thickness gloves that won’t inhibit your movement.
Paintball Pants
Whether you’re a fashionista or not, paintball pants add the perfect touch of flair to your game. Not only do they express who you are on the field, but these pants also protect against any scrapes and scratches that could come from playing paintball. New players can always start off with jeans if their budget is tight – a great alternative to get used to the sport before investing in quality paintball pants!
When it comes to deciding the top paintball pants for you, there are a few options. A popular and strategic choice is black; with these dark colored bottoms, one can easily stay hidden in the shadows while also benefitting from padding that seamlessly melds with their clothing.
Speedball gives players the unique opportunity to showcase their own personal style and flair. With that in mind, choosing a pair of paintball pants that suit your individual or team aesthetic will make for an unforgettable experience on the field! Whether you go bold with bright colors or keep it classic, showing off your personality through what you wear is sure to take your game up a notch.
Paintball pants are an essential element of playing paintball, as they provide you with the utmost protection from environmental conditions. On hot summer days when temperatures soar, or during cold weather months when it’s snowing outside – a good pair of breathable and durable paintball trousers is key to keeping comfortable while gear-laden on the court. Play safe and smart by shielding yourself against heat exhaustion!
Paintball 101 – Dos and Don’ts
The goal of paintball is to eliminate your opponents from the game – plain and simple. However, how can you accomplish this in a secure yet entertaining manner?
Paintball, not to be confused with airsoft, is non-lethal but can cause significant harm.
Above all else, never remove your protective equipment! Even though paintballs will shatter upon contact with skin, they can leave hard-to-heal bruises. Moreover, it is absolutely prohibited to shoot someone from close range or use a gun handle as an offensive weapon in any way.
Rule two: Suit up for protection! Donning sweatpants, a long-sleeved shirt, and boots (if necessary) is an essential requirement to ensure your safety during the game. Although you may perspire more in these garments – particularly during summer seasons – they are worth it as added coverage on a physically demanding match.
Above all else, it is essential to know that overkillin’ will never be tolerated. One shot should suffice in order to take out a rival – unless they deserved two. Anything beyond those two shots would immediately ruin the game and cause unwarranted pain.
How fast does a paintball travel?
After being fired from a paintball gun, the average speed of a paintball is an astounding 280 fps (feet per second)! You can always modify the speed accordingly, however if you are intending to participate in an official paintball arena, then it is necessary to adhere to their guidelines and use a chronograph to adjust your velocity up until 300 fps. This requirement exists for everyone’s safety and security.
Does it hurt to get shot by a paintball?
Getting hit by a paintball can be quite the experience, however they are not as intimidatingly painful as one may think. All in all, the sensation of being struck by a ball is comparable to a light sting or pinch that should subside quickly afterwards. The major factor that determines how much it will hurt comes down to the distance between you and your opponent’s gun. As the distance increases, the impact weakens.
Furthermore, wearing an extra layer of clothing or any protective gear will help to reduce the amount of sensation you feel when getting shot at – no matter how close they may be! If you are just starting out and don’t want to invest in a full pair of paintball pants, you can always go with pants that have extra padding built in – benefitting from padding that seamlessly melds with their clothing. In any case, being properly geared up ensures your body remains safe and sound!
Overall, playing the sport of paintball requires a certain level of commitment and safety precautions to ensure everyone is having a good time. Whether you decide to go wild with creative designs or keep it classic, showing off your personality through what you wear is sure to take your game up a notch. So don’t forget to suit up and have some fun! !
The pain inflicted when you’re hit by a paintball actually contributes to making it such an enjoyable experience. Without that minor discomfort, players would likely abandon their attempts at hiding and take cover opting instead for running around in plain sight.
How long do paintballs last?
For the highest quality paintballs, it’s recommended to store them in a cool and dry area and rotate the box or shake up bags every week. If not properly stored, your paintballs will deteriorate quickly; causing swelling, hardening/softness (depending on temperature) and potential dimpling of their outer shell. To ensure optimal shelf life-span of 4-6 months from purchase date – always practice proper storage!
If correctly stored they can even remain viable for a year or longer. Admittedly, the chance of them breaking when hitting your target decreases over time; however this is normal and anticipated.
Do paintballs stain clothes?
In most cases paintball is both environmental-friendly and easily removable from clothing. However, if you go for the cheaper brands at your local department or sporting goods store you might get unlucky; it could potentially stain your clothes, as well as be a tedious task to remove them.
If you’re apprehensive about paint stains on your clothing, don’t worry! Just make sure to quickly wash them in the sink or throw them into the washer once you get home. For best results, opt for darker colors as they are less susceptible to staining and easier to remove when stained.
How Much Does it Cost to Play Paintball?
For as little as $40 to $50 a day, with all-day air and equipment rental included, you can enjoy the thrill of playing. Even better – if you already have your own gear and don’t mind bringing it along, then the cost decreases even further! Just note that most fields won’t allow outside paintballs due to safety reasons.
When contemplating the number of paintballs you’d like to fire, consider purchasing either a few bags ($15-20 each) or even an entire box ($50-75), depending on your needs. If you gather up ten or more friends for your party, it could save you around $5-$10 per player!
How Long Does a Paintball Game Last?
A game of paintball typically lasts anywhere from a brief 10 minutes to an enjoyable 20 minute experience.
Speedball games, known for their swift-paced gameplay and brief duration (5 – 10 minutes), contrast woodsball matches which are played at a leisurely rate with much longer runtimes of 15 to 40 minutes. When it comes to scenario paintball events though, you can expect them to take between 16 and 24+ hours!