The Essential Paintball Gear For A Great Game

Riley Hendersen asked:


Paintball is an exciting sport that has a large legion of fans and devoted players. One thing that every paintball player needs to know, from the beginner to the semi-pro, is the essential paintball gear that every player needs to have before any game.

When talking about paintball gear, the first thing that should come to mind is eye protection. Eye protection is the most important piece of equipment you could possibly invest in. Safety is always the primary concern, and eye protection takes care of the one major worry involved with paintball. It doesn’t matter whether you are playing at a field or in your backyard be sure to have your face protection on.

The second most important piece of paintball gear is your paintball gun. Obviously without this, there is no game to play. The paintball gun is also commonly referred to as the “marker” because it “marks” other players. While it is very important to be familiar with your paintball gun, don’t be intimidated. These are made simply and are easy to figure out and maintain. Along with the paintball gun is the hopper. This is a plastic bottle that holds your paintballs and allows them to feed into the chamber. Basically, this is your ammo supply. Some are actually motorized to insure that another paintball will fall into place after one is shot. If you like to spray and pray, these are the ones for you. Some can hold up to 300 balls, others hold as few as 40. All depends on style and preference.

The air tank is also a critical part of paintball gear and can be attached to most models of paintball guns several different locations. On most guns it hangs horizontally off the back, and they are just screwed in. Some players prefer a vertical mount to keep the liquid (bad) CO2 on the bottom and out of the gun. Most rental places can provide the right equipment to keep the games going.

There is an array of other pieces of paintball gear you will want. One is called a remote. A remote is a long tube that allows you to carry your air tank on a back pack or belt. A light tube is attached to the gun. This is useful because it takes weight off the actual gun and makes it lighter, which makes it easier to lift, aim, and use. It is a cheap, but effective addition that usually runs only around $30-$40.

Another piece of paintball gear is the belt pack. A belt pack is usually worn around the belt and can hold extra supplies like extra air and paint. Experienced players know how useful this can be. Also, you will always want a protective mask. As a side note: if you have prescription glasses you need to wear underneath the helmet, find a “Scott mask.” These fit much better and will allow you to be much more comfortable and more effective during the game. As for clothing, anything dark is acceptable.

Paintball is a great game, but you need the appropriate paintball gear to make the most of any afternoon or weekend excursion.



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