{"id":63,"date":"2017-05-15T13:19:06","date_gmt":"2017-05-15T13:19:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/paintball4all.utjg4bk1-liquidwebsites.com\/?p=63"},"modified":"2020-09-24T13:31:36","modified_gmt":"2020-09-24T13:31:36","slug":"paintball-gear-you-need","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/paintball4all.com\/paintball-gear-you-need\/","title":{"rendered":"The Paintball Gear You Need"},"content":{"rendered":"

Do you want to wait until you’re out in the field to find out how much a paintball hurts<\/a>?<\/p>\n

No? Didn’t think so! Those puppies can travel at 300 feet per second<\/a>. That’s over 200 miles per hour!<\/p>\n

Welts are a badge of honor for the avid paintballer, but you can reduce pain and avoid injury with the right paintball gear.<\/p>\n

What does that entail? Let’s go through it, head to toes.<\/p>\n

Headgear – Hat, Mask, Goggles<\/h2>\n

Let’s start with the second least fun place to take a paintball: the old noggin.<\/p>\n

Goggles and mask are absolute, 100%, no contest essential. Don’t even show up to the field without them, unless you know you can get them on hire.<\/p>\n

You’ll need to outfit yourself specifically with paintball goggles.<\/a> Goggles from a regular store won’t do the job at the speeds we mentioned, and won’t include a mask to protect your face.<\/p>\n

Go for thermal lenses if you’re worried about them fogging up. Even better, get a goggle fan to go with them, but make sure the two are compatible first.<\/p>\n

A full helmet is also an option, but a lot of players find they suffer from fogging and overheating issues with the head enclosed, so it’s a\u00a0case of personal preference.<\/p>\n

Hats are optional, but a good idea if you want to protect the rest of your head. Luckily, your skull can do most of the job here, but layering up with a hat or beanie can save you some unsightly welts and the trial of washing paint from your hair.<\/p>\n

Don’t forget your neck, either! Cover exposed skin here with a dedicated neck protector, turtleneck, or even a bandana. Anything to provide a buffer between the paintball and your delicate skin.<\/p>\n

Paintball Gear for the Neck Down<\/h2>\n

With your head safe, it’s time to think about the rest of your paintball gear. The good news is that a lot of your old clothes can serve just fine for paintball gear!<\/p>\n

When it comes to colors, try to go for dark, muted colors to help you blend into the environment.<\/p>\n

Shirt<\/h3>\n

Protection is as important here as it was for your head. An avid paintballer is always going to end up with a few welts<\/a>, but you may as well do your best to minimize them.<\/p>\n

Check the weather, and then dress as heavily as the weather allows. Be careful to keep your freedom of movement. Long, loose clothing is ideal.<\/p>\n

Don’t leave skin exposed. That’s asking for a welt. Wear an old, long-sleeved shirt. And then another one over that.<\/p>\n

If weather permits, wear something even thicker over that, like a sweatshirt or hoody.<\/p>\n

Specialized paintball jerseys are available for the avid player or those looking to splash out. They’re reinforced, so you might even swap out a layer for one.<\/p>\n

All of this layering has a tactical advantage, too! Paintballs are less likely to break if the impact is absorbed, meaning you can stay in the game that much longer.<\/p>\n

Pants<\/h3>\n

As with the top half, utility is the order of the day. You have a few options here, whether you layer up on thinner, flexible pants like sweatpants or something more robust like cargo pants.<\/p>\n

Remember that you’ll be\u00a0running, jumping, sliding, and diving. Wear what you know you’ll be comfortable in. Don’t even try to wear skinny jeans.<\/p>\n

Some baggy old work pants are ideal. These will be durable, flexible, and likely to survive whatever you throw at them.<\/p>\n

As with shirts, there are dedicated paintball pants available. They’re often padded in key areas but made of comfortable, flexible material, so they’re a logical next step for the enthusiast.<\/p>\n

While we’re in this, ahem, region, now is a good time to consider if you want to wear a cup. Groin strikes are\u00a0rare, but you’ll know all about them when they happen. A bit of prevention here could save you a lot of agonies.<\/p>\n

Gloves<\/h3>\n

With the rest of your body armored up, you’d be stupid to forget your hands.<\/p>\n

Moreso than other parts of your body, the lack of flesh on your hands means a paintball strike will cause\u00a0massive amounts of pain.<\/p>\n

Again, you’re looking for paintball specific gloves here. The only substitutes are those designed to protect the hands in a similar way, like football or work gloves.<\/p>\n

If you do improvise, make sure the gloves aren’t too thick. You need to pull the trigger comfortably.<\/p>\n

Skip fingerless gloves unless you want to experience some serious pain. Imagine the impact of a paintball on an exposed finger in cold conditions. Yeah, now you’re with us.<\/p>\n

Footwear<\/h3>\n

Don’t wear your best fashionable sneakers to a paintball game. Paint, dirt, and water are all going to mess them up.<\/p>\n

Whatever you wear should be durable and high-quality. You need good support to protect your ankles from the physical activity involved.<\/p>\n

Footwear styles range based on personal preference. Some players prefer supportive sneakers, while others opt for military boots.<\/p>\n

Players will all agree on one thing: never wear open-toed shoes!<\/p>\n

Advanced\u00a0Outfit Options<\/h2>\n

As you develop a taste for the game, you may want to invest in more specialized options.<\/p>\n

BDUs and ACUs (Battle Dress Uniform\/Army Combat Uniform) offer durability, camouflage, and pockets for equipment. They’re also great for dressing to a theme.<\/p>\n

Specialized suits like ghillie suits and sniper suits offer additional camouflage options. Tactical vests and pod packs are great for extra carry capacity.<\/p>\n

These items all come with loads of variations for various\u00a0environments, so you’ll be able to adapt your paintball gear to suit your regular stomping ground.<\/p>\n

The Smart Stuff<\/h2>\n

With your paintball gear sorted, there are still a few elements to ready yourself for a comfortable experience. Here’s a list of sundries you might not have considered:<\/p>\n