What Paintball Equipment Do I Need?
Many new players ask me what paintball equipment they need to get started. The only paintball gear that is NEEDED is a marker, paintballs, and goggles. But, you won’t be a very good player if that’s all you have. Here’s a list of the paintball equipment that a good player would recommend having.
You don’t need to run out and get all of it at once. Some of it, such as guns and goggles, can be rented on the paintball field. Beyond the absolute basics, you can add to you gear a little at a time.
Paintball Marker
This one’s a must. You can either rent this at the field, or buy your own. If you are brand new to the sport, I recommend renting your guns for a while. Try out different brands, styles, barrel lengths, and other differences so you can see what gun will be best suited to you personally. You will not know this until you have been on the field a few times with different paintball guns.
If you have friends that are into the sport they might have several guns. You can always ask if you can try out some of theirs on the field. This way, you might be able to try several different guns in one day of play.
Paintball Marker Barrels
Gun Barrels are a popular upgrade, and most experienced players carry several with them at all times. Most basic markers do not have a quality barrel right out of the box. A quality barrel will be very smooth inside, even polished. The less friction created, the better the barrel, as friction slows down the paintballs and interferes with their accuracy.
A common mistake of new players is to get the longest barrel they can find. Remember, the longer the barrel, the more friction you are creating. Yes, a longer barrel MIGHT be more accurate, but the paintball will have less velocity coming out of the end of the barrel, and might not travel as far. Find a barrel length that suits your style of play, but most players find that a barrel length of 12 to 14 inches works best.
Barrel Sock
This is a sock that covers the end of your barrel. It is a safety device to prevent a paintball from flying out if you accidentally fire your gun. It is a very good idea, and most other players will appreciate the fact that you use one.
Paintball Hoppers
Your marker probably came with a hopper. This is the container on top of the gun that holds the paintballs you are about to fire. Hoppers are another popular upgrade and most experienced players carry at least one extra with them, or at least an extra elbow that attaches the hopper to the gun.
There are many different types of hoppers from simple ones that just work on gravity to ones with blades that regulate the flow of the paintballs. Find one with your budget that works best for you and the marker you have. Most hoppers can hold up to 200 paintballs.
Paintball Pods and Harnesses
Pods are simply tubes that hold spare paintballs. One thing you want to avoid on the field is running out of paintballs! Pods are how you carry extras. You will definitely want some of these.
If you want to be more hands free, you will get a harness that holds your pods. These come in a variety of styles, from those worn like a belt to over the shoulder styles.
Tanks
This is what holds your paintball propellant, whether it is CO2, N2 or compressed air. Your marker will determine what kind you use, but you may have an option of different sizes. Whether you want one large tank that lasts a while or several smaller ones will be determined by several factors, including weight, balance, and your style of play.
This is another item that is best chosen by trying different sizes out on the field and seeing which you are most comfortable with.
Paintball Mask
A Paintball mask is a requirement. You can rent one or buy one, but you cannot be without one. You will want one that will not fog and that fits you tightly. You do not want your mask fogging up on you, and you do not want it sliding around on your head when you jump, dive or run. Make sure the style you are buying has adjustable straps so you can get a better fit each time you put it on.
Paintball Clothing
There are a lot of choices in this category, but the important tips to remember are to wear clothing that covers the whole body. You will want dark clothing so you are not as obvious on the field. Your choices will include Gloves, kneepads, jerseys and pants, elbow pads, chest protector, and more.
You will also want comfortable shoes that have good traction and cover the ankles if possible. Many experienced players wear cross trainers with cleats.
Paintballs
Last, but certainly not least, are the paintballs themselves. There are many different kinds. Try different brands and styles and see what works for you. You may even get to the point where you use different brands for different seasons, as paintballs react differently when it is dryer, more humid, colder, warmer, wetter, etc. Most paintballs are the same size, but make sure the size you get is right for you marker.
There’s your list of paintball equipment. Start with a decent gun and build from there. Most importantly, get on the field and have some fun!
