paintball_gear

Finding the Right Paintball Gear

There are a number of sports that require a good selection of gear to have fun. Paintball is one of those sports and requires a great deal more than usual. There are dozens of different items and paintball gear styles to choose from, each of them equally as important as the last in keeping your body comfortable and safe while in the field. Here are a few of the most important.

While you may or may not know the basics of your paintball clothes and gear, you can always find a helpful individual in a local shop who has been outfitting paintballers for years. It's a good idea to contact these individuals to make sure you are not missing anything when buying your outfit. Even if you decide to purchase your gear online, you can usually find an email address or forum associated with most stores where advice can be sought.

Before you purchase any paintball gun cases or body armor, you should buy a good pair of goggles. Many people try to substitute old swimming or ski goggles they already have lying around their homes. This is a bad idea. Paintball is a fun but possibly dangerous sport if you are not properly protected. The paintballs travel at up to 300 feet per second and you need to have the right protection over your eyes to remain safe.

When purchasing your paintball jerseys and clothing, try to find gear that will cover as much skin as possible. Any areas of exposed skin are areas in which you could wake up the next day feeling very uncomfortable. Long pants, long sleeve shirts, and gloves are essential additions to your clothing to remain safe and comfortable. While it may tempting to simply use the clothing you already have laying around the house, cheap paintball gear is not hard to find and will be much more effective in covering your skin and keeping you from taking home too many bruises and welts.

Unless the weather is overly warm, wear as many layers as possible for that extra level of protection. Camouflage, whether dark colored forest colors or sandy browns is a great addition to your clothing as it will give you an added edge in the field. Another good piece of gear to purchase is the right pair of shoes. You will want solid running shoes that you know are going to get dirty, preferably dark with black soles and solid ankle protection and traction. Paintball body armor is another possibility that you can discuss with your local paintball supplier. It offers thicker, plastic or similar protection against paintballs and can be the difference between having the breath knocked out of you and having a three day bruise on your sternum.

There are a few additional items you may want to consider throwing in your paintball gear bag as well – elbow and knee pads, a cup for men and a padded bra for women. The more you can pad and protect the important parts of your body, the more willing you will be to throw yourself into the fray and have the most fun possible.