Beginner’s Guide to Buying Paintball Equipment

If you have never played paintball before, it is the best place to try this game first to make sure you like it before investing in your own equipment as equipment can be quite expensive. Many players have their first experience at camp or at a local commercial park or field. It is much easier to rent all the necessary equipment than to spend hundreds of dollars on paintball supplies that you only use once because the game was too intense. Renting equipment at a field will cost a player between $ 10 and $ 30 per day; This is recommended for the first few times you play to ensure that you want to play enough times to justify purchasing yours. Paintball guns and rental equipment are usually basic models and very easy to learn. Shooting a paintball gun is not a complicated matter, however it may take a few games to become familiar with the intensity of this adventure when other players shoot it. When you get hit, not only are you out of the game, but it hurts! The fear of being hit causes many first-time players a form of paralysis that is difficult to get used to.

Once you’ve played with rented (or borrowed) equipment a few times and decided that paintball is the sport for you, you need to do some research. The first decision of a new player on the market to buy new equipment is to decide what type of paintball he wants to play. Basically, there are two different types; stage and paintball tournament. Stage paintball is played on an open field often in a natural setting (also called a forest ball) with players carrying out military-style missions using realistic-looking assault rifles and camouflage clothing. Tournament paintball is played on an enclosed field often with inflatable bunkers to hide behind timed elimination matches (which team can eliminate the other in the given period of time). These players use faster electronic paintball guns and wear professional sports jerseys and / or uniforms. Once you’ve determined which game you like best, the first piece of equipment to buy is a beginner paintball gun. Starter paintball guns are made simply so that they are easy to maintain and clean. Whether you choose the forest ball or the tournament, the beginner markers are easy to distinguish because they have the cheapest price tags.

After having a good beginner paintball gun, the next must-have item on your list is a protective mask. You are not allowed to play without one, so this is a mandatory team. There are other pieces of protective equipment such as elbow and knee pads, neck and chest protectors; however, they only serve to make the game more enjoyable / less painful, but are not required. Paintball masks come in a wide variety of styles and price ranges, but they all offer the same level of protection. Cheaper entry-level goggles have fewer features and often single-panel lenses that tend to fog up more. Expect to pay a bit more for thermal lenses, but this feature is definitely worth the extra money. Generally, when it comes to protective gear, there is no specific gear for a specific type of game. However, manufacturers make more “flashy” gear for tournament players and more “military standard” gear for stage players.

The final piece of your initial setup is an air tank; this is what propels your paintball gun. Some beginner paintball gun packages come with a CO2 tank, but if yours doesn’t, this is a necessary expense. CO2 tanks come in different sizes, but for the longest set, choose the largest available; these are 20 or 24 oz. tanks and you can expect to pay $ 30- $ 40 for one. Air tanks come empty, so you will need to fill them before you can use them. Refills can be found at commercial fields, large sporting goods stores (such as Dick’s, Bass Pro, or Cabellas), and some gun stores that sell air rifles. If you do not have access to these types of facilities where you live, you can purchase an adapter for your marker to use CO2 cartridges. These are cheap and readily available at Wal-Mart or gun stores, however they only offer a few shots / cartridge (25-30 depending on the gun). Depending on this method, it is necessary to constantly change the cartridges during the game and it will drain the fun of your game. If you have to go this route, paintball is probably not the sport you should be involved in.

Unlike renting equipment, owning your own equipment will require you to keep up with maintenance. Paintball guns work with high pressure air / CO2 bursts to propel the ball at high speed. Constant high pressure makes it common for little things to go wrong, like broken o-rings, causing your marker to fail. Paintball is also very complicated; The very nature of the game is to shoot paint and get hit (marked) with paint, so expect to have to clean your gun regularly after playing even for a short period. Most paintball guns come with a squeegee, cleaning cloth, and extra O-rings for maintenance. Beginner markers are also usually very easy to disassemble for cleaning and maintenance, however this is not necessary, but maybe once a year to re-grease and clean more thoroughly. Although breakdowns happen regularly, most problems can be handled by yourself, however, it is smart to buy equipment from a well-known brand, so there is a good guarantee in case you need to return something.

Once you have everything you need to play, you will be excited to play and want to practice whenever you get the chance. If you are interested in climbing positions in the tournament, being part of a team or organizing your own will be essential. To do this, you will want to play with as many different teams / players on as many different fields / locations as possible. Even if you think you’re not ready, pick a beginner-level tournament and go ahead and get involved. Gaining tournament experience early will help you shape your skills, strategies, and practices to become a competitive player. Waiting until you feel “ready” to compete will only delay learning the important skills you need early in your career. Competing will also tell you if it’s something you want to pursue. Some players think they want to compete, but after their first tournament they change their mind and end up playing recreationally; Of course, this is fine, but it will determine how you play and what kind of gear you end up buying.

Know how to enter it; paintball is not a cheap hobby. It can be quite expensive, but like any hobby, if you love it, it’s not expensive at all! Test the waters first before diving into this investment by first playing with rented or borrowed gear. If you like it, buy a beginner setup to keep expenses low while you learn the game and what gear you might like. If you fall in love with the sport (as most players end up doing), save your pennies for more expensive, higher-performing markers and supplies. Once you have your dream setup, costs will drop, however ongoing expenses like air refills, paintball ammo, tournaments, and travel fees should also be considered. If everything is too confusing, feel free to ask a more experienced player for advice on how to play or what to get and why.