What Safety Equipment Is Available For Paintball?
Almost every sport will have some sort of safety equipment. Football players have helmets and pads, volleyball players have knee pads, hockey goalies have masks and pads—the list could go on. Even specialty shoes that are needed for various sporting terrain can be considered a piece of safety gear.
With the great game of paintball, you might wonder what safety gear is really important besides a mask to keep paint from getting in your eyes. Keep reading to get the lowdown on all the safety equipment options for paintball players to ensure you’re fully ready for your next game.
Safety for everyone
Some paintball scenario games have every person playing for themselves. There are no teams - it's just you playing solo, not knowing who is out to get you. Of course, not every scenario is like this, and it can be argued that the team scenarios are more exciting. But this "every man for himself" thought process works when it comes to what safety gear to wear.
Choosing the best safety gear for the job is a very personal decision. There are some obvious safety necessities like wearing masks and not having exposed skin, but the rest of the gear you can choose to wear is up to the player and often depends on factors such as personal comfort, pain threshold, type of game or position played, and even what you own.
Many new paintball players will start out by purchasing a combo package with the basic necessities, like the Maddog Azodin Kaos 3 Titanium Paintball Gun Marker Starter Package, which is great, but there’s even more safety protection available to try as you get more involved with the sport.
Face protection
Having a face mask is a basic need for any player. There are some key items to look out for in a mask, with the first being its anti-fog ability. Running around the field in any weather with your clothing and gear on can be an intense workout. You definitely don’t want your breath fogging up the mask and affecting visibility. Check for dry foam options and any other additions that keep the goggle portion of a mask fog-free.
Another key factor in a good face mask is the ability to see regardless of the weather. Whether that means customizable and interchangeable lenses, like with the V-Force Grill Thermal Paintball Mask, or excellent 260-degree visibility like with the JT Proflex X Thermal Paintball Mask, choose what is best for you.
Body protection
It will likely come as no surprise to you that getting hit by a paintball isn’t pleasant. The more layers you have between your skin and the paintball, the better. Many choose to wear long sleeves and pants that are neutral or camo in color and are loose enough to be able to move around with ease. For areas that get hit more frequently than others, there are padded protective gear options.
The Maddog Pro Padded Neck and Chest Protector Combo Pack has a padded shirt to protect the chest, shoulders, upper arms and back, as well as a neck protector for the area that might not be fully covered by a mask and other clothing items. The idea behind body protection is to soften the hit of a fast-moving paintball, so any additional padding is ideal.
The extras
For paintball enthusiasts who are playing more frequently than a novice player, you may want to invest in some additional protective gear to help keep you bruise-free and comfortable for every game. Extras like knee pads, wrist guards, paintball pants and even helmets can all add to the safety of the game and keep you moving. Many seasoned players also opt for hard-shell knuckle gloves to keep their hands free from injury. The key here is to practice with the gloves on, and always play with the same gloves so you get used to shooting and loading your paintball gun with that additional layer on your hands.
Safety comes first in everything, paintball included. Having the right protective gear is necessary when it comes to paintball, with the pain and bruising from a direct paintball hit being lessened thanks to padded clothing options and other helpful gear. Playing smart means keeping your body injury-free and ready for anything on the playing field. Keep these protective gear options in mind for your next game so you are fully prepared and comfortable, no matter what comes your way.