Paintball Equipment for Beginners
Paintball is an extreme sport that is quickly gaining popularity among all age groups; so, knowing the paintball equipment every beginner needs is paramount if considering getting into the sport. Paintball is a warfare simulation sport that pits two teams against one another in a variety of locations. Courses generally have obstacles to traverse and objects to hide behind, making tactical movements essential to a successful game. When you’re dealing with projectiles whizzing by your head a high velocities, you want to make sure that you have the right equipment to take your opponent down. This article will be your introductory guide to paintball equipment for beginners.
A Facemask
When dealing with guns of any kind (paintball guns included), safety is your number one concern. While paintball certainly aren’t lethal, they can still leave some nasty welts if you’re not careful. For this reason, you must have a certain amount of protective gear if you want to play paintball. The most important piece of protective gear is your facemask. This will protect your eyes from direct impact of a paintball. It’s important to find a facemask that fits you properly. You don’t want to be tugging on the mask all game, as you will spend more time fiddling with it than seeking out your opponents. You may also consider getting a mask with Thermal Lense, as most masks have a tendency to fog up as the action heats up. Thermal Lense will greatly reduce this fog and allow you to see your surroundings much easier.
Other Protective Gear
You may choose to invest in a padded vest, arm pads, kneepads, or other protective clothing, but they are not necessary. Know that you might get hit and that it will sting a bit, but that comes with the territory. It’s recommended that you play in pants and a long shirt to mitigate some of the damage that paintballs can cause. You’ll be more protected and have fewer bruises the next day.
Choose a Paintball Gun
Now to the fun stuff: the paintball gun. Paintball guns are called “markers” and range in quality and price. For a beginner, a $99 to $149 marker is sufficient. This will last you a good long while and has adequate accuracy. There are three types of markers. First is the electronic, which uses electricity to propel the ball forward. Second is the mechanical, which uses springs to fire a paintball one at a time. Lastly, there are pump markers, which have to be manually pumped each time to fire a paintball. For this reason, it’s better to invest in an electronic or mechanical marker, as pumping the gun each time can get tiresome. Also, make sure to get a barrel sock to cover the end of your barrel.
Propulsion Gas
In terms of propulsion gas, you have a choice between CO2 and HPA. CO2 is the cheaper option and more suited for beginners. If you begin to take paintball more seriously, it’s advisable to switch to HPA. It provides better accuracy for your marker and is easier to standardize. HPA can even actually end up being cheaper than CO2 in the long run if you have access to compressed air fills.
