As a beginner paintballer who has been slowly growing his first functional paintball gear kit, I decided that it might be helpful to put together a list of equipment that a new player should have to be as prepared as they can be for any scenario. I’ve tried to compose a list like this several times, but it has always been difficult to make a comprehensive list without going off on tangents about how one type of equipment might fit better suit a certain play style and so on. So, this list has been simplified to the “must haves” for a beginner paintball gear kit. There are far too many choices available for me to get into specific varieties of paintball markers, masks, pod packs/carrier, etc., and you will ultimately have the last say in what you buy.
My only advice is to keep your first kit simple, and don’t break the bank unless you have a lot of disposable income to pull it off. Do your research before buying anything, and make sure you fill out any warranty cards that may come with your equipment before you forget to. Keep in mind that this is just a list of what I think are the bare essentials for someone who wants to be able to play with or without a group of friends when you go to the field. Most commercial fields will rent equipment, but it is nice to be able to go and already have everything you need. On to the list!
1. Paintball Marker
You need one of these to play, but hold off on buying one until you have played a few times. That way, you can determine what marker you need to suit your play style. Do plenty of research and choose a marker that has a good reputation and one that has been favorably reviewed by veteran players. When in doubt, let your wallet make the decision for you. The best players often use expensive equipment, but they have also spent a lot of time growing into their markers to the point that they know exactly what they need to improve. Choose something simple and inexpensive to start with, and trade up as you gain more experience.
2. Paintball Mask
I put this piece second on the list, but in many ways this is actually the most important piece of gear in any paintball kit. Everyone should have a mask when playing paintball even if you are just playing with friends in your back yard. The projectiles that are fired from paintball markers may travel much slower speeds than those fired from real firearms or even from airsoft rifles, but they still travel at speeds high enough to cause serious injury to the eyes or face.
This is also one piece of equipment that I would recommend spending more money on to ensure that they have the correct features. The most important feature to look for in a good mask is a thermal coated lens that will combat the effects of fogging. Cheaper masks without thermal lenses are guaranteed to fog at low or higher ambient temperatures because your skin basically breathes moisture as you perspire. Some lenses may be better at preventing fogging than others, but some thermal coating is better than none. Don’t even bother buying one that doesn’t have a thermal coating unless you don’t mind being blinded by condensation on your lens.
3. Propellant/Gas Tank
Every paintball marker needs some sort of gas source to shoot paintballs, and what type of propellant you use is entirely up to you. Some players prefer CO2 because of the low cost and availability and others prefer HPA due to the increased efficiency and consistency of barrel velocities. I won’t go into debating which is better, but it is not uncommon for players to start with one and move to the other, and some use both. It’s up to your own preference, but you will need a tank of some sort no matter what. Smaller markers (especially pistols) will use CO2 cartridges as well, so make sure you pick something that fits your other equipment well.
Furthermore, pay attention to what the user manual of your marker recommends as well. Some markers are set up to use only HPA, and you should not use other propellants with these setups. Research your marker’s specifications before you buy a tank.
4. Pod Packs/Vests, and Pods
There are a vast number of pod pack and paintball vest configurations available, and this choice also depends on your play style. Most belt style pod packs will allow you to carry at least two extra pods onto the field, and some will carry up to 6 or 8 pods. Some markers use magazines rather than hoppers; so that is another thing to consider, but the long and short of it is that you will need some way to carry extra ammunition onto the field. Unless you are a very conservative player who only needs the paintballs loaded in your hopper or magazine, you will want to have extra paint, and you won’t want to stuff pods in your pockets. Just be sure to choose something comfortable that won’t restrict your range of motion too much.
5. Hopper (or Extra Mags for Magfed)
There are many different kinds of hoppers on the market, and these too can be difficult to week through. If you have a marker with a built in hopper, then you need not worry, but other markers will need something to feed paint. Gravity fed hoppers are fine for slow firing, mechanical markers, but electronic hoppers are pretty much favorable for any marker to help reduce the risk of chopping paint.
Nonetheless, starting with a gravity hopper is fine for the new player on a budget. This is something that you can always upgrade later, and the plain Jane hoppers are very inexpensive. Many mag fed markers can also be adapted for the addition of a hopper, but expect to buy extra mags if you really like running with a pure mag fed setup. Spare mags can come with a pretty hefty price tag, so expect to pay a bit more for these additions. Most markers come with two or maybe three mags out of the box.
6. Optional Extras
I call these last items optional, but I wouldn’t step onto the field without them. So, take that as you may. The first item would have to be a good pair of gloves. Good doesn’t necessarily mean expensive, and some of the best gloves I have used for paintball were little more than cheap utility gloves that I picked up from my local hardware store. I prefer the thinner gloves with leather or faux leather grips and adjustable Velcro on the wrist for a better fit. Thicker gloves reduce my ability to feel the trigger of my marker as I play. Winter gloves are probably not a good solution for that same reason, but use something that protects your fingers and knuckles. Getting hit in the finger is very painful if you don’t have protection.
It is also a good idea to wear some other form of head protection underneath your mask though not everyone will do so. I normally wear a bandanna, head wrap, or a backwards ball cap under my mask to reduce the pain of getting shot in the top of the head. Bandannas and head wraps seem to collect sweat better on hot days, so I prefer to use them over stocking caps or ball caps. All other clothing can be worn to your own preference. Just know that even though the liquid in paintballs is usually washable, the dye and greasy ingredients can leave dull stains on clothing. It’s best to wear old clothes that you don’t plan on using for anything else besides paintball or maybe yard work.
There you have it. This list may have left out a few items that other players may add to their “must haves”, and in reality there are a few other things that I wouldn’t go to the field without, but I wanted to leave just the bare minimum of pieces on here for those looking to get started as soon as possible. My next post will show what items I keep in my own gear bag along with the reasons for why I chose that particular equipment.
Also, I will update this post with some photos soon. I had planned to use search photos from the internet, but I didn't want to risk any copyright issues. Until next time!
~Krimmit
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