Have you ever walked off the paintball field (covered in paint) wishing that you'd had that squeegee to clean your barrel out?  Been shot somewhere and wished you'd had that extra padding?  Wondered what kind of stuff you could get that would make your day of play more convenient and hassle free, even easier?  In this article I will divulge some of the secrets that I have picked up, as well as some handy hints for anyone just getting into the game.  My suggestion to you, before I start, is that before you try anything new, or spend a large amount of money on equipment, do your research!  You may find out that you really don’t need that 10-pod pack, or those full shin guard pads.  There is so much out there to accommodate any type and level of player, that you can get equipment that is just right for you!

Stuff you can wear

        One thing you should invest in is a good pair of kneepads.  They don’t need to be fancy, or elaborate, soccer kneepads are fine.  Kneepads take a lot of pressure off of your knees when you are behind a bunker, or diving for cover.  I use a cheaper pair of what look like rollerblading pads.  As well, you can get a variety of brands that are made exclusively for paintball.  If you have bad knees, buy them a little larger to accommodate for any knee braces you may have, and to allow for free movement of the joint.  If they slide a little, safety pins or duct tape are your friends!  You can get some that cover the entire shin as well as the knee, but if you play tournament ball, be forewarned!  Some tournaments won't allow them.  For anything made of neoprene, it is best to check with the referees before the tournament to find out what is and isn’t allowed.

        Elbow pads can be a great boon to your game if you crawl a lot, or spend time lying down in foliage.  Again, you can buy ones made for soccer, but paintball gear companies also make a variety of styles.  It is a good idea to fit them a little bigger to your arm, to allow for movement of your elbow.  Again, these may not be allowed at tournaments.

        I like to wear a neoprene neck guard.  It is a very good idea to use a neck guard of some sort, as paintball hits to the neck can be very painful!  A rolled up bandana in your favorite camo works well, or even a hockey neck guard!  The only thing to remember is that if it is really hot, the hockey and neoprene neck guards can be very sweaty!  On hot days, it is important to stay as cool as possible, as heat stroke is a large concern when you get all your equipment on!

        Wearing a bandana on your head can be a great way to protect your noggin from hits, and keeps your hair clean!  You can also wear baseball caps, or special neoprene brimmed caps (these may also be disallowed at tournaments).  Gloves are a must to protect those fingers!  There is nothing worse than getting shot in the trigger finger and having it go all numb!  You can get fingerless, full finger, neoprene, hard backed... anything.  Again, it is up to you.  Make sure they fit properly, so blisters don't happen, and make sure you keep them clean, and in good repair!  They can be on the expensive side, and you don't want to be replacing them more than you have to.

        Some other things to consider are leg holders, or a tube taped your marker's bottle for your stick squeegee.  I wear mine about my neck with a string, or stick it down my back so it sticks into my pants waist.  Having somewhere to put it means free hands to play!  Many people stick possum tail or jerk squeegees in the back band of their goggles, or dangle them out of their pants or even mouths!  Some people also use them as barrel plugs in lieu of traditional ones.  Sometimes this is allowed, and sometimes it isn’t.  It is best to check with the referees before you head out to play.  As a rule, you should always use a proper barrel plug.

        Pod packs are equipment that most players like to have.  There are so many variations out there, that I am not going to go into all the different makes and styles.  It is a good idea to check out your local pro shop, or check out some online sites to figure out what would suit your style of play.  You can get packs that carry a bottle for remote air supply for your gun, drop pods straight down, out to the side, or even out both sides.  The extra pouches for remote systems are great to store water in if you have your air attached to your marker.

        Goggleflauge can give you that extra edge when sniping out in the woods, and goggleskinz (one way camouflage for your lenses) help conceal that tell tale lense glare that can give away your position!  A crosswind fan (by JT, fits most of their goggle styles) can help with fogging and keep you cool on those scorcher days!  Thermal lenses on your goggles can help to beat that nasty fogging as well.

        Here is a hint about protection for sensitive areas.  A cup is A MUST for any male player.  I have seen some nasty shots to the groin and the men who were wearing their cups were unhurt, those without were carried off the field, sometime even taken to the hospital!  You can get softer type cups, and many comfortable styles!  Check out your local sports shop.  Girls, if you want, you can get body armour.  This will protect your chest from hits.  This can also be painful.  Personally, I don't wear any, as it can get sweaty on hot summer days, but it is up to the individual player!

        Last but not least are the feet!  Cleats are a good idea to traverse those muddy hills and dig into the dirt when you need to.  I wear Reebok Pitbulls, and I love them.  Diggers also have a cleat out especially for paintball!  Jungle boots are a favorite among many players, but they can get slippery in mud.  Combat boots can be very heavy and don't allow for much movement of the ankle.  Ankle support, however, is very important to remember.  Going through the trees and rolling over on your ankle can be a less painful experience if you have ankle supportive cleats!  Again, most cleats can be found at your local sports shop.

Gadgets and Hints

        Now we get into things to have to make your day easier.  One thing I never forget when going to the field are towels and paper towels.  It helps with those sweaty days when you just want to jump into the creek!  A change of clothes is a good idea too.  I always carry a small spray bottle filled with water in my kit.  This allows me to clean my goggles back in the staging area, or by my car, without running for the field water supply.  A box of soft Kleenex works well here too.  You can get spray bottles at any hardware store.   Some enterprising people get tanks with a pump and a spray wand.  These work great if you are sharing with a larger group of players.
        A first aid kit is probably a good idea.  Make sure it stays fully stocked, so what you take out, replace!  In your tool kit, make sure you have extra batteries (for your agitated loader) alongside your proper tools.  (I won’t get into proper tools here. It’s best to talk to your local pro shop personnel to find out what you need) If you buy one of the fishing tackle boxes, it can hold all the little orings, screws and small parts that would normally fall out of your kit if it tips.  The little clear ones that you make your own compartments in are perfect.  Electrical tape and duct tapes are great to keep handy.
        A neoprene or cloth camo cover for your loader can make a difference when you are hiding.  Again, the neoprene covers are sometimes not allowed at tournaments.  It doesn't hurt to have an extra barrel plug or two.  They can be lost very easily.  If you drill a hole in your barrel plug, and attach a double-ended snap to it, then you simply attach it to a belt loop when on the field, and you don't have to search for it in your pockets when you need it!  You can also attach a snap to the back of your goggles so you can clip them to your belt loops when off the field.  This can be a relief if you are sweaty, and your hands are full of empty pods and your marker!
        If you carry a sidearm out onto the field, such as a PGP, a leg or belt holster can be a big relief.  Or you can put it in that extra little pouch (on your pod back) that would normally hold a tank for a remote system!  You can also get armbands and shoulder straps to carry extra twelve grams and tubes of paint for your PGP.  Those you can usually find at your local army surplus store.
        A cooler that can accommodate paint can be a great help in keeping your paint cool and out of the sun.  Just remember to seal the bags back up, as coolers are not airtight.  Don't put paint next to ice packs or sweaty soda pop cans either!  To store paint that you have left over, put it in large round jars, and every so often, take it out and roll it about with your feet – you can do this while watching TV – to keep it from settling and dimpling!
        Talking timers are neat little gadgets to have.  Most tournament players have timers so they know exactly how much time is left in the game.  You can get talking ones at Radio Shack.  Viewloader also has one for the back of their agitated loaders. Stopwatches work well too!
        To carry all of your gear try a large hockey bag, or a gear bag made exclusively for paintball!  You could also try a large Rubbermaid bin, or even get a portable luggage rack to wheel your smaller boxes and bags about in style!  This makes it easier to get everything to the staging area without making a dozen trips to the car and back.  I don't recommend putting goggles in with the rest of your gear, as lenses scratch easily, and if they scratch, you might have to replace them, as they may be compromised and unsafe!  Get a goggle bag to put them in.  This is an easy way to transport them (stylish too!).  There are many other types of bags and boxes to make storing and carrying your gear easier.  Barrel bags, goggle bags that become hats on the field, gun bags and the ever-popular Rubbermaid bin are all great ideas.  It is up to you to look at what your needs are as a player and buy what you think will be most convenient for you!

I hope that I have given out a couple of hints and tips to help make your paintballing a little easier.  Be innovative!  You never know what might make a great helper out there on the field or in the staging area!  If you have any tips or hints you care to share with me, email me at crichardson@thempn.com . Some sites to check out for neat gear options and helpful add-ons are:

JT USA
Goggleskinz
Redz Comfort Gear
Brass Eagle Products
Indian Creek Designs
Smart Parts

Check out our links page for other great sites!

Caroline "Sabrette" Richardson
MPN Columnist