There is something about the game of paintball that makes it fun, competitive and addicting. First introduced in the 1970s as a way to mark cattle and trees while hunting, paintball began to evolve as a game during the 1980s and gained even more recognition when it was featured on the cover of a national sports magazine. By the 1990s, this combative sport even had a slot on national television, as there was a paintball tournament aired on cable. Today, paintball is a sport of combat play and survival hunting, yet instead of hunting out game, people are the target. While getting hit with a paint pellet certainly does not pose a death sentence, there is pain inflicted causing players to be highly alert, competitive and aware of the surroundings.

This intense game is just like any other and requires the proper gear to be worn in order to ensure safety while out on the field. If playing through an organized league or at a paintball field, officials make sure that all players are in the proper paintball gear; otherwise they may be disqualified from the game. There are four main types of equipment that are needed in this sport: a mask, hopper, tank and gun. The gun will also require paintballs that can be purchased in a number of colors.

The mask is the most important type of equipment as it is worn to protect the face and eyes. Flying paintballs are commonplace on the field and it can become difficult for players to dodge these colored bullets at all times. The mask must remain on the face throughout the duration of the game, no exceptions. The hopper is what holds the paintballs and feeds them into the gun. There are plenty of paintball hoppers to choose from, but overall they should hold plenty of balls, be easy to operate and have anti-jam capabilities.

The tank is used for storing air, which pushes the balls down the barrel when it is released. The air can come in the form of carbon dioxide or compressed air and will need to be filled from time to time. Paintball guns are at the heart of the equipment lineup. The gun is a symbol of the player’s level of skill, competitiveness and determination while on the field. Guns vary based on price and features, with regular players requiring high-end guns that operate to the fullest potential.

When considering which type of gun to purchase, players need to take certain factors into consideration, such as the barrel length, whether the gun uses a CO2 tank or CO2 cartridges and how much the player is willing to spend. Many athletes opt to play with rented guns and ask other players on the field about which guns are best for competitive play.