Last updated on May 11th, 2025 at 05:57 pm
Paintball is one of the most thrilling sports around. Whether you’re a pro player or a beginner, you should know, how to dress for paintball. So, proper gaming wear is essential to your success on the paintball field.
Essentially, Your paintballing wear should suit the particular game type and give you a comfortable feel while you shoot in the field. Do you know? A paintball can easily travel straight up to 300 feet per second.
Woah! Even faster than a speed bullet! That is why one must ensure to gear up from head to toe. Whether playing in an open field or a dense forest, our in-depth guide about essentials (long-sleeved shirt, pants, mask, socks, ankle guard, knee pads, and shoes) will help you to stay protected and look sharp.
There’s no specific answer to how to dress for paintball. Remember it’s essential to dress for the game correctly to shoot on point and stay safe and comfortable. This guide will discuss what clothing you should wear for paintball and how to style your gear to be on top of the game.
We’ll also provide tips on taking care of your paintballing clothes, without further ado. Let’s begin!.
How to Dress for Paintball – While Playing Game
When you head out to play paintball, you want to ensure you’ve dressed accordingly. After all, paintball can be a pretty intense sport. You’ll be running around, crawling on the ground, and hiding behind barriers while trying to avoid being hit by flying paintballs. So what exactly should you wear when playing paintball? Find out here.
1. Upper Body Protection
It is crucial to wear clothes that will provide some level of protection from being hit by paintballs. The common target is usually the upper body where all hits come straight.
- Mask
The mask is a crucial piece of gear, also known as a goggles or helmet. It provides overall protection from head to chin. The Impact Blocker on the mask reduces Blowback and WeltsKeep on the mask protects your goggles from fogging.
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It is often asked, does paintball hurt? (Trust me, it hurts). A full face mask is always a good idea, as it will protect your eyes, nose, mouth, and cheeks from being hit by a paintball. If you don’t want to go with a full mask, look for a set of goggles that gives you full peripheral vision and won’t fog up easily.
Whatever you choose, just be sure that it’s comfortable enough and doesn’t come in between your breathing or vision. Finally, wearing a hat or bandana is a good idea to keep sweat and hair out of your eyes.
- Long Sleeved Shirt
If you don’t want to spend much and keep it simple, go with a long-sleeved shirt. Take notes; your paintball shirt should be made of a thick, breathable fabric that will protect your skin from the impact of paintballs.
Larger shirts are ideal as they won’t restrict any motion and are loose enough to move freely, especially in the case of how to dress for paintball in summer. In terms of color, select colors that are easily blendable into surroundings.
Dark colors like black or green are usually a good choice. You can also buy specialized vests and jackets specifically designed for paintball. The specialized ones are made of soft fabric featuring padding in critical areas and built-in pockets for holding extra paintballs.
What if you are entirely focused and aiming a shot, but instead you got shot on your fingers out of nowhere? Hand shots could be pretty painful. Invest in a good pair of gloves -they protect your hands from the cold and the occasional paintball hits.
Fingerless or with fingers, it’s upon you; ensure that gloves have padding on the upper side to protect knuckles and hands. Consider wearing knee and elbow pads for additional protection.
3. Lower Body Protection
Apart from sliding or crawling, outside fields come with several risks, such as tics, insects, scratches from bushes, etc. For the lower body, athletic pants are a good choice. Paintballs make of biodegradable material; however, they can still leave bruises.
To protect your legs and thighs, it recommended that you wear long pants made of thick material such as denim, especially if you are concerned about how to dress for paintball in winter. No matter what you choose, make sure that your pants are loose enough to allow you a full range of motion.
Kneeling to take cover could be painful without knee pads! Consider investing in a pair with built-in padding in the knees and hips. Kneepads help soften blows, especially if a direct hit in sensitive areas. They’ll help to prevent bruises and scrapes if you take a fall and can provide additional padding if you get hit in the knees. Most paintball knee pads will have Velcro straps that make them easy to put on and take off.
4. Foot Protection
Now it’s time to think about what shoes to wear for paintball. Wear shoes that provide good traction, so you don’t slip, and have soft soles so you can move quietly. Sneakers or cross-trainers are generally a good choice.
Avoid sandals or open-toe shoes, as they offer no protection against paintballs. Invest in a good pair of socks. They might not seem like much, but a good pair of socks can make a big difference in your comfort level.
Look for socks that wick away moisture and provide cushioning and support. Wear socks that fit well and won’t slide down inside your shoes. Thick wool socks are a good option as they provide extra cushioning.
Consider wearing ankle guards. If you’re worry about getting bruises or welts on your ankles, you can find guards that will protect them from paintballs. These can be especially helpful if you’re playing on uneven terrain.
What to Consider while Selecting Your Game Wear
Assuming you’ve got your equipment sorted, there are a few pointers to remember while choosing how to dress for paintball. Opt for clothes that you don’t mind if they covered with stains or even ripped.
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Select clothing that is larger than your usual size offering a good range of motion. Loose-fitting clothes are usually best, as they won’t restrict your movement or impede your ability to take cover.
Consider wearing layers to protect yourself from the paintball shot. Select clothes that will provide some level of padding for protection. But don’t wear so many clothes that you start feeling overheated, as paintball can be quite physically exhausting. But avoid layers that are too bulky so that you stay agile on the playing field.
If you are wondering what to wear, paintballing under overalls? A good rule of thumb is to dress in layers, a base layer of clothing like thermal underwear, followed by a breathable top layer like a light cotton shirt, and then a thicker outer layer made from something like denim.
Wear gloves for hand protection and long socks with closed-toe shoes to help protect feet. A baseball cap proves to be a real help to keep paint out of your hair (and face!).
Tips on How to Dress for Paintball – Clothing and Gear
Does paintball ruin clothes? Well, sure, it does.
Let’s face it; paintball can be a pretty dirty sport. But your paintballing clothes shouldn’t have to suffer! With little effort and care, your paintball clothing can last longer and look new. Here are a few tips on how to do just that:
1. Whenever possible, wear dark clothing. Light colors tend to show the stains more easily.
2. It would be best to wash paintball clothing right after playing. The longer you keep, the harder the stains will be to remove.
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3. Use a mild detergent for your paintballing clothing. Products with harsh chemicals might damage the stuff and fade it.
4. Avoid putting your clothing in the dryer. The high heat can shrink or warp the fabric. Instead, hang your clothes to air dry.
5. Use a clean, dry storage container when storing your gear. Mold and mildew can quickly ruin gear if it’s not ventilated correctly and kept in a dry environment.
Conclusion – How to Dress for Paintball
Wearing suitable clothing will not only help to keep you comfortable, but it will also protect you from the environment and the paintballs themselves. I hope all your queries regarding how to dress for paintball answered here. Next time you step foot on the paintball field, you’ll be well-protected from head to toe.
In his impressive career, John M. Anderson has played alongside the best players in the world and earned the respect of many top competitors. His skill, versatility, and timing have helped him become one of the top players in the paintball world. He is a true pro who will likely be remembered as one of the greatest players in the game’s history. His impact goes beyond the field as well. He has become a spokesperson for the sport, sharing interesting stories and facts from the past, and he also regularly contributes to this blog to help and guide new players in the world of paintball.