| Paintball is an exciting, fast-paced sport, and the top | | | | CO2 can vary widely depending on temperature. But |
| priority for any paintball player should be safety. The | | | | for beginners, CO2 tanks are the best choice. They |
| proper safety gear will keep a fun afternoon from | | | | are widely available in sizes ranging from 9 oz. to 20 |
| turning into a trip to the hospital. After all, this sport | | | | oz. |
| involves using air-pressurized guns, which can be | | | | 4. Paintball mask |
| dangerous. When everyone participates wearing the | | | | Your paintball mask is your best friend in the field. The |
| proper equipment, chances are maximized that it will | | | | most serious paintball injuries are generally injuries to |
| be a fun, exciting time for all. | | | | the face. In fact, paintball facilities will not let you play |
| Here is a basic checklist of equipment necessary for | | | | without a mask. |
| playing paintball. While some of the items further down | | | | 5. Protective goggles |
| in the list are "nice to haves," proper working paintball | | | | Invest in a good pair of goggles. Besides protecting |
| apparatus and safety gear are absolutely indispensible. | | | | your eyes from a direct hit, they will also keep stray |
| 1. Paintball gun | | | | globs of paint from nearby hits from getting in your |
| The gun is what you use to eliminate opponents. | | | | eyes. |
| Spend some time researching the types of guns | | | | 6. Hopper |
| available before choosing. Semi-automatics are popular | | | | This is the piece of equipment in which you place the |
| first guns for paintball players. They work simply: when | | | | paintballs. The standard hopper will load your gun at a |
| you pull the trigger, a paintball shoots out the barrel. | | | | slow rate, but that's OK when you're just starting out. It |
| Save the tournament level guns for a time when your | | | | will make it easier to conserve paintballs. |
| skills have improved and you know you'll have the | | | | 7. Barrel |
| enthusiasm for keeping it clean and in good repair. | | | | This is how you guide the paintball toward its target. |
| 2. Paintballs | | | | Brass barrels are common and affordable. |
| You will, of course, use lots of these, but when you're | | | | 8. Belt packs |
| a beginner and haven't honed your skills yet, try to | | | | These hands-free belts keep your supplies handy. |
| conserve paintballs. Only | | | | 9. Scopes |
| Take a shot when your target is in sight. | | | | A good scope will help you aim your gun accurately. |
| 3. Air tanks | | | | Paintball is an exciting, fast-paced sport that is |
| There are two types of gas canisters you can use to | | | | increasing in popularity. While it is possible to spend |
| launch paintballs: CO2 (carbon dioxide) and nitrogen. | | | | hundreds of dollars outfitting yourself for the paintball |
| For the novice paintball player, CO2 is your best bet, | | | | field, when you are starting out, the most important |
| and it is also the more commonly used option. It is also | | | | investments you will make aside from a gun and |
| far less expensive than nitrogen. | | | | paintballs are safety goggles and a safety mask. The |
| All CO2 tanks have pin valves and can be refilled. | | | | fancier equipment, like scopes and cleaning kits can |
| CO2 tanks are readily available at paintball supply | | | | wait until you know you're one of the over ten million |
| stores. Now, these tanks do have drawbacks, the | | | | people who are hooked on the exciting sport of |
| main one being that the pressure output of a gun using | | | | paintball. |