| In order to conduct a safe and fun filled game of | | | | The mask is an extremely important piece of safety |
| paintball there are countless things to take into | | | | equipment used in paintball; it is to protect the eyes, |
| consideration. One very important element is the | | | | ears, mouth and nostril, some mask even have the |
| paintball equipment. Winning a game of paintball relies in | | | | added protection of throat guards but this is not a |
| part on the types of gear that is used; each player is | | | | requirement. The lenses on the mask are designed to |
| required to have certain equipment necessary to play | | | | stop paintballs traveling around 300 ft, they come in |
| the game and to enhance their safety. | | | | different types. Double layered or 'thermal lenses' is a |
| A paintball gun, otherwise called a paintball marker, is | | | | type of mask that works by separating an inside and |
| the essential gear needed in this game. The muzzle | | | | an outside lens with air chamber, this allows for the |
| velocity of a 'marker' is approximately 300 feet per | | | | difference in temperature between the inside and |
| second or 90 meters per second, anything below 300 | | | | outside of the mask without condensation forming. If |
| feet is deemed unsafe in most commercial paintball | | | | moisture forms inside any of the lenses they will fog |
| fields because if the velocity is below a certain level | | | | and fogging mask can be a significant hazard while |
| the paintballs break upon impact. The paintball marker | | | | playing this sport. |
| has four chief components, the gas system, barrel, | | | | Clothing is another central aspect in playing paintball, |
| body and hopper. There are two main types of gas | | | | because the sport requires a lot of running, diving, |
| available for the gas system, CO2 and HPA.CO2 was | | | | crawling and sliding it is best to wear clothes that are |
| the first propulsive gas used in paintball, it is better | | | | tough and durable. Camouflage clothing is a popular |
| described as a liquid as a gas in its natural state, | | | | choice for many players, this is because it is more |
| however when it reaches a particular temperature it | | | | effective for blending in with the environment however |
| transforms into a gas. | | | | if the game is conducted on a small field or an artificial |
| HPA is the most consistent gas used for paintball | | | | obstacle then this type of clothing would not be best. In |
| because it is unaffected by temperature or climate | | | | these cases players opt for baggy clothes that can be |
| which in turn creates a better shot to shot consistency, | | | | padded to minimize the sting of close-range hits, also |
| when the consistency is better then the overall | | | | depending on the type of game being played paintball |
| accuracy is also better. | | | | shoes can vary from boots to sneakers. |