8 Must Have Accessories for Paintball Players
Every paintball player should have a mask, but depending on the type of equipment you use, your gear can get expensive. In addition to what you wear while playing, many other essentials could mean the difference between victory and an embarrassing defeat. Here’s a list of eight must have accessories for paintball players:
1. Barrel Sock / Barrel Bags
The game of paintball is full of miscommunications. Players often shout “hold!” when they mean to yell “attack!” As a result, it’s not uncommon for players to mistakenly shoot other members of their own team. If you’re playing woodsball or one-on-one, it’s even possible for an accidental shot to hit your backup marker.
Barrel socks (or bags) prevent such accidents from occurring by concealing the barrel and preventing the marker’s internal components from being exposed during play. This keeps players on your team safe and prevents opponents from discovering which markers you’re using.
Barrel socks are inexpensive and should be a staple for any paintball player. If you’re playing speedball, a barrel sock isn’t an option – instead, make sure to purchase a barrel bag.
2. Spare Parts & Tools
In the heat of battle, it’s easy for your marker to malfunction. For example, a dislodged o-ring could result in poor air compression and/or an inability to fire. Because of this, it’s important to keep the necessary repair materials in your paintball bag at all times in case your marker becomes unusable during a game or practice session.
O-rings are just one commonly used spare part that every paintball player should carry. It is also worth investing in spare screws, springs, and other small parts that may need to be replaced over time. In addition to spare parts, it’s also a good idea to carry basic tools such as hex keys in case your marker’s screws become loose.
3. Knee Pads
While knee pads are not essential paintball equipment, they do protect knees from scrapes and injuries while crawling on the ground. There are a number of different types of knee pads available, but most paintball players prefer kneepads with an open-cell design and breathable material. Some players even use knee guards in conjunction with their knee pads to provide additional protection against scrapes and bruises.
4. Force-Fed Hopper
If you play speedball, an electronic loader is a good idea. Such loaders are also commonly used in other paintball formats because they increase the rate of fire, which can make your marker more competitive.
Compared to gravity-fed hoppers, force-fed loaders generally hold more paintballs and are designed with feed mechanisms that enable paintballs to be loaded at a much faster rate.
5. Barrel Cover
For woodball and scenario players, a barrel cover is an essential piece of paintball equipment because it conceals the marker’s internal components. When hunting opponents or playing in games that involve multiple teams, you should avoid taking off your barrel cover until it’s time to shoot (and then put it back on once you’re done shooting, of course).
If you play speedball or another form of tournament paintball where hiding your marker is not an option, a barrel cover becomes less important. If you use a force-fed hopper on your electronic marker, there’s also no reason to worry about concealing the internal components since they’re hidden by the loader itself.
6. Air System Grease
Because it is located near the bolt, the air system on your marker probably experiences more friction than any other part of your paintball gun. As a result, it makes sense to keep this area lubricated so that your marker runs smoothly and doesn’t jam up during play.
Some air system grease also contains Teflon, which enhances the lubricating properties of the compound. If your marker uses an electronic trigger frame, you should also consider applying some Teflon grease to your board’s o-rings.
7. Lube
While most paintball players use grease to lubricate their air system and board o-rings, some prefer to use lube instead because it is less messy than grease and doesn’t attract dirt and debris that could contaminate your marker’s internal components.
8. Barrel Condom
Like barrel covers, barrel condoms are most commonly used in woodsball and scenario paintball where stealth is an important factor. Because it fits closely with the marker’s outer barrel, a condom will help muffle your marker’s firing noise. It may also protect against minor splatter from teammates’ markers during friendly fire incidents.
Final Verdict
In conclusion, making a checklist of essential paintball equipment is a great way to remind yourself of the various components that your marker requires in order to operate properly.
With this information, you can avoid running out of batteries during tournaments or other crucial games and ensure that your marker functions as it should at all times. If you have any other suggestions of essential paintball equipment, feel free to leave a comment below.
