Paintball gear FAQs
Does it hurt to be hit by a paintball?
Yes. But it does not hurt too much. You might think of it as hurting more than a scratch, but less than a real gun would. Players are required to wear safety equipment when they play at a commercial paintball playing field. It is usually a good idea to wear long pants and long sleeves when you play. This will provide you with a little more protection from welts and bruises that you will likely receive when hit by a paintball. You do not exactly need to be afraid of being hit by a paintball, but if you are hit by several, you could definitely be in a little pain. Also, if you are hit at close range, it is more painful than it is to be hit from a farther distance.
So do you just go shoot everybody?
Hardly. Usually those who play paintball divide into two or more teams and play some kind of a game. One of the more popular paintball games is capture the flag. There are others who participate in more sophisticated paintball leagues that will actually re-enact battles from World War II or the Civil War. Of course, if there are just a couple of people playing, you and a buddy might just want to run around the forest and try to shoot at each other. There is nothing that says that you have to play in a certain way or style. But regardless of how you play, it is important that you have the proper safety equipment.
How much does it cost to play paintball?
Although this depends on what kind of course you are playing on, you can generally assume that if you are playing in North America you should expect to pay between $15-25 per day to rent a gun, goggles and buy some paintballs. If you want more paintballs, it typically costs around 10 cents per paintball. If you plan to start to play more often, it would be more cost effective to invest in your own paintball equipment. You can buy a gun for as little as $150 and the goggles are usually between $20-40. When you buy goggles, do not try to save money by purchasing goggles that are designed for skiing. Make sure you buy paintball goggles for optimal safety.
