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Paintball can be a complicated sport. Form ball bore sizes to barrel types, to CO2 pressure, to proper safety; paintball has a lot of issues that from time to time can be a little confusing. This area will contain tips, hints, tricks, and general info that I hope will be useful to everyone and help us grow into more professional and efficent players of the sport. If you have a tip, feel free to e-mail the webmaster at checkyourself@hotmail.com.
What should be in my gear bag?
The Boy Scoutt's motto is "Always Be Prepared", but it can be hard to predict what you will need when you actually get to the field. Let's face it. We all have had to borrow stuff from our buddy from time to time (some more than others). I've decided to provide you with a list of things that I think should be in a well equipped players gear bag. Now this list is just a suggestion, so feel free to add or leave out anything that you like in your gear bag.
- Rags - Paintball is a messy sport, and you should be prepared for that fact. Pack at least three or four good rags to wipe yourself and your equipment off. I reccomend T-shirt material or any absorbent cotton cloth (cloth diapers are really good).
- Squegee - Gotta have this. Don't scrimp here. Get a good one that works well and easily in your marker. There are two main types. A stick squegee is rigid and is pushed through the barrel. Also, there is the flexable squegee that you pull through your gun. The stick is preferred because you can get nice legs strap holsters to hold them.
- Barrel Plug - VERY IMPORTANT. Yes, I know they are a little annoying to keep up with, but they are necessary for safety and should be used at all times when you are not actually in a game or test firing your marker. Don't leave this one behind.
- Tool Kit - Markers have moving parts and things that need maintainance. If you come to play without a tool kit of some kind, you WILL end up borrowing from somebody else who was better prepared than you (rookie). Now what you include in your tool kit can vary depending on your gun, but there are some things that all players should include. Some things I suggest are: teflon tape, any allen wrenches that you need for your marker, gun oil (check your operation guide for type NOT WD-40!), gun parts kit (extra o-rings, springs, bolts, etc.), standard hand tools (screw drivers, pliers, needle nose, etc.), flashlight. Think about what COULD happen to your marker and what you would need to fix any problem that you think could occur. Think about what you tend to be borrowing from others and include that stuff.
- Paintballs - I know what you are thinking "duh", but just stop and think for a minute. Are you running out? Do you "borrow" paint most games from better prepared players? If you are, you are making a name for yourself as "The bum that can't get it together". Try to be self relant, bring more paint than you can use that day.
- Pods - Paint pods are a great addition to your bag. When you are in a heated game, who wants to run out of paint? Having extra pods of paint on your belt is just plain smart. Nothings worse than bumming paint DURING a game. I know it can't always be avoided, but you can try to prevent it.
- Extra air tanks - Not alot of explaination needed here. More air means more gametime. Make the investment.
These are the main things that I reccomend. You may think of more. Just think about your day of fun and what you need to make it happen, then, put it in your bag!
-Tom Houston
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