What to Wear to Paintball
Reeva Babbar
Table of Contents
So, your friends have finally convinced you to go paintballing and you have no idea what to wear to paintball? If so, you’re not alone.
Paintballing is often considered an unknown territory for many people—especially when it comes to deciding the right attire for this adventurous and fun activity.
Deciding what to wear for different occasions is often easier than deciding what to wear for different activities. Because paintball is such a messy sport, you might be wondering what outfit will save you from looking like a total mess.
There’s no need to worry though. We have lots of outfit ideas for you to consider when thinking about what to wear to paintball.
In this guide, we’ll give you lots of tips and outfit ideas for your paintball adventure. So the next time you’re confused about what to wear to paintball, refer to this article.
Here are some things this guide will explore:
- What to wear for paintball in summer
- Paintball outfits
- Do paintballs stain?
- Does paintball paint wash out?
But, before we can dive into this ‘what to wear to paintball’ guide, we must answer a very simple question: what exactly is paintball?
What is Paintball?
Paintball is a sport that’s competitively played between individuals or teams to see who can shoot most, if not all, of their opponents with paintballs to eliminate them from the game. The individual or team with the most targeted opponents wins the game.
The paintball guns are air-powered and usually have a capsule filled with paint that strikes the opponent (once the player pulls on the trigger of the gun). These guns are used as weapons in the game to stop opposing individuals or teams from reaching a defined target.
Basically, the goal is to reach the target before the players on the other team reach it by eliminating as many opponents as possible.
Paintball is an adventurous sport to play with your friends and allows you to create strong alliances in a battlefield setting. So, if you’re looking to take those insta-worthy #friendshipgoals photos with your besties, then you and your friends should definitely go paintballing.
But before you can make those memories, we’ll help you figure out what to wear to paintball.
What to Wear to Paintball
Most paintball arenas provide you with full gear to wear before you step into the game area. Yet, it’s important to consider what you should be wearing underneath that gear to give you the perfect cover before you jump into this messy sport.
You’ll most likely be provided with a helmet, an air-powered gun, paintballs, and a protective paintball mask to cover your head, ears, and eyes from the dangers of paint getting in these sensitive areas.
And since some arenas don’t provide you with coveralls, you’re responsible for keeping your body sheltered from the mess and stings of paintballing.
When deciding what to wear to paintball, think of outfits with layers so that you can protect your skin from paint marks. A layered outfit is also necessary because sometimes slight bruises can occur if a paintball hits you on your bare skin.
Remember, the key is to have fun with your friends, so you wouldn’t want to be the first one to tap out all because you weren’t wearing appropriate, protective clothing.
Along with wearing layers, you should also wear proper shoes in the arena. Proper shoes allow you to travel across the arena stress-free, so you can walk, jog, or run to paintball your next opponent. Choose footwear options that provide both comfort and grip, since some of the game areas can be slippery.
Also, keep in mind that your shoes need to be close-toed so that you can easily run in them while making sure no paintball dares to mess up your immaculate toenails. So, keep your heels and strappy sandals at home for the next not-so-adventurous activity.
10 Outfit Ideas for Paintball
When choosing your paintball outfit, the goal is to keep your skin as covered as possible. With that in mind, it can be hard to determine which outfits are both functional and aesthetically appealing for your next paintballing adventure.
There’s absolutely no need to stress because we’re here to help. We’ve put together a list of 10 paintball outfit ideas for you. So, you won’t have to feel confused about what to wear to paintball ever again.
The first outfit on our list is a classic, high-quality tracksuit that will not only be comfy but also highly protective. In the picture above, the model is wearing a black tracksuit that consists of a black hoodie and a black pair of drawstring sweatpants.
To complete this look, he wears comfortable and durable, ankle-sitting runners. It’s the perfect outfit for forming a solid base under the paintballing gear that will be provided.
This outfit also provides the player with a chance to move freely around the arena without being worried that a paintball could stain his skin, or worse, leave a bruise on it.
It’s also lined with fleece, giving the player extra padding to save themselves from paintball stings and bruises.
Another outfit idea to wear underneath the paintball gear is a high-neck hoodie with stretchy, athletic-flex tights (somewhat similar to what the model above is wearing).
Although the orange, high-neck hoodie compliments the white pair of tights beautifully, it would be more practical to wear darker colored tights since you’ll be getting paint marks on them.
A zippered hoodie, such as the one seen above, allows you the freedom to choose how much you’d like to keep your neck covered. Some people like the extra coverage, while others feel somewhat suffocated in turtle or mock necks due to the protective paintballing mask that they have to wear throughout the game.
So, if you think that could be you, choose a hoodie that’s zippered so you can choose how high or low the neck of the hoodie should be.
There’s really nothing more exciting than dressing up as a team for a paintball game. And there’s nothing more perfect than camouflage overalls for your team’s uniform to get the full experience of being in the arena. As shown above, these overalls cover your entire body without prohibiting your movement.
Camouflage overalls are a great way to save your outfit underneath from the mess of the paintballs and can provide you with an extra layer of protection against the strikes of the paintballs.
As the name suggests, these overalls are also great for paintball for another reason: they’ll give you the advantage of remaining hidden from your opponents. That way you can make your moves more strategically.
Another option is to wear a zippered hoodie/sweatshirt/jacket with athletic tights/yoga pants. The model above is wearing a pink Cross Chill Jacket from Lululemon along with black athletic tights that provide free and enhanced movement.
This type of jacket will not only provide you with the necessary padding against the sting of the paintballs, but it will also keep you dry from the paintball paint and/or potential of rain on the arena. It’s important to note that the model is wearing socks that sit higher than her ankles to provide full coverage to her feet.
Also, the shoes give her a boost in height and still have the proper grip required. The key to wearing this type of outfit is to layer the bottoms with a pair of sweatpants on top. This will give you an extra layer of protection against the paintballs and will allow you to easily move with the pace of your team.
Here’s another example of a tracksuit look with low-top sneakers for you to paintball in style. This black Adidas tracksuit with white stripes is modeled above with black and white sneakers that turn this into a classic, athletic look. The almost all-black outfit is totally functional for paintball without compromising on style.
This look is perfect for when you have no idea what to wear to paintball. Even if you’re wearing overalls on top of this tracksuit, the outfit will keep you both warm and dry in case some paint leaks through.
Also, these sneakers will provide you with the proper grip, which will save you from embarrassing slips and falls in front of your friends.
A similar option to the camouflage overalls is to wear black, camouflage track pants instead. That way you won’t be covered head to toe in the same outfit. These track pants, with their loose fit, give you the freedom to move easily across the paintball arena.
When considering what to wear to paintball, you could easily style these pants with a black or gray hoodie to give your outfit an extra dose of comfort and style.
The gloves worn by this model will also add some extra grip to your hands, which is helpful when dealing with wet paint. Depending on the weather and the location of the paintball arena, your hands could get quite cold, so the gloves will help keep them warm.
They’re also slip-resistant, which is perfect for this game because there’s no room for butterfingers on the battlefield. Plus, the sturdy black runners, with their heavy-duty grip, provide extra slip resistance for your feet.
What’s a key thing to remember when thinking about what to wear to paintball? Think about what you would wear if you were going hiking. Paintballing and hiking outfits are quite similar.
That’s because, during both activities, you’re trying to have a fun and adventurous time outdoors—all the while saving yourself from the harsh effects of the sport (i.e. cold, wet, scrapes, bruises).
Similar to a hiking outfit, wearing lots of layers for paintballing is essential to having a good time. You can always remove layers if you get too hot, or if you feel too bulky and can’t move around easily.
But, not wearing enough layers can cause some problems. Honestly, the last thing you want is to walk out of the arena with paint marks on your body or worse, stings and bruises from the paintballs, because you didn’t cover all of your bare skin.
The way to keep your entire skin covered is to choose a padded sweatsuit. The one above is a black and cargo combo that’s both well-fitted and flexible, which allows players to easily move around.
It’s padded from above the knees to just above the ankles to ensure that you can move without fear of bruising from slips, falls, or paintballs flying in your direction.
It’s important to note that the player above is also wearing a face shield to cover her eyes, nose, and mouth, which protects her from balls of paint flying at high speed.
Plus, she’s wearing soccer cleats that provide great grip and make it easy to slide on the grassy fields. That way she can move at a quick pace, and also be cautious at the same time.
Think of your outfit for paintballing as both your shield and your gear for a friendly battle. So, your clothes need to do the job of protecting you from stings and bruises from paintballs—just as well as your friends do the job of saving you from boredom!
Here’s some style inspiration from the Canadian actress, Missy Peregrym. In this image she’s wearing an all-black outfit for paintballing. This gear keeps you protected from head to toe, and allows you to proudly show off your battle scars at the end of the day.
With extra padding on her forearms and elbows, and a helmet to cover the top of her head, Missy is ready for a long and rough game of paintball. She models her outfit with confidence in herself and a spirit of enthusiasm for the sport.
As you can tell, the highlight of these outfits is their highly functional and waterproof pants that go perfectly with runners (either high-top or low-top sneakers). These Techwear Cargo Pants (called “Nokutan”) are the perfect bottoms for any type of tactical sport.
The pants have protective pockets for your phone and other accessories, so your opponent doesn’t end up targeting these while you’re targeting them. Also, the straps attached to the pockets help keep your valuables extra safe.
Plus, the models above are wearing two pairs of shoes that would look great with these cargo pants. But for the purpose of this messy sport, it’s best to wear black runners—unless you really hate your white shoes and cannot wait to get rid of them.
What Type of Paintball Gear Can You Get?
There are many types of gear for you to consider when you’re wondering what to wear to paintball. Essentially, it’s important for you to cover your bare skin, along with your eyes, and head.
Doing so will protect these areas, so you can have the maximum amount of fun while paintballing without being worried about any damage.
There are different types of paintball gear to choose from, depending on personal preferences.
For example, some people choose to wear goggles that cover the top of their forehead to the bridge of their nose, while others prefer a helmet to cover their entire head—which is a good idea if you want to avoid the potential mess and damage caused by the fast-flying balls of paint.
So, when shopping for paintball supplies, the goal is to find gear that truly works for you and your individual preferences.
Other types of gear include the air-powered gun and ammo pouch that you carry. Which type of gun and ammo pouch you choose will depend on what you find most comfortable and your grip. In other words, some choose a smaller shotgun-style while others choose a paintball gun that’s longer (known as the First Strike gun).
The ammo pouch can be carried either on the waistband or across the shoulders, depending on what the player is most comfortable with. You should be able to walk, jog, or run to and from your opponents across the arena while wearing your gear.
How to Choose The Best Gear for Paintball
Like any other product that you intend to buy, it’s important to check out the product features before spending your hard-earned money on it. So, we’ve compiled a list of features to consider when buying the best gear for paintball:
- Price
When thinking about buying paintball gear, of course, price matters. But before you make a purchase, remember to think about how many times you’ll actually use the gear.
Let’s put this into perspective: the price of a paintball gun can range from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars. So, it’s essential to think about how much you’re willing to spend. And, of course, this will depend on how many times you think you’ll be able to enjoy the activity.
Now, if you’re someone who truly loves tactical sports and would like to own paintball gear, then the next thing to consider after setting a budget is the quality of the equipment.
- Quality
While some people don’t mind purchasing their paintball gear from second-hand retailers like Kijiji or even Amazon, others prefer buying brand-new items. Checking out the Google reviews and website ratings for this equipment is also a good idea. It’s a great way to ensure you get both the best price and best quality.
In addition to this, you may not be so fond of using a helmet that’s already been worn by another head, so shopping for new rather than used paintball gear will make more sense in that case.
- Material
The material is key when shopping for any type of clothing or equipment. As shown in many of the outfit ideas above, it’s best to choose clothes that are water-resistant and shoes that are slip-resistant. Those who are playing paintball for the first time will probably wonder, do paintballs stain?
The answer is ‘no’ but the paint can be hard to wash out depending on the material of your clothing. So, it’s important to buy paintball gear that can be washed easily to get the paint out. That way your gear will be ready for when you go paintballing with your friends next.
How to Style your Paintball Gear
When going paintballing with your friends, you’ll need to be prepared and dressed properly. So, we have one key recommendation for you: wear lots and lots of layers.
But, you may be wondering what to wear for paintball in summer. When the weather is hot, you probably don’t want to be wearing tons of layers. Here are some tips for you:
- If you’re playing paintball outside in the summer, choose paintball gear that doesn’t stick too close to the body. Wearing clothes with a loose, baggy fit is ideal. You don’t want the gear to irritate you or distract you from the game. Plus, in the summer heat, loose-fitting clothing gives you more breathing room.
- You could wear less layers in the summertime. In that case, it’s best to wear padding on the weaker (or more concerning) areas of your body—such as the knees, chest, and elbows—to make sure that you’re still protected even while staying cool.
- Try to style your paintball gear in a way that you’re most comfortable. You’ll be running and hiding on the field to gain points for your team, so the last thing you need is your gear getting in your way.
Also, even if you’re wearing the paintball overalls along with the rest of your gear, it’s important to keep some outfit tips in mind. Make sure that your sleeves and the hem of your pants aren’t getting in your way. This is especially necessary for those of you who are petite, because you don’t want the paintball gear to feel like it’s weighing you down.
Many of you may be wondering, does paintball paint wash out? The answer is ‘yes,’ but it may be clingy on some surfaces. If you have long hair, tie it back to avoid getting paint on your hair because it may take a while to come out.
Here’s another tip: wear shoes that are runners or low-top sneakers, rather than high-tops. That way the heavier gear on your upper body is balanced out with the lighter gear on your lower body. So, your legs and feet are able to move with speed and agility.
Best Places to Buy Paintball Gear
While most venues provide paintball gear before you battle in their arena with your friends, some people like to own their own paintball gear. That way they don’t have to rent it out every time they play the game.
There are some great retailers that sell everything you’ll need to go paintballing. Some of these places are a little more expensive than others, so which gear you choose to buy will depend on your budget.
Here’s a list of good paintball gear retailers:
- Defcon Paintball Gear
- Hustle Paintball
- Sgt. Splatters Paintball
- East Coast Paintball Supply
Final Thoughts
Paintball is a tactical and adventurous sport that’s loved by many—whether you take the sport seriously or prefer to be goofy while you play.
Whatever your approach to the sport may be, knowing what to wear to paintball is essential. With the right gear and attire, you’ll be ready to have a wild and fun day out with your friends.
With the above outfit ideas and other useful tips, you can easily put together your paintball outfit. We’ve created a guide for you to walk into the battlefield completely prepared to get messy and have lots of fun.
As we’ve stated, when choosing paintball gear, you need to consider the price, quality, material, safety, and protection of each piece, because we all know paintball can be a somewhat dangerous sport. And, as always my friends, safety comes first.
So, whether you’re being dragged by your friends to try this adventurous sport, or you’re the enthusiastic one dragging your friends to the arena, we have you and your paintballing needs completely covered.
Have any other burning fashion questions on your mind? We’ve got you covered:
