playing Paintball
One of the first questions that is always asked when a new player comes to paintball is "What should I bring?". There are a lot of resources on the web that list things you should bring, clothes you should wear, how much it does or doesn't hurt etc. I'll reference some of these sources at the bottom of this article but I wanted to tailor the answer to this question to playing paintball (woods ball) in the Bay Area and specifically, playing with Team Lockdown. These answers do not address all field and game types.
What Should I Wear?
The key point to remember is that once you get into paintball, you'll be sliding around in mud and paint i.e. it's a dirty sport. Old clothes are essential and you can play in everything from camouflage/military field uniforms (best) to sweat pants (ok) to jeans (not recommended). Wear comfortable shoes with a decent tread, boots with good ankle support are best. Sneakers work for some people but generally have no traction in the dirt. They make paintball cleats for a reason. Bring a sock hat or baseball cap for head cover. Thin, protective gloves, flexible elbow and knee pads are available and great.
Avoid bright colors unless you intend to draw fire for you team. White is a big no-no.
Bring a second set of clothes to change into and/or covers for your car seats. You can go home clean or go home very dirty - I know which is more fun :-)
Will it hurt?
Well, yes,., it does.
I wont sugarcoat it, getting hit stings. Depending on where it hits you it can and will leave a bruise. But it hurts much less than people say it does. In fact you probably wont notice the pain because of the adrenalin coursing through your veins!
What Should I bring?
Food and Water
When playing in the Bay Area, the key thing is water. Bring a lot of it, even
if it's cold. Bring all the food you'll need to sustain you. Most outdoor
paintball fields are a distance from civilization and who wants to leave a
field in the middle of the day to go get food. Lockdown usually brings a grill
to cook up whatever you have.
Money
Most fields don't accept credit or debit cards, cash or check only. Bring
enough to cover your day plus sodas etc. Check with the individual field on
what their rates are. As a new player, you will likely use between 500 and 1000
rounds (paintballs).
Got Marker?
If you have your own marker (paintball gun), make sure to bring the
obvious
replacement supplies such as O-rings, oil, spare screws and tools. A
lot of Lockdown players carry almost complete spare sets and tools but
not for every
marker. Members are very giving with their time and materials but
that's
because no abuses it. Everyone is willing to help out, loan gear, spend
time
fixing things but it's your responsibility to bring your own gear. If
you don't
have a marker, you're a rental.
Rentals
I can only think of one field in the Bay Area that I'd be happy renting
equipment from. Most rentals are below par but they will suffice for your first
few games. Remember when playing that your rental equipment and your
inexperience will reduce your enjoyment. Fortunately, that first time rush will
make up for it.
What Should I Drive?
A truck or SUV is optimal as some of the fields we play don't have great access. That said, only cars with low clearances usually have real problems. Ride with a buddy or post on the Lockdown forums and someone will be happy to share a ride with you.
I have more questions!!
Check these links, send us an email or place a post on our forums. One way or another, all your questions will be answered.
You don't need to go out and buy all the above listed items. If you're new and interested, contact us and come play with us a few times first.