What to Wear for Paintball: The Complete Beginner's Guide

What to Wear for Paintball 🎯

Short answer: anything you don't mind ruining. Long answer: there are a few rules that separate a great day on the field from one you remember for all the wrong reasons.

What actually happens out there

A paintball travels at around 90 m/s when it leaves the barrel. That's not dangerous — but on bare skin, it leaves a bruise and a sting you won't forget quickly. 🔵

Paintball is legal and widely played at dedicated venues across the UK, US, and internationally. Most sites provide protective masks. Everything else is on you.

What to wear 💪

Long clothing. Always. Long trousers, long-sleeved top. Every exposed centimetre of skin is an open invitation.

Layers. Thin cotton layers absorb impact better than one thick piece. Not a puffy jacket (too stiff to move), not thin leggings (no protection). Think: the onion method. 🧅

Solid footwear. High-top sneakers or light hiking boots. Paintball fields are uneven, muddy, and often wet.

Gloves. Fingers are exposed and they hurt when hit. Thin work gloves or cycling gloves do the job.

The mask. Non-negotiable. 🥽 No certified paintball goggle system, no entry onto the field — everywhere, without exception. It stays on during play. Always.

What NOT to wear ❌

Shorts, tank tops, open shoes — obvious. But also: anything you actually like. Paint usually washes out. Mud, tears, and wear marks often don't. Dress like it might end up in a bin.

White is also a terrible idea. Even if the paint comes out — until then, you're walking around looking like a modern art installation. 🎨

Regular players invest in their own gear

After a few games it becomes clear: rental gear is often worn out, badly fitted, and has been on a lot of heads before yours. Your own pants, your own jersey, your own mask — that's not a luxury, that's comfort and performance.

Paintball-specific clothing is built for movement, impact absorption, and durability. It doesn't look like a 90s camping trip either. ⛺

Bottom line

Long clothes. Old clothes. Gloves. Solid shoes. Mask on, always. That's everything you need to get started. Everything else is optimisation — and that comes with time. 🖤