Paintball Protective Gear That You Will Need

Of all the sports you can play, paintball is one of the safest according to some statistics that were recently released. After a study comparing the amounts of serious injuries in various sports, it was concluded that you have 19 times more of a chance to be injured playing football than paintball. The low rate of injury playing paintball is a direct result of wearing protective gear designed specifically for this sport. Another factor effecting the chances of being injured is where you play. Stick to playing paintball where it is professionally monitored, and keep it out of your backyard.

Serious injuries while playing paintball may be low in comparison to other sports, but if you are not wearing the safety gear that you should be, and then you are hit with a paintball, you can expect to suffer some damage. Although the injury may be minimal it will still be painful. Take a moment to review the following article on the kind of gear that is available to prevent you from getting hurt out on the paintball field.

The most important piece of equipment you can use while playing paintball is a pair of goggles. Consider how important your eyes are, and don't cheap out on this piece of equipment. Industrial safety glasses are not going to be good enough, and it is not worth taking the chance with them. A paintball travels at speeds high enough to shatter a regular pair of safety glasses. It is recommended that you use paintball goggles that include a face shield that protects your head from front to back.

A padded paintball suit will offer some protection from being struck by a paintball, but some areas of your body will still remain vulnerable. Use a protective collar on your neck for extra protection. A chest shield should be used protect your sternum. Your testes, being extremely sensitive should definitely be protected by wearing a cup. Some paintball fields will give you the equipment you need, but not necessarily all of it. It is up to you to make sure that you are fully covered.

For safety reasons a paintball should never be fired at a speed in excess of 300 feet per second. There is a good reason for this rule. The protective gear used for paintball have been tested and designed to be effective for this speed. Chronographs are used to measure the speed of the paintballs and ensure that they do not exceed safety standards. A chronograph can be purchased for a reasonable price, and they are worth every penny, especially if it prevents a serious injury.

More often than not paintball injuries happen when people go out and play on their own on a unregulated privately owned paintball field. Owners and operators of professionally run paintball fields consider your safety first and foremost. Because of liability issues and the image of the sport they want everyone to have a great time without anybody getting hurt. For this reason the best way to keep yourself from sustaining a serious injury in the sport of paintball is to play on a regulated paintball field.