Paintballing is a chance to have fun in a unique and specialized environment with your friends (or maybe even rivals), but amidst all the excitement leading up to and during a session, it’s easy to forget just how dangerous it is.
If you’ve never had the pleasure of taking a paintball to an unguarded area of your body, allow us to fill you in...it hurts like hell, which is why beginners and veterans alike absolutely must have protective gear, not just for faces but legs too.
The chances are your favorite paintballing business has spare pants to offer the uninitiated rookies that come rolling in, but If you’re serious about paintballing, we highly recommend buying your own gear.
Your paintball pants will fit better, be of higher quality, smell a damn sight better, and while all the newbies are in the dressing room changing out of their civies, you’re hyped up and raring to go.
So, to help become the apex predator of your local battleground, we’ve compiled a list of nine awesome paintball pants you can currently buy, and what’s more, we’ve tacked on an in-depth buyer’s guide and FAQ section too.
Got a Match Coming Up?
No problems, killer. Here’s our top pick for a quick buy.
OUR TOP PICK
Our number one crotch coverers can be purchased in green or black multicam or ranger green, allowing you to sink into all manner of surroundings and stealth your way to victory.
Made from a durable yet breathable 50/50 blend of cotton and polyester coated in Teflon, these things are the tanks of the pant world, perfect for coping with those rugged environments.
No matter how you throw yourself around, no matter how deep and muddy the puddles get, G3 pants won’t let you down.
With ten different sized pockets, you’re set to carry all the extra accessories you can imagine. Fill up on all the essentials and give ‘em hell!
Moreover, with adjustable height knee pads, they’ll fit almost any frame, perfect!.
Pros
- Strong 50/50 cotton and polyester blend
- Teflon coating
- Adjustable knee pads
- 10 pockets of varying sizes
- Available in a few different prints
- Elastic cloth at the knee and hip keep you limber
- Easy-adjust straps at the hip and cuffs
- Awesome price
Cons
- Don’t have the most padding
EDITORS CHOICE
Our second splat stoppers are about as heavy-duty as they come, and they look like they’re designed to protect you from falling off a Harley.
With full groin padding and zipper, velcro, and button fasteners at the waist, your core couldn’t be safer, and thank’s to the four-way flex material of the inner thigh, crotch rips are a thing of the past.
Beyond the deep thigh pockets in which you could carry extra layers, gloves, or a visor cloth, the thick padding continues from the knee down, offering full shin protection.
The knee features the same stretch fabric as the crotch, giving you insane flexibility.
These are great pants designed by competitive paintballers. Our only caveat is that, while they do feature zippered leg vents, as a whole, they’re not the most breathable pants in the world, so they’re unsuitable for hot weather showdowns.
Pros
- Loads of padding
- 4-way stretch material in crotch and upper knee prevent rips
- Available in five prints
- Zippered leg vents let in some air
- Secure waist and ankle fasteners
- Designed by paintballers, for paintballers
- Deep pockets
Cons
- Not breathable enough to wear in hot weather
- Expensive
BEST VALUE
Coming in at number three we have a pair of pants loaded with kevlar knee pads to give you as much protection as possible as you snake crawl your way out of sticky situations and onto the podium.
You also get sufficient hip and groin padding just in case some son of a gun pops one right at your delicates.
The mesh interior lining is super breathable, and a cool body leads to a cool mind, which in turn, leads to top performance.
They also feature dual swab pockets to keep your barrel clean and your shooting even cleaner.
Dual drawstrings and belt loops keep things secure at the waist, preventing you from unwittingly mooning your teammates, but unfortunately, the ankles have no such fasteners.
Pros
- Kevlar knee pads
- Hip and groin padding
- Dual drawstring waist fasteners
- Dual swab pockets
- Breathable mesh lining
Cons
- A little pricey
- No ankle fasteners
- Sizing suits tall, thin body types
- Only one color
RUNNER UP
If you’re looking for the coolest paintball pants around, you’ve found them. Donning these bat-black beasts you’ll be the shinobi assassin of the paintball world.
They’re super lightweight and flexible, giving you an edge over heavily armored opponents.
That’s not to say these don’t offer protection, though. With quad-stitched reinforced knee and shin pads, you’re afforded both freedom of movement and safety, and the duramesh ventilation keeps you cool under pressure.
Drawstring secured at the waist and self-securing at the cuff, if you like shooting people with paint, but also love your pajamas, these arrive at a happy intersection between the two.
Pros
- Comfiest on the list
- Quadruple stitched knee and shin pads
- Insanely lightweight
- Make you look like a ninja warrior
- Could be worn under another layer
- Dual swab pockets
- Drawstring waistband
- 4-way stretch fabric prevents tearing
Cons
- Not as protective as some of the other picks
- Quite pricey
RUNNER UP
Fifth on our list we have another pair of joggers from giants of the industry HK Army. Crafted from premium poly-blend fabrics, they’re designed to keep you as comfortable as possible in the field.
With reinforced knee zones, you do get a bit of relief for sliding and diving around, but they’re nowhere near as padded as some of our other picks.
They are incredibly practical, though. With two waterproof zippered pockets, a drawstring waistband, and two swab pockets, they are as tactical as they are cozy.
These are the perfect paintballing joggers to wear over dedicated pads and keep you agile, giving you an incendiary physical advantage over your sluggish, over fortified enemies.
Pros
- Very lightweight
- Super comfortable
- Reinforced knees
- Strong poly-blend fabric
- Breathable
- Drawstring waist fastener
- Two swab pockets
- Not quite as pricey as some of our other top picks
Cons
- Little to no padding
RUNNER UP
Our sixth choice is the perfect pair of under-armor pants. Made from highly elastic, breathable polyester, these pants are more of a second skin than a garment, providing loads of comfortability and protection.
The pads, expertly crafted with EVA foam, swaddle your knees and hips, ensuring you’re fully suited and booted for an intensive and physical match.
The only problem we can see is that with the knee pads being quite small, they may not fall in the correct place for certain body types.
That said, if they fit correctly, they’re a fantastic addition to your tactical wardrobe. Hidden discreetly beneath your other gear, these pants are the secret weapon you’ve been waiting for.
Pros
- Perfect under-armor pants
- EVA foam knee and hip pads
- Second-skin comfortability
- Lightweight and incredibly flexible
- Great price
Cons
- Pad placement may not work for some
RUNNER UP
We’re back to the heavy-duty gear for our seventh pick. With a 65 - 35 polyester to cotton ratio, these pants keep paint out and let air in, ensuring comfortability even after a full day’s shooting.
Available in three unique styles including a very stylish typhon snakeskin finish, these pants will help you look and feel the part, getting you into the zone for some pure paint carnage.
The kneepads are firm and removable for machine washing, and the ten tactical pockets are more than enough for any long-scale excursion let alone a day paintballing.
Although the fabric is a strong blend, Sinairsoft has gone pretty thin with it, which may be a deal-breaker for some.
Pros
- All colors look great
- Removable knee pads
- Ten variously sized pockets
- Inexpensive
- Secure waist and adjustable ankle cuffs
- Breathable, strong fabric
Cons
- Thin material
- Not a lot of protection
RUNNER UP
Our penultimate pick has an adjustable velcro waistband for a secure fit at all times, elasticated self-fit ankle cuffs, and that essential stretch panel around the crotch that prevents tearing no matter how gnarly the game gets.
These pants sit between our light joggers and heavy tanks in design. They’re lightweight but packed with loads of knee, shin, and thigh padding to cushion those intense impacts.
If you’re looking for quality, but you’re on a tight budget, you really can’t go wrong with a pair of Exo joggers. They’re breathable, secure, simple, and cover all the essentials.
Pros
- Lightweight
- Breathable
- Well priced
- Plenty of knee, shin, and hip padding
- Comfortable
- Secure waist
- Singular swab pocket
- Stretch panel under the groin
Cons
- Only available in one color
- Not particularly heavy-duty
RUNNER UP
For our last pick, we’ve reenlisted with the HK Army. These bad boys have the heavy-duty stuff up top, but down low they taper into a comfortable jogger style.
Again, these wouldn’t look out of place on a biker.
You have the galvanized knees, triple-fastening zipper, and padded stretchy groin fabric sure to give you a winning edge.
You get two reasonably deep standard hand pockets, but they’re not sealed in any way which seems like a strange decision, but it may suit you.
Despite being quite thick, these pants are highly breathable, so even if you lose the match, you’ll still be feeling good.
Pros
- Dual swab pockets
- Breathable for thick fabrics
- Reasonable price for AK Army pants
- Well padded knees
- Triple-fastening zipper section
- Jogger style bottoms
Cons
- Open pockets
9 Best Paintball Pants Buying Guide
Before you rush into battle, Leeroy Jenkins style, wearing just any paintball pants, there are a few things to consider.
Follow this guide and you’ll be suited and booted in no time.
Fit
Fit is obviously a key concern with tactical clothing.
If the cuffs are dragging below your heels, you’ll be peppered with paint in no time at all. If your pants have fixed padding, a good fit is even more essential as you want the pads to rest in the correct places.
Fastenings
Equally as important as the general fit of your paintball pants are the fastening mechanisms. They need to be easily adjustable, perhaps even with gloves on, and secure even when under pressure.
Pants with multiple fastenings are the best for ensuring you’re not going to end up in a rather compromising semi-nude position. The last place you want to bare your bum is amongst a hundred people with paintball guns. Even your own teammates won’t be able to resist shooting at a target like that.
Materials
Materials are the second most important aspect of finding great paintball pants. The only problem is, the material qualities paintball pants require from zone to zone, are completely at odds with each other.
In some places, the fabric must be thick and rugged. In others, it must have the flexibility of thin spandex. The rest needs to be thick with padding yet breathable. The general concept of paintball pants is a veritable textiles nightmare, but these oxymoronic, Frankensteinian mixtures do exist.
Flexibility
If you’ve been paintballing for any significant amount of time in regular joggers or jeans, you’ll have experienced the dreaded crack rip.
Well, paintballing pants don’t survive the tear by strength alone. They need flexible sections beneath the crotch at the very least, but a bit of give at the knees is fantastic too.
Durability
Thick material is required for most of your paintball pants, after all, you’re not going to get too far in a paintball match wearing linen. Your pants need to be tougher than denim to survive the pseudo-warfare.
Polyester is an awesome material for paintball pants. It’s strong, breathable, and surprisingly stretchy, a perfect combination for the task at hand, but mixed with cotton, it’s even better. Cotton brings even more breathability to the table, keeping you nice and cool when the pressure’s on.
Breathability is especially important if you're playing through the summer. Nothing says dehydration like a month of slogging away on a contrived battlefield in unventilated clothing. Look for pants with vents of some description or mesh linings, anything that lets air pass through to your skin.
Padding
Padding is the name of the game with paintball pants. Their primary objective is to give you some extra protection from those deceptively hard multi-colored balls and the environment.
At the very least, you need some solid knee padding because they take the most abuse in a game. You’re kneeling, crawling, falling, sliding mostly on your knees, so looking after them is crucial. If a pair of paintballing pants have hard external knee pads, make sure they’re removable so you can machine wash them.
If you’re somewhat of an energetic paintballer that doesn’t call it a game until you’ve done at least a couple of dives á la Bruce Willis in Die Hard, you’re 100% going to need hip pads too.
You’d think that some sort of crotch padding would be essential criteria for paintball pants, but it’s actually not as common as you’d imagine, especially in cheaper options. That said, we highly recommend this form of protection for obvious reasons.
Pockets
Pockets are essential to a good tactical set of paintball pants. They allow you to carry all manner of accessories that will help you claim victory.
Swab pockets are particularly helpful as you can clean your gun barrel to maintain optimal ball velocity.
Prints
Vivacious prints on your pants can be great for indoor paintballing. You and your friends can even go as far as coordinating, giving you a striking team color and a highly organized united front that is sure to unnerve opposing teams.
If you’re more of an outdoor enthusiast, you’re better off looking for colors that are going to help you blend into your environment. Where do you go to shoot some paint?
Think about the layout and type of terrain. That way you’ll know what kind of camouflage will give you the biggest advantage.
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of pants should I wear for paintball?
If you’re lucky, the venue will have some sort of spare pants, but it’s always good to come prepared just in case they don’t. A lot of beginners wear old jeans because they’re fairly tear-resistant and thick.
Cargo pants are another good idea in lieu of proper paintball gear. Joggers are comfortable, but they don’t provide much protection.
How do you wash paintball pants?
It makes sense to soak them in something to try and lift at least a little bit of the paint off before throwing them in the washing machine. Never wash them in a general wash as you might stain casual clothing.
You should also make sure that any padding is machine washable, and keep the temperature relatively low to prevent shrinkage.
Out of Ammo
There you are, shootists, nine epic and varied paintball pants that will help you get on the podium and become the saint of paint you were always meant to be.
Paintball may be full throttle carnage most of the time, but the perfect pants for the activity are all about balance, a balance between strength and flexibility, and protection and breathability.
I was around 12 the first time I shot a paintball.HOLY COW that was eye-opening... oh yeah, I couldn't believe how much the sting of getting hit was.I remember to this day the adrenaline rush after getting plucked off by some guy probably 20 years older than me.
Please join in and share your experience with the different gear reviews on the site.Drop a comment, I would love to hear from you!
- 6 Best Paintball Markers - January 21, 2021
- 8 Best Tactical Backpacks - January 21, 2021
- 6 Best Military Paintball Guns - January 21, 2021
