7 Best Paintball Armor

Purchasing paintball armor is an essential step to the world of paintballing. Whether you are a young or older newcomer, or an experienced player, it is important to buy the right type of protective armor to prevent bruising and injury.

As anyone who has been hit by a paintball will know, they can hurt enough to create a bruise depending on the speed and range of the hit and the position of the body.

Nobody enjoys getting hit by a paintball, so it’s important to protect yourself with the right armor to continue playing.

This armor has to be snug and padded enough whilst remaining lightweight and breathable for long games of paintball, because the last thing you want is to be running around with a heavily padded chest protector.

You also need the right amount of storage for pellets or any other accessories.

We have found the 7 best paintball armors to protect the body and improve the quality of the game, along with a handy buyers’ guide and FAQ section for any unanswered questions.

Best Paintball Armor Buying Guide

Why You Need Protective Armor 

Paintball is a contact sport that involves shooting pellets of paint at the opposing team to replicate a warzone or military training. It’s both a fun game as well as a tactical professional sport.

Whilst the pellet shots do not simulate actual bullet wounds, they are still fairly impactful and can actually cause bruising or pain depending on where the target is hit. It is therefore important to invest in the right type of protective armor to prevent injury.

Fortunately, most paintball centers offer protective gear for group games, but this gear can often be old and overused.

If you are looking to start paintball as a sport, it is recommended to buy your own equipment. 

Areas to Protect 

The most important areas to protect on the body are the most sensitive parts, for example:

• Head 
• Hands
• Upper thighs
• Neck
• Ribs

These are the areas that are more prone to bruising and, whilst the pain will eventually go away after a day or two, it can still hurt. Armor in the form of protective chest vests are the most vital form of protection in paintball, as the vests protect the majority of vital organs in the body.

We recommend looking for a vest that has padding all the way around the body, including the back and sides, which can often be overlooked and forgotten about. Not only is this safer, but also provides an exciting element to the gameplay.

As paintball is there to mimic whatever scenario you want it to be, whether it’s a post-apocalyptic landscape or a warzone, these vests can provide an element of realism and cosplay to enhance the game. They also help to increase endurance and stamina for longer games. 

Face shields, gloves, protective neck gear, goggles, and elbow and knee pads are also essential pieces of armor for paintball. The whole idea is that you don’t want any skin showing, because there is always a risk of damage.

Although there is usually a rule of shooting distance in a paintball game, a trigger could accidentally be pulled at a close range which could damage the skin.

These pieces of armor also enhance gameplay, because the user will feel protected to crawl around, climb trees, find shelter, and run around without risk of scratching the skin in natural environments.

These also work to prevent damage to ligaments and joints. This allows you to do things you wouldn’t normally do without protective gear, such as hide in a thorny bush or army crawl quickly across rough gravel. 

What to Look for in Protective Armor

The material of protective armor needs to be durable and heavy duty, without weighing down the user. The best quality protective vests are made of either nylon or encrypted polyester, as they are lightweight, soft to the touch, and can withstand the impact of paintball pellets without breaking.

They are designed for wear resistance, especially if they have double or triple-layered stitching. This means they also have a long lifespan.

The protective pads themselves are usually made of a thicker version of these materials, as anything heavier could weigh down the vest - for example, sand bags are not recommended unless for weight training. 

Some protective vests come with mesh features, which is ideal for ventilation. Paintball is an active game and it can get warm, so mesh offers a level of breathability as it does not restrict the entire body.

This is also comfortable for movement, as the mesh can change its shape easily without tearing. Comfort is one of the most important factors when looking for paintball armor, because the last thing you want is for a chest protector to rub or stab the skin in any way. 

Molle System and Accessories

The term ‘Molle system’ has come up several times in our product reviews. Molle stands for Modular Lightweight Load-carrying Equipment, and is usually used by the military and law enforcement.

Molle systems essentially offer adjustable pouches for accessories, such as magazines (or paintball pellets), water bottles, phones, maps, or even other paintball guns.

As the acronym suggests, these pouches are designed to be lightweight and non-invasive whilst carrying useful and necessary items that enhance gameplay.

Paintball protective vests with Molle are ideal for creating a sense of realism, providing practicality, and looking the part. As most paintball players like the idea of replicating a military environment, having the same aesthetic can be a fun advancement for the game. 

For those looking to start paintball as a sport, we recommend the following accessories to enhance gameplay:

• Reusable pellets for training
• Lens cloth for face shield or goggles
• Anti-fog spray for face shield or goggles
• Extra ammunition 
• Map 
• Water bottle (nothing too bright)

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you need a chest protector in paintball?

Chest protective armor is a vital piece of equipment when playing paintball.

Whilst paintballs don’t hurt enough to cause severe damage to the body, a chest protector will allow an advanced layer of protection to prevent the paintballs from creating bruises. This will enhance gameplay as the vests will be beneficial for longer games, provide an extreme level of safety, and replicate a warzone.

They also allow players to use the natural environment to their advantage, as protective gear allows them to crawl, climb, hide, and run without damaging the body from harsh terrains and textures. 

How bad do paintballs hurt?

Paintballs definitely hurt more on bare skin than covered or protected skin. They won’t simulate the pain of a real bullet, but they can cause bruising at most. It depends on pain tolerance and where the player is hit, because some areas of the body are more sensitive than others.

For example, a paintball shot will hurt more on the upper thigh than it would on the shin. There is usually a rule to not shoot a player at a very close distance, but if this happens for whatever reason, it will hurt more. Protective gear will lessen the blow of paintball shots hugely. 

Do paintballs ruin your clothes?

Exploded paintballs have the potential to stain clothing, but these can fortunately be washed out quickly. It is recommended to wear old and comfortable clothes so stains won’t be a problem.

Keep in mind that whilst paintball stains may be the main concern, clothes are more likely to be stained and damaged from grass, sharp sticks, trees, and gravel also. We also recommend to never wear bright clothing as this will be obvious to your opposition. 

Can you wear jeans to paintball?

This comes down to the player’s individual comfort levels. If you are wearing baggy jeans that you can move around in without restricting the body, then of course!

Be prepared to move around, risk ripping the jeans from different positions and movements, and most of all - be prepared to get muddy and dirty. 

It is recommended to purchase protective paintball pants if you are looking to get involved with the sport, but as long as your legs are protected (don’t wear shorts) and comfortable then jeans are fine. 

Can 12 year olds play paintball?

12 is generally the minimum recommended age to start playing paintball. This is because kids at this age will have a clearer understanding of safety and rules as opposed to younger children.

As paintballs don’t really hurt too much, 12 year olds can definitely play paintball. 

What do I wear for paintball so I don’t get hurt? 

Protective armor is a must. This includes chest protective vests, face shields and/or goggles, gloves, knee and elbow pads, and a good pair of trainers or boots.

The clothing underneath or on top can either be a military-style jumpsuit or everyday clothing. The key things to remember are comfort, earthy colors, no skin on show, and protective gear especially over sensitive areas.

Whilst the paintballs are usually the main source of concern for beginners, you have to remember that the environments of the game can also cause potential pain - for example, some games involve varying terrains from post-apocalyptic wastelands to woodland areas. 

How many layers should I wear for paintball?

This depends on the player’s comfort level. It is recommended to definitely wear long sleeved shirts and pants to cover any bare skin. In hotter climates, you won’t need to wear multiple layers as this will affect gameplay.

Some players tend to wear a long sleeve top, protective armor, and a jacket over the top. Whatever makes the player comfortable and most secure, because nobody enjoys getting hit by paintballs.