Paintball parties are one of the greatest entertainments for a weekend. Standing on the sidelines being an observer can also be a lot of fun. Home games do not require a lot of equipment, but if competition is in the near future, more gear may be required. The first thing needed is a paintball gun. Some guns are set up with scopes, stands, short barrels, long barrels, and may even include a case for storage. Certain guns come equipped with a hopper, which hold the paintballs and can come in various capacity sizes. This is to keep from having to reload. Gravity hoppers feed the paintballs to the gun by gravity flow. Electric hoppers load quicker giving the player the advantage of faster fire. In order to fire the paintballs, the next purchase will be CO2, which comes in the form of cartridges or tanks. Tanks require less changing because they hold more CO2.

Protective gear is something that can not be overlooked. Paintball jerseys and masks are made for a purpose - to protect. Never, ever, play without a mask. Even if they look like something from a sci-fi movie, they should be considered a number one priority.

Many options are available in a jersey. The easiest choices are what color, logo or design is preferred. Beyond that, think of what kind of protection is needed or other personal preferences. Long sleeves are recommended. Whether playing in a brush and briar field, or just having the arms protected, at some point, long sleeves will be appreciated. The sleeves on some are even padded. Optional padding can be found for the shoulders, arms, chest and elbows. Nothing is better while lying in wait for the opposite team, than to wait comfortably. Another comfort feature is finding one that is vented. Vented means it has tiny holes in the material so it will let the body breathe and keep it cooler.

Even when it is warm, players wear gloves. Some choose to tuck their shirt sleeves into the gloves; others like the sleeves on the outside. Consider finding a jersey with sleeves that are made with a glove cuff. The smaller wrist design makes it easier to keep it behind the glove, and less chance of getting the sleeve caught on something. Paintball jerseys have come a long way in getting lighter, but still offering great protection. If it is possible, try the jersey on first to see how the weight feels. This will also help determine if it is too bulky or does not fit properly.