Paintball enthusiasts know that owning the right paintball vest can make all the difference in a paintball game. Once considered just a protective device, vests now comprise a large part of the needed gear for the tactical sport. The more often body armor is used by a gamer, the more durable protective clothing needs to be. Individuals that play occasionally will not necessarily need the same quality of clothing as those that play every weekend.

Most armor made protects the body well, but the availability of customizing it adds a new dimension to the gear. The durability, fit and design determine the quality of a vest. High-quality gear should be rip resistant, as well as waterproof. The fit should be comfortable, but still allow free range of motion and incorporate a breathable design made with a material that allows air to get to the body. The sport has become such big business that some companies use the actual design of the module tactical vest used by the military in combat situations.

The basic military design has been modified for the specific purpose of playing paintball. Multi–phase armor allows different parts of the armor to be removed for the express comfort of the wearer. Some modular vests use the Modular Lightweight Load-Bearing Equipment (MOLLE) webbing system in its design. The MOLLE webbing system allows individuals to move pockets and pouches to different positions on the vest. The wearer can distribute the weight more evenly by placing items where they will be out of the way, but easy to get to when needed.

There are locations on the front, back and sides of the vest to attach different sized pouches. Most models use hook and loop closures, multi hooks or a snap system to attach pouches to various parts of the gear. Module units eliminate the method of carrying equipment around the waist, where it is often bulky and limits movement. Pouches and pockets have space for maps, wallets, paintball grenades, walkie-talkies, extra guns, extra air and paintballs.

A place on the back of the vest permits a nametag that attaches to the cloth with hook and loop closures. The pockets, where most people put maps and wallets, are plastic and placed on the inside of the vest with a zippered closure for added protection of the items. Woodland camouflage, desert camouflage, black and all-terrain vests allow gamers to blend in to the surrounding landscape. Most paintball vests can be adapted to fit any body size or shape with the use of adjustable straps.