First Experience

[Flingy]

Hey,

Yesterday a few friends and I went to play paintball for our first time, and we enjoyed it massively. I'd call it woodsball, as i've seen that around a few times since i've come home and looked over the internet but it was more of a mass group "60-70 people" in the woods just shooting at eachother. All new to the game it seemed.

We're hoping to go again in the coming 2 months when we can all get time off, but a major problem two of us encountered were steamed goggles. We're not unfit, although you do get sort of out of breath while running from tree to tree, but still they steamed up massively to a point we stood there and waited to be shot.

Since the next time we go it would only be the second time we are attempting we're going to leave buying our own masks out until we're sure it's something we will carry on with. Are there any ways that we can ensure this doesn't happen mid game? I myself seen water on the inside of the mouth part of the mask once removed, probably due to breathing into it, maybe that played part in this.

Another question I would like to ask is paintballs themselves, the place we went yesterday gave us 100 balls to start, but an extra 100 balls were £7.50. That's quite expensive and added up a lot over the course of a 9am - 4pm day. Although after checking the internet and seeing 2000 balls for a mere £22, I phoned and asked if it was possible to take our own balls, to a demanding "NO" down the phone. Are all places like this? We're based in North Western England.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Kevin Winter]

A aulity mask will be better ventilated and have a twin pane "double glazed" lens (thermal lens) which will prevent if fogging up - look to spend £30 upwards- JT, Proto, Dye all make excellent masks.

When playing on rental days, most places will insist you use their paint - this is where they make their money and it also ensures the paint used on the site is stored correctly. Even days where you take your own eqipment (Walk on days) will often insist you take buy their paint, but offer it at more reasonable rates, on top of an entry fee. BYO (bring your own) events are rarer, but there are days where BYO is fine.

 

[Tom Allen]

As Kevin has said get yourself a thermal lensed mask. A good all round mask is the JT spectra/flex range, but make sure it's got the thermal lens.

Paint, will be where the sites make their money but most sites will offer a bulk buy, and you can get it down to 4 or 5p a ball if you buy 500+.

Buy some good boots, light and flexible enough to use all day but chunky enough to grip on those slippery slopes.

 

[jamie531]

Im glad you enjoyed your first paintball experience. Alwell as a good thermal lense their are many anti mist sprays which are pritty cheap and last for ages.

Jamie

 

[blinket]

if your looking for somewhere in the NW, there is Prozone Paintball that is just into the Scottish border

you can get to it from:

www.teamprozone.co.uk

 

[G.Ash]

as blinket said prozone is a good site, steve will rent you the equipment for a walk on and buy paint at site price(£25-£35)or byo, that way you will get to experience paintball at the paintballers level rather than punter level, i travel from preston it takes roughly 1hr30 to get there, have a look at there website or visit, http://convicts.myfastforum.org

 

[Gadget]

Non-thermal lenses are a nightmare and will steam up after some mild exertion regardless of how fit you are. Buying your own goggles is the obvious next step, but if you don't want to commit to the purchase just yet, try to get some anti-fog spray, which helps a bit.

I've never encountered a site which would allow rental players to bring their own paint, as they rely on paint sales to make their money. As Tom mentioned, ring up and ask if you can get a discount if you buy in bulk, many site will drop their price to 5p/ball if you buy a box of 2000.

 

[Flingy]

Thanks a lot for the replies.

As it seems the rental masks obviously weren't the Thermal type you speak of, this was probably the problem. The next time we go will only be our second so we are looking into getting some of the anti - fog spray stuff that may help us enjoy the experience that bit more and push us into getting some of our own equiptment. Are there any particular products that we can apply to the masks to stop them steaming, Or will the spray do just fine?

We have tickets with treatme.net, so we'll be purchasing our next paintball experience through there. Thanks for the help on the bulk buys, we will phone up the venue and ask when we take a look at where we'll be going.

 

[Tom Allen]

the £20 - £30 you'd spend on a used thermal mask would make a massive difference to your day. If they can't see you properly and you can see them, they'd have to be pretty lucky to shoot you.

I've lent my masks to friends that have played before and they're amazed how much better their day was.

 

[Shwat]

Plus, you look cooler if you have your own mask