A proper jersey and pants/trousers are nice to have, but not essential.
I bought a lightweight jersey from the bargain bin very early on for next to nothing. It was just the wicking type
material and no padding.
This was good and comfortable but I only bought it thinking I needed it for walkons to fit in, but only wore it a couple of times before it sat in a drawer for years and I gave it away
In more recent years around the tournament scene I was given one jersey and have bought a couple, these are Jersey Clinic level 3 jerseys and have a good amount of padding in sensitive areas, elbows etc.
(One is random for training, one is a team branded one, and finally a lime green one which goes well with a media vest for photographing)
I also only recently got proper paintball trousers, I’ve bought a lightweight ‘training’ unpadded pair which are just good material and have paintball related pockets such as a fluffy pocket. I won a pair in a raffle which are now well used. I would’nt have paid the retail price but they are excellent, big, padded and baggy.
My other pair are also a good padded pair but not as baggy, again I wouldn’t pay full price but they were given to me as part of the ‘package’ photographing for a team
It’s going to depend on your style of play as to whether they are worth it to you. If you are inclined to crawl at any point then knee and elbow protection are essential.
Knee & elbow pads that are elasticated and slide on are best as opposed to strap on knee pads, but proper jerseys and trousers protect you unless they are just lightweight ones.
If you’re happy that this is for you then £20 on a discount jersey is a good start. But I’d probably recommend waiting for your first walkon and see what everyone else has and feel some of the styles in the lips shop on site (and get an idea of sizes as they vary)
Good paintball trousers are expensive, I don’t play enough to justify the expense to myself, but do like the comfort and padding
Walking trousers and knee pads will do you fine for day one. Pads are best worn under your trousers of possible, and if they strap on then do the top tighter and the lower strap looser.
My knees are bad so I use knee supports when playing and photographing. Take care of yours before you get old
I didn’t wear bounce vests in the past but do wear one on the tournament field. Adrenaline is a good painkiller for me, but when it’s up close a bounce vest makes a lot of difference.
I’m not a fan of cups, but do wear one for CQB type games.
I’ve taken some sensitive hits up close. It’s not good when you’re coming down steps and your dick is at rifle height.
I don’t wear one on the tournament field, but if the trousers weren’t so baggy & padded then I’d consider it
I’ve not worn slide shorts, but they have good padding if you slide on your side or for the crotch so are a consideration depending on what your trousers provide and if you’re going to dive and slide
Under my trousers I tend to wear my normal underwear plus some form of big shorts for extra support similar to slide shorts but not padded. If wearing a cup then it’s tucked into cricket undershorts as the ‘support’ shorts
In the tournament circuit there are rules on how many layers you can wear, but in the woods provided you don’t end up looking like Michelin man then it’s pretty much what suits you.
Playing on a tournament would be bounce vest, elbow pads and jersey but photographing I would add t-shirt and media vest then adjust layers for how hot i am.
I have mostly worn combat trousers and t-shirts, then perhaps a combat shirt or hoody. I used to wear Molle vests, but unless I need pouches etc for radios and lots of grenades or pistol mags then I’ll opt for the simplicity of a pod belt.
I used to use remote lines and my air on the back of my vest, but I prefer the bottle on the gun. (Depending on what I’m using)
