Return to paintball...protective gear!?

[Liam92]

Most important for me are knee pads, elbow pads and slide shorts. I do have a bounce vest but I never seem to wear it. It's just to hot with all that padding on as it is.

IMO knee pads are important to protect yourself from kneeling down or falling onto hard rocks, sharp sticks etc. but also from impact from any slides/dives which might occur. the same applies to elbow pads, especially since sliding without pads can be asking for trouble at times. anything else is optional really.

 

[Hudson']

I think we always had knee and elbow/forearm pads, even slide shorts I guess but mainly my question was geared towards the vests. I went and brought a bit of gear this morning, the DYE vest doesn't feel restrictive to me. Nice snug fitting feels like I should certainly get some bounces from it.

 

[Bolter]

Not for me. Elbow and knee pads and thats all I wear. Dont see any advantage to any of the other stuff.

 

[Cook$]

Never really bothered with knee pads. Always wore elbow pads, 100% for the bounce. Sometimes wore knee pads as elbow pads as they were bigger and bouncier...

 

[southernP8nt]

Only ever wore knee pads personally.

Never could get used to elbow pads, always felt like it was restricting my movement a bit too much. Knee pads though were always on because I came across old pegs/stones/general crap on the ground too many times and getting that in your knee while sliding can really **** you up.

 

[Kevin Winter]

Always wear knee and elbow pads, to save wear and tear. also got shot in the gands a few years back, and never go out without slide shorts and a cup.

As for bounce vests - unless it's very hot, I always have one - for woods and walkons, it means I don't worry about playing up close and agressive, and in tournaments, as I used to play snake, it takes the sting out of the occassional bunkering..

As an extra top tip - I've started wearing a walkers wicking base layer under the vest - keeps you cool and dry in hot weather and warm in the cold. Well impressed with it so far.

 

[digitalman]

Knee pads to protect myself from things on the floor, arm pads for long range bounce and some protection from nasty pointy things and a rugby undershirt that has some shoulder and chest padding. Always some good bargins popping up on the forum for second hand pads.

 

[Bradley Marsh]

I always wear knee and elbow pads, considered a thin bounce vest but never tried it... usually a VERY long sleeve tee under my jersey.