• Head protection is an essential part of paintballing equipment.paintball mask image by .shock from Fotolia.com
  
  Paintball has evolved in recent years from a weekend recreation activity into a professional sport. This success has created a new industry for providing custom made-clothing, weapons, weapon modifications and head and body protection for professional paintball players. This industry also makes standard equipment for paintball hobbyists and amateur paintball sites.
  
  

Paintball weaponry

• There are multiple varieties of paintball guns, or "markers," available to players. The standard marker, the one used by paintball courses and most recreational players, is the Tippmann 98. It is easy to modify and repair. However, there are more advanced, more expensive models, used for different modes of play.
  
  For "milsim" (Military simulation) players, there are markers designed to look and feel like real weapons. These include paintball sniper rifles, paintball carbines and paintball pistols. These kinds of weapons have a far higher rate of fire than standard markers. Paint grenades have also become available, along with smoke grenades and paint landmines. This helps to make paintball as authentic an experience as possible.
  
  

Protective clothing

• Most paintball rental sites provide overalls and face masks, with some selling protective gloves and vests for additional protection. The standard paintball mask protects the mouth, eyes, face and ears from direct hits, although there is still the real danger of having your taste buds ruined by paint hitting and splashing through the mask and into the mouth. Other mask types also offer neck and collar bone protection. You can also buy a full paintball helmet to protect against back attacks.
  
  Body armor for paintball is designed to go underneath the overalls. It can take the sting out of playing, but the disadvantages are the extra weight and sweating. Protective gloves are a necessity, as being hit on the knuckles by a paintball is the second most painful place to be hit for a man.
  
  

Other Accessories

• A lot of paintball markers are easily modified and upgradeable to suit a paintball player's needs. Longer or larger barrels and larger compressed air canisters are the most common. There are also other tools, such as a hose that will allow the compressed air canister to be worn on a belt. This is designed to increase the accuracy of the hopper and allow the player more mobility.
  
  Larger ammunition pouches, or hoppers, can be added to the top of the gun, and these can also be automated to ensure a higher rate of fire. Belts can also be bought for carrying paint, as well as any other tools you might need in the course of play, such as barrel cleaners, or paint and smoke grenades.