Paintball Tips in the Summer Heat

Finally the season highly anticipated by paintball players has arrived: Summer! School’s out, giving you more free time to play and the weather has warmed up for beautiful game days. However, summer paintball can bring some challenges unique to this time of year, namely the heat messing with your body and equipment. Check out this checklist with some of our best tips, tricks, and solutions for playing paintball during the summer:

Drink Plenty of Water

Make sure to stay hydrated on the field. Dehydration is worst case scenario on the field and will ruin your day much quicker than 90 degree heat. The solution is simple enough: Drink plenty of water before, during, and after game day. A solid foundation of fluids in your body before participating in any extreme activity will help prevent potential dehydration.

Start hydrating a few days prior and consume twice your normal amount of water for maximum effectiveness. Drink several glasses the morning of and a bottle while gearing up. Hit your water bottle in between games, even if you’re not thirsty yet. Dehydration can sneak up on you if you don’t consciously prevent it. For extended scenarios games, make sure to bring a water bottle in your pack.

Wear Less Clothing and Ditch Excess Weight

Though we often recommend sweat pants, long sleeves, and layers, 90 degree weather is an exception. Choose lightweight, single layer clothing and supplement with knee and elbow pads for protection. Lighten up your pack as well by ditching any excess gear for a reduced weight. Use a goggle visor to block out sun. You can also wear a sweatband, bandana, beanie, or hat and bring an extra to absorb sweat and prevent it from fogging your lense.

Bring Coolers for Gear and Drinks

Bring two coolers: One for paint green paintballs cases and the other for drinks and snacks. Fill one cooler with ice, bottled water, and gatorade. Avoid soda, sugary juices, and energy drinks that can dehydrate your body.

Transport your paint and air tank in the cooler and keep it there before play. Put paint cases in a cooler with an ice pack (wrapped in a towel) in the shade to keep it chilled as long as possible. Don’t place ice cubes in the cooler because this can cause steam and humidity. Plus, the cold towel and ice pack can double to help cool you down between games.

Heat can cause paint to swell or melt. The shell may soften, expand, and take the shape of whatever it is stored in. It will cause jams in your marker if you’re not careful. Heated paint is also much less likely to break on target if it does feed through.

Prepare Your Mask

Heat, humidity, and sweat can easily fog your mask and cause reduced visibility. Remember to take your mask off completely in between games to aid in cooling (but only after all barrel plugs are in place). You have a couple options when it comes to keeping your mask chilled and clear:

1. Bring a spare pair of goggles or rent one from the field and switch out in between games.

2. Bring an extra lens for your mask and switch that out in between games.

3. Find goggles with a thermal dual pane lens to keep the heat and fog out much better than a single lens.

4. Purchase a goggle fan to keep them clear and increase visibility

Seek Shade

Seek shady spots for yourself and your gear (especially your pod, paint, and Co2 tank) in between and even during games. Try to find a bunker or tree with plenty of shade while you attack and defend. Avoid placing your pods and Co2 tank in direct sunlight for long periods since Co2 and paint may expand in heat. HPA tanks are not as sensitive to high temperatures, but still shouldn’t be left in the sun unnecessarily.

Don’t Be Afraid to Take Breaks

Feel free to sit out of a game or take a break under a shady tree if you’re feeling the heat. Have a great time, but don’t exert unnecessary energy. Heat affects people differently and only you can judge when you’ve hit your limit. Seek shade and water especially If you feel dizzy, nauseous, fatigued, or extremely thirsty.