Gear up,stay safe,play longer.
Buying guides for paintball markers, masks, air systems, loaders and protective gear, plus a full airsoft section, starting with the way you play: woodsball, speedball, scenario or milsim.
Find gear by how you play
Protection first, then the marker or replica, air, loader and the kit around it.
Know your setup
- 01
Airsoft Guns: AEG vs Gas vs Spring vs HPA
Electric airsoft guns (AEGs) are the default for rifles: reliable, affordable to run and consistent in most weather.
- 02
HPA vs CO2 for Paintball: Which Air System Should You Use?
High-pressure air (HPA) delivers consistent pressure in any weather and is required by most electronic markers, so it is the better choice for nearly every player.
- 03
Paintball Masks: ASTM Ratings, Thermal Lenses and Fit
A paintball mask must meet ASTM F1776, the standard for paintball eye protection.
- 04
What Paintball Gear to Buy First (and What to Rent)
Buy your own mask first: it fits better, fogs less and is more hygienic than a rental.
Paintball & Airsoft questions, answered
What is FPS in airsoft?
Feet per second: how fast a BB leaves the barrel, usually measured with a 0.20 g BB. Fields set limits by role and distance, sometimes in joules.
Read: Airsoft Guns →Can I use CO2 in any paintball marker?
No. Many electronic markers are HPA only, because liquid CO2 can damage their internals. Check your marker's manual.
Read: HPA vs CO2 for Paintball →Are shooting glasses OK for paintball?
No. Paintball requires full goggle and face protection rated to ASTM F1776. Shooting glasses do not meet it.
Read: Paintball Masks →How much does starting paintball cost?
Rental packages cover your first games. A starter setup of your own costs more up front but saves on rental fees if you play regularly.
Read: What Paintball Gear to Buy First (and What to Rent) →Eye protection first, always
Masks and goggles are compared only when they meet the standard for the sport, and we say which standard applies.
Each guide says who the gear suits, who should look elsewhere, and what to check before you buy.
Brands cannot buy a review or a spot on a list. Partner codes save you money; they never decide what we recommend.
Prices are dated, codes are updated across the site at once, and pages are revised when a product, standard or rule changes.
The paintball and airsoft gear index
- 01Masks & gogglesASTM-rated paintball masks, thermal lenses, fit and anti-fog, plus airsoft eye protection.1 page
- 02Air systemsCompressed air (HPA) tanks, CO2, cylinder sizes and pressures, hydro testing and filling.1 page
- 03AirsoftAirsoft rifles (AEG, gas and HPA), pistols, sniper rifles, BBs, batteries and airsoft protection.1 page
- 04Beginners & fieldsYour first game, rental versus own gear, field rules, chronograph limits and what to buy first.1 page