What Should I Wear to Paintball
Long, loose and old on you; the mask comes from the field.
All 59 things to wear
The short answer
On top
Legs
Shoes
Head, neck and hands
What the field hands out
By weather
Leave at home
The short answer 7
Closed-toe shoes with grip The only thing a Missouri field requires. A Maryland park wants soles that do not slip. The field’s mask, on for the whole game Fields in Arkansas, Alabama and England hand one out, and it stays on all through play. Long sleeves and long pants Fields in Arkansas, Maryland, Ohio and England all recommend them: covered skin stings less. Old clothes you do not mind ruining Expect paint and mud, a university club says. It suggests a thrift store. Spare clothes for the ride home Suggested by fields in Ohio, Arkansas and England and by a university club. Sweatshirt and jeans The most common outfit at a university club, where the mask is the only thing required. Thin gloves you can still pull a trigger in Golf, gardening or weightlifting gloves all do, an English field says.
On top 9
Brown or green, if you own no camouflage The next best colors, a second Ohio field says. Dark colors or camouflage They blend in, a Maryland park says. An Ohio woodland park adds that camouflage is not required. Gym clothes, under overalls the field issues A large British operator says light clothes that let you move beat extra layers under its suit. Hoodie over a long-sleeved T-shirt An English field’s two layers. The hoodie is there as extra padding. Lightweight long-sleeved athletic shirt A multi-state park operator rates it among the best: some cover, free movement. Long-sleeved T-shirt alone, at a low-impact indoor field Many customers wear just that, a Texas indoor field says of its smaller paintballs. Padded jersey with breathable panels A Texas field’s suggestion for outdoor play in summer, when a sweatshirt is too warm. Thermal layer, on a cold day A Maryland park suggests thermal wear when it is chilly, for warmth and padding at once. Waterproof jacket, packed in case of rain An English field reminds players to bring one.
Legs 6
Athletic pants or joggers On a multi-state park operator’s list of pants to run, kneel and slide in. Cargo pants, the unofficial uniform A Colorado and Arizona operator calls them that: tough, with useful pockets. Cotton combat trousers, in summer An English field swaps heavy sweatpants for these in hot weather. Lightweight hiking pants Named by a multi-state park operator among its good options. Loose jogging or tracksuit bottoms An English field’s first choice for the legs, for comfort and cover. Thick athletic socks Often overlooked, a multi-state park operator says, on a day of running and crouching.
Shoes 7
Boots with deep tread and ankle support Asked for by a large British operator, whose centers are all in woodland. Hard-soled shoes for brush and rocks An Ohio woodland park says to bring what you would wear on a hike. High-top athletic shoes A Maryland park and an English field both name high-tops beside hiking boots. Plastic cleats Worn by some players, an Ohio woodland park says. A Texas turf field allows only plastic ones. Rubber boots, in winter mud Some players choose them, a large British operator says, trading ankle support for dry feet. Running shoes, on a level indoor turf field Plain running shoes work well there, a Texas indoor field says. Trail running shoes Named for their traction by a Maryland park and a multi-state park operator.
Head, neck and hands 7
Bandana over your hair On an Ohio woodland park’s list, beside a hat or a baseball cap. Baseball cap worn backwards It keeps the bill clear of the mask and covers the top of your head, a Texas field says. Beanie, in cooler weather An Arkansas park suggests one when it is cool; an English field lists it as extra head cover. Fingerless gloves with padded backs Paintball gloves leave the fingertips free for the trigger, a Texas field explains. Neck protector On an Ohio woodland park’s list of what to wear. One British operator builds it into its suit. Padded headband with netting over the top Very popular with tournament-style players, a Texas field says. Work or mechanic’s gloves Simple ones protect the hands and help grip, a multi-state park operator says.
What the field hands out 5
Body armor over the torso Handed to every player at no extra cost by one large British operator. Camouflage overalls over your own clothes Issued by two British operators; a Texas field rents them and a Maryland park sells them. Chest protector Available at fields in Arkansas, Alabama and England. Gloves from the field’s own shop Sold at fields in England and Maryland if you arrive without a pair. Rental mask that covers face and ears A good mask covers the whole face and the ears, a university club says.
By weather 6
Breathable long sleeves, in summer Heading a multi-state operator’s summer list, with a warning not to overdress. Clothes for the weather before the paintballs An Alabama operator’s rule: dress for the day, then cover what you comfortably can. Hoodie or jacket over a thermal layer, in winter A multi-state operator’s winter list, with gloves and thick socks. Light hoodie and joggers, in spring and fall A multi-state operator’s list for the in-between seasons, over an athletic base layer. Sweatshirt in August, at an air-conditioned field A Texas indoor field says you can wear one there even then. Two thin long-sleeved T-shirts, in summer An English field drops the hoodie in heat but keeps thin layers on, not bare arms.
Leave at home 12
No brand-new sneakers On a multi-state park operator’s list of shoes to avoid. No bright orange or yellow A second Ohio field says to avoid bright colors like these. No clothes you treasure Nothing expensive or sentimental, a multi-state park operator says. No flat-soled canvas sneakers A multi-state park operator lists flat shoes of that kind among those to avoid. No high heels in the woods A large British operator lists them with flip-flops as shoes to leave behind. No jewelry or valuables A large British operator warns they get lost on the field. Two US operators also list jewelry. No loose items that could snag An Arkansas park says to skip anything that might catch on brush or barricades. No metal cleats They tear up turf, a Texas indoor field says; a Maryland park also asks for no metal spikes. No sandals, flip-flops or open toes Most fields will not let you play in open-toed shoes, a Texas field says. No shorts, even in summer You will regret them at the first hit, an English field says. An Ohio woodland park agrees. No tank top or short sleeves An English field advises against vests and short sleeves; a multi-state operator lists tank tops. No white clothes An Arkansas park says stains show on white; a multi-state operator lists it to avoid.
How this list was compiled
The 59 things to wear or to leave at home, and the line under each, were written for this page on 2026-10-16; no list was copied. Each row follows a page read on 2026-10-15, published by people who run paintball fields, and one by a university club that plays at one: Delta Force Paintball, a British operator, What to wear paintballing at Delta Force (https://www.paintballgames.co.uk/what-to-wear-paintballing-at-delta-force/ ) and Paintball Safety: What to Wear For a Day of Paintball (https://www.paintballgames.co.uk/paintball-safety-what-wear-day-paintball/ ); Mayhem Paintball of Essex, England, What to Wear for Paintballing (https://www.mayhempaintball.co.uk/about/what-to-wear-paintballing ); the Paintball Club at the University of Pittsburgh, Paintball FAQ and Tips (https://experience.pitt.edu/paintball/paintball/ ); GatSplat, an indoor field in Texas, What to wear to paintball (https://gatsplat.com/2019/07/31/what-to-wear-to-paintball/ ); Action Town Park of Arkansas, Frequently Asked Questions (https://actiontownpark.com/frequently-asked-questions/ ); NR Adventure Park of Maryland, Frequently Asked Questions (https://www.nradventurepark.com/frequently-asked-questions ) and What to Wear to Paintball: A Beginner’s Guide (https://www.nradventurepark.com/post/what-to-wear-to-paintball-a-beginner-s-guide ); SplatterPark of Ohio, What should I wear to play in? (https://www.splatterpark.com/what-should-i-wear-to-play-in.html ); Paintball Country of Ohio, FAQ (https://paintballcountryohio.com/faq/ ); Alabama Paintball, Top 10 questions asked by first time paintball players (https://www.alabamapaintball.com/top-10-questions-asked-by-first-time-paintball-players ); The Fields Paintball of Missouri, FAQ (https://fieldspaintball.com/faq/ ); Cousins Adventure Parks, an operator of parks in several states, What Should I Wear to Paintball? (https://www.cousinsadventureparks.com/blog/what-should-i-wear-to-paintball-the-complete-beginner-guide-2026 ); and American Paintball Coliseum of Colorado and Arizona, The Complete Paintball Gear Guide (https://americanpaintballcoliseum.com/news/paintball-gear-guide/ ). Fields differ, and each field’s own rules come first: read its page before you go. Fields appear here only as the publishers of their own pages. Left out on purpose: brand and shop names, prices, and advice on health or injury. Licence: own work
How it works What should I wear to paintball? Long sleeves, long pants, closed-toe shoes with grip and clothes you can ruin; most fields supply the mask. These 59 things follow eleven field operators in the US and Britain and a university club.
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What the field hands out
Fields in Arkansas, Alabama, Maryland and England supply the mask, and it stays on whenever you are on the field. One large British operator also gives every player a camouflage suit with a padded collar and body armor at no extra cost. A Texas indoor field rents coveralls, and a Maryland park sells jumpsuits. Gloves are sold, not issued, at fields in England and Maryland.
How many layers: fields disagree
An English field tells players to layer up, a long-sleeved T-shirt under a hoodie, for padding. A large British operator says the opposite of its own centers: under the suit it issues, extra layers only make you hot. A Texas field suggests taking a few hits before peeling a layer off.
Questions and answers
What clothes should I wear for paintball?
Old ones that cover you. A university club says a sweatshirt and jeans are most common there, a Missouri field requires nothing but closed-toe shoes, and fields in Arkansas, Maryland and Ohio recommend long sleeves and long pants.
What should I wear paintballing in summer?
Thin layers, still long. An English field swaps the hoodie for two long-sleeved T-shirts and sweatpants for cotton combats, and a multi-state operator lists breathable long sleeves and warns against overdressing.
Can I wear jeans to paintball?
Views differ. A Texas field lists blue jeans and a university club calls a sweatshirt and jeans its usual outfit. A multi-state operator would avoid them as heavy after hours of play, and a Colorado operator accepts stretchy ones for beginners.
What shoes should I wear to go paintballing?
Closed-toe ones with grip. A large British operator wants boots with deep tread and ankle support and says to leave sneakers at home; an English field accepts comfortable old ones; a Texas indoor field finds running shoes fine on level turf.
Does paintball paint wash out of clothes?
Usually. An English field says the fill is water-soluble and comes out in a normal wash; an Alabama operator warns that faint stains can stay on lighter fabrics; an Ohio field advises washing within 24 hours.