playing paintball in the rain
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Why would anyone would bother playing paintball in the rain? People play because they love to play, ...TRANSCRIPT
Playing Paintball in the Rain
Why would anyone would bother playing paintball in the rain? People play because they love to play,and rain just adds an interesting dimension to the game. Everything is slippery and muddy;crouching, running, and stopping are all harder than they normal; visibility is lower; the rain andwind do strange things to paintball trajectories; and wearing sopping clothes just isn't fun. In short,playing paintball in the rain makes for a challenging game. (Of course, when there's thunder orlightening, players should clear out of the paintball field!)
Having the right gear is the best way to make the most out of a rainy paintball day:
Pack rain gear. One of those cheap ponchos (or heck, even a garbage bag) will work fine - everythingis going to get filthy anyway. Another advantage to wearing a baggy poncho or garbage bag is thatpaintballs tend to bounce off it.
Avoid cotton. It wicks away water, and precious body heat with it, leaving the player shivering andmiserable. Instead wear the most high-tech, water-repellant stuff (keeping in mind it will probablyget permanently stained or torn.)
Cover the head. This isn't mom saying you'll catch your death out there with a wet head; this ispractical advice. When a paintball player doesn't cover his head (with a baseball cap or skullcap),water and mist drips down the hair and into the mask.
Bring paper towels. On a rainy day, a mask lens (even a great thermal one) will most likely fog up.That can be easily (if only temporarily) fixed with a quick wipe of a paper towel. Remember playersshould NEVER remove their mask during game play. If a player simply must clear his mask in themiddle of the game, the player should crouch behind a safe bunker, turn their back towards theaction, and slip the paper towel under the mask while lifting it as little as possible.
Mind the feet. Regular sneakers will get soaked and provide no traction. On a rainy day, cleats orboots make a much better choice.
Wear rain barrels gloves. Wet soggy hands get cut more easily, but this can be easily prevented withfishing gloves or the like.
Cover anything related to paintballs - put plastic wrap over the hopper, put pods in shopping bags,etc. Moisture WILL warp paintballs, which makes them more prone to barrel breaks and ruins theirtrajectory.
Cover a ported paintball gun barrel with a plastic wrap and rubber bands, or use an unported barrelinstead.
Keep a squeegee in a water-proof baggie. Players may need to use the squeegee more often thannecessary on a rainy day, and it works best if it is not soaked.
Bring a change of clothes. This is a good idea whenever anyone plays paintball, but it's decorativerain barrels particularly essential when it's raining. Playing clothes will be completely muddy and
wet, but players will feel instantly better the moment they get into something dry.
Rain or shine, happy paintballing!
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