If you know what to do, paintball and winter go hand in hand pretty well. Even snow just adds a new, but definitely surmountable, challenge. These quick tips will help you face freezing temperatures and snowy fields with a smile.
~ Layer! When it comes to paintball, layering is the key to dressing all year long, but it becomes even more critical in winter. Wear those thermal underwear. (Don’t have any? Buy some! They’re cheap!) Put on sweaters and jackets. If it gets too warm, you can always peel a layer off, but if you don’t have enough on, all you can do is quit playing or feel miserable. As an added plus, the more layers, the more likely paintballs will bounce off you, and the less likely you’ll get a nasty bruise.
~ Glove thyself. A numb trigger finger isn’t going to do you much good. And forget about if you have to do something slightly more complicated, like clean a busted ball inside your barrel. Keeping your hands warm is critical. Just remember that you need gloves that allow you fit your finger around the trigger and that aren’t so thick or awkward that you have to take them off just to reload your hopper.
~ Tread carefully. The shoes you normally wear to play paintball might not be so helpful if the ground is icy or snowy. Wear something warm, sturdy, and waterproof. (and don’t forget to wear warm socks!) It might sound like it would slow you down, but wearing the wrong shoe would be even worse.
~ Cover your head. The majority of your body heat escapes from that thick skull of yours. Just wearing a ball cap or a stocking hat can make a big difference in your comfort level.
~ Mind your eyes. Even with the weak winter sun, snow can create a powerful glare. If you have anti-glare goggles, great – use them! If not, you may want to wear sunglasses underneath your goggles.
~ Warm up. On a cold winter’s day, your body acts somewhat like a car. Sure, it’ll do what you want it to do if you just start it up and go, but you might pay for it later. To get the most out of your body, and to decrease your soreness afterwards, warm up for five minutes. Jog (don’t run!), do jumping jacks, anything to get your body heat up. Also, rotate your ankles before you play so that if you slip on ice or trip because a snow bank was deeper than you thought, you won’t sprain yourself.
~ Bring a warm thermos. Or two. Between games, sipping on some warm coffee, tea, apple cider, or chocolate can be wonderfully rejuvenating.
~ Go for the icy balls. Not all paintballs are made to withstand winter temperatures. Cough up the extra dough for paint that will perform in cold weather, or you will have a disappointing game.
~ Be kind to your equipment. Plastic turns brittle when it’s cold, so if you aren’t careful, things like hoppers and loaders can crack. Try to keep everything protected and dry. Don’t leave gear in the car, where temperatures can easily drop below the outside air temperature.
~ Bring a change of socks. If your feet get sweaty or snow falls into your shoes, wet socks in the cold can make you feel miserable. Easily fixed by putting on some clean, dry socks.
Your mom would be proud if you followed these tips. But best of all, you won’t have to freeze your playing just because the temperature does