The shoes you wear have a big influence on how well and comfortably you move while playing paintball. Paintballing is a sport that involves players wearing protective clothes and running to shoot their opponents with a paintball gun filled with food-grade jelly balls (paint) in a paintball arena. It means tripping, stumbling, slipping or falling, and twisting the ankle if a player is very obvious in this process to make a perfect shoot and protect yourself from opponents.
And for that, you need a good pair of paintballing shoes that will give you enough traction. So what shoes should I wear to paintball?
Now you may think, as it’s about running or moving, running shoes are the best option.
Yes, you are right, but not totally. Because along with the traction, you will need to protect your feet from the field obstacles that may injure you. You can wear any type of shoe, including boots, sneakers, cleats, running shoes, etc., that cover your feet fully and comfortably. But if you wear shoes that match your playing style, that would be best for protection and better performance. Confused about what I am saying?
Then scroll down and read the article till the end. In this guide, I will tell you about the different types of paintballing shoes, what things you should consider before purchasing paintball shoes, and much more. So let’s jump to explore.
Different Types of Shoes For Paintballing
When it comes to choosing the best type of shoes for paintballing, you have a few options. The most common types of shoes are sneakers, hiking boots, combat boots, running shoes, and cleats. You can choose any of these paintball shoes depending on your playing style and others’ needs. Because which shoes you need varies from field to field.
When you are playing a open play on rugged/wet surfaces, you will need durable boots that can withstand these. On the other hand, when you are playing speedball or on grass or slick surfaces, you need cleats shoes. Let’s know the available types of paintballing shoes, their benefits, drawbacks, and so on.
Paintball Cleat
The most ideal shoes for paintballing is a pair of cleat shoes. Cleats shoes are designed with a sharp spike on the bottom of it to provide a firm grip on wet or grass fields to prevent slipping. Another version of cleats comes with rubber teeth, not spikes. Rubber teeth cleats are a good fit for gripping in dirt and turfs field.
Usually, cleats come with extended soles that can cover the toes and side area of your feet. This also helps in giving you more extra traction while crawling or running or wading around the thorns, swarms, or bushes without any risk of falling or slipping.
Additionally, cleats are available in two styles to fit your need. If you want to protect your feet from sudden twists and turns, high-top cleats are best. They will provide your feet with enough ankle support and prevent foot injuries during paintballing. But if you want more ankle flexibility rather than protection and range of motion, low-top paintball cleats are best.
Football cleats, soccer cleats, athlete cleats are also good for paintball.
Combat Boots
Boots are the most important type of shoe that is sturdy enough to protect your feet from getting wet and muddy. Combat boot is very tough, can withstand the wear and tear of paintballing, and still last longer than other types of shoes. They are waterproof, which means you can use them in muddy areas, let them soak water, and sprint in puddles. And after enduring so much, even if you use them daily, they will run year after year without any sign of falling apart. So if you want to make a good investment in paintballing gear, a pair of boots can be a good choice.
But keep in mind one thing; boots are only for protection and last longer, they are not going to enhance your performance and help you in winning the game. They will keep your feet protected from the outdoor environment and support your ankle. And as they are heavy, so wearing them all day long and running is also tiring.
Running Shoes
If protection is not your only goal, and you want a comfortable pair of shoes that also allows you to play long matches without being tired, running shoes is the good choice. They are very lightweight and have good cushioning and stability. Plus, they won’t weigh down your feet and will help reduce the likelihood of experiencing any pain or discomfort while playing. This can help to reduce the chances of getting injured in the event of a fall.
Unlike boots or cleats, running shoes are made with mesh material that makes them lightweight and breathable. So you won’t have any heat or sweat after wearing these shoes for a long period of time. This reduces the chance of foot blisters and overheating strokes.
Basically, running shoes are not designed or suited for Paintball, as they are designed to be comfortable and not too protective. So they can’t give you the extra protection paintball player need for paintballing outdoors. But if you play indoors and have no risk of injuries from surfaces, there is no harm in trying them out. They offer great traction and stability while on the ground. This can make it easier to move around and increase the winning chance by avoiding obstacles.
Hiking Boots
If you have doubts about running shoes, as they are less protective but don’t want to miss the comfortability, you can choose hiking boots. Hiking boots are almost the same as running shoes; they are comfortable, stable, and breathable, which means that you won’t get as hot and sweaty in them.
And what is more, is the traction. Hiking shoes have more traction power than running shoes; they can give you enough gripping in muddy areas and wet surfaces. They come in two styles, low top and high top. If you are playing indoors, you can surely go with the low-top hiking boots; they will give you the facility of using a boot without the drawback.
However, if you are going to play outdoors with roots and other obstacles, you can wear high-top hiking boots. They will give you enough gripping power that won’t let you slide and allow you to freely move and run. Plus, they will prevent ankle spraining while taking twist and turn.
Sneakers
Sneakers are often favored because they provide good ankle support and can help reduce the chances of getting sprained ankles or knee injuries. If you don’t want to spend money on buying special shoes for paintballing, sneakers are a good option. You can use any regular sneakers, tennis or basketball sneakers, as well as football shoes for paintballing.
All these shoes work so well while paintballing beause they have a rubber compound on the bottom that helps to grip surfaces and prevent you from sliding around. This makes them ideal for maneuvering through tight spaces, as well as running and jumping around while wearing them.
But they tend to get dirty quickly and wear down faster than other shoe types due to their synthetic material construction.
How To Choose The Best Shoes For Paintball
Paintball can be played on various fields, including slick, wet, grass, dirty, rugged, and filled with obstacles. So, you need a good quality pair of shoes that can sustain these surfaces. How to find a good pair of shoes that can withstand these paintball field? Simply by knowing your playing style.
First, decide in which field you will be playing on, and you will get to know which type of shoes are best for you. But it doesn’t end here. Some more factors are there that you should know before deciding which shoes to wear. Becuase you have to make sure the shoes are comfortable, breathable, materials used in construction, as well as how well they protect your feet from injuries and lots more rather than just matching your playing style.
Let’s explore those factors below in detail and find the best match shoes for an enjoyable paintball game experience.
Game Style
When selecting your paintball shoes, make sure to consider your preferred game style, weather, and gaming time. Let’s know which type of shoes is best for which game style.
- If you are playing in a muddy or wet area, you will need durable boots.
- When playing indoors on grass or slick surface, even in muddy areas, you can wear cleats or sneakers.
- If it’s a long match on a hot day, you should prefer running or hiking boots. They offer better comfort and breathability.
- If the game demands you to dodge or duck, go with a high-top ankle support shoe. They will prevent leg spraining.
- If the field is slippery or filled with lots of obstacles, you will need slip-resistant hiking boots.
So visualize the scene of your gameplay and then finalize what shoes to wear for paintballing.
Material
When buying paintball footwear, bear in mind the type of material used in each shoe. Some materials are more resistant to tearing than others, so make sure to choose one that is suited for your specific game mode. Whatever the scene is, you should consider something that is both comfortable and durable. You may prefer synthetic materials like mesh or spandex because they are soft and lightweight but still provide good protection from debris and rocks on the playing field.
Alternatively, leather materials can be a better choice if you’re looking for durability and resistance to oil, gasoline, or other chemicals used during play, but it’s expensive. And rubber provides decent traction and is durable enough to handle repeated hits from balls. Another option is canvas which breathes well and offers good protection against weather conditions.
Additionally, always make sure that the soles of your shoes are properly sealed against moisture and environmental contaminants.
So choose the one that fit your need and budget.
Fit Well
Buying the perfect fitted shoes for paintballing can make your play more comfortable and increases your accuracy and safety. If you wear ill-fitting footwear (loose), it will be difficult to move around and increase the chance of injuring yourself or your opponent, which prolongs the time spent playing in them.
While too-tight shoes can cause pain during gameplay and develop foot-related injuries like tendonitis or ankle sprains. Sometimes, even calluses and blisters on their feet.
So, when buying shoes for paintballing, be sure to consider both the height and width of your foot and try on different sizes of shoes before making a purchase to get the perfect fit. Some shoes come with an extra half-size due to their unique construction (eccentric arch).
You can also try custom-fitted shoes so you can move more freely and avoid the frustration caused by ill-fitting boots or sneakers.
Traction capabilities
Grip is one of the most important factors in paintballing performance. Good gripping shoes help to improve your accuracy and speed while playing, which can make all the difference on a battlefield. They can help to prevent your feet from getting caught in the fields and provide stability when jumping or running across obstacles.
Ankle Support
Ankle injuries are mostly faced by paintball players while paintballing. 47% of the total injured players have faced a twisted ankle, knee, or foot injury while paintballing. By wearing ankle supportive shoes, you can easily avoid this problem. Arch support shoes will protect your ankles by distributing pressure evenly across your feet and ankles so that you are less likely to lose your balance and face a fall during play.
Good Ventilation
When playing paintball, it is important to wear shoes that are well-ventilated. A poorly ventilated shoe can also result in heat stroke or catastrophic injury during paintball while well-ventilated shoes will let you stay cool and comfortable while in the hot sun. Additionally, it is important to keep your feet dry and free from bacteria growth. Well-ventilated shoes will trap moisture and prevent skin irritations.
Durability
When playing paintball, it is important to have sturdy shoes made out of tough materials. Because, you have to spend a lot of time in the field running, jumping, and more. So your shoes have to be made tough enough to endure all those paintballing wear and tear. If not, they will wear down faster and also increase the chance of injury.
Are Boots The Best Option For Paintballing?
If you are playing woodsball, yes, boots are one of the best options, but not the only option and best for all types of play. Confused? Let me explain.
When you play woodball, you will need a pair of shoes that will let you freely walk and run around the wood, on concrete, over tree stumps, etc. So, boots can be the perfect option here as they have good traction and enough ankle support that can easily face these obstacles.
But when you are playing speedball, cleats like soccer or football are better than boots.
What Shoes You Should Avoid To Paintball
You should avoid all types of fancy or open-toed footwear that don’t give you enough ankle support and fully cover the foot to be safe from several field obstacles. Sandals, heels, flip flops, etc. are on the list, and just because you should wear cleats for paintballing, don’t just grab anything. You have to avoid metal cleats, plastic turf cleats, etc.
What Type Of Shoes Should You Wear For Paintballing?
You can wear any type of shoes, including running shoes, sneakers, tennis shoes, etc. But if playing outdoors, I prefer hiking boots with good ankle support.
What Things To Consider When Buying Hiking Boots?
When buying ankle support boots, be sure to consider the material composition, construction, flexibility/cushioning levels, arch supports/footbed depth, and traction capabilities. It’s also important to try them on before making a purchase, as some designs fit snugly while others may need more room in the toe area.
What should I wear to paintball the first time?
When you are playing paintball for the first time, you should wear old clothes (long sleeve paintball jerseys, long pants/sweat pants), extra padding protective gear, good gripping shoes, a helmet or paintball mask for head protection, and golf gloves or fingerless gloves. Because paintball will levae stain and you will feel hurt badly as its first time.
What can I wear to make paintballs not hurt?
You can wear protective paintball gear like padded clothing, chest protector, helmet, scarves, knee pads, elbow pads, high-top shoes, paintball gloves, etc., to make paintball not hurt. These will protect you against paintball, and you won’t feel hurt as on bare skin, just a sting sometimes.
Do you get boots for paintball?
Yes, I get boots for paintball, and I will recommend you too. Because boots are highly protective, provide good traction and last longer.
Verdict
Unlike football, your legs are not the main hero of paintballing but one of the essential parts you need for paintballing. As you have to walk off the ground with lots of obstacles and also have to run and move as efficiently as possible, you need a good pair of shoes that allows you to do so.
Now that you know about all the available paintballing shoes option, along with their benefits and drawback and how can you choose the right shoes for paintball, i think now you can guess what shoes you should wear depending on your need.
At the end, you can do a little experiment with close match shoes until you find the ones that work best for you.
