Paintball Pants are an important part of your gear and should definitely be on your ‘must have’ list; they are essential to having more fun when playing.  A matching set of paintball pants and jersey are not only intimidating looking on the field, but will also offer you valuable protection during rough play.  A complete paintball uniform offers the most protection, however the pants will bring the most to your game and should be given priority if buying your suit in parts. 

When purchasing a pair of paintball pants, pay attention to certain features to ensure you get the best pair possible.  The best paintball pants are lightweight, extremely durable, and have good padding in the right areas.  Choose paintball pants that have plenty of padding over the shins, knees, hips, crotch and rear.  There are many styles to choose from, offering numerous color patterns and designs.  Pick the pair of pants that have the best combination of functional traits and color choice; preferably matching with a paintball jersey you may want in the future.

Paintball is a very active sport, so you don’t want your most essential gear to weigh you down or restrict your movement.  Choose paintball pants that are lightweight and offer ample range of motion.  Most name brands produce pants with the competition paintballer in mind, so these are generally not an issue, however some are better than others.  Choose the brand that has the lightest, most durable material and you can move the best in.

The best paintball pants are also extremely durable.  Remember, it’s your pants that will come in direct contact with the ground when sliding onto your hips, side or knees.  Choose a pair of pants that’s made of thick material that won’t rip or tear easily.  Also, pay close attention to the seams and stitching on the pants; the most durable styles are double or even triple stitched.  These will last the longest and be able to withstand the hardest beatings. 

One of the most desirable features of paintball pants is the protection they offer.  Most pants offer thick padding over areas of your legs and hips that commonly take a beating with intense play.  The padding is often made of hard foam or extra, thick material over the shins, knees, groin, hips and buttocks.  Some brands of pants even use lightweight plastic moldings sandwiched inside the material, while others protect sensitive areas with thick rubber coating sewn onto the outside of the pant.

The type of padding used in paintball clothing should be a big factor in your decision about which pair of pants to purchase.  For the best protection, go for models that have the thickest padding, however make sure the apparel you choose is not too heavy because of it.  Some paintball pants have plastic moldings that act as a type of armor.  While this is perhaps the most protective, some brands with this feature break down in a wet playing environment, causing the plastic molding to come loose, twist and may not fit the same when dried.

The most durable paintball pants and uniforms use thick rubber coating attached to the outside of the material.  This will completely protect you from sliding abrasions and will most likely last the longest, however they are not soft padding and will generally not reduce the impact of a direct blow from a fall.  Perhaps the most comfortable padding used in paintball pants is foam sandwiched in between layers of material.  This system offers the most comfort for your knees, hips and rear when coming in direct contact with the ground. 

Other features to look for when buying paintball pants are pockets for holding swabs and paintball gun cleaning supplies, adjustable pull tabs around the waist and bungie cord draw strings around the ankles.  Some pants feature extras like lumbar support, built in loops to carry extra paintball pods and/or rubber coating or extra straps to help secure your pod harness. 

Another important feature in paintball pants is a ventilation system.  The material chosen for most pants is thick and extremely durable, most of which is not breathable fabric; so ventilation systems should be built in to the design of the pant.  Most paintball pants have mesh fabric linings and/or panels sewn in different locations to offer better air flow in the crotch area or throughout the garment.  Without this, you can become overheated and uncomfortable very quickly; ventilation is a key feature to pay attention to when shopping for the best paintball pant.

Paintball pants come in many styles and colors to choose from.  If purchasing your paintball uniform piece by piece, start with a good pair of paintball pants for the added protection they offer.  Make your decision with features (like padding, durability, etc.) in mind first and secondly, color and style.  If you’re starting with just pants, choose a style that will have a desirable matching jersey for a great looking complete paintball ensemble later.