Why is Paintball So Expensive? A Comprehensive Analysis

Paintball is a sport that can be played by anyone, regardless of age or gender. It is one of the most enjoyable games out there and is fun to play with your friends and family. But if you are new to paintball, then you might be wondering why paintball is so expensive.

Paintball is a very expensive sport because of the gear, the field fee, and other factors. In this article, I will discuss why paintball is so expensive and how we can minimize the overall cost of paintball by following some useful practices.

Paintball Gear Cost:

The first one is gear cost. It is not cheap to buy all the equipment needed for playing paintball. The most common tools used include:

Paintball guns:

These are the main tools used in this game. They are semi-automatic and automatic guns that are used to shoot paintballs at other players. The guns can be bought for as low as $50 but they can also go up to $800+.

Paintballs:

Paintballs are small round pellets that are filled with water-soluble dye and gelatin. They are used for target practice by shooting them at each other or targets such as trees and bunkers. Paintballs cost around $10 per 100, which means that if you shoot more than 600 balls in a day (which is not hard), you will spend about $60 on ammo alone!

Goggles:

Goggles protect your eyes from painful paintball burns and dirt or debris that gets kicked up when playing in an open field. But these goggles and glasses are expensive and add up to the cost.

Masks:

Masks protect your face from getting hit by paintballs or from getting dirt in your mouth during playtime. They also help keep you cooler by preventing sweat from coming into contact with your skin, which can lead to dehydration if left untreated. These masks cost anywhere between $40 to $190+.

Vests and Chest rigs

Safety equipment such as paintball vests, chest rigs or knee pads, etc are usually costly and contribute a huge share to the paintball cost. Tactical paintball vests or rigs usually cost between $50 to $150.

Field fee:

A lot of fields charge a fee for playtime at their facilities. This can range from $5 or less per person, up to $20 or more depending on the size of the field and its amenities (such as bathrooms, food, and drink). Some fields also charge for rental equipment, which can add up quickly if you plan on playing multiple times during the day.

The field fee includes paying for a spot on the field and paying for any damage done to the field during your game. It also covers the costs of cleaning up after you leave and any other maintenance costs that arise while you play on their grounds (such as fixing broken equipment or replacing broken glass).

Transportation cost:

Most people drive themselves to the field when they play paintball because it’s such a large area to cover with your own two feet. If you have a group of friends who live close to each other, then this may not be an issue for you. However, if everyone lives far apart as most people do nowadays, then transportation costs can add up quickly.

Air Refilling Cost:

Paintball guns use CO2 cartridges or compressed air tanks to shoot paintballs. Once these cartridges or tanks run out, they have to be refilled before you can continue playing. This means that you will have to pay for refills every time you use your gun during a game. For example, if you were planning on playing 5 games during one visit, then this means that you would have to pay for 5 refills every time you play to keep playing. This can add up quickly if you are not careful!

Why is paintball so expensive – How To Minimize the Cost of Paintball?

Paintball is a very expensive sport, The good news is that there are ways to save money on paintball:

👉 Minimize Gear cost:

Paintball guns and gear are not cheap, to begin with, but if you want to get good quality equipment, it will cost you even more. The good news is that there are many options out there that are affordable and still offer good performance. The best way to save money on paintball gear is by getting used gear from friends or family members who have stopped playing or from local players who are selling their old gear (usually cheaper).

The second option is buying cheap used gear online or locally (like Craigslist). You can also check Amazon or eBay for some nice deals (especially if you’re looking for something specific like an Empire brand gear or Tippmann).

Another way to save some cash on your paintball gear is to buy used guns and then buy new upgrades/parts separately or even build your advanced gun.

👉 Reduce Field Fee:

The second one is the field fee. A good field should be at least $20 for a day and you might want to play more than once a week. This will add up to the overall cost of playing paintball.

You must find out fields that have better membership and player packages. Look for the fields and arenas that charge less to minimize your overall cost.

👉 Cheap Air Refilling Packages:

Some fields have on-site air refilling services available too. Some of the fields charge per refill. This means if you refill your paint air tank 5 times on a single day, you will be paying for five refills separately. On the other side, some fields charge for air per day. Usually day fees are quite lower than the per refill costs.

👉 Rental Equipment:

If you are a less frequent player and want to play paintball with family or friends on special occasions only, try rental gear. Recreation and less frequent players must not invest in costly equipment. Instead, they can rent out equipment from the site and save a huge chunk of money.

Paintball is a very entertaining yet expensive sport. All the equipment required for the paintball is expensive and it requires around a thousand bucks to buy all the equipment. For an avid and a regular player, this cost is worth the investment. For less frequent and recreational players buying cheap gear from Amazon or eBay is the best choice.

But if you do not want to invest any money in buying your equipment, rental paintball equipment is the best bet for you.