Tech Talk: Keep Your Pants On
Keep yourself safe and the tempo furious with the latest in protective pants |
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If you want to be a truly great paintball player, you’ve got to move. Successful players know what bunker they’re going to off the break and haul tail to get there. Putting your body on the line is part of the game. Having the right gear can make those rock star slides into bunkers a lot less painful.
 So, if you’ve torn your last pair of army surplus pants, are tired of bruised knees or have recently taken a hit a little too close to your private area, this edition of Tech Talk is for you! Once you’ve gotten used to the protection a pair of paintball pants provides, your fear of injuries will give way to an ability to push your limits.
Focus on Features
A pair of pants specifically designed for paintball is essential gear for any serious player. Most pants these days come with an adjustable waist and ankle straps so once you determine your size, a custom fit is just a matter of working the straps. When looking for pants, focus on padding, then cool features like vents and pockets – and then the print.
Draxxus took the wish lists of some of the “Legends of the Game” to create its DXS line of protective gear. Designed to be lightweight and flexible to allow you to move without thinking about your clothes, these pants offer some great features. Mesh ventilation, including behind the knees, helps the pants to stay cool and dry. They have ergonomically-designed slide patches on the hips and super-durable kneepads for protection. A continuously adjustable waist and adjustable flamenco bottoms provide for a custom fit and two squeegee pockets, plus some zipper pockets provide stash spots.
 My only gripe here is print options. As with many paintball pants, of the four designs I was sent they looked cool, but were all mostly black. That said, the Tiger-Stripe style has a nice camo print in all the non-padded areas that would work for someone who doesn’t want to buy separate pants for scenario play.
Dress for the Woods
If you are more of a woodsball/scenario player check out the BT Combat Pants. These pants were made for scenario play. They’re not tournament pants with some camo print; they’re camo pants with sick paintball features. Ballistic nylon double padded knee and shin along with padded crotch provide protection where required. Four-way stretch panels above knees and crotch and large mesh panels on thigh, inseam and back of pant legs allow for movement and comfort. The large front Velcro pockets, rear zipper pockets and rear cargo pocket with handy swab slot are enough for any pack rat. Vents on the backs of the legs go from the knee all the way down to the Velcro-ankle cuffs and all that venting along with the true camo design make these pants a must-own for scenario players.
Truly serious about scenario play and not impressed with BT’s Combat Pants? BT is inside your head and stepped it up with their Pro Pants. They feature an industry-first – hard rubber molded knees with padded adjustment straps that keep the knee padding where it belongs, regardless of your height. The cargo pockets have quick-release clips and zippered pockets have glove-friendly pull straps. Zippered mesh venting on the sides makes these pants versatile, allowing you to cool off or keep them closed in cold weather.
Another bright idea incorporated into these pants is the side, leg zippers. Velcro ankle closures allow for a snug fit, but the zippered cuffs allow you to put the pants on without removing your boots; these pants are sweet!
Having the right gear can make all the difference. Being able to push your body without worrying about bruises and scrapes will increase your confidence. So stop cowering on the back lines. Get some good protective gear and dive into the fire fight with the peace of mind that you won’t have to stop playing due to injury or the infamous “wardrobe malfunction.”
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