Paintball on a Budget

I get paid on Thursdays, so as I was putting my check into the bank today, I was reminded on how expensive paintball can be.  Not only are there field fees, but also paint, and gear as well.  It all adds up fast. 

I've decided to do a blog on Thursdays about how to save some money while playing paintball.  I'll add new tips as the weeks go by, along with personal experiences and the like.

So, to start this off, lets talk about Markers.  Markers are the biggest initial  investment into paintball.  Here is the thing though, if your not sure if you are going to like the sport, or maybe you just play casually a few times a year, you don't need your own marker.  Just rent one!  It will save you money, and time, and hassle. 

Now you have decided that your going to be playing on a regular basis, what marker should you get?  Well, there are a ton of great markers out there for you to choose from, so which one is best?  That really depends, there are a few questions to ask yourself first;  What type of paintball am I going to be playing?  Do I want to play tournament style paintball, or just stick to rec/scenario stuff?  How much money do I actually have to invest into a marker, while still being able to afford to actually play the sport?  Do I have any friends that play, and what kind of marker do the have?  (this can help a lot if you get the same type of marker as a friend, that way he/she can help you out if you need to fix it or tech it)

After you answer those questions, now the real choir begins.  There are SO MANY different markers out there right now, how do you sift through them all?   All I can really say to that is, do your research!  There are a ton of resources out there to help you with questions. Shop around, try and see if you can use some at a local field, maybe rent some different types.  Borrow a friends.  And again, do your research!  I'd suggest looking on TechPB's forums, as well as his youtube videos.  He has reviewed a lot of different markers, and his forum's are actually helpful.

From personal experience;  I would say stick with a Poppet as they are easier to maintain, with that said Planet Eclipse is a very very good company with an "entry" level marker;  the Etek, as well as a top of the line marker; the Ego and the Geo.