Carrying Paint

Carrying paint describes how players transport additional paintballs during play so they can reload their marker as needed. The most common system in modern speedball and competitive formats involves pods plastic tubes that hold loose paintballs stored in a back-mounted harness or pack. Typical pods carry 100 to 140 paintballs, though capacities vary by manufacturer.

Back players, whose role emphasizes survivability and heavy shooting, often carry between 4 and 7 pods. Front players typically carry fewer due to lighter movement requirements and smaller profiles. Mid players choose a balanced loadout based on aggressiveness, field position, and expected shooting volume.

In woodsball, magfed, and scenario play, players frequently use equipment such as chest rigs, tactical vests, dump pouches, or bandoliers. These allow larger loadouts for extended missions, multi-objective games, or all-day engagements where access to staging areas is limited.

Proper carrying systems allow players to reload efficiently while maintaining awareness and mobility. Pod design, pack orientation, and player technique all influence reload speed. Many competitive players practice reload drills to minimize downtime.

Field rules sometimes limit how much paint a player can carry for fairness or logistical reasons, especially in scenario and limited-ammo formats.

Choosing the right paint-carrying system depends on playing style, game mode, and personal preference.