what's the deal with all the padded jerseys?

[LaserLobster]

I hate them - they make you look like you're wearing an oldschool batman costume with fake chest muscles, and they're hot. I used to be able to use a seam ripper to take the pads out, but now companies like HK Army have shifted toward designing jerseys with integrated padding—thin foam panels that are sewn directly into the fabric during construction, rather than as separate, edge-stitched inserts that could be easily removed. This change is most apparent in their HSTL and Hardline series. I ordered one not noticing the padding until I received it - and hated the way it felt/looked with the bulky padding - only then did I see how they were constructed in such a way that would ruin the jersey if you tried to remove the pads, so it was subsequently returned.

I feel like there were rules against extra excess padding 'back in the day' - is this not true now? Could this be the companies creating extra 'features' to justify $100 jerseys that have no room for any new innovation?

Sorry for the rant - it's my way of coping with the butthurt. And sorry if this isn't the place for it - I was hoping an expert could shed some light on it for me

[river031403]

I miss the padded jerseys now most are just moister wicking jerseys lol

[iamthelazerviking]

No idea but I agree that any padding sewn onto clothing is absurd and annoying. Same with long sleeves. A T-shirt and Exalt arm pads is the most comfortable combination for me personally.

[The G-FOURce]

I personally didn’t care for padded clothing of any kind when I played, but I know people who did. For the ladies, having padding over sensitive areas of their anatomy can be quite beneficial. I also recall some younger players in our group who preferred a little cushion. Like you, I found it retained too much heat and I preferred the sting over profuse sweating.

[Ecapnation]

Back in the early 2000s the rules did State no body padding and people complained....

The trick was to get a jersey several sizes too large for you and let it Becky to enable bounces.

Look I get it people don't have to like them but the reality of it is a lot of people that play paintball nowadays aren't used to the extreme aspect of it and aren't willing to endure pain to play.

[The G-FOURce]

I know this may rub some the wrong way, and my apologies to anyone who receives this the wrong way, but I prefer padded, size-appropriate gear over the Eight Mile, white-trashy, meth/hiphop look that seems so prevalent in the sport. I’m not begrudging anyone for what they might enjoy, which is why it never kept me from playing, but it doesn’t appeal to me at all and I’ve always wondered to what degree it might be a deterrent for drawing people to the sport. Then again, maybe I’ve just always been disconnected from all things cool. 👍🏻

[LaserLobster]

shucks... give me mom's spaghetti any day over these $160 tight sweatpants all the cool kids are wearing now

[JeepDVLZ45]

they make you look like you're wearing an oldschool batman costume..:

Man…now I want a jersey with bat nipples…

[Ecapnation]

Jt made one way back in the early 2000's

[Painthappy]

Bounce shirts!! I used to wear one but really to keep the bruises down on my chest back in my modeling days. 🤔

I don't think I would want padding in my jersey though. Back in my team playing days we had a couple jerseys, one for colder weather and one that was very light for hot days. I'd like to think the trick is to not get shot. If you're planning on getting shot but need someone bouncy then you're going about it all wrong.

[Cunha]

They are for bounces. People that play to win use them for bounces. I don't use them.

Wrist cuff and then down to elbow on a bent arm, the winners choice creates a total puffed forearm for maximum bounces due to the gathering of materials even with thinner officially approved amounts of pads.

[The G-FOURce]

…I'd like to think the trick is to not get shot. If you're planning on getting shot but need someone bouncy then you're going about it all wrong.

This!

[Cyberpyr8]

I own both. I have some Jersey Clinics that have padding that I rarely use and their hyper ones that are all mesh and just material on the lower sleeves. I love the hyper ones without the padding. I wear the Crbn SC with the small arm pads built in. Between that and the hyper jersey it is enough arm padding to play most days. I also have some CK jerseys with and without padding. I tend to wear the unpadded jerseys in the Georgia heat. I have some old Evil jerseys with padding but I don't think they are nearly as padded as the HK ones.

[Glovebox Operator]

All I needed back in the day were some gloves, a black t- shirt and tiger stripe cargo pants. Now I have to minimize wounds for work so I have to pad up a bit or I can't do my job..

[Jonnydread]

I like elbow and knee padding, more for cushioning my big ol’ body than for bounces. Unless I’m playing in a tournament I don’t really care if I’m bouncy or not, a good shot is a good shot.

[BrickHaus]

As said. They are intended for bounces. I typically get unpadded jerseys, with the exception for elbows. I enjoy the cuffs and sews padded cordura elbows. You can dive i to some shit with those and crawl on your elbows and keep your gun up.

I now have a defibrillator on my ribcage. The ground wire is on my sternum. That being said. My last jersey has the standard checlst padding, plus I have a patch sewn over my defibrillator also. Thats simply becauae I have a weird fear that a ball will break my defibrillator and either make it shock me for no reason, or kill it to the degree it wont shock me if I ever need it to.

[Chuck E Ducky]

Rules change over the years. I have a Razza jersey from back in the day that’s got a ton of padding and the sleeves are a thick nylon material. It also had a micro fiber on the inside in the front and half gloves built in.

They were designed to increase bounces. There were strict layer rules and the jerseys counted as “one layer”.

I don’t think they are allowing that type of padding anymore. Today’s jerseys are much thinner. You can buy jerseys with or without padding so order what you want.

My favorites are denim Renagade style jerseys. They do deaden impacts so they can be a lil more bouncy than a tight fitting jersey. I don’t wear them for that reason, I wear them because they are durable and leave less welts. I sweat my butt off in the summer time because they don’t breathe well. But I don’t care.