Bounce shirt/chest protector

[Trbo323]

Ok so, I've been thinking about doing some padding for the few big games I get out to, 3 straight days of paintball takes it's toll I've noticed but an having a hard time finding something I think I will like.

I'm looking for something to run under my jersey, something padded that also breaths fairly well. I had a core padded shirt and literally wore it for 1 game before I ditched it. It was just way too hot. I think the padding was just too thick. So I have been looking around at more.... Reputable brands but not sure how they work in real life. Anyone have done experience to share? Which ones do you like/hate?

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[Chuck E Ducky]

I use to run the Planet Eclipse one when I was going to Xball practice 3x a week. It breathes well and wicks sweat well. Padding is less intrusive and fits tight to you body so it doesn’t hinder movement. I use to play Snake all the time so I was consistently diving point after point so I needed good protection. The PE padded under jersey worked really well for me and lasted a long time. It’s also padded in the right spots not covered by PB gear. (So packs and elbow pads still fit true)

This is the 2nd gen of what I was using. It also looks like there are some other non Paintball branded ones for Football that are half the price that are very similar. The core one looks like it fits loose so that may be why you didn’t like it. I think you want under protection that fits tight to your body. I know the material PE Uses wicks well. I think that’s key especially when it gets hot out. Down side is the PE jersey is pricey. However it is comfortable, provides great protection, last a long time, and breaths really well.

https://www.amazon.com/Planet-Eclips...NsaWNrPXRydWU=

[glaman5266]

The Empire Grind Pro THT is what I use:
https://www.amazon.com/Empire-Paintb...608291&sr=8-20

My only real complaint is the stitching isn't as good as it should be. I haven't torn anything yet, but I don't play very often and I hear a thread or two pop every time I take it off (probably 'cuz I'm sweaty & it's sticking). However, that's my only complaint. The shirt fits well IMO- not too tight to the body so it can breathe a bit better. And the padding covers more area than the other ones I considered at the time. I do like this padded shirt, but I'll probably get a different one when this one wears out. If you play regularly or play airball/NXL format I'd probably look at something else. For general/rec use it's pretty good.

[MrBarraclough]

I have been running an old Proto performance top that I bought NOS off someone liquidating leftover inventory from a defunct paintball store (that had spent probably 9 years in storage). I feel like I look ridiculous in it by itself, but since I wear it under a long sleeved shirt I don't mind too much. It offers a decent amount of padding, but is soft and flexible. I tend to forget it is there once I put my overshirt on. The padded panels are more squishy than rigid. They feel more like fabric covered open cell foam. I find I get more bounces at range, but the tradeoff is that in closer encounters it merely mitigates the bruises instead of eliminating them. And the gaps between the chest panel and the side panels are pretty big. One really nice aspect is breatheability. I wore this thing every time I played all spring and summer in coastal Alabama and never felt like it was making me any hotter than a tech undershirt would.

Prior to that, I had been using a simple old Tippmann chest protector, the kind that are just some thick nylon panels with elastic shoulder and side straps. I wore it over a tech tshirt and under my overshirt. It worked surprisingly well. I still felt impacts but didn't get bruised. The belt from my pod pack had a tendency to make it ride up a bit, though. Biggest drawbacks are the lack of side protection and its tendency to shift around.

Just this past week I bought a JT/Empire chest protector off eBay. I've tried it on at home but haven't played in it yet. The panels are thicker and stiffer than my Proto one, but it feels like the foam panels (which I think are closed cell EVA foam) are perforated for ventilation. The upper arm panels are bands that span all the way across deltoid so that the tips of them nearly rest against the edges of the chest panels. I can feel them push against each other as my arms move. Overall, this chest protector/padded shirt feels a little bulky and fits more like an XL tshirt than a fitted undershirt. Not sure yet whether I will like it. I'm a little concerned at the lack of padding at the top of the sternum, an area my other protectors cover pretty well.