I haven’t worn jeans and a hoody in ages. But I’ve found a definite difference in walkon approachability when I’m wearing my Hawaiian instead of a jersey.
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I usually just wear Duluth trading firehose pants and an old long sleeve flannel real tree shirt. All black pro flex. 4+3 with 140 rd tubes and a mag or autococker.Comment
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I found what's comfortable and made it a field uniform. So not trying to stand out or be low key, I just wear what I wear cuz it's working.
- Aloha-adjacent shirt found at a thrift store. Fabric feels cheap, no tag aside from size, probably a gas station manager seasonal shirt provided by corporate.
- Cherokee brand nurse scrubs (volleyball kneepads underneath). Some of the hardest working people ever, their pants do not eff around.
- HK Shredders shoes (the old ones that look like solid black mall walkers).
- I stopped wearing arm pads, cuz let's be real, I'd rather get shot than crawl or dive because I won't be getting up again.
- Terrycloth sweatband on my head, like an extra in the background struggling to keep up with Richard Simmons.
- Handerpants™.
- Usually rocking an Emek, which is available as a rental at the local park. Didn't realize this until AFTER I showed up with one, otherwise I'd have just rented 'em. But to hell with anyone telling me to sell it.
- No pod pack, but I'll bring a full pod & stash it behind the dead box if we end up running another match before heading back in.
I can't really be unassuming with masks, though. I got a few Proflex builds, and those clearly stand out among rentals. I'll also wear an all black CMD, which, being solid black like most rental masks, I assumed didn't stand out. But apparently, when paired with a smoke lens so the sun doesn't hurt my baby eyes, makes me look "intimidating." Whatever, man, I'm built like Homer Simpson & walk like a circus clown because I'm the most flat-footed man my podiatrist had ever seen, I don't think the mask is gonna do much to macho my randy savage.Comment
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I primarily use an old Automag Classic, either a more or less stock or one that is stock with a pneuframe. Neither of them even have powerfeed nor on/off-ASA, so they look rather old and clunky. Before the semi resurgence, most players in Sweden used an electro of some sort, and even the new all singing, all dancing semis look like space guns, so my Automags have always stood out.
I also used to play in my old Army fatigues until they mysteriously shrunk while hanging in the closet, so I didn't look like the average paintballer with his/her own gear. Obviously I couldn't fly under the radar on my home field, but on other fields there have been plenty of players who completely dismissed me to their own disadvantage. I usually ask them afterwards how old they are, only to inform then that my gun is older than they are.
Regarding the Automag, I have been asked questions like "What the is that contraption?", "Does that thing work?" and "Did you make that one yourself?" Those questions are exact translations word for word, I kid you not.
The Automag was once regarded as the pinnacle of premium paintball markers in Sweden, paired with the Autococker of course. But with the emergence of electros, the Automag fell into oblivion when older players quit playing, and their Automags ended up in the attic or basement. There still is a vast untapped treasure trove of high end Automags and Autocockers completely forgotten in attics and basements in Sweden.Comment
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It no longer works for me locally. Doesn't matter what gear I have on most locals know me and even those that don't assume I'm more than a walk on even if I use a rental.Comment
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Dressing down really makes a HUGE difference in my experience, but only with newer players or walk-on groups. Experienced and smart players will recognize small but quality decisions (like my goggle fan) regardless of your clothes.
I have two completely separate wardrobes (and load outs) depending on the day and the game.
For walk-on, I wear 5.11 pants with internal hard knee pads and either an Under Armour or Real Tree long sleeve with a basic Switch mask. I'll run an EMEK or GTEK in basic black and a Revi. I've found that even the littlest flash of color or flash is off-putting to rentals and groups. Where I have walked on for the last 25 years, the fields aren't big enough to run multiple games easily and the majority of players are with groups who wish they were private. As a singleton most of the time, my ability to have fun relies on my ability to talk myself into any games. I can't afford to be intimidating in the first impression.
After a game or two, when it is obvious I am old, slow, and NOT aggressive, I can switch out for whatever old gun I've teched and want to try out without too much trouble. Or, if there are any experienced players who are being too serious, I'll break out the scenario/big game gear and selectively up my game to keep them contained. That's always fun, but not why I play walk-on. I'm usually there to be outside and try out whatever gun or guns I've been working on.
For big games, scenarios, or any environment where the majority of players are experienced, I'm 100% paintball gear head to toe, in various camo patters, with electro whiz-bangs or CCM pumps. There, I am focused on being comfortable and effective. I don't have to worry about being unintentionally intimidating.
SSniper13
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