Indoor vs Outdoor Paintball: Which Should you Choose?

Whether you’ve opted for indoor or outdoor paintball you’re in for an awesome day out, but there are some slight differences, and each has its own list of pros and cons. So if you’re struggling to decide which one is best for you, here’s a look at some of the most notable differences between the two.

The most obvious difference is that outdoor paintball is exposed to the elements while indoor paintball isn’t. The British weather is famous for its unpredictability and when things really take a turn for the worse, the last place most people would want to be is running around in the woods. For those brave enough to battle on, no matter what the weather throws at them, a game of paintball in the rain can be just as much fun. Only the most extreme conditions will lead to a game being cancelled, so as long as it’s safe to carry on there’s no need to be put off by a little bit of rain.

However if a wet and wild game of paintball doesn’t sound like your thing, an indoor session is the perfect alternative and it combines all the fun of an outdoor game with the added bonus of being sheltered from the elements. Indoor sites can even run sessions at night, which means you can get your paintball fix at almost any time of day. So if you don’t want to gamble on the weather an indoor session is one way to guarantee you don’t get a soaking.

Another difference between indoor and outdoor paintball sites are the game zones. Outdoor game zones make use of all the natural obstacles available to them and through a paintball players eyes, trees, hills and ditches make the perfect place to take cover, hide out and ambush opponents. When you’re battling out in the great outdoors it’s easy to forget it’s just a game and you’ll soon find yourself crawling through the mud issuing silent hand signals to your team mates as though you really are deep behind enemy lines. After all, a game of outdoor paintball wouldn’t be complete without the one person who takes it too far and disguises themselves as a bush, by stuffing leaves and branches into their combat overalls.

Indoor sites may not benefit from all the natural obstacles of an outdoor course but one advantage they do have is that game zones can be tailor made to be as awesome and imaginative as possible. There might not be any trees to hide behind but there are still plenty of places to take cover and even buildings to storm. Generally speaking they’re more compact than outdoor paintball parks too, which is bad news if you’re a fan of hiding out until the end of a game, but great news if you’re a fan of close quarters combat and all out attack! To make their game zones even more exciting some indoor sites use special sound and lighting effects designed to make you feel like you’re on the set of a Hollywood blockbuster. So if you’ve always wanted to unleash your inner action hero an indoor paintball session gives you the perfect opportunity.

Experienced players are bound to spot a few more more differences between indoor and outdoor paintball, but the basics are still the same. You’ll still be running around like a loony trying to cover your opponents with paint whichever option you choose, and when you’ve finished you’ll be desperate to do it all over again! So if you’re still not sure which of the two is the best you’ve got the perfect excuse to squeeze in an extra paintball session and give them both a go!