First, consider the type of tank that works best in cold weather. Standard paintball CO2 tanks freeze up quickly even in the summer; this problem is compounded in cold weather. It's better to play with a high pressure air tank which delivers a consistent pressure, regardless of how cold it is in your playing environment. The last thing you need is a tank that stops performing because of the temperature.
You will also want to change the type of paintballs you use. Winter formula paintballs maintain their liquid state in even very cold weather, while regular paintballs freeze up. A frozen paintball hurts twice as much Even though winter formula balls are harder to find and may cost a bit more, they are a necessity for gaming in colder climates.
Paintballs aren't the only things that could freeze in cold weather; dress appropriately to avoid suffering from hypothermia. Normal paintball wear usually incorporates minimal skin exposure with extra protection such as body armor, chest protector, elbow/knee pads, neck protector and, most important of all, a paintball mask.
Cold-weather clothing such as winter coats, gloves and even ski pants offer quite a bit of protection, so much of the extra paintball protective gear can be eliminated, except for the mask of course. When preparing to play in the cold, dressing in layers is key to keeping warm while still preparing you for becoming overheated from your exertion.
Start with thermal underwear, then add a long-sleeved shirt, perhaps a light sweater, ski pants, winter coat, hat and gloves. When choosing your winter clothing, choose layers that will provide warmth and protection but not so extensive to reduce your range of motion and ability to move quickly. Also remember that you will need to carry equipment, such as pods of paintballs and/or additional magazines for your marker.
Although tactical vests and waist harnesses work well in warmer weather, they may be a problem getting on over your coat or parka. Wearing them underneath would make them harder to reach when needed, not to mention the fact that you would have to open up your coat, exposing yourself to the cold each time. A thigh harness will offer less storage capacity but may be the best solution for winter play.
Wearing the appropriate footwear is just as important as the rest of your winter clothing; maybe even more so, since the extremities often become cold faster than the rest of the body. Frostbite can be a very real issue if you're not careful. However, lots of options are available in insulated and waterproof boots for playing in the snow. Plain, old-fashioned combat boots may work well enough except in the coldest weather, unless they're insulated.
Make sure the footwear you choose has good tread for snowy conditions. Without proper traction on snow or ice, you will move sloweror be clumsy. It only takes one miserable day with cold, wet feet to motivate you into spending a little extra for waterproof, insulated hiking or combat boots that are designed to handle such conditions.
Playing deep snow throws yet another curve; even the best winter boots won't stop you from sinking. This will slow down travel progress considerably as well as making it more difficult to dodge your opponent's paintballs. Here's your chance to combine two different sports: paintball and snowshoeing or cross country skiing However, even though snowshoes will keep you from sinking down, they are taxing to use. It also takes take a fair amount of practice to become proficient with cross country skis, especially if you're going to be shooting and dodging paintballs at the same time.
Another fun aspect of snow paintballing is the ability to customize your course with bunkers made of snow. Create a unique playing field with bunkers and fortresses; you might even want to throw in a snowman or two Of course, the more complex the creations, the more work and time will go into them. In the end though, this will add an extra element of fun and skill to the game, especially on an otherwise featureless plain or field.
Don't let the winter call a halt to your paintballing By using equipment more suitable for cold weather as well as wearing the right clothing, you can continue to enjoy your game year-round. In addition, the extra practice will improve your game much faster than your less hardy associates who prefer to hibernate in cold weather.