Inflatable or built up plywood obstacles?

[jbg00d]

hey folks.

I'm helping to put a new 20,000 square foot indoor paintball field together and I'm interested in your input.

Now, I've never played on a filed that uses the inflatable bunkers and was wondering what your preference is.

Also, This field will have two decks, an upper and a lower. The upper will be more the video game hall ways with bunkers inset into the walls. There will be no stairs just ramps for access so it should be very cool.

Any suggestions, comments and or wishes(paintball fields would have), by all means, post them here. We need all the help we can get.

[TwilightG]

Please tell me that you're located in New England!
*edit: nevermind.. just saw your other post. It's just a little too far away for me

Personally, I've always preferred hard bunkers. Some indoor places use "plastic tubes" for bunkers. I don't know how else to describe them... they're big and black and usually cut in half.

I think the inflatables require a bit more upkeep and just don't really care for them.

Just my 2cents

[OneUp]

i like solid bunkers.

but i'm probably too far and busy to be your customer enough to make my input matter.

[Lomarandil]

One thing to think about with ramps, is that with paint on them, they can get very slippery.. could be an issue.

I'm partial to hard bunkers, for the ease of maintence mostly.. the Hyperball tubes are great in general.. But whatever you use, make sure it won't get too loud in there with guys hammering out paint.. if you were to use certain materials (tin sheeting, etc), I could imagine that getting VERY loud.

Lo

[CKY_Alliance]

Xball field, if your going to be a speedball field that is what people will want to see.

Oh and for netting check out the white nets, I've heard they make a huge difference in lighting and they make for a better background to see paint.

[kruger]

for safety on the ramps, nail down thin strips, then put that non-skid between them. That way, if they do get wet, then you still have traction. Also, I am partial to hard bunkers. Build them good the first time, and you wont have to build them again. Also, you wont have to patch them when they leak.

[Anjin3515]

If its a speedball/x-ball field go inflatable...
If its an indoor close quarter/ milsim type of field go with solid bunkers.

[Papa_Smurf]

I have some scars from bunkers...55 gallon drum with tetanus written all over it jumped out into my way...

thats another sermon...

remember you can customize bunkers if you build them, if you whip them out and blow them up, you cant. And the wooden ones take care of themselves.

[jbg00d]

Oh, you guys are great. I really appreciate all the idea's. please keep them coming!

Thanks guys.

[Anjin3515]

Oh, you guys are great. I really appreciate all the idea's. please keep them coming!

Thanks guys.

I think it would help us help you if you told us the "market" you are after...speedball, milsim/woodsball......that way we would better know what to think about.

[Thanna]

If you do a mix, you can have interchangeable layouts? I don't know if that's feasible, but it is a thought.

[trevorjk]

just PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE remember field maintenance IE: Cleaning. if the field is dirty as all hell ill find a new place to play. so with that said i say bunkers, since they are easily taken down and or moved.

[Madmarx]

The black tubes are usually drainage pipes.
Inflatable are nice, they're safer, easier to move but need more care and aren't as rugged.

[Spider-TW]

If you do a mix, you can have interchangeable layouts? I don't know if that's feasible, but it is a thought.

I've been to a few fields that mix them up. They use them for variety and also to patch areas that become unplayable because of the lack of cover.

Grating on the ramps would be good traction, but I know guys that would be happy to cover you with spray from shooting through the grating. There should be some sort of tread that will work with paint.

[mostpeople]

The answer to ramps is to enclose the area beneath it, that way you cant shoot up from below because thatwould be very dangerous do the gonads.