Mask suggestions for 8 year old

[caleqs]

Hi,

I want to play some paintball with my son in the back yard and I need to get him a mask. Any suggestions on a mask that would fit an 8 year old? I haven't run across masks that come in "youth" sizes. Are there any out there?

Thanks for your help.

[oldsoldier]

I have a 10 y/o nephew...what I do is, make it as tight as possible, then have him wear a hat backwards. IT anchors it to his head pretty well

[caleqs]

Heh, that should work. My son only takes his hat off for church. =)

[Halliday]

That reply gave me a actual LOL.

[EsPo]

i dont know about masks, but ive seen many younger kids play paintball (even as young as 5!). what they do is bring them on the field,and also bring a bunch of other people on the field. the little kid usually stays behind one bunker while the other people run around the field from bunker to bunker with no guns, just masks ect and let the littl guy shoot at them.

[caleqs]

Nah, that won't work. I'm looking forward to shooting at *him*. ;-}

[cledford]

No offense - but if a mask doesn't fit him do ya think he might still be a little too young? Far be it for me to tell you how to raise your kid - but don't expect me not to comment in a public forum. I think paintball under 12 is a inappropriate.

Not being able to find appropriate safety equipment should be a hint...

-Calvin

[Miscue]

More often than not, I don't see really young kids out on a field... really enjoying themselves (in uncontrolled conditions). First thing they do... go to first bunker. Second thing they do... stay there petrified. Third thing they do... get lit up by heartless, somewhat older little bastards with more experience... who see the young kids as easy pickings... easy person to light up. Some kids have a blast, regardless... and for others it's just a high anxiety, unpleasant experience.

You get that occassional special kid that can really play... even at a young age... but I have to wonder if it's a good idea sending an 8 year old out to get shot by high velocity projectiles...

I think it better to do something like target shoot... and maybe get out on the field once they're 12-13.

If they do get on the field, I think it should be in controlled conditions. What I do with the young kids that do play is... well first of all... I try to play on their team and guide them... sticking really close by. Sometimes I don't even bring a gun with me... and act like an interactive ref. I try to get experienced players to also play as shadows. When playing against them, I may shoot in their direction, but I don't shoot them - except their guns, mask... harmless stuff. I try to make them shoot at me by... purposely putting myself in bad positions... often times they don't have anything to shoot at because they are hiding and not moving around. Most importantly, I let them win often - they seem to really enjoy that (of course).

My favorite thing of all is... dry fire bunkering. I remember once when, it was down to 1v1 with a 9-10 year old. I hear air continuously venting from his gun, and move in for the "kill." I could hear his parents pissed at me... "Don't do that! Don't shoot him! *&$%#!!" I scared the crap outta him as his parents watched in horror, dry firing at 13bps... he was all screaming and stuff... instantly followed by laughter from everyone, including him, once they realized I didn't shoot anything... had my feed plug off. Good fun.

Well point is... if an 8 year old does get out there... I think it's best in very controlled conditions so that they can have fun and help them get used to paintball... over come fears and helps them play with confidence. I think it's alright for young kids to be out there in this situation...

[caleqs]

Thanks for your concerns guys, but let's keep perspective here. I'm talking about plinking around in the back yard, not sending him to a field. I'm not going to light up my kid or harm him in any way. That's the reason I'm asking about protective eqt (duh). I'm going to bundle him up and turn velocity way down. Its going to be very mellow and controlled. I won't fire at him at close range and I won't aim for his head.

Again, I appreciate your comments, but you can be assured I'm not an idiot looking to endanger my children. I'm actually paranoid about safety to the point where it annoys my wife. =)

[irbodden]

I belive the Diablo Skul might come in a youth size...

Even if it doesn't, the 'normal' size is still pretty small. With a hat, he should be fine..

[WaRBladE]

Make sure he has as much padding as that one little kid in "Red Rider BB Gun" (movie name?) ...


You know that one little brother that fell down and couldn't get up.

[CDN_Drew]

One of the guys i play with has been brining his son out since the age of 6 and now at the age of 9 he is actually playing in our pump/sotck games with a stock class phantom. For the first few games that he was playing with us he was wearing one of the old JT plastic chest protectors but that didn't last for long. As for a mask he is using what is being sold now as the Brass Eagle Maxx Vision. http://www.brasseagle.com/images/products/7469.jpg one of the pluses of this mask is the chin strap to help keep it on him.

[FeuerFri]

you may wanna look into getting him a proteus, sense it is a smaller mask it should work for him realy well i would like to think, and just get a strap for it from a motor cross goggle system, cause i know that they make those for smaller children.
good luck with gitting him into the sport man.

[caleqs]

Sweet. Thanks guys.

[Bulldog]

A lot of people complain that the Dye invision is too small. Maybe that'll work. Also, I've seen little kids wearing skateboard helmets in addition to their masks before. Sort of provides all encasing protection for the head. I know you said your not gonna aim for his head, but we don't always hit what we aim at. Hope that helps.