Otherwise known as tubes, paintball pods are the hardy containers that hold your paintball supply during a game. Unless you’re playing a game with a very limited amount of ammo, you’ll be carrying these paintball pods in a harness attached to your person. In most instances, paintball pods will carry approximately 140 individual paintball pellets. However, you’ll also find paintball pods that carry significantly less and substantially more.
Paintball Pods Explained
In almost every instance, paintball pods are made of sturdy plastic and utilise a lid that is spring-loaded. This allows for swift access to your paintballs in order to load them into your hopper, while also allowing for the whole operating to be carried out with one hand. This allows you to perform essential reloading in the midst of battle in mere moments with minimal fuss. Delve deeper into what’s available on the market and you’ll find a multitude of variations of paintball pods, all with their own unique locking elements.
Key Things to Consider When Buying the Best Paintball Pods
No matter what your budget is, there are a few key factors that are of paramount importance when buying paintball pods. Be it a budget-friendly option or a more expensive alternative, these handful of elements determine the effectiveness of a paintball pod and how well you can perform in the field.
Easy Access to Ammo
When playing paintball, speed is of the essence. When it comes to accessing your paintball rounds for quick reloading of your marker, picking paintball pods with a user-friendly design that facilitates easy opening is a must. You’ll want to find something that perform that does what it needs to do at all times. Having a paintball pod that opens too early and voids its contents, thereby losing you essential ammo, is a definite no. All in all, it’s the lid part of the paintball pod that you’ll want to hone in on when determining quality and reliability.
Robustness
Due to the high-octane nature of paintballing, it’s little wonder that even the basics like paintball pods need to be robust enough to hold up against all manner of scrapes and impacts. In most instances, paintball pods will be made of plastic. As such, they can be susceptible to damage if not handled correctly or safely carried and mounted on ammunition belts and harnesses.
Having said that, at the more premium end of the market, you’ll find paintball pods constructed from much more durable plastic materials that will hold up far better to physical activity. If you’re someone who values the utmost in performance, even from the smaller elements of your paintball gear, investing in more expensive paintball pods is definitely advisable.
Ammo Capacity
It should come as no surprise that carrying capacity is one of the most crucial things to consider when buying paintball pods. No matter whether you’re a beginner or proficient paintball player, you’ll have become familiar with the fact that rapid fire exchanges are part and parcel of the game.
As such, having a large stock of ammunition to hand is pivotal if you want to end the game in a winning position. To ensure you’ve got a ready supply of paintball rounds to hand and won’t suffer any unwanted stretches of time unable to fire, you’ll want paintball pods within easy reach and ready to put you back in the game.
In most instances, paintball pods will hold an average of 140 paintballs. For the average game of paintball, this should be sufficient. However, the more experienced player who wants to be firing for longer and in meatier bursts will want a paintball pod with a higher carrying capacity. You’ll be glad to know you’ll find ample selection as far as high-capacity pods are concerned.
It’s not uncommon to find paintball pods holding upwards of 160 pods. If you’re after even higher capacities, look for pods carrying 200 rounds. At the other end of the spectrum, you’ll find paintball pods with much lower capacities that are designed with other types of paintball weapons in mind. Rather than conventional paintball markers, these lower capacity pods are utilised with smaller paintballing side arms like pistols.
The Best Paintball Pods
Now we’ve broken down the most important things to look out for when purchasing paintball pods, it’s time to see what’s currently available on the market. We’ve put together a go-to list of options to consider from a variety of manufacturers, with all budgets catered for to ensure every paintball player can make a solid decision the next time it comes to purchasing paintball pods. If you’re looking to pair any of these paintball pods with a great paintball gun, check out our buyer’s guide and reviews on the best paintball guns on the market today!
Maddog 4+1 Vertical Paintball Harness w/Paintball Pods
If you’re after a paintball pod option that brings you plenty of bang for your buck, this harness and paintball pod package is well worth a look. Included in this great value set is a back harness that comfortably holds four standard paintball pods, along with four 140-round pods to ensure you can load up and play immediately.
The paintball pods here are compatible with standard 88/4500ci tanks, with the quick-release lids particularly handy for quick access and swift reloading. The harness is kitted out with elastic inner and outer belts for the utmost in security, keeping your extra ammo safely in place while you play.
Carbon Paintball Pod (6-Pack) Gray to Opaque Thermatech Feature
If you’re after a more aesthetically pleasing choice of paintball pod, this great value multipack might fit the bill. These Carbon Thermatech pods are a solid choice for the more experienced paintballer looking for a little more from their paintballing basics.
Included in this set are six individual paintball pods with a carrying capacity of approximately 145 rounds apiece, with shock protection on the inner side of the lid ensuring that the pods stay closed until you need access, protecting your ammo from spillages. You’ll also appreciate the innovative colour change technology here, with the outer shells of the pods switching from grey to a more transparent hue depending on external temperature.
Virtue PF165 Press Flick Locking Lid Paintball Pods – 6 Pack – Smoke
If you’re looking to lighten the load in the field, these Virtue-PF165 paintball pods are an ideal choice, measuring two inches smaller that comparable pods on the market These pods feature an intuitive press flick mechanism for unlocking, with the locking lid designed to minimise the amount of paint you lose. Robust materials ensure these pods hold up well after repeated use, with particular attention paid to the smallest of components to ensure they continue to perform well for a long time.
HK Army Skull 150 Round Paintball Pods – 6 Pack (Light Smoke)
These HK Army Skull paintball pods are the perfect choice for the paintballer looking to bring a bit of character to their paintballing gear. Available in a range of colours, these pods boast a quirky skull motif and plenty of great spec that will enhance your playing proficiency.
These high-capacity pods carry a maximum of 150 round apiece, while the spring-loaded lid is extra secure to ensure your paintball rounds stay where they are when you’re in the midst of a match, and easy to retrieve when you need them. On the topic of reloading, the whole process is made simpler thanks to enlarged thumb grooves and contouring at the lid that allow you to reach and retrieve your pods without looking.
HK Army HSTL 150 Round Paintball Pods – 6 Pack (Black)
Get stocked up on the paintballing essentials with this great value pack of six HK Army HSTL paintball pods. The vibrant colours will add a pop of colour to your paintball harness, while the innovative design of these pods will bring performance boosting prowess to the field. These pods have an advanced lid design that uses a spring-loading mechanism for quick opening and loading, while the enlarged thumb groove contours make these pods easier to grab onto and retrieve in the midst of battle.
Maddog 150 Round Bones Paintball Pod – Smoke – 6 Pack
These Maddog Bones paintball pods are a premier choice for the more experienced paintball player. Each of these paintball pods holds 150 individual paintball rounds to ensure you’ve maple ammo at your disposal at all times, while the pods themselves are designed to fit all standard types of paintball harness. These pods also have raised grips and an intended thumb tab to allow for much easier retrieval when reloading, meaning you can reload your hopper more quickly than ever.
Tippmann Paintball Heavy Duty 140 Round Guppy Pods – Pack of 4
These Tippmann paintball pods are the go-to choice for those after something that holds up well against rigorous play, while also delivering that all-round importance that ensures success on the field. Each pack of these paintball pods includes four individual tubes, each made from incredibly durable plastic to ensure optimal integrity. Carrying capacity is 140 rounds apiece, while the secure flip-top lid keeps contents in place while you’re on the move and easy to access when you need to reload.
Valken Paintball 140 Round Flick Lid Pod – Black – 4 Pack
If easy maintenance is something you value from your paintball pods, this flick lid option from Valken is one to consider. Comfortably accommodating 140 paintballs apiece, these paintball pods are designed to fit with any standard size carrying harness, while the flip-top lid boasts a secure locking mechanism to ensure your paintballs are kept safely in place for the duration of your game.
What’s more, the incredibly smooth outer surface ensures these paintball pods can be kept clean and looking like new, even after a particularly gruelling day of paintball play.
Base Paintball PM POD
All the key elements that make a great paintball pod are present and accounted for with this Base Paintball PM POD. For a start, you’ve an impressive 150-ball capacity that should fulfil your ammo requirements for most games. An integrated spring-loaded lid also allows for quick and easy access of your paintballs for reloading.
The rounds themselves are granted enhanced levels of protection by this paintball pod. There’s a layer of EVA inner protective foam to keep rounds in one piece, while the outer hull of this paintball pod is constructed from high impact polypropylene for maximum strength and integrity.
