Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Review of Tippmann Woodsball Gear

Reviewer: Kevin “Kevlar” Quinn, Hellions SFG, ODA 133. Warzone Podcast Editor-in-Chief.

Manufacturer: Tippmann Sports, LLC., 2955 Adams Center Road, Fort Wayne, IN 46803.

Description: Digital Camouflage Patterned Pants, Jersey, and Harness.

Period of Product Use: Couple of indoor practices, big game.

Paintball Experience: 12 years

Similar Products Used:

Pants: JT cotton/poly blend, Invert tourny pants, Full Clip Multicam.
Jersey: JT, various custom by Animal, Raza.
Harness:Various harnesses, Empire harness, Full Clip Combo Rig.

Marker Setup: N/A (Requires tank mounted on marker)

Recommended Upgrades: 140-count pods not included

Strengths:
Jersey: Extremely lightweight, reinforced padded areas in the arms are a great improvement. Could be used with or without arm padding underneath. Arm Velcro for unit team patches is very handy. Shoulder padding areas noted for adding protection in areas that most commonly hit with behind bunkers and in prone positions.

Pants:
Stretched fabric in groin area, rather than additional polyester padding is GREAT. Loops to keep leg rig straps in place is good idea, very resourceful. ID card, map holder, etc. on right leg is handy. Extra room on bottom of pants cuffs and stretch material on back of knees, excellent for ventilation.

Harness:
Extremely well built. Heavy-duty construction without adding additional weight to lug for player. The material in the back kept the harness in place for the entire time during play, and fit the reviewer's waist perfectly.




Weaknesses:
Jersey:
Minor discoloration and small holes along neck/collarbone padding.

Pants:
Holes for buttons at the groin are tearing on one set. Reinforcing them with rubber or metal gromits.
While the loop for rig straps around the leg is good, the straps will be over the larger storage and utility pockets. Can be an inconvenience if planning to carry tools, squeegees, or microfiber clothes in the deeper pockets.
More velcro would be great along the adjustable waist (unless I had a Small rather than a Medium).

Harness:
No notable weaknesses.

Review Details:

Being a Tippmann fan, I wasn't sure what to expect out of a Tippmann harness. The sturdy construction and sharpness of the graphics and camo pattern did not disappoint me. It's much larger than my Empire harness, which I appreciate and the volume of paint it can carry is excellent.
For the pants, polyester pants are always a concern to me based on their breathability. The football style mesh on the interior helped with this issue, and the stretched materials was a SUPERB idea. Behind the knees, but more importantly, at the groin was a great decision. Pants can be durable, but without reinforced groins, the service time of them can be (and has been) greatly decreased. To do away with there being material in these areas is an excellent investment. Pocket depth is good, and it is reassuring to have the added protection of the zippers.
The jersey was simple and straightforward. The football mesh may still be in issue with catching on vegetation, but in reality, I have yet to have any of my jerseys with similar designs catch on anything. There could be more areas of velcro for nametapes, etc. Not a major priority, however. The addition of foam padding at the collarbone is greatly appreciated. I love the thumb area around the cuffs of the jersey. The material used is soft enough to the skin and absorbent enough for moisture-wicking. The discoloration and holes at the top are very noticeable, and it all appeared after only 2 or 3 uses. If a player chooses to use arm/hand pads underneath, the existing padding may cause discomfort.


Ratings:

Harness: 5/5
Jersey: 3/5
Pants: 4/5



The Hellions SFG is proud to state that it is officially sponsored by Tippmann Sports. Tippmann gives team members the opportunity to test out new and upcoming markers and other paintball-related gear for a no-nonsense review.







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