Best Paintball Elbow Pads 2023 [Expert Recommended]

You are a paintball enthusiast and looking for the Best Paintball Elbow pads for your paintball game, right? Then we must say, you are the one who is an earnest paintball player and know the importance of safety gear for a paintball game.

Most of paintball players are not cautious enough about their safety during paintball gameplay. But it is vital to prepare yourself properly with essential gear on your body before going to the paintball field. When you know arm pads can ensure your safety and take a precious buying step, you may find it challenging to find the best paintball elbow pads.

Do not get worried. It is our responsibility to help you pick the best-suited arm pads for your paintball game. Because of this, we will talk over some best paintball elbow pads and hope our article will be beneficial to every paintball player and those who are keenly eager to enter the world of paintball.

Paintball Elbow Pads

Elbow pads are protective arm pads that help protect against any injury like scratches, scrapes, and soreness in your arms. Paintball Elbow pads are essential for paintball players because outdoor paintball is all about diving, crawling, and dodging that may cause serious injury to your arms. The paintball elbow pad covers your arms from a little above your elbow to the wrist, and the pad fits snugly to the contour of your arms and provides optimum flexibility.

The purpose of wearing elbow pads is to keep your arms safe from the impact of paintball. Wearing only a full-sleeve jacket is not enough for paintball gameplay. You may think about how you can play paintball with so many gears on your body. But a professional player knows much essential it is for a paintball game.

If you want to join a paintball tournament, you must wear protective gear, including paintball elbow pads. Paintball authority has stringent rules about the safety of paintball players. You are not allowed to participate if you do not follow the safety rules. And paintball pads are something for your safety that you can never ignore for a paintball game.

10 Best Paintball Elbow Pads of 2023

Wearing protective gear is very important, but sometimes, people feel very uncomfortable with them. But those gear works for your safety and comfort for many outdoor games, including paintball.

Elbow pads are essential protective gear for a paintball game. There are several models of paintball elbow pads from different brands on the market. You may quickly get confused about finding suitable arm pads. So, today we will review the top 10 best paintball elbow pads so that you can pick the suitable arm pads for your paintball game.

  1. FreeFlex Elbow – Pads/ Arm Pads

FreeFlex Elbow Pads/Arm Pad (Black, Medium)

The manufacturer of FreeFlex Elbow pads is Exalt, and the arm pads have only black color. Exalt first marketed this product on February 27, 2018, and these arm pads are famous for their affordable price.

The FreeFlex Elbow pads have a fantastic design that offers the ultimate combination of protection, comfort, flexibility, and durability. The FreeFlex utilizes an all-new quad-core padding system that can blend the flexibility of the lightweight moisture-wicking outer sleeve.

The FreeFlex Arm pads come with elbow cups which are custom-molded for the perfect fit. The arm pads use thermo-fabrics and breathable mesh lining to provide extreme comfort, safety, and flexibility. The compression padding does a fabulous job. It can absorb impact and keep your arms safe.

Furthermore, they have two straps to ensure the arm pads fit your arms perfectly. It is impressive to have the retention strap. This strap can rotate at 360 degrees, and you can adjust it in any way you want. Also, a forearm strap helps you tighten your arm pad, but many players feel this is not essential.

These arm pads are triple-padded but not as thick as other models. If you are seeking comfortable and durable arm pads, then FreeFlex Elbow pads will be your choice.

Pros
  • Budget-friendly
  • Low profile
  • They provide a moisture-wicking feature
  • Have mesh lining for proper airflow and breathability
  • Provides an adjustable retention strap and forearm strap, which is suitable for perfect fitting
  • It comes with an elbow cup to increase flexibility and durability
  • They can absorb Impact And Prevent Bruising

Cons
  • These arm pads are smaller than the standard.
  1. HK Army HSTL Line Elbow Pads – Great for paintball and Airsoft

HK Army HSTL Line Elbow Pads (XL)

In December 2016, HK Army HSTL Line Elbow pads came first on the market. The manufacturer of these arm pads is HK Army, and the material is neoprene.

The HK Army HSTL Line Arm pads are perfect for Entry-level and mid-level players with immense comfort and flexibility. Protective gears are always essential in the sport of paintball, and these arm pads provide quality protection at a budget-friendly price. Though this product is cheap, it lasts for a year. So, there is no chance to think the quality is not good.

These products always make you feel fabulous no matter how long you wear them because they are very lightweight. They have ventilation fabrics that allow plenty of air to come in and out make sure your arm will always stay dry.

Sometimes these arm pads might be a little bit big for most arms. But you do not need to worry about it at all. It comes with a perfect solution in this case. The Velcro strap makes sure that you can customize it for elbows of all sizes. In this way, these arm pads have become the best paintball elbow pads for players that like velcro.

Pros
  • They come at an affordable price
  • These arm pads are highly durable
  • Provides an adjustable Velcro Strap
  • It has high-impact padding
  • Offers 4-way stretch sleeve
  • The arm pads are breathable and highly comfortable
  • Provides neoprene arm support
  • They have a dual-layered contour
  • It is easy indeed to clean by hand with a sponge or clothes
  • Easy to wear
Cons
  • They are suitable for entry and mid-level players.
  1. Exalt Paintball T3 Elbow Pads – Best for avoiding arm scrapes

Exalt Paintball T3 Elbow Pads - Black/Grey - Large/X-Large

The Exalt Paintball T3 Elbow Pads had first come into the market on October 10, 2016. The manufacturer of these arm pads is Exalt, and these T3 elbow pads come in black or grey.

The Exalt Paintball pads are excellent and new to the T3 range of arm pads, which better replace the “Thrasher” series of protective elbow pads.

The T3 elbow pads are an enhanced version of the reputed Exalt series arm pads. The new version comes with detrition-resistant fabric in critical stress zones, lightweight, breathable construction, and tri-layer comfort foam technology. The design of T3 elbow pads allows space for a good fit, and pads stay in the proper place because of having anti-skid silicone waves by the thumb and the biceps.

Tri-layer padding technology reduces impact and protects against attrition giving you some lucky bounces. Moisture-wicking and breathable fabrics help to keep you cool and comfortable. Also, a Flexible precision-engineered design reduces bulkiness. Furthermore, its anti-sleeve silicone weave keeps pads locked in place.

Pros
  • It has a low profile and provides flexible arm pads
  • T3 Elbow Pads provide Triple-layer padding protection
  • It comes with moisture-wicking technology
  • T3 Elbow Pads offers good coverage and fits most sizes
Cons
  • It does not have customizable Velcro Straps.
  1. HK Army Crash – Best Lightweight Arm Pads

HK Army Crash Arm Pads (Black, XL)

The HK Army Crash Pads came into the market on October 14, 2015, in black color. The manufacturer of these pads is the HK Army, and the materials of the arm pads are neoprene. The HK Army Crash Arm pads have gained popularity within a short time.

However, the HK Army Crash pads are one of the best arm pads for the paintball player. Army Crash Arm pads provide high performance with flexibility and comfort in your arms. It remains comfortable pad for you for every style of game during gameplay.

The dual-layered contoured pad system can absorb shock and minimize elbow joint impact. Also, these pads provide fluid mobility, which can protect and equally fits comfortably on the players. They come with low-profile padded gloves to protect your arms from injuries. Then the purpose of HK Army Crash Arm pads is to serve the highest protection.

The HK Army Crash is very famous for having the 4-way stretch and inner lining of the pads increase the coverage and perform as a cooling agent when the weather is warm.

Pros
  • It offers an extreme level of comfort
  • Provides unparalleled protection
  • Arm pads look so handsome
  • They are highly durable and flexible
  • They have a lightweight body
  • The Velcro straps of arm pads make them completely adjustable.
Cons
  • They come with deep padding that may cause some hindrances in the movement.
  1. Social Paintball SMPL Arm & Elbow Pads Projection

Social Paintball SMPL Arm & Elbow Pads Protection, Black Red (Medium/Large)

The manufacturer of Social Paintball SMPL Arm & Elbow Pads Protection is Social Paintball, and these arm pads come in two colors, black and red. From September 4, 2018, these arms pads are available in the market.

The Social Paintball SMPL Arm & Elbow pads are everything that you exactly need in paintball elbow pads. It provides optimal performance at an affordable price. They have been meticulously tested to withstand every form of paintball play, from rec to woodsball to tournaments.

These elbow pads are so light that it makes you feel comfortable and you will forget that you’re wearing them. It ensures your protection and gets bounces at the same time during paintball gameplay.

The 4-way stretch sleeve of arm pads provides moisture-wicking. Also, the quick-drying compression fabrics cover a full range of motion, breathability, and multidirectional support. Besides, outer layer fabrics prevent abrasion which makes the pads durable.

In addition, the impact padding zone is good enough to protect your forearm and elbow. Moreover, the pads provide a non-slip bicep cuff to keep the sleeve in place so that you can entirely focus on your playing.

Pros
  • Pros

  • Light and comfortable

  • No ripped elbows and paint bounces
  • Very comfortable wearing arm pads
  • Super lightweight pads with plenty of protections
  • Affordable price with good quality
  • Sturdy and durable

  • Cons

Cons
  • The padding is too thin.
  1. Bunker Kings V2 Royal Guard Elbow Pads-Black

Bunker Kings V2 Royal Guard Elbow Pads - Black (Medium (MD))

The Bunker Kings V2 Royal Guard Elbow pad’s manufacturer is Bunker Kings. These elbow pads are available in the market from April 16, 2018. These elbow pads have been constructed with Neoprene materials and have only a color, black.

V2 Royal Guard pads are protective elbow gear that developed from several years of competitive utmost sports experience. These pads can give you royal protection and quality, increasing mobility. The compression fit nature of these pads recommends size-up and going with a larger size than average.

The Bunker Kings V2 Royal Guard Elbow pads come with high-density dynamic foam, dual-layered in a high-impact zone, and compression materials for second ski fit to keep these pads in the proper place and keep you rash-free.

The BK pads provide extreme flexibility and softer padding. The HK pads make them great for under a jersey with no hand grips because it keeps the jersey from riding up your arm, especially when diving. It is very sticky when wearing clothes.

Pros
  • Pros

  • They provide much more flexibility and softer padding

  • It comes with tri-flex protection with high-density Bk foam
  • Provides double ventilation for breathability and quick-drying
  • Has dual protection layers
  • Provides skin soft elastic soft bands
  • It gives optimal protection with high comfort
  • Provides protection in hands and wrist with thumbhole
  • Perfect for any professional athletes
  • Offers superior protection with no restricted movement ability
  • These arm pads are worthy for any kind of outdoor sport such as Snowboarding, Paintball, Airsoft
  • It has a very long durable feature even in the most brutal environment
Cons
  • Only one color is available (Black)
  1. HK Army CTX Arm Pads

HK Army Paintball CTX Arm Pads - Small/Medium

The HK Army CTX Arm Pads are another model of HK Army Paintball manufacturer. This model comes in two colors combination of blue and black. These arm pads come with neoprene material and available on the market since November 22, 2019.

The CTX arm pads are a great pair of elbow pads. It provides a dual-layered padding system to protect your forearms, and reduce elbow joint impacts. But these arm pads are not super bulky at all. These arm pads have a 4-way stretch with an inner lining that increases maximum coverage. This product is tremendously comfortable and acts as a cooling agent when the weather is hot.

HK CTX arm pads add value so that they can make the thing more durable. The arm pads have higher quality materials, to the arm pads last longer. It is very soft, and you will forget you are wearing something on your arms. Also, you can easily rotate and move your hand in all directions without any resistance.

They have two kinds of different padding layers;

  • The inside layer is softer and feels like it has gel foam pad stuff and can absorb impacts.
  • The outer side of the pad is a lot harder and more durable.
Pros
  • Has the best quality
  • Easy to wear
  • Snug fit and eye-catching design
  • Very thin in the front section around the wrist
  • The back side provides lots of mobility and breathability
  • Provides high-impact performance with comfort and flexibility
  • A dual-layered pad system can absorb shock and shorten the joint impact
  • Provides neoprene arm supports
  • It enhances durability
  • Front gloves have silicone layering
  • The hand pattern of the arm pads is charming
Cons
  • The upper cuff around your bicep might not do its proper job if your arms are too thin.
  1. Bodyprox Elbow Protection Pads, Elbow Guard Sleeve

Bodyprox Elbow Protection Pads 1 Pair (Large), Elbow Guard Sleeve

The Bodyprox Elbow Protection Pads are available in the market since April 25, 2017, by the Bodyprox manufacturer.

When you cannot afford the expensive arm pads but need decent protection on your arms, Bodyprox Elbow Protection pads are ready to meet your needs. This protective gear helps to prevent injuries and keeps you safe.

Bodyprox Elbow pads have a well-placed foam grid which provides an uncompromising level of protection and comfort during your paintball gameplay. You are perfectly safe from scratch and scrapes which give you peace of your mind which is very important for gaining more confidence in the field. More faith is essential for promoting more competitive gameplay.

Moreover, this abrasion-resistant feature is perfect for promoting much more daredevil maneuvers. The pair of Bodyprox arm pads fit perfectly on your arms. They are not too tight, not too loose either, and it balances the fitness perfectly in between. Also, they will never hinder your movements by one bit. It gives you the feeling that you wear nothing on your arms.

Pros
  • They are bruise-free
  • They fit snugly
  • Affordable price
  • Easy to wash and does not lose elasticity
  • They are comfortable to wear.
  • These arm pads offer unparalleled protection.
  • The abrasion-resistant materials make these pads perfectly safe.
  • Available in several sizing options.
  • These arm pads have exceptional injury prevention methods.
Cons
  • These arm pads can’t compete with high-end elbow pads.
  1. Empire Paintball Grind Elbow Pad THT

Bodyprox Elbow Protection Pads 1 Pair (Large), Elbow Guard Sleeve

The Empire Paintball Grind Elbow Pads came to hand on February 5, 2015, by the manufacturer of Empire. The IHT Empire Grind of protection is a system, and it works as the primary layer of your safety.

The Empire Grind Elbow pads are ideal arm pads that are very easy and comfortable to wear and can effectively absorb all kinds of impacts. They come with breathable fabrics that keep you cool during intense, action-packed hours or even the hottest fire-fights.

These pads contain EVA foam padding that can extend to the forearm and provide complete protection. In the back, this model has thermal-molded padding that enhances its durability. Also, there is nothing to get worried about during the fitting. They provide built-in straps to make the pad tight enough to fit on your arms comfortably.

Pros
  • Has a low profile
  • Very stylish design
  • Thermal-resistant arm pads
  • Provides very high protection for your arms
  • The padding can extend to the fore-arms
  • The arm pads are tight enough to fit properly
  • They have decent aesthetics
  • Durability and reliability are guaranteed.
  • Plenty of ventilation keeps you cool during your gameplay
  • Combines memory foam padding and Eva foam padding to provide the ultimate defense
  • They have thumbhole loops, adjustable arm wrists, and bicep straps to offer a truly custom fit
  • The flexible, compression custom fit locks the arm pads in the perfect place
Cons
  • They are somewhat pricy.
  1. Exalt Alpha Elbow Pad, (Alpha-Elbow-PAD-GR)

Exalt Alpha Elbow Pad, Color: Grey, Size: M (Alpha-Elbow-PAD-GR-M)

Last but not least, paintball elbow pads come from again Exalt Paintball manufacturers in grey color. These Exalt Alpha Elbow Pads are suitable for adult males and females. These arm pads are available since November 4, 2017.

The paintball players seeking robust and lightweight protection at an entry-level cost, these pads are the right choice for you. This product can easily protect you from impacts and bruising while withstanding the maximum demand for the environment.

The Exalt Paintball Alpha Pads are affordable, impressive in design, and provide plenty of protection during gameplay. These Alpha pads come with a precision-engineering custom high-density foam pad that is just cut into one big piece. It does have some cut-outs in the foam itself, so it is not a solid piece all the way through.

Moisture-wicking materials and outer sleeves keep ventilation up and get that sweat off your body to keep you cool and comfortable. Besides, the anti-slip silicone weave ensures these pads stay firmly in a perfect place when you play. They have got the elastic top and bottom of the arm pads.

Pros
  • It values money
  • These arm pads keep you cool and dry
  • Highly flexible and comfortable
  • Overall quality is good and pretty durable
  • They are flat at first but will be in your arms after wearing them.
Cons
  • They do not have a thumbhole.

5 Significant Things You Should Know Before Buying the Right Paintball Elbow Pads of 2021

We have reviewed the paintball elbow pads above, which are just one-half of the picture. We aim to provide you with all the detailed information to help you choose the correct paintball elbow pads.

We will now describe the five most significant things you should know before buying your paintball arm pads.

  1. Padding, Length & Flexibility

Padding, length, and flexibility are the three key factors that you need to know clearly at the very first when you plan to buy a pair of paintball elbow pads. They go hand in hand, and even a slight difference in one factor may affect the other factors.

When you pick out a new pair of arm pads for paintball, padding is your first consideration that ensures enough protection for your needs. Memory foam is commonly used in the construction of elbow pads that can provide a better fit to the contours of your arms.

Perfect padding ensures your protection from the impact of the external environment and obstacles and increases flexibility. Flexibility ensures your comfort by wearing paintball arm pads. And, if we talk about the length, you need to cover as much area as possible of your hand, but do not have too big arm pads. People like the arm pads that extend forearms instead of those that only take care of elbows.

  1. Comfort

Before buying paintball arm pads, you need to make sure it is comfortable or not. Several products use memory foam in the inner parts which ensures your comfort tremendously. You can undoubtedly go for the arm pads with memory foam.

Breathability is another thing that is closely involved in your comfort. The elbow pads, which are too dense, can make you exhausted so quickly. That is why you need to look for breathable arm pads for paintball.

Breathable arm pads play a significant role in regarding your comfort both in summer and winter. So, you should select paintball arm pads that have breathable fabrics in their constructions to ensure your ultimate comfort during gameplay.

  1. Durable Design

When you use your paintball elbow pads frequently outdoors, you need to consider their entire design. In this connection, you need to make sure that your paintball arm pads are made from sturdy materials. Durability is essential to prevent the rip and tear of your arm pads when it comes in contact with the outdoor environment during gameplay. If you play paintball in all weather, you also need to focus on weather-resistant features.

Furthermore, the seam quality design of elbow pads is significantly essential to evaluate the overall durability. If you pick a pair of paintball elbow pads with weak seams, you will lose a chance to use them for long-term use. You should never invest your money in those arm pads which do not come with a durable design.

  1. Easy to Wash

The fundamental trick to keep your arm pads lasting for long is proper maintenance, and it is all about cleaning and washing on time. Your arm pads need to clean and wash whenever it gets dirty. You can clean paint stains using a stain remover without any effort. Before purchasing your paintball elbow pads, you need to check whether it is washable or not.

There are numerous paintball elbow pads that you can wash easily in your washing machine and dry in the shade. So, you must read the manufacturer’s instructions carefully to make sure you can throw your chosen arm pads in the washing machine indeed for a good wash. Therefore, always select the arm pads which you can wash so simply.

  1. Budget

Budget is something that you must not ignore. When you plan to buy things for a paintball game, you need to manage your finances accordingly to not go beyond your budget. How much money you need to invest in paintball elbow pads depends on how frequently you play the paintball game. It is your choice whether you will buy an expensive or a budget-friendly model of paintball elbow pads.

If you play once or twice in six months, there is no point in buying a high-end model with a high price. Besides, outdoor paintball demands more durable elbow pads than indoor paintball. When you are a professional paintball player, low-priced paintball is not suitable for you. It would be best to find paintball elbow pads that come at high quality at a friendly price. But when you are new to the paintball game, entry-level paintball arm pads are perfect for you—no need to invest much money in this case.

Frequently Ask Questions (FAQs)

Q: I am 5’2″. What size is suitable for me?

A: If your arms are thin, a small (S) size is suitable for you.

Q: What size would be suitable for a 5’7″ 116lb 14 years old?

A: Your height, weight, and age tell that medium (M) size is the best-suited size for you.

Q: My biceps are small. What size should I get?

A: As your biceps are small, you need a small (S) size.

Q: My upper arm size is 15,” but my wrist is 7.5″ and length is 14″. What size should I get?

A: In your case, you should get large (L) size paintball arm pads.

Q: I am 6’3″ and 280 pounds. Will the XL size be good?

A: According to your height and weight, XL won’t be a good size. You need XXL size.

Wrapping Up

We have reviewed the best arm pads for paintball and provided a comprehensive guide to help you choose the perfect paintball elbow pads. Our article is full of detailed information about paintball elbow pads, and you should not miss it.

The above-all arm pads are durable, flexible, lightweight, comfortable, and breathable. The four-way stretch materials, mesh lining, neoprene, and dual-layered protection make sure those arm pads can fulfill all your needs during paintball gameplay. So, have you made your choice about which arm pads you want to buy? If not, then what are you still waiting for? Just pick out a pair of arm pads that meet your needs and enjoy your paintball.

Alright, this is the time to wrap up our article. What are you thinking after reading this article? Do you still have any questions? You should let us know if you have anything on your mind in the comments below, and we must reach you as soon as we can.

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