Paintball. It is not just an adrenaline filled game, it is also a gas-filled game. What do I mean? Well, truly speaking, there would be no paintball if there were no gas tanks that provide the propulsion for the paintballs. And, there would be no gas tanks without the compressors that fill them – powering your marker to project paintballs at 300ft per second.
Whether you love playing as a big team, a small team, or just enjoy practicing alone, a paintball air compressor is a great investment that will certainly make it easier and ultimately, cheaper to enjoy your favorite past time. And if you are a field operator or run a fill shop, having a reliable paintball air compressor will definitely give your business an edge when it comes to reliability.
What is a Paintball Air Compressor?
An air compressor, by definition, is a device that uses electricity, gasoline, or diesel to compress outside air and store it in a high-pressure container. This air can then be transferred into other smaller canisters. The compressed air can then be used in many ways, for example, filling your tires, or in your case, filling your markers HPA canister directly or in most cases scuba tanks to store the compressed air in. Most paintball air compressors are just your average scuba diving compressor, the only difference being that paintball air compressors have no filter to filter out impurities.
Advantages of Compressed Air as a Paintball Marker Propellant
Although CO2 has been the propellant of choice for a number of years, it has a number of disadvantages that are making it less popular. Drawbacks like volatility which make it unsafe, inconsistent pressure which makes it frustrating in the game, and the “chills” it gives your marker’s internals shorten your marker’s lifespan.
That is why compressed air has become the propellant of choice for many paintball players. Its advantages eliminate all the disadvantages of CO2 and more. The advantages of compressed air include:
Gear Up – What You Need to be Able to Fill Your Own Paintball Canisters
Having an air compressor for your paintball tanks is not a complicated or very expensive endeavor. The equipment is readily available and doesn’t require a lot of storage space. So what do you need to be able to refill your own tanks (and for others if you want to make an extra buck)?
- 1An air compressor. This is the device that takes outside air and compresses it (puts it under high pressure).
- 2One or more storage tanks. Once your compressor compresses the air, it stores the compressed air in storage tanks – usually scuba diving tanks.
- 3A fill station. This is where you connect your tanks to filling lines that transfer the compressed air into your marker’s air canister.
The compressor is the most important piece of equipment in this setup, so you have to think long and choose wisely before you make a purchase. But to help you narrow down your choices, saving you a lot of time in the process, we have compiled a list of the best paintball air compressors on the market.
What Does the Best Paintball Air Compressor Look Like?
The best paintball air compressor, like many things in life, is determined by your needs and preferences. You need to ask yourself questions like, “How often will I use it?” “How many bottles will I be filling at a go?” “When using it, how much downtime can I afford?” the answers to these questions will lead you to make the 2 most critical selections in the specifications of a paintball air compressor – maximum airflow and maximum psi (pressure).
Max Airflow – The Implications on a Paintball Air Compressor
The airflow determines the rate at which the compressor fills a tank. It is also the rate at which the compressor compresses raw air. The higher the maximum airflow the faster the compressor can fill a tank and the less downtime you will have. If you will be refilling many markers, you will need a paintball compressor that has a higher maximum airflow.
Max Airflow – The Implications on a Paintball Air Compressor
PSI, an abbreviation for pounds per square inch, is a measure of pressure. For a paintball compressor, you will need 4500psi – 5000psi, as this is the maximum pressure HPA paintball canisters can hold. All paintball air compressors will come with maximum psi in this range, no matter the size. More pressure will only result in your markers air canister exploding. For faster filling, you will need higher airflow, not pressure.
The Top 7 Best Paintball Air Compressors for You to Choose From
Below is a list of 7 paintball air compressors you can make your selection from. The compressors are not arranged in any order, all you need do is match your requirements to the features. These top 7 air compressors have been chosen mainly due to reliability, output, and ease of service and availability of service parts. Let’s get to it then.
The Omega Super Charger air compressor is one of the best paintball compressors you will find below the $3000 mark. Not only is it affordable but its compact size makes it very easy to use and travel with. The automatic shut off is easy to set using the indicator arms in the easy to read pressure gauge. When the desired pressure is reached the compressor shuts itself off automatically. You can also program the auto bleed system as per your requirements. The Omega Supercharger is an excellent paintball air compressor for your individual needs.
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The Coltri MCH6, as the name says, is a portable, standalone, four-stage high-pressure (4500 PSI/310 bar) compressor. Its compact build makes it superb for filling your paintball cylinders at home or at the field. The Coltri MCH6 paintball compressor can be powered either by an electric single or three-phase motor or gas engine. The gas version makes it ideal for milsim or woodsball games played in places without an electricity supply. The Coltri MCH6 paintball air compressor is bound to keep your paintball games powered for a long time as it is a reliable compressor built by one of the best compressor manufacturers in Italy, and the world.
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The Mini Money paintball compressor is perfect for you if you are a small paintball club or store and don’t want to spend a lot of money setting up your fill station – the Mini Money comes with mini price tag of $3,700. The Mini Money comes with everything you need to make setting up a breeze. For paintball tanks, the Mini Money paintball air compressor takes a mere 1 to 3 minutes to fill (4,500 psi) drastically reducing downtown if you are filling up mid-game. The Mini Money takes 20 to 25 minutes to fill a storage tank.
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When it comes to air compressors, Bauer is a name that pops up quite often, and that’s because of their reputation for making quality products. The JRII/PB is no exception. This compact paintball air compressor is the perfect choice for individuals or small teams who want the freedom to fill up where they want and where they want. The JRII/PB comes in 2 variants - electric motor and gasoline engine.
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The Poseidon P-100 is a portable air compressor that will easily fill your tanks at an affordable price. Suitable for small teams, stores, or simply for your own personal use, the Poseidon comes with a heavy duty frame for added safety for when you are on the move. Sporting a reliable 5.5 HP Honda engine, you can trust the Poseidon P-100 to supply you with HPA for quite a long time.
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This unit is so robust and reliable it is the air compressor of choice for law enforcement agents and emergency services providers. Now, this is a paintball air compressor you can definitely depend on to keep your game going without the dull moments that downtimes bring. Because the Junior II comes with everything you will need to fill your tanks, there is no need to shop around for extras, saving you time to do what you love most – playing paintball.
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If you want a serious paintball air compressor, the K120II Hpa Compressor Engine is a monster of a machine that will allow you to fill tanks all day long without stopping. This is a heavy duty air compressor that you can use to open your own fill shop or for a paintball field. Rated at 5000psi, your HPA needs will be easily and speedily met with this massive compressor.
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Product | Image | Details | Our Rating | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| one of the best paintball compressors you will find below the $3000 mark. | |||
| Its compact build makes it superb for filling your paintball cylinders at home or at the field. | |||
| perfect for you if you are a small paintball club or store and don’t want to spend a lot of money setting up your fill station | |||
| This compact paintball air compressor is the perfect choice for individuals or small teams who want the freedom to fill up where they want and where they want. | |||
| a portable air compressor that will easily fill your tanks at an affordable price. Suitable for small teams, stores | |||
| This unit is so robust and reliable it is the air compressor of choice for law enforcement agents and emergency services providers. | |||
| the K120II Hpa Compressor Engine is a monster of a machine that will allow you to fill tanks all day long without stopping. |
The Best Paintball Air Compressor – Keeping the Game Exciting
Without a good paintball air compressor, the game of paintball will become a frustrating game when a refill is needed. Nothing is as frustrating as an air compressor that takes long to fill a tank, or worse still, is erratic in performance. Because an air compressor is a vital piece of equipment, service intervals should be long and the servicing easy to minimize the time the compressor will be out of commission.
This is why investing in the best paintball air compressor is vital, whether as an individual, team, or field operator. Despite the hefty price tags on many compressors, the return on investment is something you will benefit from in the long run. Depending on your needs and requirements, picking one of the paintball air compressors listed above should set you up for an excellent game – every time.