Best Paintball CO2 Tanks – Our Top Picks

Paintball CO2 tanks have developed a lot in only the last couple of years. 10 years ago, you would have to buy air tanks costing $200 or more; they were also mounted right to the base of the paintball gun.

Because of the need to change paintball air tanks both prior to a game and afterward (or fix any damaged tanks quickly), new manufacturers have consistently worked on making tanks better so that more options are available.

Compressed air and CO2 are both pressure sources for markers that are used to launch the paintball out of the barrel. The choice between these is entirely dependent on the marker that you are using.

CO2 is considered the more affordable choice and is much easier, however, it's all down to what your marker requires and what you are willing to spend.

The biggest question you can probably ask apart from ‘what paintball gun is best to buy’, would be ‘what's the difference between using a CO2 and compressed air tank to power a paintball marker?’

Both are viable pressure sources and will eject a paintball out of the barrel, but this is where any similarities end. Depending on your marker, sometimes you can only use one or the other without damaging your marker.

Carbon dioxide tanks maintain the gas in CO2 liquid form. These come in a variety of sizes like 4oz, 12oz, and 20oz (Oz). These tanks are built to maintain weight as ounces rather than volume.

This can be confusing but what really matters is how heavy the liquid is. Your tank can only be filled according to its specific rating. CO2 aren’t found as often on a paintball site, in addition, it costs more to fill, with a typical spend of around $10.

The first paintball guns like the Nelspot 007, PGP and NSG Splatmasters utilized liquid CO2 and thus set the benchmark for several years.

As it turns from a liquid state to a gas it expands and creates pressure; this is what fires the paintball. This pressure fluctuates because of altitude, temperature, and other factors. Paintball uses two different types of vessels: disposable CO2 cartridges or reusable CO2 tanks also called CO2 bottles.

A lot of disposables are 12-gram CO2 cartridges commonly found on stock markers and certain paintball handguns such as the Tiberius T8.1. The refillable CO2 tanks are constructed from aluminum vessels using a valve and are full to the brim.

There are certain benefits to CO2 bottles. The main reason for CO2 was popular for so long was its price. Paintball CO2 tanks are inexpensive and allow players to purchase several in order to last the whole day of shooting.

Filling up is fairly low-cost, and if there isn’t a professional paintball store where you live then you can visit a welding and flame extinguisher supply store to have them filled.

CO2 tanks are streamlined and yield a good deal of shots due to their size and weight compared to compressed air.

The fact remains that compressed air tanks have to be shipped when empty due to regulations by the Department of Transportation. With these kinds of tank, you have to have them filled somewhere locally.

The only exception to this rule is the 12-gram cartridges or the one-time use disposable CO2 cylinders, although they can be sent by ground service only.

A hydro date is the month and year that the tank has been formally safety tested. Typically the hydro date is good for 5 years (some market fiber wrapped tanks are 3 decades, as indicated on the label).

The tank has to be retested five years following the month on the tank.

One handy feature of this is that you don't have to take the tank off the mark to fill it and you can top off between games rather than having to empty and completely refill like CO2.

Shot counts change between markers, but the majority of spool valve markers get about ten shots per cubic inch in 3000psi and 15 shots per ci in 4500psi. More efficient designs like Spyders and Egos can give far more shots.

Have a Look at any busy paintball field and you will notice one thing - that the players are constantly kitted out in full strategic apparel.

It not only looks great but also gives them a lot of useful features that you can not find on regular coveralls.

These attributes are imperative for gamers really trying to up their game -- they comprise utilities like additional capacity for ammunition and magazines tubes, in addition to reinforcement against hits, and much, much more.

For anybody really getting into playing frequently, we recommend a mask be among the first things to be bought.

You can also think about getting a paintball vest too - we would probably suggest some strategic trousers as well!

However, for now, we are going to stick what you should look for in a vest.

Tactical vests are definitely one of the most useful pieces of kit you can have when playing aggressive shooting games. A paintball vest usually includes hard plating to protect your upper body and protect against injury, in addition to having sewn on pockets, clips to carry water and ammo (amongst other things). There are tons of vests in the marketplace, from many different manufacturers - offering a host of different choices. This can make purchasing one quite complicated; however, below we have listed some of the items you're most likely to see when searching for one.

The 3 main types of vests that you can get are strategic Vests, chest rigs, and plate carrier pliers. The first strategic cross-draw vests, of them, are laid out in a way that can't be altered. Plate carrier vests can be configured in numerous ways. Chest rigs are noticeably smaller and lighter, allowing for more speed in exchange for storage.

When searching for the Ideal vest to buy, there are several factors you will want to consider. These include how the vest will fit, its structure and the level of durability it's made with. Needless to say, your particular requirements will vary depending on your play style and what you consider important on the field.

The vest you select should be very comfortable and fit snugly around your torso and upper body without restricting the motion you have. This is extremely important, as any constraints can seriously impair how you play on the field. They should also be suitable both with and without your equipment. Vests can be adjusted to match the size of the participant.

In addition to being durable, you have to be able to be able to breathe with these vests, as moving up and down the playing fields can be sweaty, tiring work. A great deal of pockets is needed, in addition to adequate storage for markers and magazines.

Whether you want to play constantly, or just here and there, it's essential that the vest you select remains in one piece.

You might need to go for the hardiest of vests if you in the event you are playing games very often. They should be able to handle rough situations, and they should be water-resistant as well.

Depending on what kind of gas you are using, you’ll be able to power different types of guns. So when thinking about purchasing a paintball CO2 tank, you may also want to consider what kind of gun you will use with it.

This is good to think about, for example, if you are buying a gun for paintball but may also be interested in joining an airsoft team in the future.

Paintball guns are either mechanical or electronic. Both included a barrel, a hopper and of course, the air tank. The CO2 is used to power a system that forces the air out of the tank.

Airsoft guns, on the other hand, can be powered in various ways, including spring-loaded systems or electric. CO2 is also an option. Airsoft guns are notable for their realistic appearance.

The development of paintball tanks has meant that there are not only more options - but that they have become cheaper and more easily accessible. There are countless options to match the many types of paintball guns you will find. The most important thing to do is research properly the type of tank you will need prior to buying. As long as you do this, you should have no problem picking the correct paintball CO2 tank.